The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-12-20
A WEIRD EXPERIENCE.
A Story of Boys Adventures in the Christmas
Season.

night. The wintry winds Whistled DIG
mally through leafless branches, swaying
! the old marten poles and making weird
sound as it swung the creakng door vi
an old cabin to and fro. And as if to
complete the lonely scene, an old dog,
keeping watch around some deserted
hearthstone, howled most mourntully, re-
calling to Robert, the old negro supersti-
ton that IF a hound dog howled after
night, twas a sho sign somebody Was
gwine to die on that plantation
! He thought of the many old friends
of his childhood days who had lived such
happy lives in those now lonely cabins.
| Their Shadowy forms seem still lowering
around the familiar spot.
! Going into his room, Robert threw on
the rich pine knots, that sent the bright
| flames leaping up the cavern-likc mouth
of the wide chimney, making fantastic
shadows on the low dark ceiling. Taking
UP a new book he tried to read but some
| how could not enjoy it.
! Dash, the pointer; lay curled up in front
of the fire, but as if divining his young
masters unrest, got up and thrust his
head on Roberts knee, who fondling the
dog said:
''All right old fellow, 1 have you here
to watch and protect, so I'll go to bed
| After seeing that the doors were Sc
curely barred, and the heavy wooden shut
ters to the windows tightly fastened, nc
retired and was soon sleeping soundly.
| 1t seemed to him he had been sleeping
but a short while, though it really was
| long after midnight, when he was awal-
ened by the loud barking of Dash by his
bedside, and at the same time. the sound
as Of many feet tramping outside in the
snow. Hastily putting on some OF his
clothes, he stood listening and wondering
what it could be.
No light came through the closed shut
tiers, so except the little glow from the
fast dying embers on the hearth all was
dark in the room. Dash was now barking
! louder, and the unmistakable tramp,
tramp, as of heavy feet in the snow
could be distinctly heard. Who could they
be? And what were they doing?
| AS in flash the thought came to him,
! it is that band of robbers from the -Four
Bridges They were plotting, he thought,
to kill him and then make off with the
! valuable mules and provisions ard yes,
his own beautiful horse, Katy. He
reached quickly for his gun and saw that
| II was loaded. The noises outside seem
to increase, and Dash now was barking
| furiously. There were two doors to the
room. One opened into a small, narrow
hall, the other into a long, low piaZzo.
He remembered having fastened these
doors securely, so he took his stand by
the outdoor. He heard them coming
around the house. Now they were at the
window. There was a pause, and fain
sounds came as if they were whispering
| together Now and then came a heavy,
humping noise as If something was
| thrown against the house. So thoroughly
| frightened was he now that the persri-
ration stood in beads on his brow. He
| thought of his happy home and The dear
| ones sleeping SO peacefully there unccn-
scious of the danger that threatened their
| boy.
| He thought of the confidence his father
had in him and of his ability to protect
his interest, and he determined that if
die he must, he would die keeping his
fathers trust in him. So lifting his heart
in a silent prayer, he gave his gun a
firmer grip and tried to look through
small crack in the shutters at the
enemy but could see only the shadows
of many forms, one much taller than
the others.
Nervng himself for the attack he
quickly and softly took down the bar and
lifted the latch. Placing his finger on
the trigger, he raised his gun to shoot,
when there appeared before his aston
ished eyes, not a robber, nor even band
os them, but something white-a terrible
looking object-with horns.
A second look-and 10! there stood an
old white steer!
In an instant the whole fearful thing
stood revealed. His supposed robbers
was the old steer and some COWS and
young heifers, who were seeking the straw
and fodder scattered near the house, and
&c lick the salt from some boards where
meat had been sailed. And as they would
lick the salt their bones would strike
against the house and give the sound of
tramping feet.
Robert gave the steer some meal and
went back to bed nor did he awaken IN
til we'll known voice called out ''What
, is the matter my son? 1t seems as if
all the stock was out last night?''
Laughing he told his father OF his try
ing experience of the night and his great
relief at finding the old steer was caus-
ing all the trouble. While l an sorry
you suffered such anxiety" said the Col
onel, 81 would not take good deal for the
assurance you have given me of faithful
ness to duty. You would have made a
brave soldier and l am proud of you
my boy
MRS. JNO. R. BROOKS.
Charlotte, n. c., Dec. 9th 1903.