East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1859-08-18
THE HUNTERS RUSE.
A TALE OF THE COLORADO.

1t was the 25th of September, 1852,
when party of us left the upper banks
of the Brazos. bound on buffalo hunt
in the Colorado country; the great table
land rising between these points offering
excellent grazing facilities, and always
furnishing plenty of those "Monarchs of
the prairie"
Our party consisted of ten persons,
principally trappers, and all under the
leadership of an old bear and buffalo hun
ter, named Carl Wayland. One of our
conlrads, however, was n young, hot.
headed Missourian, who, having had some
little experience in the Red River Com
pany on the Lower Kansas grounds,
thought himself complete master of all
the "tricks of the awamp," and thorough
ly acquainted with prairie life. This
vain conceit had rendered Roger Barclay
obnoxious to all the elder hunters and
trappers, and especially so to Carl Way
land.
"Don't let us take Roger Barclay with
us, said one of the trappers, on the morn
ing of starting.
Wayland looked up at the remark, and
singular expression passed over his fea-
lures.
"Why not?" he asked, presently, in a
dry tone.
"Thcres sure to be muss if we do
He can't keep that tongue o his'n still,
an i for one am gettin' near tired o his
pranks," said the first speaker, whose
name was Jack Gadette, a Canadian.
III guess there won't be any difficulty
said Carl, as he slung his long rifle over
his shoulder and prepared to mount.
The rest, being accustomed to follow
Carrs lead, proceeded to do the same
But there was something SO peculiar in
the expression of the hunters face, that
my suspicious were aroused; besides,
knowing his aversion for Barclay | Won
dered at his apparent desire for his com
pany. Gaining his side, said to him
sotto roice
"How is it, Carl, that not liking Roger
YOU still seem anxious for him to accom-
pany usY" %
an tell you when we're alone," he
said, as he observed the object Of the
conversation come out of the camp to
Join us.
The party was soon ready with lasso
and rife, knives and accoutrements, and
we started at brisk canter over the
plains. The morning was one of rare
beauty; the tall grass still waving green
around us, bright sky above, with the
glorious sun kissing the dew from the
white cress pulp, and cleaning on the
damp leaves of the scattered mesquite
We were all apparently in the best Of
spirits, none of us dreaming of any acci-
dent to happen, or supposing for mo-
ment that in few days we should return
one less in number than when we started
out.
The Missourian seemed specially elated
and swore roundly, ere we had ridden
half an hour, that he would kill more
game than any other ono in the party
but we had all become accustomed to his
braggadocio, and paid little or no atten-
ton thereto. Nothing of interest occur
red until noon, the party keeping pretty
well together and the conversation being
general When we paused for our me-
ridian meal, and TO rest our horses be-
meath the genial shade Of a small grove,
Carl Wayland proposed to go in search
of water, and, at a sign from him, ag-
greed TO accompany him.
eyer want to know, lad" he began,
when we had got beyond the reach Of
hearing by our comrads, "why l want
that loud-mouthcd braggart along ~
Exactly" i replied.
eyer aware, s'pose, that / haint got
no good blood for him never had for