The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1909-07-10


The light fell full upon the spot and
she could make out the outlines Of a
human footmark in the yielding soil.
Our bear may be q redskin," said
the boy, watching his mother.
There was no reply, as Mrs. Merton
rose quickly and looked toward the
cabin where she had left her husband
and the other little ones asleep.
Come" she said hastily. IF an
Indian has been here we must reach
the cabin as soon as possible"
In another moment mother and son
were fastening toward the little
home; but suddenly cry from
Benny's lips startled the mother, and
she stopped and looked at him.
"The bear, mother; the bear." said
the boy, pointing toward the house,
but few rods distant.
Mrs. Merton leaned forward, her
eager eyes searching out the dark
places which the light of the torch
did not fully penetrate.
Benny had fallen behind his moth
ct and was holding the flambeau
above his head, his face pale and his
little hands wound about the fagot
with resolution
II see no bear, Benny" said Mrs
Merton.
Neither do I now, but he was right
over yonder among the bushes, for
got glimpse of his eyes and"
Hush, Benny. see him now!"
The light had sought out the clump
of bushes designated by the pioneer
boy, and Mrs. Merton had stepped
back a pace and thrown the rife to
her shoulder.
Remember what father said,"
whispered Benny. Don't shoot till
you can take him between the eyes. :"
Never mind, Benny. He shall get
it there or not at all"
The glistening targets which both
mother and son now saw were near
the ground, as If the bear had
crouched,' and the freight enabled
them to see them plainly.
Benny Merton watched his mother
while he held his breath, and WON
dered if the bear when killed would
turn out to be large one, or weak
ling, as he fully believed-not large
enough to carry off a pig after at
lacking the pen.
Seconds seemed minutes to the boy
who held the torch for the deter
mined woman. but suddenly the rifle
rang out on the night air, and there
followed wild scream, while the two
fiery eyes near the ground vanished
you hit him, mother!" cried the
excited boy.
Mrs. Merton, standing like a statue
in the freight, made no reply, but
the boy noticed that she was deathly
pale, and that the rife trembled in
her hands.
"He is over there among the
bushes" continued Benny. II did
not hear him run. Mother, that was
one Of the best shots of your life"
Without a word Mrs. Merton ad-
vanced, followed by her son. to the
clump Of bushes. but she instinctively
drew back, and for a moment passed
her hand across her face.
The game lay dead at their feet.
There, in the light of the torch,
with death in his staring eyes, lay an
indian dressed for the warpath and
armed with tomahawk and scalping-
knife, the former clutched in his
grim, dead hand.
Benny Merton looked a moment
and then almost dropped the
orch.
His eyes glittered like bears in
he light" said he. But, mother, if
you had not killed him what would
have become of us?"
The presence of the armed Indian
about the little home, at that hour,
old how narrow had been the escape
Of the family, and but for Mrs. Mer-
:on's fortunate fire-hunt there might
nave been an attack on the cabin.
The death of the prowling redskin
vas a secret which had to be kept,
md long before daylight there was a
grave in secluded spot in the forest,
md in time wild bushes grew over
he spot, which was in no other man.
Ter marked.
The Indian had undoubtedly killed
he pig, but in doing so h:i sealed his
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS