Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1898-08-19

tial lunch in game pouch which
slung over my shoulder. We didn't ex-
plain very fully what we meant to do,
only saying that we wanted to go up
the mountain after spruce gum
which was true, but not the whole
truth-a piece of duplicity for which
we were punished severely enough be-
fore we saw home again. -
For about two miles our course lay
along the main road; then it
branched off toward the hills-a mere
trail. just at the turn we met an old
Indian staggering down the path with
a heavy pack-basket corded upon his
shoulders. AS he approa ched he STUN
bled across a log and fell.
"Why you put things make me fall
DOWN." he grumbled, struggling un-
steadily to his feet.
recognized him at once as Moose
Joe,s sl<illful hunter and good
guide, but otherwise-well, he was
very far from being a dead Indian" I
saw, too, that he had been drinking,
though not enough as yet to set him
crazy.
"Little gal 'fraid?" he said, as he
joined us. For, indeed, Bessie was not
able to conceal her uneasiness. and
this evidently excited him. "No need
be 'fraid o. Joe. Joe not hurt any
body. Children like play with joe"
The more he talked the more fright
ened poor Bessie became, and the more
she showed alarm the more vociferous-
ly he proclaimed his harmlessness.
That evidently wouldn't do. .
"Run ahead, Bessie whispered;
and she sped forward while remained
behind with the Indian-though I
should have much preferred to run,
too. The fellow soon quoted, but. to
my great disgust, turned and reeled
along at my side. .-.
"Why, you go up here?" he asked.
broke off twig, pulled out my
jackknife, and made show of whit
ting. Best keep it in my hand with
the big blade open, I thought.
''We're just going up after gum" l
answered him.
Then got him to talking about his
traps and the game he had taken; and
at last, to my immense relief, he start
ed back toward the road. had a long
chase, however, before T could over
take the terrified Bessie; the nearer 1
came the faster she fled.
ooh! Tom," she painted, as I came
up, sis it you? I was most sure you'd
been killed and he was coming after
me-" ..
II guess we're rid of him now" told
her. "He's gone on to the village for
more whisky and that'll be the end of
him for one WHILE"
Soon we were again tramping along,
quite at ease, laughing and shouting.
AS we proceeded the path grew steep
er and sleeper, and presently we found
ourselves on the top of the mountain,
ready to begin the more difficult de-
scent along the face of the cliff. Here
I cut a stout pole with which to assist
Bessie in the most dangerous places;
and with true children's luck we
crawled and edged along in safety I'M
til we stood together on the wide shelf
in front of the cave. In we crawled,
and with bit of candle which had
brought lit up the glistening interior.
Bessie fairly screamed with delight.
She had heard SO much talk about
caves; and here we were making a
playhouse of rea' one-and jasper
cave, at that. Then we rummaged
awhile in the rubbish for arrowheads.
At last the candle went out. and as we
were beginning to feel hungry, we
came cut to eat our lunch on the shelf
AS we finished l glanced up at the sky,
| and saw that black clouds were gath
ering.
cts going to rain, "Iexclaimed. eve
| must hurry home"
At that moment a strange object
caught my eye. 1t was a face peering
down from the cliff above-a face dis
torted with rage and rum-the face of
| Indian Joe. AS he saw that had de-
tected him he uttered savage yell;
then his face vanished, and l heard him
! scrambling down the path.
! "Quick, Bessie! get into the caye!"