The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-04-26

\ countenence- TIE huntng-snlrt was beited
at the waist. and in the bait was thrust a
rheathless knife huge enough to serve q
butchers purpose From two leather thongs
crossed upon his shoulders hung the pow
der-horn and bullet-pouch; and these. with
the knife and rife, summed Up his ac-
couterments.
The other was q red man, and HIS attire
was simpler. Like all our Southern Indians.
he went naked TO the waist: but the saw
ages love OF ornament showed forth IN the
fringe OF colored ~pOrcupine ouills on his
l~eggings and in his raven hair bestuck with
feathers. For arms he had an arsenal in
his belt; two great pistols. q ~tomahaHk.
and the scalpIng-knife. this last smaller
than the white mans carving tool. but far
more vicious-lookinE.
For a moment or two we crouched irreso-
lutte on the brink OF the ravtne. neither Of
US recognizing the two below. Then my
young rashling must needs let out a yell.
Now. by all that's luckyr' he cried. and
would have leaped to his feet. But az the
Instant the earth-edge gave way under him.
and he was sent tumbling with the small
landslide OF clay down upon the twain At
the fire.
1t went within a trembling hairsbreadth
Of a tragedy. TIE two at the fire sprang
up as one man: and the bound that set the
hunter afoot brought his long rife to his
shoulder. But that the Indian was the
quicker. Richards life would have
paid the penalty OF his slip, 1
think. AZ the trigger = pulling
instant the Catawba thrust the thick Of his
hand between stone and steel. and the
flint bit. harmless for Jennifer, into the
palm OF the Indian.
'"wahg' he calculated. In his soft gut
tural. mo want kill Captain Jennif. hey7'
Ephraim Yeates lowered his weapon and
released the pinched hand held fast BY
the gun-nint.
well. I'm daddled. fair ana square,
Cap'n Dick!' he declared. "Jest one moro
shake of q dead lambs tail, and I'd "a
had ye on my mind saftin sursi I allowed
ye knowed better than to come whammllng
down hathaway behint a man whilst hes
a-cooking his ven son"
Dick laughed and called to ma TO follow
as ] could. And his answer to the old bor-
derer vas no answer at all.
"'Tis to be hoped you and the chief don't
mean TO be niddering with that deer's meat.
We were guessing but a half-hour back,
Captain Ireton and I. whether or no we'd
ave to take up belt-slack for our break
fast"
At the word the Catawba whipped out
his knife and fell TO work Hospitality on the
meat supply. Meanwhile I came upon the
scene. something less hurriedly than Rich
ard. Ephraim Yeates looked me up and
down with q sniff for my foreIgn-cut coat,
another for my queue. and q third for the
German ritter-boots I wore
"Umph!'' said he. Now, n here Amt
that there dad-blame' ~Turkey-hghter agaIni
What almighty curtis things the good Lord
do let loose on a stiff-necked and rebeli!ous
ginerationi" Then to me, most pointedly:
Say, Cap'n; the big woods amt no Citing
place for such as you. ez ! allowS We
mought be getting them purity boSts o.
your'n all tore up on the briars."
He ended with a dry little laugh not un-
like Mr.. Gilbert Stairs parchment cackle;
and being his guest for the nonce !
laughed with lin.
Have your Joke and welcome, Mr..
Yeates,T said !. II am too near furnished
TO quarrel with my chance OF breakfast"
Much 10 my astoundment he flung his
raccoOnskip cap into the air, spat upon
his hands and began tina. insane war-dance
Of his.
'whoopP' he yelled. Ne band-hox dandy
from the settlements ever sot out 10 call
NE Mister and got away alive to brag
on'ti Ketch hold, you infergotten, Turkey
lighting. silYer-buttoned jack-a-dandy iii
! dip ye in the creek and soak a four-ra-
tloH r two out n that there pig-tail top
knot o. yourni Yip-peeP
BY this Jennifer was trying, as wen A n
man bent double with laughter might. TO
interpose I'm the Interest Of peace and am
ity; and even the stoical Catawba was all
a-grin. So, seeing / was like to lose couu-
Ienancs with all CT them. I watched NV
chance, and, closing with my capering an
| Client, gav him a hearty wrestler's hug.
For ell he was 50 gaunt and thin. ana
| full twenty years or more my senior. he
was a. pretty handful Twas much
like trying to catch a fan out of some
I piece of steel-wired mechanism None the
less. after some wild stampings and striy-
good his promise to put me in the creek.
] pok him with . Cornishmsn's