The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-12-18

with provisions and other supplies for
ar extended stay in the hills. The fam
lily had become attached to n of the
recent arrivals named Basil Dobbins.
and Mr.. and Mrs. Gregg agreed to take
Basil with them on their visit. Prep
a~rations were in due time completed
and the long overland journey to Fort
Benton begun. The first few miles OF
the trip were most delightful, the lit
tie caravan vending it's way through
the dense forests on the slope of the
hills which lose Their grandeur as
they meet the turbulent waves of the
southern coas of St. Mary's lake.
Leaving the inland sea the trail leads
across an undulating prairie to the
east until IL comes to a succession OF
coulees and tables" for which North
ern Montana is famed. There the
traveller must find a trail as best he
can.
Slowly moving down a winding cou-
lee, all eyes searching for an inviting
retreat where camp might be made
for the first night out. the little party
was thrown from pleasant reverie into
a state of terror upon behol0fng al
most directly overhead four f%erocious
looking individuals whose leader gave
the significant command. Haiti"
There, on the high bank of the cou-
lee. astride of weary cayuses sat a
quartette of bloodth.rsty half-breed
bandits. There a no mistaking
their purpose. They were after money!;
II money was not to be had. life was to
pay the penalty for being broke. To
offer resistance vas not to be thought
of. To undertake to cope with sucn
a determined looking squad was out
OF the question. Flight, with slim
chances Of successful termination first
suggested itself to Donald, who COM
municated his plan to his companions.
Mrs. Gregg thought only OF the safety
of her children. Action must be has
ty, no time should be lost in reaching
a conclusion, for the bandits were nov
solely-yet II appeared as IL they we're
fiying-moving diagonally down the
precipltous side of the coulee and
would soon be upon the little caravan
Let us throw ourselves upon tie
mercy of the robbers and trust to the
spark of manhood which might be in
their breasts to a our lives, even
II they do rob US of our ALL" suggested
Dobbins.
Donald's brain was active. he was
for making a dash. See! one Of their
horses has fallen. Look! the rider is
underneath. They are all confused,
Good!' shouted Donald. rs he saw
another fatigued animal yield under Its
great weight. They are all falling
oNCT IudN AtehH $500
for our hves." shouted Donald to his
faithful ponies as he beat them with
his blacksnake. Bang. bang, roared q
musket from the rear. The n TN
injured robber had d;smounted and
fired at the caravan as II rounded a
sharp curve in the coulee.
The disorganized band OF robbers
soon struck the trail and a hot chase
ensued down the coulee. Dobbins hello
his rifle in readiness and when tbs
leader hove in sight he fired and there
was a dead bandit. This bold act in
censed the trio and three volleys laid
the true friend of Donald Gregg across
the wagon bed a corpse. The woman
and children were ordered to lie dowr
in the bottom Of the wagon bed, and
Donald took up the gun or his iea6
comrade and fired. His aim was per
feet. Another bandit died. AS he Eel
from his horse he struck the fore leg
of a tired csyuse and IL fell. throwins
its rider violently to the ground u
was now a running hattie to the dealt
between Donald and the lone bandit
Another sharp turf In the coulee anS
the race was ended. There the ,ou
lee spread out. delta like. and DonalC