Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1900-04-05
|CHAUD'S EXPLOIT.

| prOach. ~
Dul the attack did not come in tho,
manner. Michaud was aroused ,o,,ar,
Aoihhs py a sudden rush of feet ont
ue' anu instantly there was a crash az
az uoor. It's puncheon slabs-they had
800 pessed TO crosspieces-burst into the
' iolioWed by a crowd Of dark he-
"e9 'uihphng in at the opening.
instantly Felix ducked into the boro 30
n"u hiaue under the logs. and was outside
"a '"ihKling. So Haze was the only "r,tp
,Suhu IN the trap. Michaud waited opIv
ioHs enough to hear a short scuas 90
" KNOW that Fenton had been secured
ana was beyond his present assistance.
then ne sped away among the bush ana
Fochs' NO one pursued. however, or CANA
our 10 look after him. If the outlaw
hhe" OF his presence,-and he felt spro
mat haze would not enlighteu ,han,
tney dld not consider his escane az a,r
Eefous TO their enterprise, Micbapd did
not believe they would XIII Fantor ~ ,har.
coulc In any way use him.
The Canadian posted himself ,,no
helght where he could overlook the shall
and waited for daylight. There Wa 40
sur among the men until about AZ ,rise
INV iAdICuEu out, Haze
fehton among them. each man bearing a
pack of beaver upon his shoulders
Mlchaud at once made an accurate guess
DIT 'heir plans He waited until they
were well out of sight and bearing and
then descended to the deserted cabin.
The marauders had taken nothing but
the more valuable bales of beaver and
otter peltries, in packs of some sixty
4 nn1ln1G nnrh ATsah,..A ~
self with a blanket, as much meat as he
could easily carry. and leisurely set out
Upon their trail.
He had little difficulty in overtaking
them. loaded as they were. He was very
wary in his approach, watching them
from cover and at a distance. As the
country was exceedingly rough, he had
pot much trouble in keeping out of
sight. Once he got the general direction
or their course, he had no need to trail
them.
e travelled to the northeast, and
Michaud knew they had come without
ponies. They were packing their booty
to the big lake of the Yellowstone, where
they had canoes hidden, or If not, could
hew them out Of logs. Once on the great
wateroourse, they could easily drop down
TO the Missouri and sell their plumber for
enough to give each of them some $500
or $500.
All day Michaud followed. at one time
getting close enough to see that Haze
Fenton, with hands tied behind him. was
packed like a burro. his sturdy shoulders
bent under the weight that was strapped
upon them. Michaud hoped for no greater
success than to set the unwilling toiler
free. To that end he was ready to incur
any personal risk which did not involve
obvious foolhardiness. That night he
watched Vasquez's camp as an owl
watches the burrows of whistling rabbits.
But the men slept in a row, with their
feet to their camp fire. Haze lay in their
midst, and a man. gun in hand. stood
guard. Evidently they were running N
unnecessary risks. In the morning so
near was Michaud hat he could hear the
mems voices as they cooked a breakfast
OF young fool hens which they had
knocked over the evening before. He
could see the grinning face of their black
Mexican leader. who appeared to be in
high good humor.
Again the Canadian followed through a
days slow march. Another night passed,
and the vigilance in the camp proved un-
RENTING.
On the following forenoon the route lay
across a long stretch of rough, exceeding
ly tumbled bench lands which, from the
description Michaud gave me, I think
must lave been ancient lava beds.
In crossing these arduous stretches, the
outlaws followed an old elk or buffalo
trail, and toward noon their line had be-
come stretched out over a considerable
distance along the path. A high wind
was blowing nearly in their faces. Here
Michaud saw his opportunity for a bold
stroke.
with the stealth of an Indian II the
daring of Boone, he went swiftly forward,
keeping under cover of rocks and crawl
ing rapidly over exposed hummocks. until
he had overtaken the rear straggler.
Keeping softly behind until the man
descended a little pitch, Michaud sprang
upon his burdened shoulders, and the fell
low went down with a smothered yell.
He was quickly convinced of the useless
ness of a struggle, and a gentle prick
from Michaud's knife brought his hands
! across his back, where they were tied
with the strings OF his own pack.
Mi-chaud then tied the ans legs,
smashed MS gun upOH u IOSh' @HS SPNo
on.
He caught the next man carrying MS
load upon his head, and gave him q
stunning blow in the back OF the neck.
To tie him and break his gun was the
work of a moment
Then seeing a fellow. who was but a
short distance in advance, go up on a
little ridge and drop his pack to rest,
Michaud covered him with his rifle and
advanced rapidly along the trail. me
man did not happen to turn around I'M
mediately, and when he did so was look
ing into the muzzle Of the Canadians gun
at less than a dozen steps. His W
rife-like those of his fellows-was Sung
under his arm. He sprang to his feet'
stared wildly at Michaud for an instant.
and then put up his hands In token OF
surrender. He was made to lie upon nus
face while Felix. with a knife In MS
teeth, made him fast as he had done the
others.
Michaud now carried two cooked rines,
one in either hand. as he hurried forwaru
on the trail. He hoped to overtake Haas
Fenton next.