The Colfax chronicle., 1891-11-28

tighter and tighter, until there was ,
| good deal of feeling in the matter, a
least among the white trappers; ant
subsequent events went to show tina
Turkey was just as much Interested o,
his competitors. The strife came to ;
heal when it became known that {
silvergray fox had been seen a mile OF
two mp the gully.
''Of course that set the whole trap
ping fraternity wild, and it seemed a.
though they could neither eat nor sleeI
until they had taken that silver gray; fol
me- only would the pclt bring a big
price, but they were afraid John Tur.
key would capture the prize in spite OF
them.
80 they set traps for him, and had
spies watch John Turkeys movements
and keep tab on his tracks One OF
these spies was a lcw-down Indian
who would have sold his soul for drink
of rum. As he was able to get more
drinks ont OF white folks than of the
Indians, he was usually found serving
as cats paw to the whites, who were
mean enough to use him. OF course
he was cordially hated by all the In
dians. Finding that the silver gray
was not to be caught in traps, the
white trappers put ont their hounds.
aud secured every runway for miles
around. Although they took plenty of
the common red foxes, they could not
get even smell of the silver gray.
Meantime John Turkey attended
quietly to his traps, and kept his
hounds of the runs
"The fellow was shy and sensitive,
and senscd the feeling that had bee n
worked up over the silver gray SO
strongly that, to avoid meeting white
folks, he had put off going to town
for ammunition until he was nearly
destitute of that necessity.
AS he was about to start out one
morning to make the usual rounds of
his traps he noticed that his powder
horn was almost dry, and nfter sling
ing it over his shoulder he poured its
contents out into the palm of his hand
to make sure that he had enough for
emergencies on his morning trip, after
which he planned to go to the scttlc-
ment There was just enough for four
good charges
After visiting several traps and re-
lieving them of the mink, otter and
muskrats which they contained, Turkey
trudged silently ON until he caught
sight of fine buck through the brush.
At was at loug range, but he fired. The
buck dropped his white flag q sure
sign that he was wounded, and sped
down the runway towards swift-run-
ming creek, half mile away. Turkey
pressed on after the deer and caught a
glimpse Of it as it lodged out Of the
and took a course which fee
ing deer only took when they scented
hunters in waiting for them where the
runway crossed the creek. As he was
certain of the route which
The buck would take, and where he
would find It II the wound proved fatal.
Turkey decided to first visit his other
;raps across the creek, and then look
lfter his wounded deer He was espe-
;ially anxious about one particular
rap, which he believed was planted at
he entrance to the den of the silver
yray.
There was always likely to be game
II some kind at the creek, and SO the
always cautions and silent
II step, approached the stream with
rue Indian stealth.
''As he scanned the banks for some
ign of life his heart gave leap. Could |
be true that against the background
4 the opposite bank he saw a small |
livery object gliding from bush to |
'nsh toward the water? Yes; he could |
ot doubt his eyes II was the silver
ray. Turkey secured good rest
Rainst the body of tree and waited |
or the fox to halt 1t soon did so.
nth one foot lifted and cars perked
harply forward, to catch the faintest
ound ere 1t should trust itself to drink.
Turkey took as deliberate aim as
is excitement would permit and fred
"The fox leaped high and then
mped away in the direction of Tur-
ey's trap as fast as its wounds would
4 it.
The hunter hastily reloaded his rife
nd pressed on. lie had only one
harge more of powder in his horn.
mat 1t the lack of more would cost
i'm his game?
''He was swiftly striding down the
,nway, thinking of nothing but the
lver-gray, and had almost reached
uge old tree that overhung the creek
hen strange kissing sound instantly
opped him. He knew what it was.
hasty glance into the limbs of the
ZEE showed him a panther just ready
pcunce down upon him as it would
ave done upon = deer coming to water.
. made quick aim for the panther's
reast and fred The brute fell, shot ,
trough the heart It had become sec
I'D nature for Turkey to always re-
ad rs soon as his gun was discharged, .
he poured his charge of powder into |
s rifle, rammed y ball down after IL ,
I'd fixed the printing, ready for an
her shot.
The hunters instinct to look for the | !
ate OF any dangerous animal which