The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1878-02-28
HUNTING INDIANS.
By J. H. KINKEAD.

Ned Harvey and Jack Hargrave were
two young gentlemen who had just
graduated at a country school-house-
that is to say, they had reached the
highest branch Taught by the rustic
pedagogue, which was Kirkham's Gram
mar. They had mustered novels by the
dozens, and, to use mild expression,
had become enthused. They wanted to
become heroes, and proposed to take the
nearest road to fame,s mighty temple.
Unheeding the wordsof soberness offered
by afectionate parents, who had their
welfare at heart. they turned their faces
to the great West, with the hope of
meeting adventure. The Indian country
was the goal they hoped to reach. The
simpletons thought it would be such a
rare treat to meet and shoot down the
poor aborigines. Even before quitting
the parental hearth stones they at
tempted to jabber " trapper talk" but,
as they made such poor out at 1t, by
mutual consent they agreed to speak
LANGUAGE that was better understood.
With what money they could gather
off place" out West. They fsw past
city, town, and hamlet. The houses be-
gan to grow further apart, and, at last,
the train dashed into Hardscrabble,
which knowing people said would one
day rival London or New York. Our
heroes thought there was room for i'm
provement in Hardscrabble, for very
little had been made. 1t was one of
those paper towns, extensively laid out,
but very sparsely settled; and, in this
particular, it was not unlike our heroes
whiskers, which had been turned free,
but did not come out very brisk.
At the Washington Hotel they lis
tened to trappers talking of the dangers
and privations of mountain life and of
hair-breadth escapes, but, instead of hav-
ing any effect in deterring them from
prosecuting their enterprise, it only in
creased their enthusiasm. They made
application to party of trappers for the
privilege of accompanying them, but
the offer was kindly and respectfully de-
clined. On being pressed for reason
for such an untrapperlike refusal, the
bell-wether of the lot answered that it
was about all he could do to take care of
his own scalp without having green
horn under each arm.
Our heroes were little cut by this un-
kind reference to their verdancy, but in
stead Of dampening their ardor, it was
like throwing oil on the fire.
Come, JACK" said Ned Harvey, eve
will show them that We are able and will
ing to take care of ourselves"
Jack thought SO, too, and at it they
went, purchasing an outfit. Wardrobes
a Ia trapper, were made and fitted tt
their persons by an enterprising tailor.
Two guns and brace of reyelvers, two
knives, with large amount of ammuni
ton, completed the ordnance equip
ment. Some salt and -four were alsC
laid in; but one hundred pounds O
-four could not be carried all day OF
ones back, so an ewe-necked, hammer
headed old pensioner of horse was pur
chased to pack the -four. Last, but no
least of their purchases, was a lot O
medicines, such as laudanum, blue
mass, and few other simple remedies
that they thoughtit would be best to hav
in case of sudden attack of illness.
At last all was in readiness, and the,
struck out on the broad road that lead
to California. For sixty days the,
journeyed westward. They saw a fey
tame Indians by the wayside, an,
sought every opportunity to study thei
habits.
The wild aborigine was their game.
At last South Pass was reached, an,
the tall peaks of the Rocky Mountain
could be seen on the right and l. #. ]
was thought advisable at this point +
laaua tho main rood o.I
northward in search of the Blackfeet
which all noyelists agreed were hostil
race.
The four-sack was getting extremel
low, and they must now begin to depen
upon their rifles. One day they wer
fortunate enough to find a cave. an
here it was determined to halt and fo
tify. The old roadster was put in
little valley to Craze, while they DR.,
ceeded to reconnoiter the hidden recesse
of their new home. 1t was found to
extremely spacious, and extendin
further back into the side of the moul
tain than they cared to fathom. tt
mouth was small, and stone w.
found that just fitted the opening. The
telt themselves safe within the castl
One morning they sailed forth in scare
of game. and in passing by the vale
where the old packnag had been lei
were horri6ed to find only pile
bones, with the meat eaten away. Tn
startling discovery rather unsettlt
them; for if the wolves would attack
horse, would they not attack them, ais
However, they hunted all day; an
late In the evening, Ned Harvey sll
ceeded in bringing down deer. 1t W
the ninth one that had been shot at tn
day. The animal was taken home al
then dressed, and after the entrails b.
been thrown away, all pieces were co
sidered choice, fol. it was not definite
known when they would be able to bril-
down another.
The following day they again salli
forth, and in passing along the marg
Of q ANAL atraan thau d;Saaua-al Z