Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1878-04-18

gentle % 4 kitten. But l tell ye what, Bill,
she's death on lnjuns-aint 70, gal!"
The animal slowly opened it, eyes,
showed It's powerful teeth, and gave . deep
sigh, In answer to the question.
Supper was o called, and AFTER Uncle
Sile had blown Upon his horn, and asked
grace. the party sat down.
AT dawn on the following morning the
horses were harneesed, and the party pushed
out on the long trail toward the north.
ward.
Late In the afternoon, when the horses
and men were alike well.nigh tired out by
the wearisome journey. the wagons drew
en- cdrral upon the crown Of a high ridge.
along the summit Of which ran the road.
AT the base of this rising ground, on one
side, trilled q slender rivulet, the borders Of
which were fringed with long and twining
grasses and diminutive shrubbery.
The camp was made at the lower end Of
the ridge. which rose gradually ahead, so
that in the direction they were going the
path, tor six or seven miles to come, was
upon an up grade.
rock ,ba,hed the landscape In a glorious msn.
tie OF red, and a gentle breeze, just starting
to life. famed the weary travellers back
again to animation, aud preparations were
made for the evening meal.
AS soon as supper was over, the men
we're about IL arrange matters for the night,
when Bill sprang to his feet and called At
tention TO a couple of horsemen approach.
ing at a rapid pace down the ridge.
Deathgrip saw them, too, and growled
~iercely.
"Iujuns. ?" asked Uncle Silc, with his rifle
in hand.
NN~ eIn,,trN r,htt, .,>4~ N,Sr, o~NeN~t
Down. gal, down." replied Bill, motioning
the animal TO be quiet.
As the strangers approached. each
mounted Oh q hardy and feet-footed Indian
pony, the travellers scanned them suspi.
%ciously.
Que of the men was q sparely -built fell
low, apparently 1.-the and active. He wore
q full beard Of tawny hue, was clad in
b~uckskin, aud carried a quantity Of fire.
arms. His eyes, deeply set, we're of q light
gray, bordering on blue, and glanced from
side to side with great uneasiness
His companion was much larger in
stature, but less progressing even than
the first named person. His skin was dark
and habby, and his features denoted sensu
ality and brutal instincts. A shock Of
coarse black hair hung under the brim of
his broad hat, and his figure, like that OF
his friend, was incased in buckskin gar
ments.
When the pair had come within speak.
lag distance, Uncle Sile advanced, let out q
tremendous snort from his horn, and
spoke.
"Who air We, strangers, and what do We
want." he asked, su%spiciously.
I'VE are from the Hills. returning to
Cheyenne" responded the smaller man, in
clear. incisive tones.
whats yer names?"
mine" said the spokesman, lis Jack
Watkins. My partner is known as Chero.
kee Bob"
Come ahead, then, if ye're friends. II
not, ye'd better keep yer distance"
"All white men are friends in this coun
try" observed Watkins, with a laugh, rid.
ing into the corral
"P'raps that's true" remarked Uncle Sile,
.enten,iously "but halfbreeds amt white
men,"
The latter part Of this speech was leveled
at the person styling himself Cherokee Bob
That worthy contented himself with All ug
" scowl at the speaker, and dismounted sui
; lenly.
> > "Well,' said Watkins, THAT'S so. Blu
! my friend Bob does not come from q war
like race. The Cherokees are friendly, 20,
know. Besides, he's my pardner, you see
and that makes a difference"
Possible. stranger, possible. But rex
blood is red blood the world over, an tn
more it gifts mixed with white the wuaser
grows"
Watkins was evidently about to max
some angry reply; but at that moment b
4 caught sight of D~eathgrip lying couched 8
4 her masters feet with her great eyes frml
fixed upon his movements, and he abandon
ed the idea.
~ "What kind Of a thing do you call tina
stranger 2" he asked, in some surprise.
4 "That's . mounting lion. my hucklebel
nv" chimed in Oregon Bill, who had been
a silent and suspicious witness of the foregc
~ ing scene. "She were captured in the wild
Of Abyssinia by my fathers uncle. She
y now three hundred and twenty years ole
and never eats 'cept when she kin git a
Indian for supper"
"Rather singular beast l should say. ]
she ugly?"
a little fond of play"
= Watkins and his dark-skinned friend a.
i supper with a keen relish, and both Bill an
4 Uncle Sile could not help noticing that III
ewes Of the former were too constantly tryin
II to fathom everything about the camp. TIL
llght-haired man, by adroit inquiries. lear,
~ ed that the emigrants we're we'll supple
70 with ammunition and arms, that the trai
contained several barrels Of whisky, togetl
N er with considerable merchandise, and TIL
a all this was guarded by ten men.
"Don't like this thought Bill. "Ther
too much curiosity bout that chap. Don
b'leve he means any good. Hello! what
'e he doin' now"
This last animated question was caused /
Watkins rising to his feet and waikiki
OF among the wagons, looking carefully
everything he could see.
i'll Bill rose, and was soon. beside the int
o, lop<r.
o "see yer, stranger" he said, quietl
to you've bin a askin' all bout our equi
ne ments fer the past half-hour, and Eve =
t. sired yer questions like a gentleman. (:
%, far, 40 good"
n "Well"
"Wal, you've bin in this kentry 10,
er 'nough, / low, to know that in any vaggi
h. train, this kind O thing has its limits. A
to Pm hlooaf ;f I'll allov Won nor M other m,