Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1881-03-01

with all the peltries ne had trapped.
That was bad, But was was worse.
there was heavy dew that morning.
and his own trail through the grass
along the bank of the creek must, he
knew, be as plain as pike-staff.
He knew that the Indians would not
fail TO discover his trail, and that they
would follow him like bloodhounds to
his death. II is not strange that our
hunter thought no more of the bear.
and that his merriment was cut short
by this by no means laughable aspect
of affairs.
But Msrkhead was n quick-witted
fellow, not easily alarmed, and while he
lay there watching the Blackleet as they
stealthily approached the place where
his horse WAS picketed, he hit on ruse
for outwitting ttem at their own tao
tics.
Feeling sure that in few minutes
they would be on his track, he slid
down from his perch on the bluff and
ran back to the creek, TO the point
where he had left il in pursuit of the
bear.
Here he resumed his way up the
creek. taking care 10 leave plainly
marked trail through the wet grass.
with here and there footprint in the
mud or sand. Just as If he was leisurely
proceeding along the bank. looking to
his traps.
But he ran on fast, and never slack
ened his pace till he bad covered els
tance OF a. least ten miles fiom the
place where he had seen the Blackieet
the savagcs, on discovering his trail,
would pursue him, but woul d expect TO
ccme upon him a; every trap, and hence
would follow on stealthily. and at no
gIeat speed.
Having thus planned out ten-mile
chase for them. Markhead ran back
across the narrow meadow, and climb
ing the bluffs, made detour for his
camp again, keeping a mile or over
from the creek. back among the sand
hills and cliffs.
Being lcct and praticed runner, he
was not more than an hour and halt
making the trip back 10 the vicinity OF
his camp. among the woods, the
tall tops OF which lie could see at
great distance.
After taking breath a few minutes.
and looking To- his ride, Markhead erept
out among the boulders on the crsg
overlooking the camping place; for he
expected the Indians would leave one
of their number 10 watch the horses.
That one he was prepared to deal with.
From the crag. he soon saw the six
ponies down among the timber. They
were hitched up near his own horse.
Nor was he wrong in his conjecture
about the savages leaving one of their
number with the horses. The packs
had been taken of the ponies backs;
and after looking few moments. he
espied Al Indian sitting in the shade of
bush. on a heap OF buffalo skins and
peltries.
Watching the Indian a little. Mark
head crept down, noiseless rs fox. 10
large cottonwood, rather nearer the
horses, and then. steadying his piece
against the tree-trunk, was just about
10 shoot the unwary sentinel, when the
Indian turned partially, and TO his great
surprise, he saw that it was not Black
foot warrior. but plump and very
comely squaw.
Markhead often admitted that, for the
instant, he was quite nonplussed. he
did not know what 10 do. for he would
not shoot the squaw. At length. hs
gave shout, and rushed toward her.
The squaw bounded from her seat,
and seeing the trapper close upon her.
yelled like pig" as Markhead said,
and started TO run away. Bat she had
not got many yards before MMkhead
seized her by her long hair; at which
the poor woman, thinking, no doubt,
that her last hour had come, crouched
on the ground. and begged piteously, IN
choicest Blacktoot, for the white 70
spare her.
Markhead led her back to the ponies,
and drawing his knifo. intimated to her
by most emphatic cumb show that her
TOD. knot would assuredly come off II
she made the least attempt 70 escape.
With that, the squaw protested. with
every gesture she could devise, that she
would never try TO get away; she
would be like a little dog, and run at
his heels; she would be like the pony's
tail. always al his back, and inseparable
from him.
Finding that her life was in no i'm
mediate danger, the squaw rapidly re-
coye-ei .rnm her frigbt and IN answer
TO signs. gave her captor to understand
that the five savages had gone on his
trail up the creek, just as he had sur
missed they would, and had been so con-
fident that they would find him, that
they had let only this squaw to sit by
the ponies.
Markhead thought over the distance,
and concluding he had a full two-hours
start of them, resolved to take it easy
He made the squaw unpack some cold
venison which they had in one OF their
sacks; and the two strange COM
paniors lunched very conviviallJ to-
gether. for the long run Markhead had
taken had given him good appetite.
Assisted by the squa Y, he next packed