Barbour County index., 1904-02-17

LuS DlS TUCK, calling LOT mOOSc. = OF a
long time the weird sound fioated away
over the marsh and across the little lake
without an answer. Then came a dis
tant below, which gradually drew
nearer and nearer, as Peter enticed the
old bull with his deftly-plied birch
bark horn. At length the great crea-
ture emerged into the marsh, and, as it
came on, Peter, peering bareheaded
over his rampant of rock, saw with a
thrill that set even his heart throbbing
that it was a snow-white bull-tne
famous albino moose of the Barrio
woods, the subject of many startling
campfire tale. To shoot the almost
fabled albino moose would crown Pc
| ters fame as hunter and give him
| name that would long survive in the
traditions of the province. And this
was, probably, the only chance he
would ever have to perform such a
feat
The man fairly trembled with excite
ment as he pushed his long, old-fash-
Toned rifle through cleft in the rock
and made ready to fire the shot of his
life. The white moose was coming
straight toward the rock where the
hunter lay concealed. Peter crouched
behind the rampant and. sweeping his
horn low and close to the surface of
the rock, gave one more muff1ed and
seemingly retreating call.
AS he slowly lifted head and eyes
into the cleft once more he was amazed
to see just emerging into the barren,
beyond the big rock, the figure of 4
man. The newcomer was unarmed,
save for an ak, and he carried ped
dler's pack on his back. AS he came
in sight Of the moose he stopped short
! and half turned, as if to fee. This
brought his face directly toward Peters
hiding place-and instantly the hunter
recognized him, in spite of the ravages
Of time, as the same Gaspard Langlois
who had robbed him of his youthful
sweetheart! Poor. degraded, and now.
no doubt, alone in the world, fallen
from his dashirg splenCor of 1oy-
ageur and man Of the city, how hardly,
after all, had fate dealt with Theresa s
successful suitor! Yet he was the
same Gaspard Langlois, the man who
had spoiled two liz es. and destiEy had
at last cast him into Peters hand.
The white moose advanced a few
steps further and stopped, confronting
the man who had suddenly emerged
from behind the rock. Both seemed
spellbound. Both were now within
range of the deadly rife of Peter Par
deau-the famous old rifle that had
slain so many moose and caribou and
bear! The long barrel shook in the
crevice with faint rafting sound.
Peter turned it first on the man, and
then back again on the moose. A fierce
red spot blazed on each of the mans
cheeks. His hands trembled like two
wind-shalen autumn leaves. Revenge
Kissed, Shoot the man. let the moose
go!" Fame, the long-cherished mis-
tress Of the lonely hunter, whispered
Kill the moose frst-then the man. A
moose can run faster than mani"
The trembling barrel of the old muz-
zle-loader swayed to and fro. The
spots blazed redder and fiercer in the
marble cheeks Of the hunter. Suddenly
the white moose turned broadside-
and a sheet of fame shot forth from
the calling-rock. The moose sprans
forward, then stumbled, and fell in e
quivering heap amidst the hard-hack
At the sound of the rifles crack Gas
pard Langlois raised his eyes in terror
!. to the great rock. Peter had leaped tt
! his feet and with frantic haste wa:
pouring a fresh charge of powder int,
the long barrel Of his rifle. By a subtle
divination Gaspard recognized the mai
he wronged, and knew the meaning o
Peters deadly haste. That handful o
sliding, tinkling powder was for him
: Gaspard Langlois dropped the pacl
: from his back and fed toward the LAX
and the forest beyond. Like a snipe
flushed from a tusSock or clump o
= reeds, he twisted and Zigzagged in hi
flight, that the bullet might perchanc
speed by him to left or right, and bur
!, itself in the oozy marsh. Peter worke
himself up to the highest pinnacle @
= the rock, all the while driving hom
the patched bullet in the long rifle bar
= rel. He toiled with fierce haste, bu
:, with deadly sureness. Not motto
; was wasted.
, All ready now, save the little coppe
!. cap to slip over the nipple! Pete
o fetched it out of his buckskin pocke
Il with a swift motion of thumb and fir
@ ger; but just as he was fitting it t
e the nipple he raised his eyes for th
fraction of a second to mark his viz
d TINS whereabouts. Gaspard was ju.
a lodging into the shadow of the woods
.r The cap slipped and went tinklin