The Opelousas courier., 1900-09-29
r N IT,, summer of 1879, Doctor Fe-
lix, a practitioner Of eight years

liz q practltlQner OF elSnI years
experience in Chicago, and two
friends, named Hurd and Near,
thur, made an excursion to Yellow
stone Park, where they spent a month
of rare enjoyment in hunting, fishing,
and viewing the wonderful scenery
of that romantic region.
They ranged up and down among
those marvels Of nature, acquiring
health and vigor Of body, while, as
the doctor remarked, his patients We're
probably doing the same thing ut
home.
There was a spice of personal danger
about this visit to the Yellowstone
country which undoubtedly gave q
zest to 1t. There had been more than
one tourist shot by Indians, and the
three friends were liable to receive a
visit from the same red men at any
time.
Accordingly they made themselves
believe that they were exercising the
same caution and skill as do veteran
scouts. They selected their camping
ground with great a in some lonely
place. where the topography of the
ground was likely to conceal the as
cending smoke from any hostile eyes.
They ~reconnoitered every new section,
whether mountain, plain or valley. be-
fore v%enturing upon or into it. When
eyer one discharged his rife, he imme-
diately reloaded it before moving -
step. When separated for a brief time
they signaled to each other by initial
ing the calls of animals or birds; they
neglected no precaution which would
have occurred to a party of forty
miners. when prospecting during the
early days, in the Big Horn country.
One cool, breezy afternoon, they
came to the margin of a small valley,
thickly wooded, and with a clear
stream flowing through the middle of
it.
"Just the place to go into camp for
a week." said Macarthur, as they refined
up their horses to survey the lovely
scene.
"Hold!" admonished Doctor Felix,
raising his finger impressively. "You
know u invariable rule-we must
reconnoitre it; and remember, boys,
must do it thoroughly"
There was no denying the wisdom of
this, and SO the three dismounted, Sc
curing their horses to the limbs Of
trees, and then they separated and
spent m hour in going over and
through the narrow valley with care
and minuteness.
"It's all rightr' remarked the doctor,
when they met again and heard the
of his subordinates. sour
search has been that thorough that
a rabbit could not have escaped us.
will lead our hoes down to the
charming place and enjoy ourselves
fear of disturbance from yag-
abond Indians"
Each holding the bride of his horse
In his hand, made his way carefully |
the wood, for a hundred
and then came plump on an
Indian camp!
The three amateur scouts from Chi
cago were astonished, for they did
understand how they could have
overlooked this interesting scene. But
I slip had been made somehow or
other, and they were about to turn
md seek safety in flight, when DR..
saw there was no danger at
IL fe1. eHtF . sssasgiie Indian was i
lamp. though. of course, there were
likely to be others within call.
But the professional eye of the ply
'ician told him that q case for his
was before him. A fire was |
BURNING against n tree, close to the
stream, from which the
secured all the water he could
iced. but be was suffering from some
serious trouble, and evidently had been
eft to die alone I'm the wilderness.
Ills rife rested against another tree
lear mt hand; the fire consisted Of a
fagots only, and he was stretched
on his blanket, his head resting OH
lis hand and his elbow on the ground,
While his large, black eyes gazed
at the three white men, whose
Ipproach he had detected before they
lad suspected his presence.
He did not move, but simply looked
lxedly at them, as though he had
cached that point where he cared |.
lot whether they were friends or enc
MES. If they chose to shoot or brain
i'm It would only anticipate the in
vitable by q few days.
There's Il case for you.' said Nc
Artiaur. Though the prospect isn't
GOD for d fee
The physician walked forward to
There the Indian lay, and made a
lagrlosis OF the case. The savage
ccincd TO understand. and, still sup
0rtins his head on his elbow, stared
9ltllout speaking.
DR.. Felix Discovered that lie Indian
Tas suffering ircil /: violent attack of {
ever. No tio.L.t tho poor fellow. as
'elI rs Dis fri..ads. believed it was
iadll-pox. n Il was accompanied by |
n eruption, bit the experienced My /:
lciaIl saw AZ ,nae that the ease was ]
I m ordinary c....ractst, though the :
was q b;azinE ~ anil there
sas no necessity ior lis dying. :
The warrior. .sbs was 4 splendid /
believing ,:e was To- alle tho i
aingM aNd iSas.su:rn death which
~ caTflsl ca Al..i muliItiAlpa or his
nleaao hlpaaale hg ilah aide oe