The Ekalaka eagle. [volume] (Ekalaka, Mont.) 1909-1920, 1914-04-03

- NtCSC
@ was an active figure of boy
yR&G hood dancing, David Cree,
sent out to the porch to await his IA
ther. who settled indoors with Kip Ry-
erson before taking David on the deer
hunt promised for that morning.
Suddenly from within the house came
a burst Of mems voices sharp with an
ger. and all at n the door was dash
ed open and Kip Ryerson flung out, his
evil face more sneaking and wicked
than ever. David caught his black
look and grinned in malicious triumph,
for he hated Ryerson and was not
afraid Of him. He was answered by
all appall ling oath from the man as he
passed him and slouched out of the
yard. Instantly the boys face went
white and his eyes burned. Like a
streak he leaped from the porch and
caught up a jagged. wicked looking
stone. But it never few at the mans
unconscious back, for as David's hand
went back swiftly his wrist was caught
in a sudden grasp. Tighter and tighter
the KTuy ClVSCu ukVA HIM. ~ Sio''S
his fingers opened and the stone drop
ped harmlessly to the ground.
In a fury David whirled upon his IA
Their. HE cussed me"! he cried. "He
cussed me- his voice shrilling with
anger.
AN I'll skin yer eff I ever ketch yer
THROWN er stone at er feller's back
ergin. Don't ever do anything ter err
man till yer big enough ter do hit ter
his face" His fathers voice was low
and somewhat heavy, but it held no
lack Of purpose.
For a moment they looked into each
others eyes, the two faces, mans and
child's. singularly alike and singularly
determined in expression. Then Alder
son Cree dropped his sons wrist and
turned away, realizing, perhaps for the
first time, what a duplicate OF himself
the boy was. Taking up a clumsy.
old fashioned rife which leaned against
the door jamb, he dropped it to his
shoulder and stepped off the porch.
Come on he said briefly, and the
boy fell in obediently behind. AS they
took their way Indian file up the rug
ged little path leading to the top OF
Peters Ridge, David watched Ryer-
sons loose figure fade into the heavy
mist.
Reckon he wont come back an
skeer an Their kids:' he ven
tured.
Reckon he'd better not" his father
answered in the same slow, heavy
voice, yet somehow David held no long
err any fear for his mother and the
children. He had the same confidence
in his father that he had in himself
and at twelve his confidence in him
self was u~nbounded.
The settlement with Ryerson had been
promised for weeks; ever since Alder
son Cree found out the character Of thu
man he had taken in to board. And
when, the night before, David had re
turned with his father and mother
from preaching to find Ryerson in :
drunken sleep upon the kitchen foo
and the younger children who had beer
left at home almost historical will
fright, he had known that the settle
ment would come next morning. AM
so it had. And oh, but he was glad
Glad that Ryerson's weak, hateful fac
would not be there to leer across tn
supper table at him tonight.
In the path before them David ant
his father found Grin Snyder and tn
Two Henderson boys, who were to b.
the drivers on the hunt that day. Da
vid fell into A choppy little trot behin'
the mems long steps, which sool
brought them up to the main body o
the hunters on their way to the differ
cnt stands along the ridge.
Left alone at their post at the mapl
spring, David and his father droppe,
silently to their seats, opposite end
of a fallen chestnut oak tree, denude'
tong since of it's tanbark. The ma,
with his gun across his knees and hi
eyes growing vacant AS his face settle'
into lines of thought; the boy with hi
hunters horn in lieu Of gun in his lar
his ears prickcd for the first faint vel
of the hounds and his eyes LOOKING
away to range upon range Of the Clea
Creek mountains, drifting off into in
distinct outlines where the sky an
mountains met and faded to a blu
haze.
Over on one Of the far mountain
arose a blue curl that was not mis-
David shifted the air. A faint smell q
burning woods mingled with the ode
of dying leaves.
Reckon we'll hev ter fight fir
snos, - he yont,lrod-