The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1902-08-15

nolda deer.
We we're camped In tho thick viii
lows on the Loup river between Tim
Der Creet>s.;:; 80 ;s;s,iiss .s16 asd hcoG
out three days. There was already
considerable snow on the ground, more
had fallen during the night, so that
the walking was very bad
On the morning OF that third day
we sat at breakfast discussing means
of bringing In the two deer which Ar
mold had killed the evening before.
It was just then that this Indian came
down the river and turned into our
camp.
AS soon as we had hired him to
carry IN one Of the deer we all set
out together. After a long search Ar
mold found one of his deer where he
had cached It In a snow-drllt The In
dian promised to get into camp with
1t before dark. We went on for the
other deer which we found and I'M
dertook to carry to camp, packing it
turn about The snow was SO deep
that long before we got in we were
so tired that we could carry the deer
but a few rods at a time. However.
We did finally get TO camp at dark and
there found three Indians waiting for
us. The other deer had not arrived.
While preparing supper we both
threw e.. belts, knives and pistols up
on the bed After we had fed our
visitors they told us that they were
camped across the Cedar, up the Loup
a very short distance. So after sup
per we decided to go with them and
see If the Indian had gotten that far
with our deer. We went without
arms.
There was no moon; but the stars
and the snow-covered ground made it
quite light. The three Indians went
ahead, breaking the trail, and we fol-
lowed. They travelled very fast for
some time; then they broke into a
trot, which grew gradually faster and
faster unLa we found it almost i'm
possible to keep up with them.
Finally we lost sight of them and be-
gan to suspect something was wrong.
However, we concluded to follow on.
They could not hide their trail in the
deep snow, and we could always find
our way back to camp.
After a while on Indian struck for
the hills, making a large trail, seem
ingly to lead us after him. The other
two went on up the river. We were
sure their camp was not in the hills,
so we followed the two up the river
Soon another TRAIL also large, turned
into the hills; but we followed the re-
naming man up the river.
After a short distance the third
trail turned into the hills. We stopped
in the cold and the starlight TO
talk over the situation. Far away from
over the hills came the shrill, whin-
ing wall of a lone coyote; then all
was silent.
What should we do? Evidently the
Indians had not intended to take us
to their camp. We were only the
more determined to find it. For we
were now satisfied that the Indian
had stolen our deer and had taken it
to the Pawnee encampment.
We turned down to the river and
went on the ice where the walking
was much better The snow crunched
under our stiff boots, cold wind
sighed past our ears, and the eddy
ing flakes blew into our faces. The
bright air was ,deliciously fresh, but
on the snow-clad star-lit prairie moth
ing appeared to break the Silly white
ness, to tell us which way we should
turn our footsteps. However, we
travelled up the river several miles, uR-
til we were we'll tired out, and we're
about to give up the search, when we
heard a far-distant mudled sound.
Turning a bend in the river, we saw
two glowing tents lit ZIP with great
fires within.
The Indians were camped in the will
lows on the west side of the river
Between us was a large air rift in the
river, kept upon by the swift current
We found a long log Which we threw
across the dangerous hole. Then bal
.ancing carefully we walked over. To
have fallen meant n certain death I'M
der the ice. We found no trail so we
pushed the willows apart and crowded
through. In the clearing we discoy
cred several other tents, most Of them
seemingly deserted The one near
est us was well lit up Numerous NOV
ing shadows played on its side Much
talking and laughter came from it
We went to it, raised the flap AMI
stepped in The noise and tall
stopped instantly.
The air was close aud smelled O
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