Daily camera., 1899-04-29


time your mind Is made up to do as
you are asked. l don't want nybody
to spend words and breath on me for
nothing"
So said the old trapper, Nick Ames.
to me, as we sat one night in the bar
room OF rude hotel on the verge OF
one OF our far western states.
One time / was on on a travelling
tour. away up on one OF the branches
OF the Yellowstone. My old partner.
John Gillis, was with me 1t was the
last trip he ever made. John was
good fellow and couldn't have felt
worse when he died IL he had been my
own brother.
Il don't know what it was that allied
John. He was took sick sudden-like
one day. and although / done every
thing for him that | could think OF he
grew worse and worse. At last he
died. and there ! was alone with him.
You can believe that didn't feel
over and above jolly then. A body
wouldn't be apt to get along with a
dead man. and he the best friend you
Hdu IN tne world.
I've seen good many gloomy
hours. misier-times when / wouldn't
have given a straw for the chances OF
my life-but / do believe that / felt
more down to the bit then. when | see
John laying afore me. so still and
white than | ever did before or since.
1t was hard work for me TO put him
away under ground SO soon, but there
was no help for it. / knew that the
wolves would be prowling around as
soon as II come dark. and that the
sooner ! WAS through with the Job the
better. So ! dug as good looking
grave as ! could with the things had
to do it with. and. wrapping his blan-
ket about him. laid him in 1t and COW
cred him up
1T was tough Job for me, mister.
but ! go' through with II, and then
kept watch over the spot all through
the night was afraid that the wolves
might scent /, out and 80 make a feast
OF what was left OF poor John.
The next morning left the spot,
and set my face toward the east. was
mighty lonesome. and that day l would
have given every skin in my pack IL
could have seen the face OF a white
man.
Il travelled on till night came, and
then. tired and sleepy. laid down 70
rest. ! ate little food that had with
me for didn't dare to start a nre.
had seen too many fresh signs OF red
skins that day to run the risk OF that
Il was asleep In less than ten min
utes after struck the ground. had
rome without any so long tina, | could
not have kept awake had 1t been to
have saved my life.
Il don't know how long 1t was that
slept but IT must have been for a num-
Der OF hours. for the moon didn't rise
until after midnight. and now II
seemed TO hang about yard above the
earth. ! walked up with a start, and a
feeling that something was wrong.
Il rose up on my elbow. but saw no
signs about me. The moon shone only
dimly as yet and by its light | could
again. thinking OF John. and saying to
myself that 1t was his death that made
me so nervous.
4 was Just dropping to sleep again,
when | thought l heard a slight sound
close by me
Again | rose on my elbow. but saw
nothing. Almost angry with myself
for being SO nervous and having such
strange fancies, lay back again and
closed my eyes.
In about a minute more they were
open again and this time l saw some
llE that sent a thrill from my scalp
to my toes.
"A huge redskin. with his knife in
his hand. was standing within = yard
Of me-
lis eyes were fixed upon my face,
,nl his arm was raised as though to
strife blow that should take nay
Ike
- felt a chill creeping about my
heat for | knew that was never SO
near 10 death as | was then.
The least motion on my part, show
| irE that ! was awake, would be . sig
nal for him to plunge his knife into my
heart
"A movement OF hand toward
either OF my weapons would pronounce
my doom.
The least motion looking to my de-
fonsc would shorten the brief lease Of
life ! held
What could l do?"
Never in my life had been in such
q strait before.
AT that instant the cracking Of =
twig behind the savage caused him to
Stance quickly about.
slight as was the chance this At
forded me. took Il. for knew 1t was
my only hope.
In an instant was upon my feet,
with my rife In my hand.
"The savage turned. but as he did 20
there was q whisxing sound In the air.
and huge panther planted itself Arm
b upon bis back. and they went down
together.
kA - Ii ~