Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-07-18
WAH.klA-NA'S REVENGE.

d
much over twenty, when, in the reck-
less spirit of adventure, we joined
company of three score hardy fellows
who were on the point OF starting on
up the Ump-qua river.
After many days of the most dlfh-
cult travel, we came at length IN slSht
of an Indian village, and approaching
this village to within a quarter OF a
mile, we pitched our permanent camp.
We had been there a very few min
utes before our redskin neighbOrs
became aware of our presence, and I'M
mediately they swapned down upon
us. 6isplaving the most hostile inten-
TONS The sight of our weapons
cowed them. and they saw it would be
best to leave us alone.
The chief of the tribe was one Wah-
kama. a tall muscular Indian Of per-
haps forty-five. AS the days went by
Wah-kia-na became quite a frequent
visitor. His favorite lounging place
was the log cabin in which Jed and l
did the cooking.
One morning Jed discovered Wah-
kama in the act of jabbing a long,
sharp pointed piece of iron he invari-
ably carried in his belt into the soup
kettle, hoping, no doubt, to fish out a
nice hot chunk Of beef. This was more
than my companion could stand.
knocking the iron out of the red
skins hand with a quick blow, Jed
grabbed the fellow by the scruff and
the slack and rushed him out of the
cabin, quitting him with a push that
sent him sayawling upon the ground.
After that Wah-kia-na came to the
cook house no more, and in month or
so the incident had dropped completely
from our minus. But not from the In
dams. In his heart he nurtured ven
geance.
One day we learned that there
emptied into the Ump-qua a certain
stream, the exploration Of which
promised considerable sport. This
tributary was known as Smiths river
| after an unfortunate trapper had been
killed by the Indians many years be
fore.
When we had arranged our plans we
made them known to Waite Linn, a
sturdy old backWOOdSman, who had
taken quite fancy to us youngsters
and had more than once proved him
self true friend.
'fDon't We go, boys" said Waite.
''Why not?' asked Jed. I'VE can
manage the canoe all right
''Tain't that
"What is it, then? Are you afraid
of the Indians cutting US OFF,
oval, yes; that's about it," replied
| Waite.
just as we We're pulling off along
| came Waite.
$50, yer bound to go, boys" he said
| half reproachfully. oval, good luck
to We. But look hyar l want We to
promise me something. Guess it'll
| take ye three days to get up to Smith S
thar bein' a freshet in the river, but a
day ought to fetch We back slick as
grease. Now give me yer word, boys
to be back hyar by five days at the
| latest; that, is if We kin"
We promised the old fellow and
dipped our paddles, impatient to be
! off.
''Good lads, and now look hyar, if SO
be as you meet trouble, and hev tC
quit the canoe and tramp home, make
| tracks down the right bank of the
river-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 fshed something out OF
| the water. It proved to be small
| closely woven, Indian basket.
'That's bad, jed l exclaimed, ''sure
as guns theirs redskins ahead of u.s."
WED have met the beggars if they
| had come down stream, SO they must
have gone up" said 1. whats to be
done, jedi
"Done! Go ahead and trust in Provi-
dence," replied Jed. "They may be
| friendly or they may not. Anyhow
we've got our rifles
whats that yonder?'' cried Jed.
| pointing to a hill a little distance
ahead. Its sloping side was dotted
| with what looked to be huts. We
rested on our paddles and gazed upon
the scene with silent anxiety.
We found the cause of our wonder
to be an old Indian burying ground.
The hutlike risings were simply
hillocks of earth, each of which
marked the resting place of a warrior
Padding 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 several ways without
success, we had to resort to the towing
line.
We dragged our little craft up
through the boiling current yard by
yard. 1t may have been within
dozen feet of US when crack the stout
hide line suddenly snapped, and away
went the canoe with ali our stores and
Jed's rife. dashing madly down the
falls.
What fools to worry cried Jed,
''when we can get all the canoes we
want"
'sWhere?"
Down in the burial ground, of
course. It's only a mile or so. Come |
along"