Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1897-11-29

and said:
.It's for me to go first. Boys, you
all understand this matter. Only one
of us lis to come back, and there's to
be no hard feelings about it. If I'm
left behind you'll push ON with Bill
here for your leader. What I've got
in my packs you are welcome to di
vide between YOU I've got fifteen
minutes to get ready in"
had heard every word of the above,
as had every other man in camp, but it
was hard for me to realize that the
men were in sober earnest. It was to
be a man hunt to- the death, and they
had talked it over as cOolly as if the
subject of discussion was bear or
deer. Williams took with him a rifle,
a revolver, a knife, fifty extra car
tridges, and some bread and meat.
When ready to go he shook hands
with the two white men of his party
nodded to the others and to us, and
said ito Johnson:
I'm am hour I shall reach the far
side and be ready to turn back. Sorry
the earth isn't big enough for both of
us, but we happen to be built that way.
It's a fair show for both, and there'll
be nothing ito kick over
During the hour allowed him John
son cleaned his firearms, overhauled
his pack, and gave some instructions
as to what should be done with certain
interests in case he did not return.
When the hour was up he shook hands
all around; had word with the men
OF the other camp, and he was whistl-
ing as he disappeared from view. 1t
was at once agreed between the two
camps that there should be peace, and
each man found something at which
| to busy himself. The general idea
| was that the affair in the basin would
be over before noon, but those who
| argued thus made a mistake While
both men meant to kill, neither pro-
posed to take amy chance Life was
the stake to be played for, and the
game was to be drawn out.
| When Williams had crossed the
basin he turned and headed back to
l CAAO 0OCC11, Jul 41OI Ol1 U1kO iUICLLl. lit
| knew Johnson too well to- suppose that
he would make his way to the center
of the basin ON the trail. He entered
the woods ON his right, and made his
way along Through the tangle and
over the bOulders with the stealth of
am Indian. AS our leader entered the
basin he also entered the woods to his
| right. The two men thus made a half
/ circle, and were as far away from each
| other as the limits allowed. The basin
contained about 500 acres of land, and
was walled in on every side. The
trees were not large, but the under
growth was very thick, and there
were also MANY great powders lying
! about
AS Williams circled to the south
and Johnson to the north, each made
a half circle before finding the other S
trail The distance covered by this
/ half circle was about two miles, and
such was the caution with which the
men moved that it was afternoon be-
fore they came upon signs" Each
mans plan was now plain to the
/ other and both at once changed.
That is, each turned over his own
trail, or within reaching distance of
] it, This change simply prevented a
meeting When one had reached the
north end of the trail the other was
| back at the south end, and it was 4
| O'Clock in the afternoon. Then each
took the trail and held it to a point
within 200 feet of the center, and
Williams left it for the woods to his
left and johnson for the woods to his
right Without suspecting each
others presence they crept carefully
| forward until only fifty feet separated
them. Then a wolf dashing out from
| the space between them gave both
men the cue, and each began to work
for a shot. Johnson had before him
three or four vine-covered powders,
and he crept under the vines and was
so we'll hidden that even the eyes OF a
| fox could not have made him out.
Half an hour passed, and it was grow
| ing dark in the forest, when Williams
rose up alongside a tree and began
peering about. His uprising was like
that of shadow, and for ten minutes
! he did not expose finger as a target.
Then he became impatient or figured
that Johnson was not at hand, and his
head left the shelter of the tree to- get
better look. 1t was too dark for
johnson to take accurate aim, and the
bullet meant for Williams eye passed
Through and knocked the cap off his
head. In second Williams had fired
in return, taking snap shot at the
flash, and his bullet tore through the
cloth of Johnson's shoulder.
Those were the first and best shots
fired. Each man drew away after
firing, and they were probably mile
and half apart as they made camp
for the night. Had they been Indians
they might have hunted each other in
the darkness, but each lay down to
sleep feeling as safe as in camp. AS