The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-04-16
A BREAK FOR LIFE.

UQCugQ aC UQG SdllS tIli0 SGLdpos
Edward Reid was touring, with party
of six, through the stretch of western coun-
try known as the Cherokee strip, which
the president opened to home seekers Sept.
16, 1898, at IL o'clock noon.
At that time the strips hills and dales
were tenanted by bison, deer and other
large game, with here and there bunch
of Cherokees, Shawnees or Delawares, in
stead of the many "boomers, "sooners"
and other prospectors that are now fast
populating its best and most fertile parts,
in portable houses, tents and quickly
thrown together shelters.
Ed, with the feeling of a true sports
man, wished to decorate his den at home
with the head of big bull bison, shot
with his own rifle, before the time should
come when the accomplishment of such
an ambition would be next to impossible.
This desire led him to leave the others
of his party, one afternoon, to follow up
fresh trail which they had come upon.
1t was not till the close of the afternoon
that persistence and woodcraft brought
Ed within sight of the bison. Then, how
ever, he found him to be quite as huge and
ugly as he had imagined.
Up came Eds rife. He aimed for spot
Just back of the buffalo's fore shoulder
and pulled.
He heard the bull 'speed" as the ball
struck, but he saw that he must have aim
ed trifie too far back, for the buffalo
gave great snort and tore off wildly.
However, Ed thought he would be likely
to overtake the wounded animal, SO with
shout he was off in pursuit.
The little broncho was as eager to close
with the flying bison as was his rider, and
he needed no urging.
Before long Ed came in sight of the old
bull once more. But, just as he was pre-
pairing for a flying shot, down went his
mount, the little animals foot crushing
into gopher's hole.
Ed nearly broke his own neck in the
tumble. The broncho he had to shoot.
In no wise daunted, however, he pushed
On afoot uptiI nightfall and WEAKNESS
made further chase out of the question,
for the time at least.
Not in the best of temper, Ed determin-
ed to camp where he was until morning.
Fatigue soon brought on heavy slumber.
Toward midnight the solitary camper
was roughly awakened. A party of dusky
Shawnees were standing about him, and
his gun and revolver had been coolly APP
propriated by one who was evidently the
chief.
The Indians at the time were compare
lively friendly toward the whites. Yet
white man had no really good excuse for
trespassing in that part of their lands, and
Ed was not particularly treasured by the
somewhat sour way in which the old chief
regarded him.
The horses, which were drinking eager
ly at the small spring near which Ed had
lain down, were breathing heavily, and
there was, too, more than one sign that
this particular party of red men was out
for mischief.
"Ughl' grunted the big Indian in APP
parent indecision as to what to do with Ed.
Friend" returned Ed to show his am
icable relations toward the party.
"'Bacco?"
Ed produced his tobacco pouch and ex.
tended it gladly.
The big chief accepted it with some
what softened look, took a monstrous chew
and then absentmindedly put the pouch
into his ssfire bog" Then he spoke to his
men in way which Ed felt meant that
they should not harm their white brother
and Ed did not remind the chief of his
absentmindedness.
Moreover, encouraged by the chiefs
show of friepdliness, Ed sought to further
ingratiate himself with the old Indian by
admiring his horse, which just then came
up to his masters side from the spring.
This he could do sincerely, for the little
animal really was a fine mount, of which
the old Shawnee was justly proud.
Speaking a word or two in praise of its
good points, Ed smoothed the pony's muz-
zle softly with his hand, to the beaming
approval of its owner, when, without warn
ing, the little animal gave low whinny
of pain and sank to the ground.
There were few moments of struggle
and then, with a final shudder, the pony
lay dead
"Ugh, UGH" grunted the Shawnee in
savage tones, while he drew his tomahawk
and a cold chill travelled
down Eds spinal column.
"Ugh, UGH Have evil eye!'
Ed felt that his time had come.
The favorable first impression he had
earned for himself had been reversed.
In his best Shawnee he tried in vain to
convince the big, scowling chief and his
companions that the pony had died from
collie Or cramp induced by drinking the
ice cold water of the spring when it was
overheated, as he saw it was.
The Shawnees fairly bristled with scalp
ing knives and tomahawks, and passed up
about him, apparently waiting for their
chief to have the honor and satisfaction of
striking the first blow.
Ed, on his part, never argued so earnest
Iy in his life.
"Ugh!'' was the answer. The Indians
used the one exclamation, yet expressed
any mum Der of different meanings by slight
infections.
The big chief maintained a solemn ST.
lence. He was evidently deciding upon
where he would strike, and Ed, for an in
slant, felt inclined to shut his eyes and
wait for the blow.
Suddenly, however, up went Eds head,
and he stared the old Shawnee SO fercely
In the face that the man started back i'll
An idea had flashed upon Ed which he
to put to a practical test-even
though it was desperate resort.
81 admit it have the evil eyei" he ex-
claimed.
"Ugb'' p,r,nsad the old Indian dubious