Golden Days for Boys and Girls Part 5

And unless several of the tadpoles a.s.sume their final change about the same time, this proceeding is repeated till their numbers are very considerably diminished, or, as sometimes happens, till only one survivor is left, who, having helped to eat all his brethren, instead of meeting with his deserts, is allowed to live on in peace, till some day, in the course of his walks abroad, he, in his turn, is snapped up as a delicate morsel by some hungry snake or water-fowl.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

BE HONEST AND TRUE.

By George Birdseye.

Be honest and true, boys!

Whatever you do, boys, Let this be your motto through life.

Both now and forever, Be this your endeavor, When wrong with the right is at strife.

The best and the truest, Alas! are the fewest; But be one of these if you can.

In duty ne'er fail; you Will find 'twill avail you, And bring its reward when a man.

Don't think life plain sailing; There's danger of failing, Though bright seem the future to be; But honor and labor, And truth to your neighbor, Will bear you safe over life's sea.

Then up and be doing, Right only pursuing, And take your fair part in the strife.

Be honest and true, boys, Whatever you do, boys, Let this be your motto through life!

[_This Story began in No. 22._]

IN SEARCH of HIMSELF.

A Tale of Dangerous Adventure.

BY GEORGE H. COOMER,

Author Of "Arthur Summers," Etc.

CHAPTER XIII.

RALPH MAKES A FRIEND.

Ralph had need of all his courage, as he realized what was before him.

In a low, swampy spot, close under a pile of rock and earth, that rose out of it like a wall, was an animal such as he had never met with until this moment, although he instinctively guessed what it must be.

The creature appeared to be in a complete frenzy of rage. It was covered with mud and water, and with furious motions was trampling down the long, rank gra.s.s which grew about the place.

"A wild boar!" uttered our young friend to himself, with his heart leaping to his throat, as his glance took in the sharp back, the high shoulders, and the immense tusks that curved from the jaws like cimetars.

He had seen pictures of such animals, but had never dreamed how startling the reality would be.

The boar seemed to direct his fury against the ledge which formed the boundary of the muddy and gra.s.sy place where he was raging about; and looking a little above the savage brute, Ralph perceived a something which appeared like a human form in some manner confined among the rocks. He thought the body looked as if partially under a big stone that held it down.

Instantly the thought came to him:

"It must be that a man has got caught there under a rock, which he has pulled down upon himself in trying to clamber up."

Just as this thought entered his mind, he saw the boar give a fearful spring and fall back with what seemed a strip of clothing between his jaws.

The position of the imprisoned man must be awful, and there was not a moment to lose. The next spring might be more successful.

The fierce jaws clashed together with a startling sound, and the huge head was shaken, as if the frenzy of the monster was increased by the possession of that bit of rag.

The prisoner gave another wild cry, and Ralph responded, with all the strength of his lungs:

"I'll help you! I'll help you!"

He was too far off for a successful shot, but he hoped by firing to attract the animal's attention from the man to himself, and then, in case of need, he might retreat into some one of the trees among which he was then standing.

So, taking the best aim he could, he fired both barrels in quick succession. But the boar, except by a furious toss of the head and a single terrible "_Whoosh!_" paid not the slightest attention to him.

Indeed, the efforts of the animal to reach the intended victim became, if possible, more frantic than ever; and Ralph guessed that once, at least, the tusks came in contact with some part of the poor captive's body.

"I can do nothing in this way," he said to himself. "The man will be torn in pieces before my eyes. I must make a bold move and take my chance."

Between himself and the scene of danger there was neither rock nor tree, but only the shallow mud and water, and the rank gra.s.s. The venture would be a desperate one, but nothing less would save the man from a terrible death.

[Ill.u.s.tration: "RALPH'S LEGS WERE KNOCKED FROM UNDER HIM BY THE WEIGHT OF THE HUGE BODY, SO THAT HE FELL AT FULL LENGTH IN THE MUD."]

Ralph had about him sh.e.l.ls containing charges of all descriptions, from fine shot to bullets. Quickly throwing open his breech-loader, he slipped a ball cartridge into one barrel and a heavy charge of buckshot into the other.

Then springing forward, he went splashing across the mora.s.s, with the mud and water almost up to his knees.

"I am no marksman," he thought, as he strode rapidly on, "and shall have to get close to him to hit him; but if he should come at me, I shall have my second barrel, besides a plenty of sh.e.l.ls."

There was some rea.s.surance in this thought, especially as he had two of the spare sh.e.l.ls in his hand, ready for use in case of need.

At a distance of only six rods from the enraged animal, he stopped and brought up his gun.

The boar was not still for an instant, but rushing about in its efforts to get up the rock. He had certainly struck the man, for there was blood on the rock and on the savage tusks. This probably rendered him all the more eager.

"I'll try the buckshot first," thought Ralph, "for they'll scatter a little, and some of them must hit him."

He ranged between the two barrels, and pulled. "Bang!" sounded the report. "Whoosh!" uttered the boar, stopping short in his efforts against the rock, and turning his whole attention upon the intruder.

Doubtless he was. .h.i.t, but perhaps not mortally.

Ralph's gun was again at his face. "Bang!" This time the single ball was sent, but through the smoke of the discharge he saw that the boar was rushing upon him.

An interval of six rods, and a wild hog, six feet long, bounding over it with clashing jaws! How the breech-loader sprang open, and how the two spare charges went into it! What if Ralph had not held them all ready in his hand?