, 1889-06-27

made MS escape through tne tail grass
OF the bottom, whittier the Indians did
not pursue him.
He made his way to a settlement sixty
miles distant, and tried to raise n party
to 60 and hunt Inkpaduta's band, and
drive them out of the region; but he
could not find half a dozen men within
n circuit of thirty miles who had in
terest enough in his cause to make it
their own. But he found one adven-
furious fellow, who went back with him
to his trapping grounds on the Ochey-
edan- Upon reaching the dugout, they
found, to their surprise, that its con-
tents had o been disturbed. Lying
inside the door was the Identical pack
Of worthless mink skins which Big Face
had brought to trade for the rifle. The
traps were also all in their places.
Evidently the Indians had been some
what alarmed after Jake's escape, and
wished to leave the impression that they
had been dealing in good faith, and had
kept to tho letter the bargain which had
been made for the gun.
This fact gave Boyer confidence, and
no boldly set about his trapping again,
determined to watch his opportunity,
outwit the Indians, and recover his val
liable rifle. During the next month he
busted his brain every day with schemes,
and finally hit upon n plan which he de-
@ermined to carry out at once.
Leaving his companion in charge OF
the dugout and the trapping, he set out
for Fort Dodge with two small ponies
packed with the fall catch. AT the Fort,
which was merely n frontier trading
station. he sold his furs, procured anu
munition, blankets and some trinkets TO
trade upon, and set out for Inkpaduta's
village, as he had been in tho habit of
doing Mt that season of tho year.
In spite OF all that had happened he
expected TO make the savages believe
that he was still friendly TO them, and
could not afford to lose their fur trade
for such trifles MS the loss of his rifle and
the attempt on his life. He did not be-
lievc they would dare injure him again,
for they would surely know TINT he had
spread the story of their attack upon
him at the settlements, and his going to
them directly from tho Fort would nat
urally make them cautious how they of
Tended him After getting among them
he hoped to recover his much priced rifle
by n stratagem.
lie found only a few old squaws and
children Mt the Dcs Moines village, but
was informed that the bucks were
camped Mt Lost Island lake, where they
had gone to hunt for elk.
1t vas but n half days ride to the place,
and he discovered the tepees of the band
rs he approached the lake shore at sun
set. Tho most of the Indians had got in
from the days hunt, and rs he rode up
were lying about tho fires waiting for the
women to boil some meat for their even
ing meal.
They got up and gave some grunts of
surprise rs he approached, but immedi-
ntely broke into most cordial How
How'sl" and grinned in n way that be-
trayed their pleasure that he should
come among them in so friendly n fash
ion. He had always dealt more fairly
with them than traders were in the
habit of doing.
Big Face, One Leg and I~nkpaduta
were among those who greeted him. He
shook hands with all, telling them he
had come to ''swap" again, and acted as
though nothing had happened. They
were immensely pleased, and one of the
young bucks assisted him in u~npacking
and then picketed his ponies with their
own.
That evening and the next morning
were spent in trade; and for n half dozen
red blankets, some ammunition and
beads, Jake came into possession of all
the beaver, mink and muskrat skins the
Indians had.
After the swap had been completed to
the satisfaction of all parties, Jake pro-
posed to Inkpaduta that he and n picked
number of his men should ride over to
his tepee on the Ocheyedan-a little more
than a half days ride-and hunt elk at
the head waters of Stony creek, where
he knew that n big herd of them were
feeding.
He had nc winters meat laid in, he
told tho chief, and since he had traded
his large gun to Big Face he had no rifle
that carried n ball largo enough to kill
an elk. If he would go over with his
men and kill him--Jake-two big elk, he
would give the chief the smallest pony
he had brought with him.
Inkpaduta was taken with the offer,
and evidently took all the trapper had
said in sincerity. He consulted his bucks
and found them all eager to go, rs the
white man had described the herd as n
big one.
The camp was hastily struck and the
whole party set out for Jake's headquar-
tiers, where they arrived that evening
and camped for the night. Jake had
told lnkpaduta of his partner who, he
said, had no gun, but an old musketthat
would only shoot small shot.
That night, when they were alone in
the dugout, Jake instructed Williams,
his partner, that us soon as the party
should have got out of sight he was to
pack what furs he could on the pony left
him. cache the rest with the traps, and
make haste for the nearest settlement on
the Little Sioux.
Next day, at noon, the hunters were
camped near the source of the Stony,
and scouts were sent out to look for the
elk herd, which was sighted before night.
A plan of the hunt was determined ON
before they slept, and as Jake was con-
suited, he so managed that he was to be
of tho party. They were to go In three
squads ~inclosing the band in a triangle,
in which rode Big Face with Inkpaduta