The Wahpeton times., 1888-06-21

stop. with an exclamation of sur
prise.
"What's the trouble-do you see
him?" those behind him asked.
A few yards in front of them
there was a black object in
the trail. The first thought
was that it was Tom. As they slow
ly advanced q low growl showed their
mistake. Then the black object be-
came two black objects. One moved
slowly away, growing, while the other
did not move. The one that lay so
quiet was a dead bear-the other was
a. live one, and much the larger Of the
two.
"Now how this bear got killed since
we went along hereis what beats me, !"
said Sandy.
"P'raps the kid shot it," suggested
one of the cowboys.
"P'raps nothing." exclaimed Sandy,
contemptuously. "He didn't even
have shot sun-and if he had, he'd cut
and run at sight OF bear meat walking
round"
A closer examination as we'll as they
could make by moonlight, showed the
bear was young one. aud that there
were several bullet holes lodged pretty
closely together just back of the fore.
legs.
"We'll have to give it up now and
guess the rest OF it some other time
That old she bearis tightingmad-and
sheis making for the canyon just where
Tom is. Ireckon the quicker we get
there the more comfortable it will be
for the kid"
With that they made dash down
into the bed of the stream, up the
steep bank on the other side, and then
straight for the black opening in the
mountain. When they drew rein the
bear was Just ahead of them, and
disappeared with angry threatenlngs,
as though she was more than half a
mind to turn and fight the whole
crowd OF them.
Here was the spot where Tom had
been stationed; here, too, was the bag
with the hoopholding open the mouth,
and the torch but partially burned
but Tom was nowhere to he seen.
They shouted at the top of their
hoarse echo that Knocked them from
the black recesses of the canyon be-
yond.
"Tm not at all scared. boys"
said Sandy, at last, "but the
kid amt here, and he amt at the
ranch. It looks nightly as though
he had been stampeded by bears, and
the old one himself only knows where
he'd fetch up if there was q bear after
him, or he thought there was. But he
must be somewheres, and that's the
spot we've got to discover"
| After a short consultation it was
decided to divide into two parties, one
to go through the canyon and the 9TH
er to follow the bed of the stream up
and down for q good distance. Which,
ever found Tom was to come back to
the starting point and wait for the
particularly anxious to return to the
cabin and face the superintendent
without the boy along with
them. Sandy headed the party
that went through the canyon, while
q cowboy named Briggs was in charge
OF the other. And it must be confess
ed, there was not a man OF them who
did not feel q little nervous Us to what
had become of Tom, particularly
since they found the bears.
1t was after two O clock in the morn
ing that Briggs and his men returned
to the canyons mouth. Their search
had been fruitless. Shortly after Sam
dy's party came riding up.
"You found him didn't you?"
"Iou've got him?"
Sandy and Briggs spoke in the same
breath as they met. There was blank
dismay when Sandy said they "hadn't
seen hide or hair OF the kid or the
horse.'
There was nothing for it now but to
go back to the ranch and report. 1t
would soon be daylight, and then they
could easily Ground him up"
1t was anything but a cheerful par
| ty that drove up to the cabin, not
little tired from lack of rest and sleep,
and good deal worried as to their re-
ception by the superintendent. TO
put it in PLAIN English, they felt asham-
ed Of the miserable trick they had tried
to play on Tom, and were scared at
the unexpected result of it.
Spencer was lying down, but reused
up do LuCy cuCcIcu, LII luOlc HltlcClJ
than was their habit.
.""strikes me you have been keeping
&that boy out mighty late-been play.
ling some more OF your confounded
trick, on him, l suppose, said Spencer.
sleepily.
"Then the kid amt here" said
Sandy, gloomily, as faint hope that
he might have possibly returned, was
thus summarily disposed with.
"What do you mean?" demanded
Spencer. now springing to his feet.
"Where is Tom? Why didn't he come
III with you"
"The fact is," said Sandy, che didn't
stay where VT told him to, and he's
kinder strayed away, and as soon us
it's light we'll 60 out again ana find
him." Then, in q grieved tone. he
added, 81 don't see why q kid can't
do as he's told to-then 'twould have
been all right"
"What's all this racket about? Why
can't you keep quiet and give o fellow
a chance to sleep?"
The voice came from top bunk at
the back side of the cabin. The men
stared in blank astonishment as they
saw TOMS head stuck out over the
edge OF the bunk, while he gaped, rub
bed his eyes, and then remarked:
"Yes, Sandy, l am just about as
scared now as can be-"
If there ever were silly looking lot
~e ~ -. ~: