Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1891-08-21

Ii was greeted by q series of still more
ferocious bowls, and Donovan and his
companions, revolverS in hand, stood
ready To fire if the beasts rushed upon the
camp Baxter, Seizing 4 blazing brand,
hurled it vigorously toward the spot where
those brilliant eyeballS had glowed like
live Goals an instant before. \ moment
afterward the animals, one of whom must
have been hit by Donovan, We're lost in the
recesSes of the Trap Woods
They have fledg' cried Cross.
Good radiance to themw added Service
won't they come backs queried Cross,
at is not very likely replied Gordon;
but | think we had better keep watch
until morning"
Thep piled fresh wood upon the fire,
which they kept blazing brightly until
dawn.
At six in the morning they resumed
their journey, for they had no time to lose
if they wished to traverse the nine miles
that lay between Dixie Greek and the cave
before night. Service and Webb carried
the young kids in their arms, and their
mother followed Baxter without the
slightest resistance.
The road skirtng the base of Auckland
Hill proved rather monotouous. Upon
one side lowered an almost perpendicular
wall of rock; upon the other stood an al
most impenetrable forest AT eleven
O'Clock they stopped awhile to rest and
partaNe OF haSty lunch, then resumed
their journey.
Their progress was rapid, and they
seemed likely to reach the cave some time
before uightfall, when about three O'Clock
in the afternoon another shot broke the
stiffness
Donovan, Webb, and Cross, accom-
panied by Fan, We're about hundred
yards in advance of the others, and no
longer in sight when cries of Look outl
look out.' were heard-cries which were
evidently intended to put Gordon Wilcox,
Baxter, and Service ON their guard
Suddenly large animal dashed through
the forest a little way in advance of them,
and Baxter who had his lasso in his hand,
threw it instantly and with such skill that
the moose fell directly over the head of the
animal. who tried in vain to free himself.
He was SO powerful, however, that he
would certainly have dragged Baxter, had
not Gordon, Wilcox, and Service seized
the end of the lasSo and wound it around
the trunk Of n tree.
They had scarcely accomplished this
when Webb and Cross emerged from the
forest, closely followed 10y Donovan, who
exclaimed angrily:
Hang the beast How could I have
missed it,"
Baxter did not miss it, and we have it
here alive and kickingn replied Service
what difference does that make, so
long rs we shall have to kill it?" replied
Donovan.
xiii itn' repeated Gordon: kill it
when it will make us such a splendid
beast of burden"
That exclaimed Service.
Eyes it tsa llama, and llamas are often
seen in harness in South America"
In spit, of the animals usefulness, Don
ovau in his secret heart sorely regretted
his failure to kill it, though he took good
care not to say SO as he approached to ex-
anime this new acquisition.
Though Natural History classes the
llama with the camel family, it hears very
little resemblance to the animals of that
name SO common in Northern Atlca.
The llama, with its slender, delicate head,
long limbs and tawny hide. spotted with
white, is no whit inferior to the handsome
est horses rf the American race, and is
capable ot considerable speed if ii can be
first tanned and subsequently controlled,
which is often successfully accomplished
Mt the hocica3dS on the Argentine Pam
pas.
The animal is pr0ycrbially timid how
ever; this one SOON ceased to struggle, and
as soon a, RuNtcr 'uDsed the moose that
strangled I'M, it became an easy matter
to lead him.
This excursion 10 the north end of Fam.
lily Lake had certainly proved very profit
able to the colonists. The llama, the vi.
cuna and its young, the discovery of the
tea-tree, the trulca, aud the algarobbe de-
lighted Gordon and especially Baxter
who, having none OF Dunovan's vanity
showed no inclination to boast of his sue
cess.
Gordon, too, was greatly pleased to see
that the bOlas and lasso we're likely to be
come Of real service Donovan was an ex
cellent shot, unquestionably but his skin
invariably cost certain amount of pow.
der and shot, so Gordon resolved to en-.
courage his comrades TO employ these
ruder implements of the chase of which
the natives made such profitable use.
According to the map, they still had -four
miles to travel before reaching the French
Cave, and they must make haste If they
would arrive before nightfall
Service longed to get astride the llama
and ride into camp upon this magnificent
courser, but Gordon would not allow it,
81 am almost sure that he would kick, "
he remarked; but even if he will not al
low anyone TO mount him, as is more than
probable, he must at least consent to draw
our cart So he patient, Service, and don't
forget the lesson you received from the
ostrich"
About six o'clock they arrived In sight
OF the French Cave. Little Costar, who
was playing on the grass in front OF the
den, gave notice of their approach. Brian
and the other lads hurried out to meet
them, and joyous shouts greeted the
youthful explorers after these days Of abb
sence.
CHAPTER XVI
BR1AN's ANXIETY ABOUT JACK-THE con-