Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1886-02-04

door and the chinks between the logs
showed me that the craft was kept near
the shore. While the people seemed in
no great hurry to get down the lake,
they kept the scow moving at a fair
pace until we were about three miles
from the place where we had em-
barked. A landing was then made in
the mouth Of n creek, and the scow was
entirely hidden from sight Of any one
on the lake. Hunters and tourists, and |
even small pleasure steamers came up |
from the main river rs far as the lakes. |
IL was mid-afternoon when the boat |
was made fast. The pain and swelling |
had now entirely departed from my |
hand and arm, and the helpless feeling |
which had come over me when first |
captured had given way to determin-
alton to help myself out Of the scrapc.
II ! could get hold OF my rifle ] would
be a match for the whole four of them.
| counted them es four, because the
boy and girl had hunting knives, and
would surely take part In any scrim-
mage brought on. Their looks and ac-
tons proved this. They maintained
their places directly in front Of me, and
their eyes never left me for second.
They held their knives as IL they ex-
pected an attempt to escape, and meant
to tlrust and cut il | tried it.
While the boat was moving there was
no show for me. A score of alligators,
some OF monstrous size, followed us in
procession, and | had but to look out
upon tho lake to realize that 1t was
alive with these fierce reptiles. One
who jumped or fell overheard would bo
seized as soor as he struck the water.
Not word was addressed to me
until the boat had been tied up. Then
the man came i'm, took singlc-bar-
relied rifle from under the other bed.
and, after a few hurried words with the
woman outside, jumped ashore and dis
appeared When he had gone the
woman entered. lighted q pipe and,
sending the boy outside TO watch. She
sat down in his place with the cooked
revolver on her lap. She had face
which betray.d the mind Of beast.
'Well, what are you going 20 do
with meP' | asked, after a while.
Feed you TO the alligators," she re-
piled.
Where has your husband gomez"
ITO kill the other two men,"
"What do you want TO murder ms
forp We have in no way injured YOU"
"Wc was whipped and druv out OF /
the settlements, andwe want revenge"
she growled.
"But we had nothing to do with it."
i protested, in firm tone.
Cant helm that You came poach-
ing on our claim" she answered.
"But wen go away"
81 guess you won't. We never let
any one git away 10 tell on usl''
said nothing further, but l by no
means looked upon myself as a dead
man. II worst came to worst | would
give them fight 1 could not movo
then, with knife aEd bullet ready for
me, and deemed il wiser to settle back
and bidc my time.
The man had been gone about half
IN hour when the faint report OF n rifle
'Tmc 90 us through Che trees. The
fomsn had been listening for il, and I
p d came she gave q starl and cried
lhere gee opl Of gm !
"NhoP asked. 3
'bne ~ your partners. Dan has q
rupped hnn for sure [
There was such a hendish. blood q
iirsty look 0n her face that / was APP b
alied, and the same expression, TO I
oriun de rrce, rested on the faces of
ll hildreR. Like dog. they licked :
leir chops In sniiGraiion " bloody '
snst W about hali on hour the man I
ppcared iic had a bundle Of clothing 4
q one hind aud two rifes and re- d
Oliver IN tie other.
Gli one.' The 1Joman ask ked. AZ he
ame aboard the angsinly craft. =,
Yos v
" Difn' ga the b0th?"
No. The other got away. I'll eit
i'm to-mo14r, Ac replied. e
"Git much?" d
"LOts." q
He had in his hand the suit Of clothes ;,
lie and revolver belonging to one # !,
" mcn-GeOrge Sheen, Of Mobile "
here were blood-siains on the cloth-l
y, and as he unrolled the bundle I 81
NV bullet.hole through the vest. Hs Q
nd killed the man and then strippcl !,
i'm stark naked. Yes, he had boots. =.
)eks, hat. collar, everything. The d
ther man was Robert jackson. Of Chi y
ago, who had worked with me for "
ears. He had not got" him. Whyp p
ackson WAS well armed and a brav. 70
ian. II he had been present at the ID
iooting Of Sheen he would not havs II
m away. Sheen had an old-fa,hioHed | z
Hei jackson had n Winchester. He p
.ould4n turn have killed the outlaw. q
ie two men must have been separr- d
!, and the outlaw musth have ambusbal 9
leen. "
Leaving the children 70 watch nc b
Ie man and woman now cast the sectv p
ose and pOled her out about three d
lndrcd feet from sAore. The sun wa, ol
,tting well down, and our side Of nd W
Ike was in deep shadow. When tha Di
ow had been anchored by stone. th, ?,
'ir inspected the personal property Pl
"a counted the money taken from the W
eum. The outlaw then washed the al
0od from his hands.
When they entered the cabin, or 70
use, the woman produced some cold
eat and hoecake and threw hunks 20 M
ch one, including myself II was IN
ly after the provisions had disap- VI
ared,l eating mine with the rest, thai ei
o man addressed me. IA
''Sec yere, stranger" he said, "what ca
ought you up yere?" n'
''Looking over lands, replied. u'
,'Um! Who be you?" p
told him. ~
Didn't count on seein' Black Dan. "
eckonP" he sneered. 70
''No. Rl
(Which is unforiunit fur you. I've
led every land hunter who ever s0t
on my claim, and I'll keep KILN,
re-. -
I'VE didn't come here to disturb or
noy you" ! said.
IT'S jist the same thing. I'm down
me hull human race fur the way
e bin used, and III kill Whenever