"If he can, let him take yours and prove it." Eddie remembered well that his father had also forbidden him to touch firearms at all, except when with him; but the boy was naturally proud and wilful, and spite of all the careful training of his parents, these faults would occasionally show themselves.
He did not like to have his word doubted, he was eager to prove his skill, which he conceived to be far greater than it was, and as his cousins continued to twit and tease him, daring him to show what he could do, he was sorely tempted to disobey.
They were slowly walking on farther from the house as they talked, and finally when Dick said, "why, Ed, you couldn't hit that big tree yonder, I dare you to try it," at the same time offering him the pistol, the little fellow's sense of duty suddenly gave way, and snatching the weapon from Dick's hand, he fired, not allowing himself time, in his haste and passion, to take proper aim.
In their excitement and pre-occupation, none of the boys had noticed Mr.
Travilla riding into the avenue a moment before, closely followed by his body servant Ben.

Almost simultaneously with the report of the pistol the former tumbled from the saddle and fell heavily to the ground.
With a cry, "O, Mass Edard's killed!" Ben sprang from his horse and bent over the prostrate form, wringing his hands in fright and grief.

He was his master's foster-brother and devotedly attached to him.
The fall, the cry, the snorting and running of the frightened horses, instantly told the boys what had happened, and Eddie threw himself on the ground screaming in an agony of grief and remorse, "O, I've killed my father, my dear, dear father! O, papa, papa! what shall I do?
what shall I do ?" Mr.Leland coming in search of his children, the men passing the gate returning from their work, all heard and rushed to the spot.

The blacks crowded about the scene of the accident, sobbing like children at the sight of their loved master and friend lying there apparently lifeless.
Mr.Leland, his features working with emotion, at once assumed the direction of affairs.
"Catch the horses," he said, "and you, Ben, mount the fleetest and fly for the doctor.

And you," turning to another, "take the other and hurry to the Oaks for Mr.Dinsmore.Now the rest of you help me to carry your master to the house.