The Helena independent., 1892-08-07
VII.
The Pursuit.

-fELL SMOKE THOSE FELLOWS
IL ont" said Farmer Bunker at
g breakfast the next morning, "Ihe
lives only mile from here, and
neiRhbor Dobbs and neighbor Park-
nd their two hired men and rife
all round guess ven be able to get
revolver back. mad man or no mac
It's pretty rough il four boys oan't
mping in the woods without being half
kened to death by \ lot of thievinR
rs.' 's@
mer Bunker was angry clean through.
phrase 10, and bent on arousing the
borhood. By nine O'Clock he had
bted the posse in question, headed by
heriff, and shortly after the party. IN
ing the boys and dog, set out for the
doned camp on pair Of buckboards.
be was in great spirits at the prospect
covering his six-shooter. and the idea
|tting even with the enemy seemed
to the others. Ev n little Dick for
he maniac in the hope of Furnishing
Jim. ".-
Fmsr Bunker expressed the opinion
very likely the loRgers had not missed
until the morning.
hey were drinking hard" he said, 'and
'hances are they got to fighting among
hselves until they were too tipsy to
and fell asleep in their tracks. II
haven't murdered each other We may
upon them snoozinR and bag them
re they know what's WHAT
Hank thought they were following us
bloodhound" remarked Dick, az
b as to say that he was of the same
ion.
bloodhound? guess there's no
dhound within five hundred miles of
diggings," said the sheriff, whose
Q was Mr.. Baboock, with laugh.
70 as not they may have carried off
tent and any other traps that come in
hy. but when they get wind of US they II
pighty glad to give 'em back again and
nothing about it,
do hope nothing has happened to Joe
er, said George. "You must let him 20
Mr.. Baboook, for he was very kind to
II that Jim Harris has shot i'm with
six shooter he ought to be hung"
his sentiment met with the approval OF
lands and drew from the sheriff. who
once seen man hung, q graphic de-
ption of the ceremony, which absorbed
attention Of the boys until the spot was
,hed where Hank claimed to see the
!. Discussion WAS renewed in regard to
interesting question, with Mr.. Bunker
IL umpire, but the farmer prudently de.
cd to assume the responsibility OF de-
ng whether or not Hank had been led
y by his imagination. BY the time
blk and George had exhausted their re-
ctive sides of the controversy the camp
o the condition in which they should
it. Hank suggested this advisable
of repeating the belly crawling act.
Mr.. Bunker made merry of the
position and seemed to think that
inner Dobbs. who was very stout
h, would have to be left behind in that
Int. From the edge of the wood they
! Id see no signs of smoke, which argued
II the loggers had either evacuated their
|hp or wele still sleeping. Advancing
Idly tho party swept across the open
lund and up the slope. Rather to- their
prise they found that one of the tents
4 been carried off but that tho other wae
hiding. Further investigation proved
II nothing else was missing; the cooking
|nsil were in place; the blankets and
thing which the boys had left were un-
kchsd. What did it mean? What could
1.-The explanation? Even the sheriff shook
head and said that it beat the Dutch.
They continued with as little noise q
bsible toward the other camp in order tc
ke the loggers off their guard in case they
|re still there, but scarcely contrary to ex-
Etation they encountered only silence
ID deserted fireplace. Thes could see
[ere the loggers had lain on the ground,
Il the bed of one of them had evidently
bn pile of hemlook boughs. Presumabl,