The weekly Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1872-1887, 1875-08-14

cions of the horde that occupied it were
fully confirmed. On the side oIiposite
tho door were two long hunks or shclvc,
we'll supplied with Buffalo robes. In tho
center OF the room was long roughly.
hewcd log.tublc, and around the room
great bundles Of furs, with hero and there
rifle. All plninly' showed that tho us.
tcnsible occupation of tho gang was hunt
ing and trapping. -. .-..,
"Whar do you hold out, stranger, when
you are to humf" asked tho first have
dcscIibod.
"In Illinois"
"llIinoy. Let us sre-that ain Northcr
State, ain't itf' squcaled the man.
at am," l replied, unable to restruin
my mimic powers.
What trail do you foller7" INQUIRED
The old man, gazing very intcntly under
his long, gray cyelnshcs.
VI am telegraph operator, if you de-
sire to know my profession" WIS my re-
ply.
San OPERATOR" eagerly inquired one
whom the gang called Ned.
"Ycs."
at this juncture the old man invited us
up to cat, and the gang assembled around
the log table. The old man, with long
knife, divided a hugo piece of buffalo
meat, anu distributed it, with some hard
tack, to the gang, who atc like veterans.
Shortly afterward the old man brought
on s0mo tin cups, then going to the corner
filled from the cask Il long bottle. On re-
turning to the table he poured into each
cup some of tho liquor. The young man
whom the gang called Ned drank his por-
tion of, and turning his cup upside down,
hc commenced with his fingers to beat
upon 1t piano like. It did not attract
my attention until the old man cried out /:
what in Jerusalem aro you doing with
that thumpingl"
III am trying to get an old tuno back
into my memory. If I could would
sing it to you," replied Ned.
! then gave strict attention, and was
surprised to hear him measure of those
familiar rsoundS-click, clcck, clcck, cIeck,
clicli clcck. In an instant il flashed upon
my mind that this ruffian was an opura.
tor. l turned toward him-our eyes met
there was something in the expression of
his that seemed to say, ~ am your friend"
moved my finger as though was work
ing al operators key, and slowly spelled
out, "Arc you my fricndl" He immodi-
atcly answered, "Yes-b beware watch
me-" did witch him.
Tho gang arose and passed out and
soon no ono remained but the old man.
Ned and myself. While the old man was
busy Ned resumed tho conversation by
sound.
''Wlcro arc you from, and what is your
i' InnIiFn1 fl,r, plS,,I.r
! clicked out in return:
"From Chicago, George -"
Great Heavens! do you not know INC,
GcorGcr' spoke the cup. ~ am Henry,
the one that obtained for you situation
in Chicago"
"ls it pussibIe1 How came you horcl"
asked, with my fingers.
"l went into the army the same time
you did, deserted with number, und
with our horses started to California.
We lost our way, our horses died, and not
having the means Of travelling VIC located
with this old trappor. Since have been
here my comrades have turned into a
band of cut thrOats. You arc in dancer.
Your horse is worth moro than dozen
human lives. Follow my advice, and you
arc safe"
"I will"
"My comrades arc suspicious Of mo.
havo tried to escape three times, and thcy
have ovcrtokcn INC and dragged INC back,
fearing that l would make known their
whereabouts. Your pnrty cannot be far
from here. as soon rs the men come
back say that you wish TO 500 to your
horse before you retire. Go out, mount
him, trnvel the back path. The moon is
now coming up, and you will 10 ablo to
see your road. Keep out nf tho forest OH
the right, md ascend tho hill on tho left,
about two miles distant. In the morning
il your party, arc on this side Of the river,
you can sec Them if they arc within ten
miles. If you find them bring them hcrc,
and let inc escape from these murlcrcrs."
This Ned clicked out on lis cup and
with motions Of his fingers as rapidly as
If hc was talking.
Soon tho men returned, md when the
last ono entered ! asked If they hnd sccn
my horse, and the reply was that ho wns
not At the door.
al will see if he is safe before turn In,
as wish to start early in tho morning"
They nll volunteered to accompany mo,
WV IpaitIcl4 ICIuSCu w pOTtnlL IUcm.
On arriving outside started in pursuit of
Hero. After getting somo distance from
the house | placed my mouth to the
ground and gave n long, low whistle that
Hero was acquainted with. In moment
hc was by my side, and vaultcd on his
back, and without saddle or bridlo I
rushed from tho sCcno Of danger.
| had not proceeded moro than mile
when | discovered Blazing camp fro n
little way IN tho woods. Directing Hero
to tho spot, in short timo was Mt tho
supper Of my comrades. They were glad
to SEQ me, and stated that they wcro in
search Of mo until few minutes before.
! told my adventure over brOicd hen,
nnd II was agreed thut Our party should
mako an nttack on the hut Nt carly dawn
Before tho sun had tipped the hills with
red, tho busy hum Of preparation was
heard in camp, aud in fcw moments we
wcro In front Of tho hut. Ten men wore
posted outside, while ten othcrs entered
with rcvoivcrs ready for any emergency
Tho gang were Nil In their hunks, and
each one nf my comrades chose his man
who WIS warned not to m0vo hand or foo
on pain Of death.
pointed 10 my friend, who was direct
cd to como from hia bunk and 20 outside
Ono by ono tho gang wcrc ordered from
the ir hunks, ard bound 10 tho floor will
strips Of buffalo hide. Our pnrty re-
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