Madison times. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1884-1???, 1885-03-14
THE ELK RUNNERS.
Between n White Man and n Half
Breed Indian.


In the year 1918 the Missouri Fur
Company had a post below council
Bluffs, named Fort Lisa, after the gentle
man who had established it. There was
much comp ttion in the trade at that
time, and it was great point to select
the very best men for running.
Mr.. Lisa had with him young Ken
tuckian, named D., fine, daring fellow,
with frame of iron, the speed of an os-
trich and the endurance of a camel.
He was fortunate, moreover, in the re
tention of balf.breed, called Nal Beuf,
who Notwithstanding his name (bad
beef, was considered of hardly Jess mer-
it than D., and between the two men,
consequently, Keen rivalry existed.
D..had travelled, on foot from Blackbird
Hills to Fort Lisa, a distance of ninety
miles, in thirteen hours. Nal Beuf, also
boasted some astonishing ieats of bot
TOM" and both were stationed at the
fort during the time We speak of, for the
purpose OF providing vension.
One evening in July, the weather ex-
tremely warm, the grass high, and the
Post were unfinished with meat; the
two men were playing at cards, when
their employer came up, reproached
them with their negligence, and order
ed them to start, the first thing in the
morning, on a hunt. Obedience was
promised, of course, but the game con-
tinued, each moment growing more des-
perate, the spirit of rivalry pervadIng
their hearts in every thing, till, finally
morning broke as the half-breed declar-
ed him elf TO be brc ken.
They fell asleep on the spot, and the
sun was well up when MIR. Lisa, inform
ed of the case, again approached, in no
pleasant humor, it may be supposed,
cursed, sacred and carahood until the
delinquents, fully aroused and little
ashamed, took their guns and started
out for Papilion Creek, on the edge OF
the prairie, about five miles off. There
they discovered herd of elk, when the
Kentuckian suggested plan to approach
which would enable them to get good
shot. The half-breed, ranking at his
companions LUCK the night previous, OBJ
served sulkly:
81 don't kill elk with my gun, but
with my knife
The pluck of the KeRtuckian was
aroused in an instant, rightly interpret
ing the vaunt as challenge to trial o
speed, and bottom, and on his sayin:
proudly what his companion could do
he could do also, both hung their guns IL
a tree, and approaching the elks as neal
as possible, they suddenly raised thu
Indian yell. which had a mcst paralyz
ing effect upon the ami mails.
Off they went across low prairie, {
few miles in width, leaving their pur
suers far behind; but steadily the lattel
continued their pace, nevertheless. They
reached the ascended--crossed-
their minds, "never to say fail" Leagu,
after league the chase and race contin
ued, the men painting like hounds, cool
ing their mouths is crossing an occasion
al branch, by throwing up the waite
with their palms, but still unpausing
until approaching Elk Horn River,
distance of twenty miles, by mutua
agreement they took curcuit with al
increased speed, got ahead of the elk
aud effectually prevented them iron
crossing.
Leagues and leagues upon new tracl
the chase continued. the animals at thi
time so exhausted by heat, Thirst. an
above all, fright-for the hunters ha,
necessarily sent forth their yel!s, in thi
case as much a scream OF mutual def
anCe as an artifice OF the chase, that the
scarcely now exceeded their pursuel
in speed; the latter furied and madden
ed with excitement, redoubled their e
forts, until the elk, reaching a privat
pond, or sink, the hunters at their heel
plunged despairlngly in, lay down an
abandoned themselves, needless of a
else, to the qualification of their thirs
The frantic rivals, knife in hand dashe
in after their prey, began the work ,
slaughter, pausing MT till they Ina
bulchered sixteen elk, dragged thel
from the water, and cut them up, an
prepared the meat for transp )rtatlon
to the fort, whittier they had to retur
fol- horses.
Had the victory ended? Mol f
victory or death was the inward dete
minatlon and as yet neither had give
way. Off dashed again the inGomitab
balf-breed, and at his side the unyiel
ing Kentuckian. Ridge and hollo
stream and timber there was no yiel
ing now-in desperate silence were |,
behind.
The sun was sinking-blind, stacgeril
on they went. They reached the 70
hsggard, wild and voiceless, as from t
fires OF the savages, the gauntlet of t
tends. A crowd gather, round t
exhausted men, who had arrived toget
er, and now fainting, still side by sic
a long time before they were enabled
signs and whispers to tell that they b
run down sixteen elk, and yet could
say which was the best mani
This feat brought upon ID. an Affect
OF the lungs, nor did he recover
strength for several years. He is 81
alive-a quiet and influential citiz
Nal Boeut became very dissipated a
died III short time. Our informs
tells us that he has made an examinati
of the country forming their race trs
himself, and that they, without exagg
alton, must have run seveDty-five mi
between the hours of s a. m. and z D.