Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1896-03-13

There's horses heofs there, anyway
father, look for yourself"
The trapper advanced to the bank
Sure enough upon the damp, black sur
face Of the place was outlined the dis
tinct impress of a horses feet. There
could be no doubt Of it, and as little
probability tn the frontiersman's mind
that any horse could have crossed the
bank and left so light an impression.
There's some trick here" he NUT
tered perplexedly, stroking his strag-
Cling beard 81 have it," he cried, sud
denly. Whoever did it wanted to leave
no trail, and they've tried to throw the
blame on a poor dumb brute by tying
pair of hoofs over their thieving feet.
No horse walk on two feet and this an
imal has. Tyson-Fd swear to it, Keep
close watch, Hiram, till I return from
this mail tomorrow night. Wen track
down this mystery, or lose our rePuta-
ton as frontiersmen."
But the affair annoyed him all that day
and was uppermost in his aind even
after the mail coach arrived, and he start
ed off for Mendoza with his horse.
lie was startled when the driver in
formed him that some dissatisfac ton
among the Chippewas was reported, and
he kept a close lookout along his lonely
route as he thought of Tyson, to whom
he accredited the source of the threaten
ing trouble.
But his journey was not disturbed,
and he delivered the mail rested an hour
or two, and the next evening at dusk,
congratulating himself on his safety, he
reached the little path through the tim
Der leading to his hut.
His horse started suddenly as shot
whizzed by his head across the opening.
He sprang to the threshold just as sec
ond bullet pierced ais cap.
With well-trained instinct the horse
dashed on and past the hut az Amos fell
rather than glided through the door
quickly opened by his wife.
"Safe Amos" she cried, thankfully, as
she barred the door ave tried to warn
YOU, but we didr't care to leave the
cabin"
The trapper looked startled.
There's danger, eh'" he muttered
''Not the Injuns'"
eyes, Amos, the Iniuns."
In hurried tones she explained what
had happened since he left the place.
That very morning Hiram had observed
several savages and white man skuik-
ing near by; had overheard sufficient of
the conversation to indicate that their
mission was no. peaceful one, and had
fastened to the cabin.
They had barred the door just in time
to shut out the intruders, who made
wild dash toward the hut-four half
drunken Indians and Abner Tyson.
All that day in a state of siege they
had exchanged harmless shots with the
savages, and were not little alarmed
when they discerned in the movements
of the men that they were evidently
skulking in the forest to waylay the
trapper on his return
Amos lips grew closer together and
his eyes flashed omniously.
Tyson and ire-water against an hon.
est man." he muttered, as he examined
his rife. THE pesky varmint wants re-
vengc, eh' Well, he'll get it,"
"He will, if you listen to me, father"
spoke up Hiram, as he advanced from
port hole WHARF he had been watching
the moonlit opening.
"What do you mean, lad'"
THAT I've found out by the flash of
their rifles were the men are"
"You have, eh'"
ayes, father. Right at the edge of the
opening is big hickory, blown over in
the last storm Across the top a cotton
fell and holds it there. There's a big
hole where the roots flung out the dirt,
and TYSON and the Indians are lying in
it."
"You're sure of thati"
"Certain, father. Creep out of the
rear window and get around into the
timber. I'll guarantee to FIX them"
The trapper's eyes flashed with admit
ration of the quick intelligence of the
boy as ne discerned Hiram's purpose, but
he hesitated to give his sanction.
The risk, lad" he began.
an take It, father. Leave it to me to
get out of the way, if they see me-"