Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1901-04-15
MICHAUD'S EXPLOIT,
BY FRANKLIN wELLEs cALKINs.
NNl@eyNNNNN $500 aI1

about the beaver. Some fellow got
drunk at the fort, and let 1t out among
their friends or spies. They saw ms
as | came by their camp, but l didn't
let on to see them. They've got ua
under close watch, and we've got 20
cave or fight-which?
"Me-I tink fight" said Michaud
cooliy.
Three to one is big odds" said
Haze, obviously, and they'll just
/ simply watch for a chance to shoot us.
like Ehe snaaks they are, when we stir
outside"
All the same" replied Michaud, in
his slow, imperturhable way, me,
weel lot run till Get ees nccessaire."
You talk brave enough" said Fen
ton, doggedly anu douhtfully. Guess
III stay around here as long as you
will. Well be served like two rats in
a trap. that's all, but I'll stay Just the
same"
The trapper's apprehensions were
indeed, well founded, as Michaud was
soon to discover. The attack came
sooner than they expected, and like
& lightning stroke.
Fenton lay sleeping upon his blank
| cts, while Michaud sat upon some
skins with his back against wall and
rifle across his knees. The Canadian
| had removed a couple OF boulders
which filed a hollow under the logs
at his side, thus making a way of es-
cape, if escape should become neces-
sary. Primarily, however, he wanted
to listen, with his car close to the
| ground, for any sounds of stealthy ap-
| proach.
But The attack did not come in that
manner. Michaud was aroused toward
| morning by a sudden rush of feet out
side. and instantly there was a crash
at The door It's puncheon slabs
they had been pegged to crosspieces-
burst into the room, followed by a
crowd OF dark figures tumbling in at
the opening.
Instantly Felix ducied into the hole
he mad made under the logs. anu was
outside in a twinllling. So Haze was
the only rat" found in the trap.
Michdud waited only long enough to
hear Il short sculle, and to know that
| i tlilpIi l-lu Dctl btCAItu anu WAS DB-
yond his present assistance; then he
sped away among The bush and rocks.
| No one pursued. however, or came out
to look after hiEi. If the outlaws
knew of his presence-and he felt sure
that Haze would not enlighten them
they did not consider his escape as
dangerous to their enterprise. Michaud
| did not believe they would kill Fen
ton if they could in any way use him.
The Canadian posted himself upon
height where he could overlook the
shack, and waited for daylight There
was no stir among the Men until about
sunrise, when the whole party march
| ed out, Haze Fenton among them,
each man bearing pack of beaver
| upon his shoulders. Michaud at once
made an accurate guess at their plans.
| He waited until they were well out of
sight and hearing, 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 GO
| pounds each. Michaud furnished him
self with q blanket, as much meat as
he could easily carry, and leisurely
set out upon their trail.
He had little difficulty in oyertaking
| 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 not much trouble in keeping
out o. sight. Once ne got the general
| r. e h,
need 10 trail them.
| They 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 e
not, could hew them out of logs. Once
on the great watercourse, they could
easily drop dcwn to the Missouri and
sell their plumber for enough to give
each Of them some six or eight hun
| dred dollars.
Ali 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 person.
al ris!, which did not involve obvious
| foolhardiness. That niSht he watched
Vasquezs camp as an owl watches
the burrows of whistliIg rabbits
But the men slept in a row, with
| their feet to their campfire. Haze
lay in their midst, and a man, gun in
hand, stood guard. Evidently they
were running no unnecessary risks
In the morning so near was Michaud
that 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
sec the grinning face of their black
Mexican leader. who appeared to be
H., iTA l.