Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1903-04-23
Cunning for
Big Game

| AIE WERE not bad boys at all, my
wv brothers and / and our play
mates, but we were full of life, and that
means full of mischief too. Brother
Fred was a natural born" Nimrod-
he always wanted to hunt, even though
there was little game to be got, and
we brothers liked to go off with him.
In those times boys had to hustle for
anything they wanted, for father was
a minister with nine children, and
couldn't spare money for playthings.
How we all worked and saved our pen
mics until we had money enough to buy
a shotgun! 1t was not new one, but
an old secondhand thing, yet we all
thought it was the greatest of treas
ures. The barrel was bent, and
though we worked over it good deal
we never could get it quite straight.
But a little defect like that didn't
bother us We learned to "allow for
the curve" as Fred said, and if we
wanted to hit certain object we knew
just how far away from it to aim.
Fred was the best shot, and he used
to say with great pride: Il can shoot
around a corner with that gun" and
probably he could!
Well, there wasn't much cunning in
the neighborhood. We wouldn't kill
small birds, because mother had taught
us TO love them. Once in awhile we
could get a partridge, but as we be-
came expert in shooting we boys longed
for bigger game. We wanted to
shoot something that would need
bullet TO kill it, for this seemed far
more fun than TO use shot.
Our neighbor, Farmer Eaton. didn't
seem to appreciate our efforts at
sport. 10 be sure, we tramped down
his grass, and once we broke his
fences in chasing a fox, but when his
woods caught fire from our Indian
camp" Mr. Eaton got really mad and
forbade our stepping foot on his
premises again. We boys couldn't see
why he should "be so set" about il, for
You know boys don't look at such
things as older folks do, He really bad
stood lotfrom us boys, and we ought
20 have been grateful for it. Instead
Of that we debated long and earnestly
about how we should get even" with
him.
"Tye got IT." said Fred to half
dozen of us one fine afternoon.
"Got what2" We all asked.
why a way 10 get even with old
Eaton"
Hove" asked the boys in chorus.
That's a secret. but you fcllcrs fol-
low me and you'll see. answered Fred,
mysteriously.
At once we were all eager to know
what the scheme was Fred sent one
of MS to get the gun, he put in big
charge Of powder. and then. much TO
our surprise, put in good-sized stone
marble
whats that for?" 7 said
'That's for bullet couldn't buy a
lead one. Rig game this afternoon.
This made us still more curious. but
before we could ask further questions
Fred said:
"Now. boys. follow me. single file,
don't make a sound, and do just as
/ do"
BY that time we were so worked mp
so consumed with curiosity. that we
would have almost followed through
fire and food.
Fred led the way back Of the barn
and over the wall into the big field Of
tall grass that stretched between our
house and Mr.. Eaton's. Then he got
down on al tours. and we did likewise,
creeping noiselessly toward the Eaton
barn. Aswe got nearer, a twig beneath !
us snapped with noise that 10 our ex-
rited imagination seemed as loud as
pistol.
Hist" said Fred. lying fiat on his
stomach The rest Of us did the same, |
keeping perfectly quiet, though the
beating Of our hearts made noise |
enough to let everyone know our pres |
ence-at least il seemed so to MS. After
an awfully long time. Fred put his gun
out in front of him. and then glided |
forward with the snakelike |
motion affected by the Indian who |
would surprise bis enemy The six /
bows also followed along like snakes.
We couldn't make out what he was GO /
ing to do. and we didn't even dare TO
for we could hear Mr. Eaton
alking to his men in a field not far
,ff. and we all had a wholesome fear
If him.
The board fence to the Eaton barn
yard. on the side nearest us, was al
most hidden by an extra high growth
n timothy and clover. The pigpen was
on the other side. containing monster
white sow that Mr. Eaton was specially /
proud Of. and was planning TO win the
prize with her at the next cattle show.
Fred made for this spot. was right
behind him. and as soon as | saw he
was going toward the pigpen turned
round. and forgetting. in my eager
- s,varad i