The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-04-29

location on bis memory, he trotted of. There
were wolves and bears IN plenty IN that To-
cality but be mnst shift for himself. just
60 long as | remained there be would not go
away That was another point in favor OF "A
mule. A horse would get terroTstrlcsen or
bomesick. and bead for civilization, while the
mnle would fight OH his enemies and stick
like a brother.
had found a house already built for me,
and as soon as | had unpacked my traps and
trinkets / started out for a scout | went up
one side Of the creek and down the other for
several miles. and was rejoiced at the pros
poets II was a paradise for the trapper,
while not a sign Of the presence Of Indians
could be detected Another thing greatly
cheered me. when | came TO build a fire IN
the cave / found that all the smoke was
: drawn 10 the rear. Where IL finally escaped
i never knew. but reasoned that II was from
some opening high up on the mountain, and
by the time it reached the air there could be
, little Of il to sec or smell. | went 70 bed that
night as well pleased as a hunter could be,
and q sounder snap | never had Next day
/ setall my traps, went " the valley. and
found the mule all right, and next morning
tock ID ms traps TO find twenty eight cap
iures bad struck it rich, and no mistake
Mink. beaver and otter were Just aching 70
become victims, AID With my bow and ar
rows 1 coul3 Euocs over a rabbit or part
ridge q, any hour in the day.
For ten days / was not disturbed. Then,
one morning O after | bad opened ny
eyes, the mule walked INTO the cave, Ct would
have walled II bad tho opening permitted
As il was. be thrust his head In and uttered q
snort which brought me 70 my feet IN an ln-
stan:, fer / took u 10 be the "woofW Of a
bear. When The mule saw me coming be
backed of. pointed his mead up the cove
where be had been pastlrine, and his looks
and actions plainly indicated that be had
flushed game Of some sort l ran after nay
rifle and pistols, and as soon as | returned
the mule started OF and plainly directed me
TO follow. / had not explored the upper end
of the cove or valley, but supposed It 10 be
shut 10 by the high walls OF the mountain.
When We had gone a quarter Of a mile, well
hidden by the bushes all the way, the mule
halted and stood with ears pointed straight
ahead | patted his neck, and he lay down.
Then / crept forward on hands and knees TO
the edge Of the fringe of bushes, and what do
you suppose | saw A camp of four redskins
not over 200 feet awayl They had come into
the cove through "a ravine at the upper end,
probably arriving the evening before, and
were now just awakening from their nights
sleep. They were out for a hunt, rs their
outfit showed, and as soon as they began %
move about they must discover the tracks Of
the mule and suspect my presence.
| was mad al the way through. Even III
could pack up and change locations before
being discovered the redskins would follow
on after me, and rest not until they hal
lifted ms hair or had returned 20 the walls
Of Laramie. ! must either saddle up and
hold a straight course for the fort. or the
four hunters must be wiped out. They were
four full grown men, each armed with rifle
and bow and arrows, aud the only advantage
| had was ia having a couple OF single bar
relied pistols, each good for a man in case Of
a hand 70 hand fight When I saw them
building up their fire to cook their breakfast
By, | hurried back to the cave 70 get a bite
myself. The mule locked after me as | re
treated, but made no effort 10 follow. He
seemed 10 feel that | had left him there as q
sentinel, and the last / saw OF him he had his
head pointed toward the indian camp.
The Indians lad no suspicious Of the pres
ence of a white man in that neighborhood.
The grass was thick and heavy and the mule
had left no track 10 catch their eye. They
had not entered the cove until evening, and
of course had no chance TO look around.
While was knocking breakfast together |
had little time % get over nav first alarm and
do a little planning, My mind was made up
not 10 20, aud 10 stay meant that somebody
would be wiped out. When | had bolted NV
breakfast l returned 70 the spot where the
mule was still standing sentinel. The IN
dams were taking 10 mighty easy. and it was
half an hlur before they finished breakfast
Then they had q smoke, and II was fully
O'Clock before one Of them shouldered his
rifle and set of for the creek. while tie
others proceeded 20 clean their rifles and oil
up their traps. The one vino was coming
down the cove would strike my -sigusv III.
soon as Ice struck the creek All my traps
were ont, and as soon as he came 10 the first
one he'd know that a white man set il.
realized tia, ia got TO get to the creek be-
fore him, and that FL got 70 prevent his ever
going back, and | amt joking a bit when |
say the mule realized il, TOO. tie was ".
ing down and couldn't see the redskin
but he heard and srael. him coming
aud be turned to me to see if | was
alert When | knew for sure that the
red was bound for the creek | rose
up and ran on before. | was well sheltered
by the bushes, while ho was coming down
without shelter aud without suspicion.
knew where be would first hit the creek. and
j reached the spot ten minutes before he came
up just where he lett the cove vas a mas,
of rock, which had fallen from the cliffs
above, and IL was behind this mass that I
waited IL wouldn't do for me 10 fire NY
rifle, and ! must also prevent him from doing
the same. icrouched there Will nv toma.
hawk in hand, and by and by the fellow came
along and STOPPED. on the bank OF the creek.
oacK 70 me, Ui-cniy Tour ieet away.
Was II murderl Well, had the Quartet
made me prisoner, they would have cut Off
my ears and nose, cut my tongue out. pulled
OIL my scalp, and lighted a fire on nv bowels
aud they would have called it fun. was
hesitating TO strike when the fellow gave a
Sudden start OF surprise. lie had noticed a
broken t"lg or some other slight sign. and