The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-06-25

above the cabin, they began 10 move the
hides into it, going and returning py
different route each time, so as 70 leaNe
no trail. They built no IRE that eVenihs,
and after a bite of cold meat and breao'
spread some blankets in the brush near
the doorway and quietly waited for their
companion to return. IL was aoous
. clock when they heard the soft thud Oh
his moccasined feet coming down the tral
through the timber, and presently ne ai'-
peared in the DIN light, walking Weari-y
along.
The Return of Antoine.
"Tired?" Tom asked, as he and Bill
stepped out of the brush.
you bet l be tired. I'll tax dose II IN
jun most to do mout de Mooseheh iNSL
an den I'll run down into de bottom o4
de Missori, an den I'll run up DIS way
An what you tink? I'll keel it one II IN
jun. Yes, sare, I'll just hold de gun UP
high-no take ain-an when ! pun ue
trig I'll watch, an dose H'injun he's fail
an no move any more
Early in the morning the hunters car
ried the rest of the dried skins to their
cache. Feeling sure that the Indians
would come up the river and ma the
cabin, they hid most of their outnt'
buried a ten-pound key of powder under
the fireplace, left a pot and a lot Of tea
and sugar in a conspicuous place, and
then taking their blankets and few
provisions they went out into the nils
to hide for a day or two and see what
would happen. Perched on the apex OF
a steep, pine clad ridge, the hunters sat
quietly hour after hour, watching for any
signs of the enemy. It was weary work,
especially for Antoine, who never could
sit still or idle any length of time. He
fidgeted and swore as the hours dragged
by and finally proposed that they should
go up to the head of the long coulee ana
finish skinning the wolves there, one to
stand guard while the Others worked.
Wen just go yer on that" Bill said,
''pervided you do the watchin'; them eyes
o yourn is sharpern ourn. Come on"
couple of hours later, when they were
busily at work, they were suddenly start
led by an explosion like the discharge
of large cannon, and looking down into
the bottom, they saw a dense cloud of
white smoke rising above the trees where
the cabin stood.
4 guess our Injun friends has been
brewin' cup o tea, said Bill, with
grin.
The others didn't say anything. for they
were watching the Indians, who now ap-
peared on the open fat, running as hard
as they could down the bottom When
near the center of it they stopped, bunch
ed up, and apparently held a council. and
eAAN4At SA4eASiHS tutit course, ran lOr the
hills evidently intending TO go out on the
prairie.
The hunters watched them climb the
long ridge and when they finally disap-
peared where it met the prairie, Antoine
ran up to where he had discovered them
the day previous, and Tom and Bin re-
sumed their work. They stopped now and
then to signal the halfbreed who would
reply that the enemy was still going. That
evening, assured that the Indians had
really left, they returned to the cabin to
md it perfect wreck; the roof was gone
the chimney had fallen in, the walls were
partly blown away and in the debris
were the mutllated bodies of five Indians
one morning in May the first steamboat
OF the season landed the hunters and their
bales of furs and skins on the levee at
Fort Benton, and that evening there was
big time in John Lilly's hurdy house
Bill was getting rid of his wealth as fast
as he could. Antoine was helping him.
and Tom was looking on TO see that no
harm befell them. A few days later he
had to furnish the grub stake" for an
other season.