The Home advocate. (Farmerville, La.) 1885-1???, 1885-05-01
Camp Life on the Prairies.
Chapter V.
By A. II. P.

One-tlle sharp ''click' Ola pisto
being cooked: and, turning quickl.
round, he saw Luke carefully ex
aiming his (Jack's) missing re-
vOlvcr; another minute or two
passed. when with startling dis
tinctness, that sent thrill of hor
rOr through the boys frame, came
the answering signal "wcoo-oo
OOO."
lie kept his eyes fixed upon tie
two cowboys, who, in spite Of the
nearness Of the danger, preserved
Il calm, deadly sort of coolness
seen in men, the circumstances Of
whose everyday existence in this
world are so precariOus and sc
little worth having, that they look
with intlitfeirnce-nOt to say com.
placency-at the chance Of being
transported to another. Luke.
noticing the young lier(cr's ago
nized look of inquiry, said quick
ly:-
"We'll let'em get a bit closer
first, l might put hole through
one of the brutes tl,en.'
Another period of silence passed,
and Luke crept out of the cabin,
panther-like, OH hands and knees.
A second more, and the loud
report of the pistol rang out on
the still night. Another and an
other followed. The other two
men crOuched near the door, knife
in hand, listening for an answer
from the Indians. But Luke reap
peared Immediately and reloaded
the revolver, cursing his illAuck at
having hit 10 one. He then step
ped outside again and listened
intent!y, with his ear close to the
ground. Apparently satisfying
himself that the Indians had aban.
doned the attack, he quoted the
startled sheep, and, coming brisk
~ back into the cabin, said, with
sigh of relief
"Well, boys, guess that fool
ery's over for tonight. There
won't be any mole of'em scootin'
round for the next twcnty-four
hours anyhow, so we can jest nat
orally turn in, and sleei, like over
worked niggers. Let's have a
share of that Calilorny blanket.
will you. cap'n 2" turning to Jack.
t'l'm not goin' to keep awake any
longer for all the Indians from
here to the Gulf of Mexico. Good
night
So saying, the young man spread
Jacks blanket so as to make room
for them both, and in two minutes
was sound asleep. Needless to say
that Jack found it impossible to
follow this good example. He
tossed and turned, grew hot and
cold alternately, and fincied every
minute that he could hear again
the Ominous signal of tho Indian
At last the night came to an end
and the bright morning sun seem
oil to carry away the weight of
that had Cypress our
llertler so heavily only a few hours
before. The three men rolled out
Of bed, jack to prepare break fast; 7
and the other two to see after their
ll0rses--stake6 out close to camp
the night before. Luke soon re-
and at once took charge of
the cooking department, frying
slices Of bacon and baking bread
with the dexteritv Of an old hand.
Jim. meanwhile, herded the sleep
until the preparations were con
)lndel. when he was recalled to
amp by stentorian "Texan eIl7
from his cOmrade.
Breakfast over, Jacks visitors
brought up their horses and pre-
pared to depart. Jim, the man of
ew words, merily gave Jacks hand
! hard grip, and mounting hispony
With 4 simple "Adios," struck off
It q briskewalk towards the near
st fiohtier town. Luke, however,
'tepped up, and laying his hand
N Jack 3 shoulder gave him this
'arting ADVICE
"Well, lad, I'm afraid You'll have
tough time of it; those red devils
gill come to have a peep at you
norm once; on moonlight nights ;
on will never he certain that they {
int around. You keep that six
hooter Of yours handy, and pop I
q when coyotes and owls begin to /;
It troublesome. But mind this,
ack . he said in conclusion, fixing
Is eyes upon the boys face, and j
peaking with that slow. distinct, 6
rawling delivery used by the t
estern man when he wishes par
10 press something upon Il
'nr attention, 'smind this, 1 say. b
thOss ERE Ute Indians should J
ovid y0l1 s0me fine night, through I
n a !. =