The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1894-02-03
. and still careless of me.


from me? wish to have you near me-"
81 thought you wished to be alone; I
did not want to disturb YOU"
"Why do you leave the path so often?
What makes you go out of your way SOP"
II am of the race of hounds; I like to go
smelling about the ground"
"Well, now, don't leave me any more"
GAS you please"
tried to start conversation, but this
time it was he that would no: bite.
The sun had risen; he had taken off his
Jacket and was carrying it on his arm.
Ratchet, an instrument not usually worn
by guides.
"Why do you carry the hatchets"
II always carry it,"
"What for?"
He looked at me fixedly and added:
II have also pistol-look!''
He took out from his pocket a short,
double barreled pistol and gave it to me,
warning me that it was loaded.
was tempted to keep it.
In the Alps no one goes about armed;
pistols are implements of luxury, intended
to be fired on joyful occasions such as mar
riages
But thought that if he had intended to
make bad use of it he would not have
shown it to me. returned it to him with
out speaking.
After walking quarter of an hour he
said:
Excuse me- will return Immediately.
You go on. will rejoin you in two min
utes"
And down the side of the mountain he
went. Hardly had he left the path when
followed him. saw him run to heap of
great rocks about ten yards off. He bent
down, moved two or three great stones,
searching on the ground and then turned
around. When he saw that / stood watch
ing him he frowned, his eyes glittered, but
he smoothed his forehead in a moment
81 want to get this piece of bread and
cheese that hid here yesterday. l often
90 around the mountains and place food
here and there"
He looked in my eyes and said:
Don't you believe it?"
'No." did not believe it, had seen
him take his bread out of his pocket, and
his confusion at being surprised must have
had reason. began to feel greatly dis
quieted. He perceived it and Immediately
became jovial and talkative. He knew
me, he said; he asked the landlord about
me; he knew that was a writer, jour
nalist in fact; it must be a fine trade for
making money by the bagful. He knew
city life and always read the papers. He
knew also that had written operas for the
theater, another gold mine.
If had been willing to pay attention to
him he would have told me stories about
rogues.
"Ah, you gentlemen come here just for
the fun of knowing what fatigue is! IT
you only knew what it was and how much
piece of bread costs! And there are peo-
pie that would like to steal it from us!
They have here judges, jury, sheriffs and
detectives, all the bad things of the earth,
and if they wish to come, let them come,
they will find mep'
Then he touched the pistol in his pocket.
He was eloquent and excitable. like man
believing himself to be followed up by q
constant persecution. He spoke by jerks,
and jumped from one subject to another,
as if forced by a tumultuOus current of
ideas, and afraid of losing them by talking.
He certainly had some bitter enemy that
mysteriously influenced all the acts of his
life. All his talk had reference to him; he
burst forth in vague threats, uttered laugh
ing with set teeth; teeth white and firm,
capable of breaking crown piece. Never
theless, in the depths of his eyes appeared
timid and humble uneasiness contrast
ing with his violent words. which finally
reasstred me completely. He understood
this also, and when offered him cigar
said:
"You have thought evil of me. am not
a rogue Come here and you will under
stand everything" We had lately had
our first snowstorm, the path had broad
ened and not blade of grass was to b.
seen.
The whole mountain was a mass of gi-
gantic rocks. half buried in the sand, soft
and moist from the recently melted snow
and the draining of the ice.
He led me by the hand in the labyrinth
until we arrived at kind of grotto formed
by two rocks lying against each other.
He entered on hands and knees. and came
out with a package of few pounds weight
wrapped in rags. He unbound it and took
out cigars and tobacco. He was snug
gler.
Coming from Switzerland he scattered
his merchandise in many hiding places, in
order that it might not all fall into the
hands of the officers.
When he had done up the package he re-
placed it again in the cavity and turned to
me with trustful face. Now that he had
himself told me his secret he no longer
feared me.
''This is the safest storehouse," said he.
''The custom house officers never come up
as far as here. They know that at such
height there are no shepherds to act as
witnesses. Here am master, and this is
my aid-de- camp" he added, taking out
from crevice near by a custom house off,
GERS musket.
A peasant cannot understand that snug
Cling is guilty action; his moral sense
does not comprehend the notion of the
artificial rights of the state. He knows
that robbingJ and assaulting ones neigh