River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1882-03-30

supporting his head on his elbow, stared
at him without speaking.
DIR. Felix discovered that the Indiar
was suffering from most violent at
tack of fever. No doubt the poor fel
low, as well as his friends, believed i
was smallpox, as it was accompanied
by an eruption; but the experienced
physician saw at once that the CASE
was of an ordinary character-thougf
the fever was blazing one-and there
was no necessity for his dying.
The warrior, who was a splendid
athlete, believing he was to die the
painful and loathsome death which
has carried off such multitudes of his
race, placed himself by the side of the
stream, where he could get all the colo
water he wanted, and, with the stoicism
Of his people, calmly awaited the last
agony.
DR.. Felix brought forth the neces.
sary drugs from the scanty supply and
gave the Indian "heroic" dose enough
to kill or cure a couple of ordinary
men. The patient, like all of his race
| believed that the medicine of the white
man was capable of miraculous cures,
and he would have swallowed it I'M
hesitatingly had he known that it was
the oil of vitriol or the spirits OF anti
mony.
Macarthur and Hurd were fearful for
time that their professional brother
had displayed too much enthusiasm
and that the medicine would only
hurry and finish the work of the fever
They assured him, however, that they
would keep the matter quiet, so that
it might not be used against him
should he ever put up a sign and seek
to establish himself in the Yellowstone
region.
But Doctor FeliJ understood what
he was doing, and, though the poor
Indian was sick nigh unto death all
through the night, decided and favor
able change came at daybreak, when
he broke into free perspiration, and
fell into a sound refreshing slumber.
Such strong organizations rally quick
ly, and it was about the middle of the
forenoon when the savage rose to the
sitting position, and sat for a moment
looking intently at the doctor, who
smilingly returned his gaze.
"Now, if understood his tongue, OF
he mine," said the physician, COR we
could unite on Spanish or German,
would like to question him little"
Just then the savage seemed to get
his bearings, and with one bound he
landed on his feet, emitting terrific
shout, and darted away like a deer,
vanishing on the instant in the wood.
"That's a mean dodge to get rid of
paying his fee," said Macarthur. "He
ought to be ashamed of himself"
"Not at ALL" the doctor fastened to
reply. Gle has left his rifle behind
him, and that will certainly pay me
WELL"
Such was the fact, indeed; for the
weapon was fine one, and, by COM
mon consent, it was taken possession of
by the physician, who had been the
means of working such radical cure
in the sick warrior.
The incident was regarded as an
amusing one, as it certainly was, but
the three hunters thought no more
about it. They avoided all reference
to the Thorough reconnaissance" they
had made of the place, for they could
call to mind nothing of which to feel
proud.
The location, however, was so pleas
ant that they stayed two weeks instead
of one, spending the time in fishing,
hunting, or lolling about under the
shade, reading the few books they had
brought with them, smoking their
meerschaums, or doing the hours
away.
On the day preceding the one fixed
upon to start back to civilization, they
had not seen hostile Indian, and were
congratulating themselves on the ex-
tremely good fortune that had attended
them from the first. 1t was not yet
dark, but cool breeze was blowing
down from the distant mountains, rem
dering the slight warmth of the fire
very agreeable. They had cooked and
eaten their supper of fish, and were
lolling about the fire in languid atti-
tudes, smoking their pipes and talking
of nothing in particular.
The three friends felt like congratu-
lating each other on the good fortune
that had attended them ever since they
entered the Yellowstone region.
1t is due entirely to the knowledge
and care we have shown" remarked
Doctor Felix, airily. "You know l
have insisted on our using woodcraft
at all times"
"You are undoubtedly right" as
scented Hurd, with scarcely less lofti-
ness. Many folks talk as though it is
a wonderful thing to outwit the red
men, forgetting that the race is an in
ferior one by nature, and all we eau
casians have to do is to use our brains"
This was said with a positiveness
which showed that the speaker felt no
as to his own supply of that
article.
81 agree with you," added Macarthur,
" for it is by brains we have been saved,
where others have failed and gone
down."
The doctor, as the head of this mu-
tual admiration society, deemed it
proper to add:
al have heard so much about the
dangers of the Yellowstone region, and
about the necessity of having a guide!
Why, we each and all would be compe-
tent to guide any expedition through
the country, no matter how dangerous.
| don't believe the most stealthy Indian
could get within gunshot of our camp
without every one of us detecting his
approach"
The physician paused in rounding up
his period, for, just then he saw, in the
gloom behind the camp fire, the figure
of bent Indian, as he reached out and
gently confscated the doctors rifle,
leaning against the tree.
Macarthur, quietly smoking, was
awaiting the conclusion of the doctors
observation, to add something in the
same line, when he became aware that
the clump of bushes imm ediately be-
yond, and upon which he was absently
gazing, partly sheltered several crouch
ing warriors, while Hurd did not mis-
take the outlines of the sinewy form
which, slowly rising from the ground,
obtruded between his vision and the
starlit sky beyond.
While the three sat speeches., seven
r i