River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1882-03-30
BREAD CAST UPON THE wAlGRs.

ItdIS tADCIlCICC III OA4lSelS5CJ Ah~ wv
friends, named Hurd and Macarthur
made an excursion to Yellowstone
Park, where they spent a month O
rare enjoyment i'll hunting, fishing, anc
viewing the wonderful scenery of 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 a
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 veteran
scouts. They selected their camping
ground with great care in some lonely
place, where the topography of tbs
ground was likely to conceal the as.
cending smoke from any hostile eyes.
They accommodated every new section,
whether mountain, plain, or valley, be-
fore venturing upon or into it. When
ever one discharged his rifle, he inn
mediately reloaded it before moving a
step, Just as they understood Daniel
Boone, Simon Kenton, Kit Carson, and
all that sort of fellows used to do. When
separated for 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
as 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 new
spot of ground only resulted in display
ing themselves to whoinsoever might
be skulking 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 way that
a 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 a
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 q cock halfgrown, and
afflicted with trouble in the throat.
However, the three believed they
were perfect in their parts, and per-
haps it was just as we'll as if they were
IN reality.
One cool, breezy afternoon, they
came to the margin of a small valley,
thickly wooded, and with a clear
stream flowing through the middle
of it.
"Iust the place to go into camp for
a week." said Macarthur, as they rein
ed up their horses to survey the lovely
scene.
"Hold !" 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 so 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.
'It's all right" remarked the doc
tor, when they met again and heard
the reports of his subOrdinates. "Our
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 vaga-
bond Indians"
Each holding the bride of his animal
in his hand, made his way carefully
through the wood, for hundred yards
perhaps, and then came plump on an
Indian camp
The three amateur scouts from Chi
cago were astonished, for they did not
understand how they conld have over
looked this interesting scene. But q
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 case for his ser
vices was before him. A fire was burn
ing against tree, close to the crystal
line stream, from which the warrior Sc
cured all the water he could need, but
lie WIS SunSIluS iAohl oOiAO SCI rus
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
on his blanket, his head resting on his
hand and his elbow on the ground,
while his large black eyes gazed steadi-
" at the three white men, whose APP
proach he had detected before they
suspected his presence.
He did not move, but simply looked
fxedly at them, as though he had
reached that point where he cared not
whether they were friends or enemies.
II they choose to shoot or brain him,
it would only anticipate the inevitable
by few days.
There's case for yOu," said Nc
Arthur, though the prospect isn't good
for a fee."