The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1871-07-22
mtsreIlanp.
A CAMPFIRE YARN.
Old .DOe's Str0lagcls.
BY RALPH RINGWOoD.

canyon yander," and he pointed to where the
mountains were split asunder, showing a deep
mouthed chasm that penetrated deep into their
sides.
YES, Joe. see" replied Capt Hays; "but
Low the deuce We are to pass there without
alarming those on the top don't see. Look at
that Indian squatted in the mouth of the gully.
How are We to pass him y
II hev got by wuss difckilties nor this, cap'n,
ana durn my old feathers, eff don't b'leeve we
kin luss sarcumvent this 'un. Whars Pedro Z"
The word was passed from mouth to mouth,
nd presently half.breed, carrying in his hand
coiled lasso, answered to the repeated calls,
and came out of the chapparal.
As the opening remark of the trapper would
indicate, We were in difficulty, and wanted to
find way out of it.
AT that time l had linked my fortunes for
the occasion, with the band of rangers under
command of the famous Jack Hays, and we
were then penetrating into the Blackfoot coun.
try with the intention of surprising one of their
principal villages, where. we had been told sew
cral white women and children were held cap.
tive.
The time chosen for the expedition was at the
opening of the hunting season, when, according
to the custom, the warriors and young men,
with few exceptions we're absent on the plains
in pursuit of game. We had Travelled rapidly
since starting. and were satisfied that, as yet, no
alarm had been taken by the savages
But an unexpected difficulty had suddenly
sprung up before us.
We had approached the village from the north
and found the only was of access to it-namely,
by the canon guarded by strong picket of the
enemy.
by strange oversight, the rangers had neg.
lected to take into consideration, that on such
occasions, this pass was always guarded.
The village lay in a valley on the northern
side OF the range, and was inclosed, or nearly
so, by dense forest of pine and chspparal, into
alarm, taking their captives with them, and
thus defeat the object OF the expedition. The
main body of the picket occupied the summit of
the cliffs that walled the canon, while one of
their number kept watch at the entrance.
Should this one give the alarm, it would be
caught by those above, and by them signaled to
the inhabitants OF the village.
Hence it became necessary to pass this senti.
mel. or else make detour of more than forty
miles, and that with the chance of running into
some one of the hunting parties.
We had approached the canon under cover of
belt Of timber, and there halted to consider
the means Of getting rid of this serious obstacle
Between us and the canon lay an open strip
Of prairie, without brush or brake to afford COW
"r in approaching, perfectly level, and running
clear up to the base of the cliffs; but just in
front of the chasm there grew an immense live.
oak, its gnarled and twisted branches reaching
far out on every side, perfectly straight, until,
by their own weight, the extremities slightly
dropped toward the earth; and perhaps this
might be made available
Such, at least seemed to be old Joe's idea, as
was indicated by the question he put to the
Mexican vaquero.
"Do'ee see that tree, Pedro Z" he asked, point
ing to the oak.
Isl" was the concise reply.
"Yes, reckin. Well, do'ee think es how yur
cold handle tibet tariat up 'mong ther limbs ?"
asked the trapper.
For an instant the vaquero paused, and then,
as though he had caught the trapper's meaning,
he quickly answered:
Yes, yes! I see. You mean sol" and the
Mexican held the lasso aloft and permitted it to
drop directly downward.
you've guessed it, Mexy, by lingo !" exolaim.
ed tire trapper; "but do'ee think yur kin drab
the ring squar over the nggers top knot ?"
Receiving the assurance that the thing could
h" done, the two sot about carrying the project
into effect
IA yet l could not SEQ the manner in which
the .ariat was to be used, nor did any of the
Others, save the two mentioned.
knew the rope could not be thrown with any
degree of certainty from amid the thick branch
rs and foliage of the tree and tho Indian senti-
mel who was seated at least twenty or thirty feet
beyoud the outer limits of the longest arms.
How then was no to be reached? was soon
Ia see.
Cautionng the captain tn keep the men close
ly under cover, Old Joe and the Mexican-the
latter carrying his lasso ready coled- threw
themselves fiat upon the earth, and began "snak-
ing" it upon their bellies through the grass to-
ward the tree.
Twilight had already settled over the scene,
and in the dimness it was to be hoped that the
two might reach the tree unobseryed
Could they pass the first third of the distance,
they would be safe from view of those upon the
cliff Tho dense foliage of the oak would then
toe between them and their enemies. After that,
ny placing the huge trunk in a line with the
watcher below, they could advance in security
The dangerous part has been passed in safety,
and now the trapper rises upon his hands and
Knees, and in this manner, closely followed by
the vaquero, he advances more rapidly.
In five minutes they reached the foot of the
tree, and, rising, stand close against the ru rged
trunk.
The trspper is seen to ascend first, reach down
aud take the lasso AID then the Mexican draws
h'm.elf upward, and both are lost to sight amid
the thick foliage overhead.
Nothing remains for US to do but to wait and
watch.
We all knew the extraordinary skill, the
houndless resource Of Old Joe, and feel assured
that his mission will not fail. So great 10 the
confidence that zee on every side-the rangers
looking TO their arms. that they may be in read.
mess. while some have gone back into the chap.
pirhl to nouut. or coil the lasso by which their
horses have been fastened.
They know the read will be open in few