The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-03-09

If once gained the brush and nerves
kept steady he should drop in his
tracks hesitated for moment be-
tween waiting for broadside shot
/ from where / was, or attempting to
crawl TO the brush, then got down on
hands and knees and began the diff
cult journey. The hummocks were
| smaller and follower when reached
| than they looked at first, and when
| halfway across the dangerous space it
became question of wriggling along
Ia serpent. In this position the
| caribou was invisible, but had faith
in the wind, and was wriggling logged
| IL forward when from clump of moss
j not twenty feet from my nose grouse
| walked quietly forth clucking softly to
itself in regard to my probable bust
| ness.
! Here was pretty position OF course
didn't dare flush the grouse for fear
of alarming the caribou, and for long.
| agonizing moments lay there in the
snow staring at that Internal bird,
while it eyed me dreamiiy and chuckled
in an exasperatingly commiserating
fashion, until the crampknot in my
leg grew hard as baseball, and
fumed and ragged and groaned inward
ly. At last the fool bird satisfied it's
curiosity and trotted demurely away,
and when it had got to safe distance
I Strengthened my cramp and wriggled
on to the tuft whence the grouse had
come. Inch by inch raised my head
until clear view was possible Of the
bulls feeding-ground-he had vanished
as though the earth had swallowed
him! Hastily glancing up the barren.
caught sight of him walking smartly
along a good four hundred yards away.
He was not alarmed: he had neither
heard. seen nor winded me. He had
merely decided to move along.
But chance favored me in the next
move. The caribou, after going half a
mile, suddenly turned across the barren
and headed for the tim Der on the far
Their side, at the same time edging
slightly in my direction. This course
kept him well to windward, and when
be finally approached the distant cover
l started for him again. 1t was long.
hard task to cross the barren in .
crouching position, but finally man
aged to get behind him safely and fol-
lowed the track. was now very tired,
for the shooting was heavy, but the
chase was leading homeward. i was
mad all through and game to fight it
out on that line till darkness came
Pracnnf1u RI ir,h hal
an hour the air was thick with soft
falling fakes. This was in my favor,
save that sometimes lost sight of the
bull, only to rediscover him walking
steadily along headed direct for tho
camp. My only hope was that he might
halt to feed He was going about as
fast as l could, and SO for two good
hours we ree!ed of the miles at An ex-
ercising gait. At last the snow almost
ceased, but the air was darkening fast,
and l guessed we must be within .
short distance of camp
While / was endeavoring to figure
out my exact whereabouts the bull
halted in an open space. bordered on
my side by clumps of good cover, and
began to feed My WEAKNESS was for
gotten in moment; luck had turned
my way at last, for be was in perhaps
the best position for me that he could
have chosen in the whole barren.
Sneaking rapidly on as far rs was safe.
once again DOTTED shoes and got down
on hands and knees and crawled, and
crawled, and crawled, until the cover
was gained. and my victim stood
broadside on, not eighty yards away.
He was feeding busly and had no moro
idea that was near than l had OF
shouting. Carefully l raised to my
knees and waited one moment TO pull
myself thoroughly together for the shot
that must needs decide the matter. A
last glance at the distance, and at the
sight to make certain that it was at the
lowest notch and thought to myself:
Now. my son, l surmise TIL just set
tie for all this tramp If 1 don't drop
you"
"Whang- the roar of rife sounded
from clump to my left, a stream of
fiery smoke shot from the brush, the
bull gave treme ndous lunge forward
and went down in heap.
For an instant was petrifed with
amazement; then leaped TO my feet
prepared TO do hardly knew what
From the brush near by rose a lank
figure, a coppery face peered forth,
and an unmistakable voice muttered:
'-Gess down UNI rboo!'
30, You blank. smoke-tanned
idiot, I've blamed good notion TO put
a ball through your
10 started with as much surprise a.
his kind ever show; then his broad
mouth spread in diabolical grin. for
ne guessed every incident Of the story.
cum long. Ne hide, tink mebbe kill
nm car'boo. You lynx. yon creep
creep-ne no tink you chase um car
boo"
And that was all the comfort got
outside OF the head and feet which
were all wanted OF the bull
Later in the evening. when I told 10
of the all-day chase and where j had
been, he grunted and said Chase um
r'boo berry long time-twen-soo
mile dat way an back
IL s, and ! cra~Ied quarter OF ~ !
confound youI"
I'm, dat so? Ne go two, taree- /
four mic. look az trap, den run back /
to mend shoe. Me stop by FIRE, byme-
OF get um car'boo.r
Yes. after chase him twenty-five /
miles for you you old squaw."
A ehuckling grunt proved that 10 1
the hunor OF the thing IN fall. 4