The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1901-01-03

ton Of logs. dirt and stones. to keep out
the animals which were always prowling
around IN search Of the meat they SCENT
ed. When ii was completed. they felt
that they Here secure from harm; but
one dark night after the ares had died
cut and every one was ia bed part Of
the wall next the river went over with
q crash. and then huge animal. breath
ing and grunting with a noise like thun-
der. walked through the camp. trampling
upon the lodges and knocking them out
q is way and crushing several persons
with its enormous feet II did not turn
20 the right or left. nor stop, but went
straight through. knocked over the wall
at the rear and wandered away IN the
grove. The people slept 10 more that
night; they built up the fire and sat
around Ia great fear wondering what
Kind OF creature Il was that had such
mighty power. At daylight the hunters
crept forth cautiously on the animals
trail. which was easily enough followed.
Tor It's huge feet left deep holes IN the
soft ground. and It had broken down the
small trees IN its way a. Il they had been
mere rushes. Leaving the grove they
found that the animal had gone on up
the river, crossed Il at the foot Of the
mountains and entered another grove
where, from the signs about, Il seemed
10 make rs home. They saw many
places where II had lain down 10 rest
and broad. hard trail ran between the
timber and the river As they skirted
the edge Of the grove. trying 10 get sight
Of II. the great beast suddenly rushed
out at them. and one poor hunter was
crushed TO death b. its feet. The rest
all ran 20 the river and managed 10 es-
cape By swimming
That night the men sat long to-
gether. deyising some way to escape the
awful fury OF this animal, for they felt
sure that sooner or later II would break
into their camp again. After most OF
them had had their say. a man who had
been thinking deeply spoke up. 1T is
certain" he said. "that We cannot XIII
this destroyer Of our people with arrows
or spears. but there Is another way; we
can dig a deep hole in his tran, cover Il
with logs. brush. grass and dirt and
once he steps on them We will have him
sure" IL was a simple plan and they
an agreed that Il would DO The next
mora.ng the whole village went up the
river 20 where the animals path ied
from its grove 10 the waters edge, and
q little ways back from the stream they
began 20 dig a hole across It. With fire.
hardened sticks. with shoulderbladee
from the game they had killed, with
sharp stones and willing hands they dug
and scraped until they had a large deep
hole with straight walls. Then with
driftwood from the river, with brush and
grass they covered II over. and last put
on a layer or dirt beating il down hard
and smooth 10 that Il looked ike the
rest OF the trail Then they all went
lack 70 eamp That night the great
beast started for The river anC fell into
the hole. when the hunters went up there
tie next morning they heard him bel
lowing long before they got 70 the place.
the ground shook from hts awful roars-
They were afraid 70 so near him. lest
by some chance De might get out and
destroy them. 70 they returned 10 camp.
After a fow days they returned again,
and carefully approached the holei a
horrible smell was IN the air; ravens
and magp.es and buzzards were hover
Ing about; the great beast was dead.
Raven Culver ceased talking and re-
scribbler looking on IN silence. After he
had 30 q and smoked few whins he con-
tinued. XVII ! hare eiv~1 you the story
of thos ancient animal a. Old sun told Il
20 me. a. De left my lodge ne again ad.
yised me 10 carry the bones away. and
my cid woman begged me 10 DO SO. bot
would not listen We went TO bed and Ia
the night I felt great pain in my right
arm. the spirit Of the beast had struck
me. even now It achea ! cried out when
felt a. and We All arose In terror. built q
big IRE and sat up until daylight. And
now that I have given you The bones and
told you Of the revepgeful spirit which
Guards them you must look out. for J am
released"
- think" said the Old Timer. that
TN Try the Ola ghost tonight. IN place
the bones at The head Of my bed"
-Rsvtn CULVER shook his b ad. "You
white men" he muttered. are a queer
race. wonder II there g anything on
this earth. or IN the water. or IN the air
thHt you fearl ! don't believe you arc
afraid of death itseifi''
You are wrong there. friend" the old
Timer replied. AT least ! notice that
most Of us try to hang on as long a. we
can. Well lets an take drink and turn
in kip Mont) Correspondence New