The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1899-09-14

ly he proceeded until his little Dlrch
was close to the big bull moose's side,
between the animal and the shore.
Then Tomah rose to his feet; ready to
throw the big rope snare when the
moose's head came up. When it did
come the lasso was thrown.
There was wild time then. The
moose made a desperate attempt to es
cape, but the Indian held on for dear
life. Away they went up the shore into
the bushes, with the coil of rope spin
ming out and Tomah clinging it. Sew
eral times he attempted to snub the
moose, but in every case was thrown
and dragged about until he was near
ly bruised to death. AT one time, while
the moose was making a dash across a
small clearing, Tomah fell down and
the maddened animal made a return
charge, evidently with the intention of
ending the chase. AS the moose
charged he Dragged the rope around
the trunk of a birch tree. Tomah took
advantage of the animals bad judy
ment, and, holding on tc his end of the
rope, ran around in the opposite direc-
ton until he had made a fair hitch,
and then he began to run around in
circle, tantalizing the creature, till the
moose had wound himself up close to
the tree. Then Tomah tied the remain
ing end of the rope to the antlers and
his work was accomplished. He then
went to the shore and found that his
canoe had filled with water during the
struggle. He soon had it emptied and
was on his way down the lake 10 find
the men who doubted his word.
You have made trouble this time"
said one of the party when Tomah left
the dunnage and put on his ugly look.
That Indian don't like to be called
city names" said another, while third
said:
we have lost a guide, sure"
While they were specializing on the
best plan for future operations. pro-
vided the guide had deserted them, the
black flies and mosquitoes began to
feast upon them with such ferocity that
it was found necessary to kindIe fire
for a smudge. The little steamer had
gone down the lake, and the only thing
to do was to prepare for stay or en-
ploy new guide. After an hour or
more of fighting flies and boxing mos
quitoes, it was voted to employ new
guide and proceed up the lake. One
member of the party was detailed to
go to the only house in the neighbor-
hood, the white house, 21a miles away,
for that purpose. He was gone several
hours and fears were entertained that
he might have lost his way or taken the
wrong road.
There the hunters sat and smoked
and fretted until it began to look like
a walk or a biyouac for the night. just
before the sun had set over the off side
OF old Porcupine mountain Tomah was
seen in his canoe making his return
trip. He was standing up, padding
with all his might and main and skim
ming along at Il rapid rate. As he
heared the shore it was plainly evident
that he had been in a hard tussel with
something. His face was covered with
blood, his hunting jacket gone, and his
trousers torn to ribbons, while the
sleeves of his shirt were missing and
his large muscular arms were crimson
with blood. He padded straight for
the clump of bushes on the shore near
the smudge fire, where the astonished
party had been seated. The hunters
met him with open mouths, ears and
eyes. Tomah landed and rushed into
the group and, shaking his blood-spat-
tered head and arms in the faces of the
men, shouted:
81 am no lie teller! I prove to you.
Every man here. l prove him so.
Every one man of you. | prove YOU |
am no lie. You follow me. Take a
birch canoe, everyone of yer" and
with another shake of his head he
turned and was soon sailing away on
the lake again.
THAT man is crazy" said one.
"No, l think he has killed a moose"
said another.
One by one they got into the canoes
until five of them were skimming along
in a hot race with the guide. 1t was
nearly dark when they reached the
island. Iomah pulled his birch up on
the shore and made his way over to a
knoll, where he stood and waited till
all were landed and close to him. When
all were present he pointed to a clump
of birches and said:
Am | lie teller?"
A large bull moose was standing
there with his bead firmly tied to the
trunk.
I'm no lie," he said again. "There's
a live moose. I'm show you how he
looks when he run"
Then Tomah went to the opposite
of the tree, and with one slash of his
knife the bull was set free, while
Tomah himself went into the limbs.
The animal made one leap. lifted his
head in the air, gave believing yell,
and made charge at the men before
him.
Never did Spanish bull in the arena
make a more glorious charge. The men
flew in all directions in mad haste to
make clear his pathway. Mcdonald
and Hardiman both received a duckine
in the lake, while one of the others was