Middletown transcript., 1900-10-20

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and vanished.
Elmer did not see him again until
after nightfall. Then he glided into
the boys place of concealment like a
shadow.
"Come!" he said, and without fur
ther ceremony turned his face toward
the river.
Elmer grasped his hatchet, felt in
his pocket to see that his specimens
and especially the highly -prized feath-
er-were still there, and hurried after
his singular guide.
On reaching the river Proteau drew
canoe from beneath the shadows of
a clump of willows.
Into this he motioned Elmer, hen
seated himself in the stern and took
up light, broad-bladed paddle.
"Eat!" he commanded. pointing to
some jerked meat lying in the bottom
of the canoe.
Elmer was not slow in availing him
self of the invitation.
There cup!" pointing to a polished
buffalo horn, as he saw the boy glance
wistfully at the water.
Proteau had deposited some blankets
and several heavy rolls of furs in the
canoe, and when Elmer grew tired and
sleepy watching the gliding shadows
along the shore he made him lie down
upon the blankets and pull some of the
furs over him for covering.
All night long Proteau sat in the
stern of the canoe, his keen eyes scan
ming the shores, his face as changeless
as bronze, and the paddle rising and
falling with the regularity of clock
work.
Just before day Elmer awoke and
asked that he might be allowed to take
his turn at the paddle.
MEX too much noise!" was the sa-
gacious answer. Sioux got sharp ear.
Hear the splash, mebbe."
AS the light increased Proteau be-
gan to watch carefully for some Sc
cure hiding place into which he might
run the canoe. None appeared, and he
padded on until almost sunrise.
This came near resulting disastrous
ly, for in rounding point he saw the
smoke of an Indian fire just ahead.
Quick as a fash he seized Elmer by
the collar, pushed him prostrate into
the bottom of the canoe, threw a blan-
ket over him and piled upon it lot of
the furs.
Sioux" he said, in explanation.
A. ha ~ he
boat, although half smothered by the
blanket and furs.
The concealment was effected none
too soon, for the canoe was sighted
only little later by the sharp-eyed
savages.
When he saw that he was discov-
cred Proteau padded boldly to shore,
tied up the canoe and entered into
friendly conversation with them.
In answer to their inquiries he in
formed them that he was on his way
to Yankton to dispose of some peltry.
and that he thought all the white
men rot slain had escaped down the
river on the steamer.
The conversation, well spiced with
compliments, lasted a full half hour,
all of which time Elmer Lay trembling
under the furs, unable to comprehend
a word and in constant fear of dis
covery.
Finally Proteau showed the canoe out |
into the current, took his usual posi-
ton in the stern and padded with slow
deliberation and apparent unconcern
down the stream.
When well out of sight of the en-
campment he shot the canoe into a
labyrinth Of willows and removed from |
Elmer the suffocating coverings.
"Sioux think he YER smart!" was
his only comment. Then he filled the |
buffalo horn with water, took some
vehison from the pouch and served |
breakfast.
The remainder of the journey was
made without incident. Night after
night Proteau propelled the canoe
down the rapid current. Day after day |
was passed in some labyrinthine re-
treat.
When they reached Yankton Elmer
was received by his parents as one
iisen from the dead, for the command
er. of the expedition had placed his
name on the list of those lost in con-
fict with the Sioux.
Proteau not only sold his furs to
marked advantage. but was handsome
y rewarded by Mr.. Chadwick for the
rescue of his son.
Elmer still retains the specimens OBJ
tanned upon that eventful trip. Espe-
cially does he prize the little stratifed
bowlder containing the feather, the
finding of which may be said to have
saved his life.-Golden Days.