Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1901-02-21

their faces. Here Michaud saw his
opportunity for bold stroke.
With the stealth Of an Indian and
the daring of Boone, he went swiftly
forward, keeping under cover OF rocks
and crawling rapidly over exposed
hummocks, until he had overtaken the
rear straggler. Keeping softly be-
hind until the man descended little
pitch. Michaud sprang upon his bur-
dened shoulders, and the fellow went
down with smothered yell.
He was quickly convinced Of the
uselessness of struggle. and a gentle
prick from Michauds knife brought
his hands across his back, where they
were tied with the strings of his own
pack. Michaud then tied the mans
legs, smashed his gun upon 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 the work of 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 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
steps. His own rife-like those of his
fellows-was slung under his arm. He
sprang to his feet, stared wildly at
Michaud for an instant, and ther put
up his hands in token of surrender.
He was made to lie upon his face
while Felix, with knife in his teeth,
made him fast as he had done the
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 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
! 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 Michauds
skin cap, cutting, as he afterward dis
covered, the skin upon his left ear.
Michaud returned shot for shot,
dropping one rifle 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 a
| 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 VasGuez, 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 rife was quickly reloaded,
and the trappers hurried on together
to overtake the other two of Lope's
men. They We're 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 were 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 a rife in either hand;
SO they We're 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
a day or two, and then, certain that
the miscreants had taken themselves
off fo- 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 Michaud. 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 joyfulfy.-Ycuth's Companion.