Weekly Chillicothe crisis. (Chillicothe, Livingston Co., Mo.) 1878-19??, 1880-08-05
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A CLEAN WIPE.

"A party o. r!ElJ nearly iT"PlerS, VINO
were panetrating the Ecayy woodlands Of
northwestern Iowa upon the head waters
Of the Dcs Moines, were cncamped IN Il
cozy valley amid a thick growth of scrub
oak, and under the overhanging branches
Of giant cottonwood, making the
usual preparations fpr the coming night.
Trey were patty Of consolidated trap
pers who were joined together for the pur.
pose Of resting, in hibsrma, upon the Dcs
MONIES, pursuant TO The spring trapping.
they we're joined 10y mu' 'uaI c1n.snt-thc
union # numbers being equally advan-
taccouS to all parties IN securing Il surcr
protection from the Indians, and better
chmca Of supply Of food than single
man could expect to obtain. And the
thcn'cXistjng hoStIitirs of the Indians
towards the whites west of the Mississippi
was sufficient warrant for such precau-
ton, even as cur story will show.
The little business OF the camp was con-
Quoted in the deepest silence, and the
words and actions Of the men betokcned
an evident weight upon the minds of all.
The fire was started in the deepest and
most shaded nook in the valley, and the
fire was carefully watched and retained to
Il certain degree of size and light, it being
barely large enough to cook their evening
meal; and, this having been cooked, what
was most unusual and singular, it was
extinguished.
Only four Of the men slept, and that
with their arms at their sides. Four
watched at different points, peering into
the darkness and listening for the least
sound which betokened the approach or
presence OF a foe. Something evidently
demanded this great care and watchful-
ness on the part Of the trappcrs, and
something important. What was itP
Simply this, there were hostile Indians on
their track-red men, wary and treacher-
Gus, this'y for their blood!
But still the long night passed in the
wilderness, the watches changed, and
none came to disturb the party. As day
approached, and the fist faint streaks OF
light we're dartiug across the eastern sky,
the men arose, and, making their prepa-
rations, were ready again to press onward
to their quarters, known to them as "Aite's
Nook"-a trapper Of that name having
a cabin there-still distant days Jour
nty to the northwest.
Before starting they held brief consul
lation.
"We must take 10 the river and ioller
it, and hev wider range. Them tanal
yallar-skin' hev separated, an one gang
gone aronn' to head US off, and t'other Il
walt,n for en- TO git round; case eff they
want they wud teen onto us last
night"
THAT ere are good reasonin', and |
thinks as Mart are right; but ef we let
out little, and do suthin' in the way NV
trayelin', we may git ahead O. the party,
and leave the ones ahind us 10 wait bit
longer, until they kin meet the others
comm back, and find out as how it want
no 60"
mo, no, 'tain't no use; they war tray
elm all night, while we war snoozin', and
hev II Jig start, an will keep it, too. We
had better foller close on 10 the river, after
making show to make 'em think we
TUX inland"
This plan was adopted. The whole
party started inland, under the guidance
OF Marta wise, experienced trapper-
amid heavy growth Of oak and sugar
tree, and proceeded, perhaps, a distance
OF thirty rods, when Mart commanded a
stop. Leaping upon the shoulders of an
other, he swung himself into the lower
branches of a small white. oak, and bade
the rest to follow. From the white.oak,
he passed, by dexterous climbing, into a
hickory close by; and thus nimbly as a
squirrel, he passed from tree to tree, his
rifle slung over his shoulders, and his
knife between his teeth, at his disposal
for the severing Of an opposing or trouble.
seme limb (which limbs, however, were
'never suffered TO fall to the ground, and