The southern sentinel. (Winnfield, La.) 1883-1910, 1903-05-01
Cunning for
Big Game

w brothers and l and our play
mates. but we were full of life, and that
means full of mischief too. bro'hei
Fred was natural born Nlmrco.
Re always wanted to hunt, even though
there was little game to be got, and
we brothers liked to go off with MN.
In those times boys had to hustle ior
anything they wanted, for father was
a minister with nine children, anu
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, put
an old secondhand thing. yet we all
thought it was the greatest OF treas
ures. The barrel was bent, ana
though we worked over it good DEAL
we never could get it quite straight.
But 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 gum, and
probably he could!
Well. there wasn't much cunning in
the neighborhood. We wouldn't XIII
small birds, because mother had taught
us TO love them. Once in awhile we
could get partridge, but as we be-
came expert in shooting we boys longed
for bigger game. We wanted to
shoot something that would need a
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. To be sure, we tramped down
his grass, and once we broke his
fences in chasing 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 it, for
you know boys don't look at such
things as older folks do. He really had
stood lot from us boys, and we ought
to have been grateful for it. Instead
Of that we debated long and earnestly
about how we should "get even" with
him.
'I've got it." said Fred to half
dozen of us one fine afternoon.
Got what?" we all asked.
"Why way to get even with old
Eaton"
"How?" asked the boys in chorus.
THAT'S a secret, but you fellers fol-
low me and you'll see," answered Fred,
At once we were all eager to know
what the scheme was. Fred sent one
of us to get the gun. he put in a big
charge of powder, and then, much to
our surprise, put in good-sized stone
marble.
whats that for?" I said
"That's for bullet-couldn't buy a
lead one. Big 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
I do"
By that time we were so worked up,
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 all tours, and we did likewise,
creeping noiselessly toward the Eaton
barn. Aswe got nearer, twig beneath
us snapped with a noise that to our ex-
cited imagination seemed as loud as
pistol.
"Hist," said Fred. lying fat 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 it seemed so to us. 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 his enemy. The six
boys also followed along like snakes.
We couldn't make out what he was 90
ing to do, and we didn't even dare to
whisper, for we could hear Mr.. Eaton
talking to his men in field not far
Of, and we all had a wholesome fear
of him.
The board fence to the Eaton barn
yard, on the Side nearest us, was al
most hidden by an extra high growth
Of timothy and clover. The pippen 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 hin,, and as soon as saw he
was going toward the pigpen turned
round, and forgetting, in my eager
ness, the necessity of keeping covered
and silent, almost shouted to the BOYS
behind:
"Great Scott, he's going to shoot
he pig!"
We boys were more scared than ever
'or this .was far more serious business
han we had bargained for. Luckily
ny action had not "given us awavn
ind in few moments more we we-a