The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1888-08-31

suspected might he the case. II one
had krn posted there, he had been
forced to abandon his post by the
thousands ofrptilrs which had been
driven in for shelter. Anycraft seek
ing the other island must pass here,
and amy craft making for the river
from the other island must see this
cllannel. Satisfied that he had
left no danger behind him, and
that his way of retreat was open if
he WAS forced to- fall back, Dan eau
tiously proceeded on his way. 1t
was not yet mi.l-aftcrnoon. 1t wasu
hot summers day, and there was alb
solutc silence in the great swamp.
The outlaws, returned from their
raid. wouldeXprct pursuit, and there
fore be watcltul. Dan WAS known to
nll of them, and the instant he was
discovered he would br shot down.
He knew every foot of the island, and
ns he nearc,l it hc had his plans I'LL
laid. Making Al wide sweep hy fore
ing his canoe where it seemed hardly
possible for il serpent to go, he
landed on the north side of the is
land, half mile from the hut. AS
soon as he had hidden the craft he
made his way toward the clearing,
with all the caution of an Indian on
the wnrpatll, and fully understand
ing the peril he was in. In telling
me his story, lie said he saw more
snakes that day than he supposed
tl" whole country held. He touched
them time and again, and IL score of
times he came within an ace of being
bitten. and only his thirst for re-
venge bl1,rc'l hin up to push along.
When Dan reached the edge of the
clearing at II point where he was
close upon the cabin, he was sur
pris"lto tindrv"rything quiet. There
wasa smoul'lrring fire ;,t the door,
aud plenty ofrvilrncc that the men
wrl" near hv. Ii they had set Il
watch. it was down at the land
ing. After wnitin" for half an hour
Dan made two important discoveries
AT one. One of tlr men came to the
door, yawlir,l, threw up his hands,
and looked about him in Il sleepy
manner. There was II jug of wliskry
outside the door. and after taking !,
long drink the man staggered over
to the tire, throw on n few faggots,
and then lurhcl into the house.
The other discovery WAS that he
back water in the bayou was rising.
He got the hint from the action of
coons, rabbits. and the snakes. They
We're pressing toward the higher
ground on Which the house stood.
and none of them seemed to mind his
presence.
Dan did not hope to;rromplisll his
crlanl without Il fight. What he
WAS figuring for WAS an advantage
which would put them on something
like even terms. llr lli,l Winrlrs-
ter rifle, and il liz could reach he
cabin lmiorr the crowd wrrr aroused
he would tax" his chances.
Taking advantage OF such shelter
as was afforded, and lri1g ready at
amy moment to open he fight. the
luGn finally reached the cabin.
1t WAS n stout structure. with IL
heavy door opening outward. On
til" plank floor within, sprawled out
in reckless fashion, were five sleeping
mrll-Capt. Dadc and his outlaws.
They We're not only slrcpcrs, but
each man was blind drunk. The
plnc" sIlrllrl lik" Il lmrruom, aud
il WAS plain that the whole crowd
had turned tn for II rrgulnrolh spree.
Guns nNolvrrs, and knives were ly-
ing about on the floor, and some of
the men had partly undlrssc'l them
selves. Dan could have gone among
them and stabbed each one to the
heart without risk. hut he wns not
s2MarS sTS m S4%ne 4na e1srv r thS btnM 4a sI,, ms
should bc hanged 10y the neck until
dead. He was thinking that he
would bind thrf'llowS tight and fast,
remove their weapons. and then bar
them in until he could return for help
and capture the lot for the gallows
tree. This plan would llnv" been c,r-
rir'l out hut for on" unookcd-for cir
cuimstancr The snakes were taking
possession of the cabin. \ dozen
rushed in through the open door in
quick succession. and Others climbed
up tn the open window. and either
fell tn the lloor on sqllirnr,l along
logs. Here wiiS safety from the ris-
in" waters. Their frnr of man wns
temporarily brn,lmbrd by the other
danger. and cotton-lnonth. RATHER.
and nluccn>ll pnssrl HE man nt the
door without thought of using their |
deadly fn,gs.
II I"lirvc," said Dan. in relating
his story to mo, 'tllnt full fifty OF the
pizcn rrptls passed in thar within
five minutes, and then changed my
plan. | carefully pulled the door
to, and brarrd it shut with
II log. Thar was II wooden
blind To the window. and this also
shut and br;,crd Thar was room
enough under the door for more
snakes to go in. but it would have
taken the strength of sober men to
break it down. calkerlatcd aus how
that room would he holIin' about n
hundred snakes when the fellows br-
gan to rnbtleir eyes open, and felt
sur" could leave the Job to them to
finish
He had to wade in water knee
deep lctor" Ii" got back to his canoe,
and il was after daylight the next
morning when he came to my head
quarters tn make his report and
ask for !; detail of men to go back
with linn
"Wllat do You suppose has hap
lmnrl hy this time" i asked when lie
had finished his story.
bead, sir. every man of 'cm,' lie
replied. "Thrm snakes got over
their scare in about half an hour, and
thu first man who moved to get up
had pizru sllo, into him like a streak
of lightning. Tlr,r'll Il" five corI,s,.s
thar to- be- identified, and tln,r'll be
some property 4" l." divided up"
concluded To go along with the
detail, and about noon we reached
the place. The water had come up
within fifty feet of the cabin door,
thus nvrrlowing most of the clear
ing, and our progress from the river
wns almost Il continual battle of
snakes. We had to kill score of
thcm before We could land. The
door and blind were as Dan had left
them, and 1t wns plain that none
fthemrn had dcomeOut. Hpudyan,al