Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1896-03-14

sudden into "a break that led down
into Elk creek. For mile tortuous
| path was followed until the bottom
land or Elk creek was attained-and
more picturesque sight was never
photographed ON the mind of men than
was then impressed upon prairie
Dog Dave and comrade.
On emerging from 1.-THE creek or
little canyon, canyoncito, onto the bot
tom lands both felt as If they had
come over the divide into paradise
hunters paradise There were deer.
bucks, does and fawns, by the score
IN sigss. feeding on succulent grasses.
and as the ride across the valley was
made hundreds of wild turkeys took
TO wing and dozen or more elk
scampered away. frightened by the
two trespassers. The young lieuten-
ant was nightly tempted TO take a
sh0t, and had the buck fever like a
cnlli-stricken patient of Dickens
Eden. His comrade kept him. wise
~ from wasting ammunition and in
wiling the attention of any providing
Indian.
The creek crossed. the farther en-
bankment of the stream was reached
and assembled. and the two riders got
TO another divide just as the sun was
sinking at the farther edge OF the
prairie in sea Of glory, nowhere so
lurld, nowhere as near, seemingly. as
1t appears ON the plains.
Cautiously and eNpeditioslsly this
divide was crossed. as Indians are at
their worst when twilight falls"
A break of the Canadian was
reached, and. like the sun that had
dipped behind the horizon the two
| hofSelilen went out OF sight into the
dark rayine.
The brakes OF the Canadian No.
body knows just what il meant BY the
term unless he has been among them.
| not by daylight. but moonlight. while
beset as well with fear of Indians.
Breaks" Is nsed TO designate net
work or rayines that flank every river
in the Indian Territory and the Pan
handle of Texas. They are deep can
yons radiating from each river, per
feet labyrinth in themselves.
Down one of these breaks" the two
horsemen rode. 1t was as black down
In the canyon as the ace of spades. to
use familiar frontier simile. Stumb-
ling over gypsum rocks, the horses
could scarce keep to their feet, and
| the riders In their seats, but suddenly
the horses took to speeding over d
hard, sand-hollowed rayine. and soon
horses and riders We're out on the di-
vide. but on the same side of the river.
as was their purpose and need to
cross. Another plunge, without any
/ particular consideration. was made
! into another rayine. 1t was followed
I down, down. toward the river. broad.
~ he hs..a
| higher and higher and more precipit.
GUS. Just as the mouth was reached.
| opening out to the broad high. grass.
! covered bottom lands of the Canadian
river. the full moon came out from
behind great bank of clouds. just
/ to the right of the break" from a
bosque, or cottonwood grove. sprang
forth troop 300 or more strong.
| Indians, lieutenant" was whisper
ingiy shouted By Prairie Dog" Dave.
| IL there be anything like making d
whisper sound like roll of thunder.
The moon looked down calmly and
I cast shadow, as is her habit when
there Is material at hand out Of which
to fabricate ii. A projecting butte In
the ravine furnished the material, and
! both hOrsemen sped to it's hospitabie
shadow. As the troop rushed pell-
nell. Indian style, out OF the bosque
into the moonlight, the war bonnets
of the Indians could be distinguished
and the animals ran as fresh from the
grass, precluding all hopes of escape
on the two horses, which had been rid
| den over thirty miles in less than six
hours.
Just then the moon took a less
alarming twist on her face, and show.
| ed the war bonnetsr to be the antlers
| of gread herd Of elk.
The Canadian river. followed up its
right bank for many miles, was cross.
ed at ''the sand Dunes" fifty miles