The Home advocate. (Farmerville, La.) 1885-1???, 1885-04-24

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they will come or when they wont
Take it for certain that they ar
alters around, and yon're prett.
safe-barrin' accidents! Now vol
jest turn in with jim there; II
keep watch and wake you whcl
1 hear them coming"
| With these rough bltt kindl,
meant words, garniShed with :
plentiful supply of oaths, which
do not, for obvious reasons, in
troduce, the COW boy lit his pipe
with cinder, and, folding his
arms, tilted his head back in q
good position for listening, sitting
us stOIid and motionleSs as all
Egyptian mummy. Jack, not
feeling much inclined for repOse
after this piece Of good tidings,
tried to get some more convcrSa-
ton out of him, but in vain; the
only reply was grunt and the
gruff advice that lie (Jack) had
better sleep while he could, for he
would not be- liable to get much
for the next week or two; which
advice the boy, not being able to
gainsay, at last followed, soothed,
in spite of himself, 10y the cool and
easy indifference Of the grim wes-
tern man.
Luke sat in the same position
for two hours, occasionally yawn-
ing and stretching his limbs, but
his eyes never relaxing from the
fixed vacant stare, that a man I'M
acquainted with western ways
would have taken to express hope
less imbecility, but which, in real
ity, meant that all his faculties
were concentrated in intent listen
ing.
Suddenly he bent forward, the
vacant stare giving way to a keen,
watchfal look as he nodded his
head as if satisfied, and muttered
some inaudible words to himself, a
sarcastic smile gathering over his
face, which grew until it found
vent in low chuckle of compla-
cency. After waiting a minute or
two he touched the leg of his com
panion, Jim, who noiselessly rolled
over and sat up.
Another minute passed, then
Luke raised his finger in a mean
ing manner, and jim bent his
head forward in the same listening
attitude. lie nodded silently in
acquiescencc, and then said, lacOn-
ically pointing to jack /
awake him"
:<No, not for a SPELL" replied
Luke. "Thay're some way off yet"
Ten minutes more passed by,
the two cowboys sitting like stat
utes. Then Luke shook Jacks |
shoulder gently, to rouse him.
Jack gave violent start, felt for
bis pistol, and didn't tiud it, and |
jumped hastily up.
'aiently man, gently" growled
Luke in a low voice.
"Have they come?' whispered
Jack. /
.:Listen," was the reply.
Jack did so. At first lie heard
nothing. Then from afar off on
the prairie came the weird howl
IF a coyote.
ibid you hear it?' said Luke.
''Hear what!"
''Tlle call of the Indian scout.n
'No, l heard a coyote howl"
"A coyote, OH" said Luke, sar-
~ guess you'd think
he animal that made that noise a
queer sort of coyote. Coyote be
ranged, man! Listen again.
They boy did so, and again
'ear'l the cry Of u wolf, or so we'll
inflated that his Impractical ear
'ould not tell the difference. But
le noticed that the second bark
anne from an almost opposite d.
ection to the first, and sounded as
it were a little nearer.
Then followed another long ST.
ence, more trying to Jack HALL
lays nerves than anything he had
'one through before in his life; he
ttempted to speak to Luke once,
ut the cowboy stopped him with
n impatient gesture. just as it
vas getting insupportahle, and
ack was about to break it at all ,
osts, the melancholy "woo-oon of
he night-owl was heard, not more
han a few hundred yards off, ex-
city in front of the cabin door.
TO be continued i