St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1892-12-17


tiful lakes and rivers of what has since
been well named the Park Region Of
Minnesota TALL Yaw-boned. sinewy
and capable Of enduring as much priva-
ton as any Indian, he hunted and
trapped wherever he found game and
fur most abundant, in defiance of the
savagcs who claimed that country for
their own.
Years later. when settlers had driven
away the Indians, rs we'll as most Of
the game. Old Thad, too much in love
with the locality to follow the Indians
aud the game. built . snug cabin upon
the edge of a wide stretch Of timber
and meadow land where . deep, clear
stream emptied into lake of consider
able size, and settled down to adapt
himself to the new order Of things-
He could never make up his mind to
become farmer. but spent his time In
hunting and trapping n he had always
done. A good neighbor he was When
ever he returned from . successful
hunt, a saddle Of venison or bear meat
was pretty sure to find its way 70 our
house on the banks of the lake, in re-
turn for the hams and bacon which nv
father sometimes sent him.
My father was no hunter, but when
] became old enough to handle q rife,
he often allowed mo 10 accompany Old
Thad on his expeditions. wen. al
most wild with joy whenever l was
granted a holiday Of this sort Old
Thad was jolly companion. and one
of the best story tellers that ever
knew.
We had no end of SPORT and met with
many exciting adventures both on land
and water; but my greatest delight
was to sit by our camp fire at nigAt
and listen to the old man as he Re-
counted his early adventures among
the Indians.
His tales of hand to hand encounter,
of cunning strategy, Of hairbreata
escapes, all told in . manner that con.
WINGED me Of their truthfuluess, would
I'LL large volume il duly reported.
Coming down the Otter Tail late one
autumn day after . successful deer
hunt. VIC landed to portage or carry
our canoe and its heavy load down past |
one Of the numerous rapids for which |
that river is noted. At the foot of the /
rapids we embarked once more to pad
die down TO = good camping place Q
short distance below.
How'd you like to shoot them rapids.
with load of furs and traps aboard?"
asked my companion, - we took up
our paddles.
Il should want to say good-by to my
friends before tried it." I replied.
Il wouldn't care to try Il again my
self, but did it once" said Thad. 1T
was grounding case, though, l tell
you, for just had to do it or lose my
'calp But made the biggest haul Of
ur that night down in these woods
hat ever made in my life. Tell you
III about it when we get into camp"
''You see," he began when we sat
lown to q supper of fried venison,
lardtack and coffee, with our feet to
he Gre, while the bark canoe. turned
lpon its side. pyotected our backs from
he sharp west wind: '.yoa gee I'd been
rappiQ' all the fall mp above here, and
atchsd the prcttiest lot Of fur you ever
ct eyes on. All this country belonged
o the Naudan Sioux then. 1t was Just
Bout as mueh as . mans life was
worth - let thcif'tpdisns catch him in
hese parts D
Il hadn't seen the first- red. during I
Ill the time that I'd been trapping
hat fall, and made up my mind that
hey'd all gone further west for their
ocular fall buffalo hunt So was
along rs careless IS You please
ate one evening, about mile above
he rapids. where that big creek puts
q from the east.
'.Well. tuck . good look up the s
reek IS always did mp every stream
vhen padding in hostile country, and !.
vhat did see come poking round .
,end but the noses of a pair of big
anoeS.
II know,d too well what was in 'em, c
nd didn't stop to get good look d q
he crews, but Just dug my paddle into c
he water an tried to get past the
Mouth of that creek and out of sight
II hceri the Indiana give yell Just 4
s swept past Ito mouth The next i
ecoud. crack went . couple OF rifles '
he bullets came cross lots through 2