The Cave by the Beech Fork: A Story of Kentucky-1815

use to visit the sick of the neighborhood a man

n. The two men had been neighbors for fourteen years, yet they had exchanged but few words; not once during this entire period did Louis Bowen enter t

said he, approac

our hundred bushels of corn!" ejaculated Bowen,

ng, but it was only to-day that I le

a small sack of money, and then set fire to

unfor

has been burned!" continued

n each time, was it not

ll to the rafters! The dogs waited until I had worked like a slav

u no clue to

ee years, but without success. I have sneaked up and down the river, looked into the shipping stations, watched the 'arks' and flat-boats when

ement for fourteen years, and as far as I know have not lost an ea

urn what they cannot carry away! Many of the poorest people of the neighborhoo

honest man. If you accuse them of stealing, and cannot prove y

repared for such a reception, "I didn't come here to figh

whom you treat as beasts. Let me tell you, Louis Bowen, every man in this

usiness, and

business, don't co

o help me to tra

hat I said-treat those negroes as if they were human beings, an

ctated to. Again I ask, will you gi

o say upon the subject. I

l track those thieves alone, and when I find them, white or black, I'll-I'll treat them in such a way that all this country round will wonder that man

could not read. He was anxious and troubled. He felt that there was something more th

a place where two roads intersected. Here Owen's attention was attracted by a notice posted against a large oak-t

all Season will be on grundys Farm saterday,

Offi

been waiting for

end to compete?"

per was there last year, and he says that

ollow Jim?" interr

w him! He is the best marksman in twelve miles from here, in a place

than such a man?" asked the priest, w

practicing for nearly a year. If you only help

p you?" inquir

match. She may think that I am too young. But

re so anxious, and have been practicing for s

catch robins; then we'll go out and practice eve

priest. "I would like to be there myself to witness the battle. But now,

attered flock. He rode a trusty animal with a quick and easy gait, and by long practice,

turned, and saw that Father Byrne had dismounted and was kneeling. As he knelt there upon a moss-covered root, a sunbeam stole through the golden and crimson foliage of the forest and rested like a halo upon his face. Shadow and sunshine checkered the gay, leafy carpet which nature had spread

r, "since you cannot come with me to the shooting match, perhaps you would like to see me try my r

repeated the priest. "Why, I never

ccession," replied Owen, w

ed with five swallows. If you kill five in succession, I'll ac

s waist, and sallied forth into the yard. He selected an open spot in front of the house, where he had a clear range in every direction, while Father B

tering and diving through the air in quest of gnats and other

keg of powder by the last stage, and I haven't had time to test its st

h a laugh. "If you do not kill five birds in

llow sailed by within t

" another had

," and a third

xclaimed F

repeated

in the right direction," was t

on. The rifle cracked, and the doomed

then appeared at the door of the negro cabin, and wit

who had also appeared on the s

ucceeded by the report of the rifle, an

time. Six shots and six swallow

have more than surprised me. I predict

marksman, but in his best days he had never equaled Owen. To kill six swallows in succession was almost marvelous. Prize shooter

he could calculate the number of grains to use. Owen had one difficulty, however, which he had not yet mastered. In practicing he had observed that it was more difficult to kill a bird flying in a bee-line to or from him than one that flew to the right or to the left. When sh