Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1888-09-06

There had been a slight furry Of
fnow the day previous, and drifting
particles OF frost glinted In the early
morning sunshine like floating bits Of
silver The snow-caps on the mount
aims had been piling higher and high
or, and the lcaden cloud-banlSs that
hung about tho peaks gave promise Of
another storm.
Old John Barnacle, grizzlcd and un-
kcmpt came out of the little dug-out
sci in the side of the mountain, and.
after giving himself a shake, glanced
- the sky and then at the distant
camp.
you'll hev ter work in the tunnel
to-day BY yerself, Bat; I'm bound ter
80 to camp fer some tcrbacker. It's
alters my luck 20 git out o. terbacker
when thar's storm in tho air."
Bat Barnaclc stopped in his work OF
shove.ing snow and looked anxiously
up at his father.
Seems 10 mo you're out o. ter
hacker most every day lately. papr'
he protested. "You got some on'y day
before yistiday.n
The shaSuw Of an emotion akin TO
shame swept over John Barnacle's
face. lie drew his eyes away from
the searching gaze OF his son and al
lowed them 20 wander hesitatingly
over the adjacent mountains.
Il low do go ter the Pint too
often, Bat thct's a fac'l But it's ter
baclSy this time. shore. They was
most out day before yistiday, an
on'y got teenty piccc. It's gone; an
I'm thet restless this mornin' 'thout IL
thet don't b'leeve l c'u'd work, no
how"
Thar's the feel O. blizzard in the
mir" urged Bat, "an' I've been
worryin' bout you ever sence we heerd
q them slidos at Aspen. The caps on
ole Baldy heur looks powerful! threat
enin' sence thet las blizzard. Eft
fh'u'd come anorther'n like thet we'd
cit it certin."
"Ihar won't be any storm till night,
nohowl' replied the elder Barnacle
again surveying the leaden cloud
banks and the frosty sky. "rH be
homo fore then; an eft wants to bliz |
after ] git back, why. let il bliz. / |
reckon the biggest slide thet ever slid |
couldn't hurt this dug-out."
He whistled TO the dog and walked
rapidly down the trail, leaving Bat in
utter loneliness.
bartholomew Barnacle or bat" as
his father called him. was perhaps fif-
teen. II was difficult TO Judge of his
age, for hard work and anxiety had
ut,,n.sd his body while ageing his face.
His father had come TO Bald Mount
ain the spring before. Mounted on an
old. blind horse, with Bat perched be-
hind him. he had set out intending 20
cross the divide. Near the point
whore the dug-out now clung, the horse
had slipped and fallen, dislodging
great quantity OF earth in his efforts 70
regain his feet and revealing a very
promising streak OF pay-dirt"
Barnacle went no further, but set his
stakes and named y TIC Blind Horse
claim.
"lt's the first good luck I've he'd in
+t4Aaltt y 'eA's AfNAf AlH Htlus tAullAnllNt ]
IAN the blind hoss brung il TO US. We
must take good keer OF him.
But the old horse died in the course
OF n month and about tho same time
there came "slip" 81 the "pay
strcak.
Barnacle started a tunnel, hoping to
strike II again further in the mountain;
but the death OF the horse weighed on
him. The old craving for liquor. which
the excitement had for a time lulled,
came back in all its force. and the work
dragged. The camp saw him more
frequently than the claim, and the lit
tie labor that was performed fell main
iy on the stunted shoulders Of his son.
Bat leaned the shovel against the
front Of the dug-out and sorrowfully
watched his father out Of sight.
Its good thing mans deadl" he
raid. as tear trickled down his face.
"lt'd break her heart Of she knowed
NNE%> ~AhR,E-