Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1901-04-15

,hcir faces. Here Michaud saw his
opportunity for a bold stroke.
With the stealth OF an indian and
The daring CT Boone, he went swiftly
forward, keeping under cover Of rocks
aad crawling rapidly ever exposed
Lunmocks, until he had overtalien the
car stragg,er. Keeping softly be-
l!nd until the man descended a little
Ditch, Michaud spranG upon his bur-
a2ned shoulders, and the fellow went
DOWN with a smoth3f ed yell.
he was quickly convinced Of tho
uselessness of a struggle, and gentle
)rick from M!chaud's knife brought
his hands across his back, where they
we're tied with the strings of his own
pack. Michaud then tied the mans
EGGS, smashed his gun upon a rock,
and sped on.
He caught the next man carrying
his load upon his head. and gave him
! stunning blow in the back of the
neck. To tie him and break his gun
was Inc WDlk OF a moment.
Then seeing fellow, who was but
short distance in advance, go ND on
a little ridge and drop his pack to rest,
Michaud covered him with his rife
and advanced rapidly along the trail.
The man did not happen to turn
around Immediately and when he did
so was looking into the muzzle OF the
Canadians gun at less than a dozen
etcps. His own riile-like those of his
'ellCws-was slung under his arm. He
praag to his feet, stared wildly at
Nichaud for an instant, and then put
mp his hands in token of surrender.
He was made to lie upon his face
while Felix. with a knife in his teeth,
made him fast as he had done tho
others.
Michaud now carried two cooked
rifles. one in either hand, as he hurried
forward on the trail. He hoped to
overtake Haze Fenton next
The ground was very rough in front,
and he could see nothing of the men
IN advance. He had gone but a short
distance, however, when he came face
to face with Lope Vasquez, at the bot
tom of rock-worn waterway. The
Mexican had dropped his pack and
turned about, apparently to look after
his fellows, or to give some direction
to the next behind. In a twinkling
the outlaws gun was at his face, and
his bullet whistled through Michaud's
skin cap, cutting, as he afterward dis
covered, the skin upon his left ear.
Michaud returned shot for shot,
dropping one rife and raising the
other with mechanical swiftness, and
the freebooter fell in his tracks. Be-
fore Felix could recover from aston
ishment at his own success and the
narrowness OF his escape, he heard
joyful shout close at hand, and saw
Haze Fenton stumbling toward him.
Haze was almost ready to drop with
fatigue and the weight of his load.
He had been with Vasquez, and as the
latter turned back, had seated himself
to rest when he heard the shots. In
stantly upon seeing the Mexican fall,
he had OWNED the situation. His
eXultation must be imagined as the
faithful comrade freed him from fet-
ters and burden.
An extra rifle was quickly reloaded,
and the trappers hurried on together
to overtake the other two of Lope's
men. They were found at the foot of
some rocks awaiting their fellows.
The stiff gale that was blowing had
carried all suspicious sounds away
from them. They We're surprised to
see the big Yankee coming, unloaded,
but his hands were behind him, and
apparently one OF their mates was at
his heels with rifle in either hand;
so they were caught off their guard.
Haze enjoyed their discontinue i'm
mensely. Their guns were broken,
and they were made to carry their
packs back to their fellows. Then the
band of five were set free, given what
provisions they had. told to care for
their wounded leader, and take them
selves out of the country as best they
might
The trappers guarded their furs for
day or two, and then, certain that
the miscreants had taken themselves
off for good, they cached the bales and
returned to their shack.
The peltries were recovered two or
three weeks later, after the coming
of the band from Bridger's.
AS for Felix Iichaud, he could not
be induced to take pay for the service
he had rendered, but when he was
chosen captain of the company he ac-
cepted joyfully.-Youth's Companion.
Workmen's Comfort and Efficiency.