Year: 1872




fort.


In an instant Will perceived my critical
position. and rushing forward with his up
raised hatchet, Oor he dared not FIRE least
he should strike me instead of the enemy,
he dealt several tremendous blows on the
head.


The terrible grip gradually relaxed and
wrestling my right arm free. I completed
Wills victory by plunging my knife up
to the hilt in the creatures throat.


Lifeless it rolled heavily to the ground,
dragging me with it in its sudden fall
Ana now that the mother was conquered
came the question, What are we to do
with the cubs !"


IF we left them in the cave they must
starve to death; it would be more mcrci-
full to kill them outright--and then, too,
what nice rugs the skins would make for
Stella's little feet. So We crawled cauti-
ously into the den; six cleaning eyes met
our gaze. three shaggy little forms met
our touch. S.


It seemed hard thing to kill them in
cold blood, and we had almost resolved to
carry them with US. and present them to
any one who would take them, when the
brutes decided their own fate by making a
vigorous assault on our hands; we decid-
ed that they were not SO harmless as we
had supposed, and so, in two hours after
ward. we left the mother and her cubs
minus their soft fur and some pounds ol
flesh, and wended our way in search ol
shelter for the night.


There were cabins scattered all through
that part of the forest, so we had no doubts
of our success, and we were not wrong.


On knocking at the door of rough.
rude log hut we were admitted, and re-
quest for a nights lodging was complied
with. i6


The three men who composed the house.
hold-a father and two sons-left rs alone
after time. for a few moments. and then
we FASTENED to express to each other our
secret thoughts.


"Will. said T. s'I don't like the looks
of those men p


Neither do l." said Will. .They
look to me as though they could murder
US. without much conjunction; I'll tell
you what. Rich, let us sleep with our pis-
tolls under our heads, and our rifles close
to our hands. =


And thus We settled ourselves for the
night. lying as did our hosts. on the bare
floor, wrapped up in several blankets.


There was but one room in the hut and
full of suspicious. laid awake long after
our three hosts, and Will himself, had
fallen asleep.


Not until [ had detected the first rays
of daylight stealing through the window
did at last close my eyes.


Alas! that had not kept awake to the
last! Falling asleep, with my suspicious
but half allayed, ] dreamed that it was in
the middle Of the night, and that I had


. 3 u. >
suddenly awakened. TO find my three hosts
standing over me. with uplifted weapons.


| threw up my arms and grappled with
one of them. and he, in turn. seized me
in a grip that made my breath come thick
and fast; and then, still 10 my dream. I
thrust my hand beneath my pillow, and.
grasping my pistol. fred at my assailant.


Aud then | awoke. with the noise Of
The report ringing in my ears.


Ny pistol was still smoking in my hand
and my brother-for as such I had come
10 regard Will Brainard. although he was
not such in law-my brother, say, was
PROSTATE on the floor of the cabin, the
blood flowing in torrents from his mouth


It was moment or two before I could
rouse myself to feel the reality of this ter
rible termination of my dream and then,
when | stopped beside him, the unfortu-
nate youth was dead !


I remember how the three rough men,
whom ] had suspected of design to rob
as. tried to soothe my agony, the tears
standing thick in their own eyes.


They had seen it all. they said. and I
was not to blame. The young man had
awakened first; he said he would wake me;
and SO he grasped me by the shoulder and
gave me shake. and then


There the honest fellow actually wept..
! remember their telling me this and then
fell back in swoon. from which I did
not return TO consciousness for two months
after that fatal dream.


And then,it was all over.


Will Brainard rested 10 the church
yard And Stella, bis sister, my betro,h-