“Can’t you put a stop to it, papa?” she asked.
“I, child? I put a stop to it?” he returned, smiling slightly with amusement. “You may well believe that if I had the power I would need no urging to exercise it.”
“I’m sure I wish you had, papa,” said Max. “But as you haven’t, I’m afraid we may be obliged to fight one of these days to rid the country of that tyrannical Mormon hierarchy that is aiming to destroy our free institutions.
“So, Lu, you will do well to make the best of your opportunities to learn the use of firearms; for there is no knowing how much help we men and boys may need from the women and girls, if that tug of war comes,” he added, suddenly dropping the serious tone in which he had begun and adopting a sportive one.
“You needn’t make fun of us, Max,” she retorted, “for I’m sure women and girls have sometimes done good service in time of war.”
“I willingly acknowledge it,” he said; “history gives us a number of such instances. They have carried dispatches at the risk of their lives, concealed and befriended patriots when pursued by the enemy, taken care of the sick and wounded soldiers, made many sacrifices for their country, and in some instances even put on men’s attire and fought in the ranks. Perhaps that last is what you’d like to do,” he wound up, laughingly.
“No, I wouldn’t,” she said; “but I think I could and would do the others if there should be any need for me to.”
“I believe it,” her father said, “because I know you are both courageous and patriotic. I will give you this when you have learned how to use it,” he added, taking a small, silver-mounted pistol from his pocket and putting it into her hands. “It is not loaded, and you may examine it and learn all you can in that way, while we are waiting for Mr. Short to come. He will bring the target and set it up in the shade of those large trees down yonder by the river, where we can shoot at it without danger of a stray shot striking where it might harm any one or any thing.”
Mr. Short came presently, the little party repaired to the designated spot, and the two girls took their first lesson in the use of the pistol.
At first their bullets went wide of the mark, but after a number of trials they were able to come pretty near it, and were told they did very well—all things considered.