Part 14 (1/2)

”Did you hit the center of the target every time?”

Buzz-z-z-z.

”How many robins did you kill out of the twenty?”

Buzzz-z-z-z-z.

Buzz-z-z-z-z-z-z-z.

And Bertha talked so fast, and the wheel buzzed so loud, that Owen did not reply.

”Oh, it's just too mean to keep me waiting so long before telling me all about it!” said Bertha.

”I thought that wheel was answering your questions; you both talk at about the same rate,” said Owen, playfully, for he saw that his sister was much excited, and wished to tease her by delaying to answer at once.

”Well, I saddled Log after breakfast, and----”

”I know you did,” interrupted his sister; ”do tell me something new.”

”How can I if you stop me as soon as I begin to speak! Well, I saddled my horse, and took my rifle, and--wait, I forgot something! First, I put my powder-horn over my right shoulder”--a pause--”and then I put my bullet-pouch over my left shoulder”--another pause--”and then I took my rifle, and went down and saddled old Log, and started off, and--Oh, you've killed me! Oh! oh! oh!” For Bertha had taken a ball of yarn from a basket near the spinning-wheel, and playfully struck Owen in the head with the harmless missile. After this bold attack, a treaty of peace was signed, and Owen agreed to answer every question seriously and without delays. He was interrupted in his narrative by some one calling in a loud voice from without:

”Halloo! Halloo!”

It was Louis Bowen. Has he heard of Charlie's going to the shooting-match? was the thought which rushed to Owen's mind as he walked to the yard-gate, where the unexpected visitor was waiting astraddle his horse.

”Good-morning, Mr. Bowen,” said he, with all the composure he could summon up.

”I hear you were at Grundy's farm yesterday,” said the man gruffly, without seeming to notice Owen's morning greetings, ”and I would like to know if you saw my son Charlie there. He hasn't returned yet.”

”Yes, sir, he was there.”

”The scoundrel!” muttered Bowen. ”I'll flay him alive! He is getting worse every day. Spends money as fast as I can make it. I'll--I'll kill the wretch!”

”Many men camped on the grounds all night. He may have stayed with them,” said Owen.

”I'll drive him from the house when he comes back! If he won't work, let him starve!” continued the father. ”My corn-crib burned, my money stolen and squandered! Misfortune and losses on every side! I'll--I'll--but say, boy, you were along the river the night my crib was burned. Did you meet no one?”

”We met Jerry and Stayford the next morning, sir.”

”Did you meet no one that night? Where did you stay that night?”

”We slept under the trees until it began to rain, and then--we went up the hill under the bluffs.”

The conversation was here interrupted in a most singular manner. Charlie Bowen pa.s.sed along the road, close to the two speakers. The father and son recognized each other at almost the same instant. Charlie spurred his horse and dashed down the road, while Mr. Bowen uttered a curse and started in pursuit. The scene was ludicrous in the extreme. Owen felt very serious and nervous while listening to the old farmer's threats, but now he forgot his troubles, and, mounting the gate-post to get a better view, watched father and son as they galloped along the dusty road. Still, when he reflected seriously, he could not but commiserate them both.

Returning to the house, Owen continued his lengthy description of the shooting-match, until Bertha's curiosity was entirely satisfied. During the following week, Bertha visited many of the neighbors, and repeated for them the history of her brother's victory. She also wrote an account of the contest for the Lexington paper and sent it by the stage which pa.s.sed the house every second week.

Mr. Howard was not so enthusiastic over Owen's success. He was not a rigorist; he could not be called a severe man; still, he did not believe in spoiling children by humoring and flattering them. He feared lest the honors which Owen had received would exercise an evil influence upon him for the future, and felt it his duty to check any such influence at the start by keeping him at steady work.

”Owen,” said he on the following morning, ”you've had a whole day to rest, so get your axe and come with us to the woods. We must get that strip of land along the river cleared before winter.”