The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-05-09
.,,,,..u for TH. ARxAnsAw TRAvxLxR.
 THEM scIENTIFIcALS."
sY D. W. CURTIS.
cHAprER l.

Not 90 very many years ago the pres ent thriving states of Wisconsin and Minnesota, together with an indefinite ,yact of land to the westward and known ou the map as the northwest territory, vas an unbroken wilderness inhabited by rowing tribes of savage Indians aAd wild beasts. A few military stations, which generally proved to be in time the nu- deus of some future settlement, were met with at long intervals. These posts were the advance guards of civilization as it were, and gave protection and relief to the few settlers who ventured so far from the comforts and saiety of old settled communities.
 On bright day in June, IS45, two white men were walking in the forest few miles from Fort Liberty, small mill itary post in what is now a populous state. The fort was in charge of Colonel Fitch, an experienced Indian fighter, and a universal favorite not only with the sol- diers, but with civilians as well. The ap- pearance of the two men was very dis similar, one being tall, weil-knit indi- vidual of the leather-stocking type made memorable by the pen of Cooper, and which are yet to be met with, allowing somewhat for the change of place and customs in our northwestern country. They differ somewhat from the southern or "piain" variety Of aunies, ;ae Sa..:s horse, half-alligator style, ascribed to Davy Crockett, and now carried out by the "Buffalo Bills" and COW boys o. Texas and Colorado. The dress of the hunter in question was the usual half civilized suit of buckskin generally worn by his class. It was rudely ornamented with fringe of the same material, and his coon-skin cap bore the animals "brush," as plume. He carried short, heavy rife, and was supplied with pow der.horn and bullet-pouch, the day of improved cartridge-loadirg rifles not having arrived. A good humored smile, a pleasant glance of his gray eyes and the firm cast of his features betokened a kind but resolute disposition, indomitable courage and intense loyalty to friend.
 The name of our backwoods hero, for hero he was, ofcourse, was Sam Hunt not Samuel, but plain Sam." Not a very imposing cognomen, but the lengthening of it, or the addition of Mister was indig- nantly resented by him. He was wont to say on such occasions that Nam and dad both licked me by the name of Sam, l courted Bessie Hicks by the same, an she sacked me by it fur another feller, l hev lived by it and fought by it, all my life, an allow. Twill die by it; don: keer fur any of your store names,' they are like store clothes, may do fur settle ments, but if you want to stay friendly, call me Sam Hunt, or Sam, fur short"
 Sam's companion on this occasion was soldier belonging to the garrison at Fort Liberty. He had been out with a number of others but being a raw re- cruit, had strayed from his companions, and luckily falling in with Sam, was now on his way back to the fort, the hum ter himself being on his way there to in form Colonel Fitch of a reported rising of the savages.
 Mike McCafferty, the name of Uncle Sam's "boy in blue," was as bold as most of his pugnaciously inclined coun- trymen in fair stand up fight, where he could see his foe, but the solemn. weird stiffness of the vast forest awed him, and the knowledge of the existence of possi- ble unseen dangers had such an effect on his nerves that he was praying loudly when discovered by the scout, who did not fail to show his contempt for man who showed fear when possessed of loaded gun.
 " Hurry up, Mike, we'll never get to the fort if yer lift yer feet like that"
 "Troth, thin, its heavier each moment there getting, if a g'nent of the rid divils were after us l couldn't move faster," was the reply.
 "Tired, ar ye? Shouldn't wonder with all those gov'ment fixtures. But let's save our breath, we'll be wanting it, praps, afore long,"
 They trudged on silently for mile or two further, the scout modera.ing his pace to suit his companion, but sud- denly he stopped, and gliding behind . tree, motioned to his companion to do the same.
 "An' fwat's the matter p whispered the soldier.
 Hush, injuns around l" replied Sam, ye want to keep that red hair or