The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1899-09-23

canoe and padded with one hand whes
the heads we're under water. Careful
~ he proceeded until his little birch
was close to the big bull moose's s;oe
between the animal and the shore
Then Tomah rose to his feet, ready to
throw the big rope snare when the
moses head came up. When it did
come the lasso was thrown.
There was a wild time then. The
moose made 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 to 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 birch tree. Tomah took
advantage of the animals bad judg-
ment, and, holding on to his end of the
rope, ran around in the opposite direc-
ton until he had made 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 filed with water during the
struggle. He soon had it emptied and
was on his way down the lake to 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 a third
said:
I'VE have lost guide, sure.''
While they were specializing on the
best plan for future operations, pro-
vlded the guide had deserted them, the
black flies and mosquitoes began to
feast upon them with such ferocity that
1t was found necessary to kindle fire
for 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 a 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, 21s 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
walk or bivouac 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
rip. He was standing up, padding
With all his might and main and skim !
ming along at rapid rate. As he |
reared the shore it was plainly evident |
hat he had been in a hard tussel with |
His face was covered with |
blood, his hunting jacket gone, and his |
rousers torn to ribbons, while the I
leeves of his shirt were missing and
us large muscular arms were crimson
With blood. He padded straight for
he clump of bushes on the shore near
he smudge fire, where the astonished
arty had been seated. The hunters
net him with open mouths, ears and :
yes. Tomah landed and rushed into
he group and, shaking his blood-spat-
cred head and arms in the faces of the !
len, shouted:
Il am no lie teller! prove to you!
very man here. 1 prove him so!
very one man of you. prove you 1
m no lie. You follow me-. Take
irch canoe, everyone of YER" and
18th another shake of his head he
irned and was soon sailing away on
lie lake again.
''That man is crazy!" said one.
mo, / think he has killed moose
lid another.
One by one they got into the canoes
ntil five of them were Swimming along
hot race with the guide. 1t was
early dark when they reached the
land. Tomah pulled his birch up on
e shore and made his way over to
loll, where he stood and waited till
were landed and close to him. When
were present he pointed to clump I
birches and said:
"Am 1 lie teller?" =
A large bull moose was standing
ere with his head firmly tied 70 fba