Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1882-03-30
BREAD CAST UPON THE WAlERS.

friends, named Hurd and Macarthur,
made an excursion to Yellowstone
Park, where they spent month OF
rare enjoyment III hunting, fishing, and
viewing the wonderful scenery EOf the
romantic region.
They ranged up and down among
those marvels of nature, acquiring
health and vigor of body, while, as the
doctor remarked, his patients were
probably doing the same thing at
home. There was little specially note
worthy in their experience, with the
exception of one incident, and the gey-
sers, canyons, and other curiosities
ave been described so often that moth
ing of the kind is needed in this place.
There was a spice OF personal danger
about this visit to the Yellowstone
country which undoubtedly gave zest
TO it. There had been more than one
tourist shot by the Indians, and our
three friends were liable to receive q
visit from the same red men at any
time.
Accordingly, they made themselves
believe that they were exercising the
same caution and skill as do veteraE
scouts. They selected their camping
ground with great care in some lonely
place, where the topography of the
ground was likely to conceal the as
cending smoke from any hostile eyes.
They reconnoitered every new section,
whether mountain, plain, or valley. be-
fore venturing upon or into it. When
ever one discharged his rifle, he i'm
mediately reloaded it before moving q
step, just as they understood Daniel
Boone, Simon KentOn, Kit Carson, and
all that sort of fellows used to do. When
separated for a time, they signalled to
each other by initiating the calls of
animals or birds, as IS the custom
among the aborigines themselves; and,
in short, they neglected no precaution
which would have occurred to a party
of forty-niners when prospecting dur
ing the early days, in the Big Horn
country.
1t is true they did not succeed in
these little but important performances
rs the old scouts on the frontiers. 1t
not unfrequently happened that the
camping-site, respecting which there
was unanimous agreement, was the
most conspicuous spot in the whole
section. Their reconnaissance of a new
spot of ground only resulted in display
ing themselves to whOmsoever might
be skullling within it; and it was often
the case that the hasty reloading of the
rifle ended in mixing up the cartridges
and percussion caps in such a way that
II half-hOur was required to get them
into shape again. Furthermore, the
signals upon which they had studied
and practiced so long were rather
unique in their way. Hurd adhered
to the barking of dog. which was
such poor imitation that he would
have been set upon by any strange ca
mines that might be in the vicinity.
Macarthur initiated the growing of q
grizzly bear, as he believed, to perfec-
ton, but it was much closer resem-
blance to the believing of calf; while
Doctor Felix's growing of the rooster
could have been equaled only by the
efforts of y cock halfgrown, and
afflicted with a trouble in the throat.
However, the three believed they
were perfect in their parts, and per-
Laps it was just as we'll as if they were
IN reality.
One cool, breezy afternoon, they
came to the margin of small valley,
thickly wooded, and with a clear
stream flowing through the middle
of it.
''Iust the place to go into camp for
4 week" said Macarthur, as they rein
ed up their horses to survey the lovely
scene.
"Hold I" admonished Doctor Felix,
raising his finger impressively. You
know our invariable rule-we must re-
connoitre it, and remember, boys, we
must do it thoroughly.
There was no denying the wisdom of
this and 50 the three dismounted, Sc
curing their horses to the limbs of
trees, where, if there were any Indians
near, they could have stolen them with
out trouble; and then the trio of scouts,
as they believed themselves to be,
separated and spent an hour in going
over and through the narrow valley
with asmuch careand minuteness as the
leading warriors of Sitting Bull could
have shown.
Its all right" remarked the doc
tor, when they met again and heard
the reports of his subordinates. "0ur
search has been so thorough that a
rabbit could not have ESCAPED us. We
will lead our horses down to the
charming place, and enjoy ourselves
without fear of disturbance from yaga-
bond Indians"
Each holding the bride of his animal
IN his hand, made his way carefully
through the wood, for a hundred wards
perhaps, and then came plump on an
Indian camp
The three amateur scouts from Chi
cage were astonished, for they did not
understand how they could have over
looked this interesting scene. But a
slip had been made somehow or other.
and they were about to turn and seek
safety in flight, When Doctor Felix saw
there was no danger at all, for only a
single Indian was in camp, though, of
course, there were likely to be Others
within CALL
But the professional eye of the physi-
clan told him that s. case for his SER
vices was before him. A fire was burn
ing against a tree, close to the crystal
line stream, from which the warrior Sc
cured all the water he could need, but
he was suffering from some serious
trouble, and evidently had been left to
die alone in the wilderness.
His rifle rested against another tree
near at hand the fire consisted of few
fagots only, and he was stretched out