The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1930-06-13

Continuation OF
CHAPTER VIII

Fritz FASTENED to apologize TO
the thoughtless way in which the,
had sought to do honor to the
Day of Thanksgiving, without con
sidering that an unexpected can
non shot would startle us I'm
pleasantly from our slumbers.
We readily forgave the authors
of our alarm, in consideration Of
the good intention which had
prompted the deed, and, satisfied
that the day had at least been
duly inaugurated, we all went
quietly to breakfast.
Afterward we sat together for
a long time, enjoying the calm
beauty Of the morning, and talk
ing of all that had taken place
on the memorable days of the
storm a year ago; for l desired
that the awful events Of that
time should live in the remem
brance of my children with a deep
ening sense Of gratitude for our
d~eliverance. Therefore l read
aloud passages from my journal,
as we'll as many beautiful verses
from the Psalms, expressive of
joyful praise and thanksgiving, so
that even the youngest among us
was impressed and solemnized at
the recollections of escape from a
terrible death, and also led to
bless and praise the name of the
Lord and our Deliverer.
Dinner followed shortly after
this happy service, and then an
nounced for the afternoon a
Grand Display of Athletic Sports"
in which l and my wife were TO
be spectators and judges.
Father, what a grand idea"
"Oh, how jolly! Are we to run
races?"
"And prizesl Will there be
prizes, father?"
1.-The judges offer prizes for
competition in every sort of man
ly exercises" replied l. Shooting,
running, riding, leaping, climbing,
swimming; we will have an exhi-
bition of your skill in all. Now
for it,"
"Trumpeters! sound for the
opening of the lists"
Uttering these last words in a
stentorian voice and wildly a
ing my arms toward a shady spot,
where the ducks and geese were
quietly resting, had the absurd eff
feet / intended.
Up they all started in a fright,
Cabling and quacking loudly, to
the infinite amusement of the chill
dren, who began to hustle about
in eager preparations for the con-
test, and begging to know with
what they were to begin.
Let us have shooting first, and
the rest when the heat of the day
declines. Here is a mark l have
got ready for you" said l, pro-
ducing a board roughly shaped
like a kangaroo, but Jack could
not rest satisfied till he had ad-
ded ears, and a long leather strap
for a tail. :
It was then fixed in the atti-
tude most characteristic OF the
creature, and the distance for fir
ing measured off. Each of the
three competitors was to fire
twice.
Fritz hit the kangaroo's head
each time; Ernest hit the body
once; and Jack, by a lucky chance
shot the ears clean away from
the head, which feat raised a
shout of laughter.
A second trial with pistols en-
sued, in which Fritz again came
off victor.
Then desiring the competitors
to load with small shot, l threw
a little board as high as I possib-
ly could up in the air, each in
turn aiming at and endeavoring to
hit it before it touched the ground.
In this I found to my surprise
that the sedate Ernest succeeded {
quite as well as his more impet-
uous brother Fritz. {
AS for Jack, his flying board
escaped wholly uninjured.
After this followed archery,
which 1 liked to encourage. fore
seeing that a time might come I
when ammunition would fail; and
in this practice 1 saw with pleas
ure that my elder sons were
really skillful, while even little
Franz acquitted himself we'll.
A pause ensued, and then l
started a running match.
Fritz, Ernest, and Jack were to
run to Falconhurst, by the most
direct path. The first to reach
the tree was to bring me in proof !
of his success, a penknife l had
accidentally left on the table in
my sleepingroom. {
At a given signal, away went ;
the racers In fine style. Fritz and
Jack, putting forth all their pow
ers, took the lead at once, run /
ming in advance of Ernest, who
started at a good, steady pace,
which / predicted he would be
better able to maintain than such
a furious rate az his brothers.
But long before we expected to
see them back, a tremendous
noise OF galloping caused us to