The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1895-07-11

SrhDDeu Tie lellOW ny the Scfuu anu
the slack and rushed him out Of the
cabin, quitting him with push that
sent him sprawling upon the ground.
After that Wah-kia-na came to the
cook house no more, and in a month
or so the incident had dropped COM
pletely from our minds. In his heart
he nurtured vengeance
One day we learned that there emp
tied into the Ump-qua a certain stream
the exploration of which promised con-
siderable sport. This tributary was
known as Smiths River, after an I'M
fortunate trapper who had been killed
by the Indians many years before.
When we had arranged our plans
we made them known to Waite Linn,
a sturdy old back woodsman who had
taken quite fancy to us youngsters,
and had more than proved himself a
true friend.
Don't We go, boys" said Waffle
"Why not?' asked Jed. 1--WE can
manage the canoe all right -t!
=" faint that" T. IL.
what is it, then? Are you afraid
of the Indians cutting us offy'' @
oval, yes; that's about it," replied
Waite. IS
But we only laughed at the old fell
lows fears, and by 10 O'clock next
morning we were all ready to start
Just as we were pushing Off along
came Waite. 49,.
so yer bound to go. boys" he said,
half reproachfully. "Wal, good luck
to We. But look hyar, 1 want We to
promise me a something. Guess it'll
take We three days to get up to Smiths
thar bein' freshet in the river. but i,
day ought to fetch yer back slick as
grease. Now give me yer word, boys,
to be back hyar by five days at the
latest; that is, if We kim
4 We promised the old fellow, and dip
ped our paddles, impatient to be off.
''Good lads and now look hyar. if
so be as you meet trouble. andetev to
split the canoe and tramp home. make
tracks down the right bank Of the riy-
er-the right bank, do you heer?''
Nothing particular happened until
the afternoon of the third day We
were ripping along very quietly, when
suddenly Jed reached over the side
of the canoe and fished something out
of the water. 1t proved to be small,
closely-Woven Indian basket.
That's bad. jed" exclaimed, ''sure
as guns there's redskins ahead of u.s."
''We'd have met the beggars if they
had come down stream, so they must
have gone up said I. 'What's to be
done, JedY' *. -...
''Done! Go ahead and trust to Provi-
dence," replied Jed. "Tbey may be
friendly or they may not. Anyhow,
we've got our rifles ~. .
''NNhat's that yonder?'' cried Jed,
pointing to a hill a little distance
ahead. It's sloping side was dotted
with what looked to be huts We rest
ed on our paddles, and gazed upon the
scene with silent anxiety. as ~
We found the cause of our wonder
to be an old Indian burying ground
The hutlike risings were simply hill
locks Of earth, each of which marked
the resting-place Of warrior.
Padding a mile or two further
along, we camped for the night.
AS soon as it was light enough, we
started to mount to the top of what
we meant to be our long toboggan
slide back to Ump-qua.~ 1t was the
worst rapid we had yet encountered
After trying it without success we
had to resort to the towing line.
We dragged our little craft up
through the boiling current yard by
dozen feet of us when crack the stout
hide line suddenly snapped, and away
went the canoe with all our stores
and Jed's rifle, dashing madIy down
the falls. :.
when we can get all the canoes we
want ...A. .
'Where?'
Down in the burial ground. of
course. It's only mile or. so. Come
along" i....-=. u
had entered the forest perhaps
half a mile when slowed down and
glanced behind me for my companion.
10 my surprise and dismay he was
nowhere to be seen.
That afternoon and evening I tramp
ed many miles. At nightfall being
utterly tagged out, I threw myself
upon the turf beside small stream,
and was soon sound asleep.
| aWoke a little after dawn, cold.
stiff and desperately hungry. I was
about to move along when was start
led to hear a cracking among the
brushWood. I set my teeth and
brought my rifle to my shoulder ready
to fire as soon as the thing should
break cover.
Presently, who should stagger into
/. view but Jed, the poor fellow ready
80 d1pp with fatigue and hunger.
We started off, but soon Jed, who
was carrying the gun, while Chamber
ing over some rocks, made a misstep
and fell. The weapon flew from his
hand and the trigger striking hard
against a stump, a loud report fol-
lowed among the surrounding hills.
But that was not the worst. Jed's
ankle received a very bad twist in his
fall, and for some minutes the poor
fellow. was agonized with pain.