Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1903-03-05
Cunning for
Big Game


Fred was 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
minister with nine children, and
couldn't spare money for play things.
How we all worked and saved our pen
MES 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 a 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: 81 can shoot
around corner with that gum" 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 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. 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 a 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
1--WE 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 secret, but you fellers 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 us 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?" said ..,.-3
"That's for a 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 sound, and do just as
do''
BY that time we were so worked up,
so consumed with curiosity, that we
would have almost followed through
fire and flood.
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 nciselessly toward the Eaton
barn. Aswe got nearer, twig beneath
us snapped with noise that to our ex-
cited 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 it seemed so to us. After
an awfully long time, Fred put his gun
out in front of him, and then glided
noiselessly 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
off, and we all had a wholesome fear
of him. .,..... ...ss Il. e-s Fan lzsg
The board fence to the Eaton barn
most hidden by an extra high growth
of 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. 1 was right
behind him, and as soon as saw he
was going toward the pigpen I 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
the pig!"
We boys were more scared than ever,
for this was far more serious business
than we had bargained for. Luckily,
my action had not sgiven US away"
and in few moments more we were
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