The St. Mary banner., 1902-03-08
rkANkLlN, La, SATURDAY MARCH g. 1902

a running stream and the chance Of
concealment.
single prairie dog. shot and eaten
raw had constituted their entire ra-
tions Tor almost forty eight hours.
AS they strobe onward, Burt looked
Sharply about him.
More game?' quer,ed Tyler,
Aye-lm starving" replied his
friend. Il fear to shoot; but. eye~ ;.
the reds hear it and find us, it's IL
to die fighting than gnayed oet'er
by hunger" 10 death
True" replied Tv' -
have meat" -'er' we must
Hardly had t.
than he sud , - "o'os passed ms ips
comrade denly paused, touched his
their :. and both sank quickly to
sSees.
NoHndins a slight knoll a hundred
:! seas away was herd of antelope.
'Them's better'n dog" whispered
Burt. Lie still an I'll stalk EN-"
And suitlng the action to the
word, prone upon the earth he began
to writhe toward the game, who were
uneasily nibbling at the scant herbage
Tyler remained behind.
Slowly but surely Tom advanced
the dry bunch brass affording in places
slight cover. until he was perhaps
within sixty rods of the antelope and
forty rods from where Dan sat-
Then, seeing no opportunity of fur
ther concealment, he paused, waiting
Tor the best and surest possible shot.
And as he lay thus, watching the
deer, with rife at his face, his COM
rade saw this:
Away behind them, bobbing up and
down upon the dim horizon, now a
faint purple from the coming night,
were a score of more of black blots
against the sky. growing each instant
more and more distinct as they drew
nearer. The Indians were coming!
Not far in front and Just at the side
OF the unsuspecting hunter-so close
that the waving head cast a baleful
shadow across the bronzed cheek of
him who watched the deer-there coil
ed rattlesnake, disturbed, doubtless,
IN It's afternoon nap, and now threat
ening q swift and terrible revenge.
These things say Tyler and knew
that safety for himself lay in silence;
for. If the snake struck and no shot
was fired, the dusky pursuers might
miss the trail and pass him by-and |
knowing this. his life against double
death, with renewed strength and |
nerves like steel he tossed his rifle to
his shoulder, aimed carefully at the
angry reptile before him just as its
head was posing for the fatal blow,
and fred.
There was . cry of surprise fol-
lowed by an exclamation of horror, as
Burt sprang to his feet and beheld the
dying reptile, for the bullet had cut
It almost In twain; and then, following
with his eyes the direction in which
Dan pointed, the fleeing antelope pos
'essed no further charms for him, nor
he rattlesnake any fears, but with
sudden indrawn breath he cried
loarsely, Come" and turning. closely
followed by Tyler, who was now at
lis side. the two sped away toward the
listant timber far faster than ever
,efore.
Its bit duskish," whispered Tom
IS they ran; "mayhap the devils won't
ZEE Ah!"
He was interrupted by a far-away
ry, voice Of the night almost that
ose and fell, weird and terrible, ring
ng down the twilight behind them
he war-cry of the Blackfeet! They
,ere discovered!
Thar's but one hope now," painted
lick, as, with firm-set teeth and strain
1g muscles, the men dashed on, ito
each the timber and fight them OFF," {
loom, across the crisp. brown grass,
bove the baked and crumbling earth, s
ley fed, while behind them rang clear
nd still clearer in their ears the dis
INT following hoof-beats and in front {
le trees of refuge loomed each instant t
igher against the darkening sky. I
IF we can but reach the coy"
The sentenced was not finished, for, {
ith cry, Dan stumbled heavily for {
ard, staggered, and fell at length
pom the ground. Instantly Tom was
, his side.
I'm not hurt much" whispered the v
lien man. striving to rise. Il caught c
y foot" $
Cold sweat rose in beads upon the e
lfferer's forehead; dull, leaden hue r
,read over his brown and wrinkled t
ce. He clutched at Bert's hand. G
"Good-by, old man, and God save ye! t
y leg is broken! Empty my rifle in il
my heart an go, quick!" b
Tom looked at him a moment In 81 n
nee, then at their coming enemies, S
ID q strange light burned on his t
eeks and in his eyes. He seated v
mself at Tyler's side. O
"Pard, we've flt an lived together
any a year, he said. now, eff needs a
+, we'll fight an die together. Not p
,rd! Ye kin shoot?" t.
'Yes," whispered Dan. il
Then we'll catch few Of 'em be- Ii
re they gather us in. But look. Dan f;
Iook!" continued Burt, suddenly, b
tn intense eagerness. Look yon- G
- Whof comoS2o h