Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-08-08
POIIy's Adventure

Remember, Polly, this is our Sc
cret!"
The little girls eyes sparkled togeth-
er, while her brother, tall, active
youth, spoke these words low in her
ear. 1t must have been something
pleasant to make little girl years
old look so happy; but If one hundred
little girls were each given a single
guess, 1 do not believe they would guess
this wonderful secret. Wilberforce had
told Polly that II she would get up
early the next morning she might go
with him and watch him shoot bear.
Polly had never felt so honored in all
her life. She loved and admired her
big brother, as little sisters have way
Of doing-when their big brothers are
kind to them. Why, Wherefore was
as good a marksman as her father al
ready! He was the best runner and
the best wrestler in all the country
round, and now to go with him and ac-
tually see him kill a bear!
Wilberforce rose very early the next
morning, but Polly was ready and walt
ing for him In the kitchen.
1--WE must take our breakfast with
u.s." said the brother. "It is several
miles to the lick"
In few minutes they were on their
way, Wherefore riding Selim, with
Polly behind him, her right arm around
his waist and in her left hand a small
tomahawk, which she thought she
ought to carry on such an important oc
casion. Their good dog Spot trotted
after them.
The stars twinkled overhead, the
morning air felt keen and frosty, but
SeIim bore them swiftly on and they
reached the vicinity of the lick, or salt
spring. in good time.
Selim was tied to a sapling, and, tell
ing Polly to keep close to him and not
to speak, her brother went forward
with the wary step of practiced hunt
er. Very near the spring was a bear,
looking big and black In the dim light.
The young hunter raised his rifle, and,
taking the best aim he could in the
semI-darkness, fired. The bear fell
heavily, and his slayer ran forward
with his long hunting knife, but the
bear was quite dead, and Polly was
called forward to rejoice over the prize.
Her brother showed her where the
bull 1T had passed straight through the
bears head, and she felt the long fur
and examined the powerful claws.
I'VE will eat our breakfast now, Pol
Iy," said Wherefore, land when we
30 back you can tell them you have
helped kill bear"
They ate their breakfast bread
and meat, with a drink from the spring,
but they thought 1t delicious, and VIII
berforce said he would lead Selim TO
the spring before he skinned the bear.
"Spot will take care OF you, Polly,
while am gone" he called back cheer
lily.
When Wilberforce reached the timber
where Selim had been tied the horse
was gone.
Scared by the gunshot probably"
thought his owner, 'fOr he never left
me before. / will overtake him soon,"
and he hurried forward.
But mile or two was traversed be-
fore he overlook him, and when he had
mounted again he rode rapidly, Tor he
feared that Polly would be frightened
staying by herself so long; he wished
more than once that he had brought her
with him.
Yes. 1t was an unwise thing to leave
her behind, for when he checked Sc
Inns rapid pace at the spring the horse
snOrted and swerved violently aside.
and he caught the glimpse OF a dark
form sinking of through the under
wood. Before him lay the torn and
bloody carcass Of the bear, and Polly
was gone.
"a panther? he groaned, as he ran
to the spot where he had seen the little
girl was gone.
"a pantherl' he groaned. as he ran
to the spot where he had seen the little
girl last.
There were no blOodmarks-in fact,
not any trace of her at all, though he
searched with the trained eye of hunt
er, while he shouted her name, and
loading his rife, fred shot after shot
IN the hope that she would hear and an
sWer. 1t was useless. Then. entering