Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-06-04
MULE SAGACITY.


 was one of the first of the hunters and trappers who made headquarters at Fort Laramie. and as that post was established fully thirty years ago, you rest assured that the man who went out by himself had to run the gauntlet of danger every hour in the twenty four The spirit of all the Indian tribes been broken during the last de- cade. but twenty five years ago each western tribe was at it's best, and no man was looked upon us a warrior unless he could shake the scalp of a white man in the face of his chal- lenger
 1t was against such willy foes, not one of whom had the least mercy in his heart for white man. that the hunter and trapper of years ago had to pit his craft and judgment. Scores of them yielded up their scalps in the struggle but others beat the red man at his ovu game. It wasn't so much for the value of the belts which the hunter would acquire, but there were men who loved the feeling of Hanger and the wild, free life. The best of the trappers hardly came out even at the end. but, unless rubbed out or laid up, they never changed the avocation for one less dangerous.
 While it seemed the height of folly for me to head for the Niobrara river, over 100 miles away. stark alone and right into the heart of the Indian country, it was rule of common sense that one man left fewer tracks than two. and that two might be discovered where one would slip past. had thirty steel traps some extra ammunition, blankets and provisions. and these were packed on the back of 0 stout mule, who was to be led or driven. left the fort soon after dark one evening in June, and headed straight away for the Dog Mountains, where the Red Cloud and Spotted Tail agencies were afterward esta blished It was a backward season, and the weather was by no means summer yet. Indeed had been waiting for a week for the last snow to disappear.
 1t was predicted at the post that would lose my hair before morning, for the Indians were alert and in force all around us Only three days before my start a squad of sol diers, sent out after wood, had been fired on and driven i'll at midday, and the redskins had come within rifle shot and dared the garrison to come out 1 won't say that 1 wasn't little nervous as l left the post be- hind me in the darkness, but had 1 been afraid. could have abandoned the under taking. It was rough stony ground, with little chance of leaving a trail, and we kept up pace of about three miles an hour all night pausing three or four times to rest. My mule was what was termed "an Iniun mule" That Is, he had been out on three or four expeditions, was we'll broken in, and could be trusted almost like man. As soon as we were clear of the post 1 walked on ahead, and he followed like dog. He real ized the danger almost as fully as did, and there was hardly minute in which his ears were not working back and forth to catch every sound stirring Every now and then he'd throw up his head and sniff, and had he scented Indians or fire, l should have known it pretty quick. In my time I've seen half dozen mules who'd smell Indians further than dog, and fire twice as far as a man: but 1 never yet saw horse which was of any help that way: For sa- gacity. endurance and companionship mule was worth five times as much as borse and for these reasons no trapper ever took a horse when mule could be had.
 guess we made fully twenty-five miles be- fore daylight began to show We were then on the tolerably level plains, and after look around entered a gully and followed it up until it spread out a bit and furnished plenty of grass Here, ten feet below the general level of the plains, l removed the pack from the mule and went into camp for the day. The beast slaked his thirst at the water hole and then went for the grass while l made a breakfast out of some grub brought from the fort 1t was risky lying by in such place during the day. for hunting parties were crossing and recrossing the country, but had to take the risk. The day passed off without an alarm and when night came took up my journey again. It was not until the morning of the fourth night out from Laramie that reached the spot where in- tended to camp It was on the banks of a little creek running into the Niobrara, near its headwaters, and so shut in by the noun tains that it didn't seem likely the Indians would discover me
 Almost the first thing discovered after sunrise was cave. Its mouth was well hid den by bushes, and 1 blundered upon it by the mountain 1 never knew how far, but explored it a good 500 feet. and found nc signs of termination. There was draught from front to rear. and the first fifty feet ot the cave were as dry as any room in a house l saw at once that it was a rich find, and lost no time in taking possession. From mid night on 1 had found snow, and therefore left trail. but warm south wind came uI with the sun. and before 10 o'clock the snow had slushed until the trail was obliterated After unpacking the mule turned him loose to go up the valley and shift for himself. and l after long look around, as if to impress the location on his memory he trotted off. There 1 were wolves and bears in plenty in that To caliry, but he must shift for himself. Jus SO long as remained there he would not gt 1 sway That was another point iH favor of {
 strle horse would get terrorstiicken o
 homesick, and head for civilization, while tn, mule would fight off his enemies and sticl
 like brother.
 had found house already built for me
 and as soon as had unpacked my traps ant
 trinkets started out for a scout. l went u] one side of the creek and down the other fo
 several miles, and was rejoiced at the pros l poets 1t was paradise for the trapper
 while not a sign of the presence of Indian
 could be detected. Another thing greatl
 cheered me. When came to build fire i
 the cave found that all the smoke wa
 drawn to the rear. Where it finally escape l 1 never knew, but reasoned that it was froI | some opening high up on the mountain. an
 by the time it reached the air there could b | little of it to see or smell. went to bed tha
 night as well pleased as hunter could be
 and a sounder snap never had. Next da
 set all my traps, went up the valley. an l found the mule all right, and next mornin
 took up my traps to find twenty eight caI lures. l had struck it rich, and no mistake
 Mink. beaver and otter were just aching
 become vlctims and with my bow and al ! rows 1 could knock over rabbit or par1 l ridge at any hour in the day.