Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-12-14

"l show aid the indian, and he did. | Thorpe learned the Indian tan. The Indian appeared to intend mak- | ing the birch knoll his permanent head 1 quarters. Thorpe was at first little 1 suspicious or nfA new companion, put the man appeared scrupulously honest, l was never intrusive and even seemed l genuinely desirous of teaching the white little tricks of the woods brought to their perfection by the Indian alone. He ended by liking him. The two rare- l ly spoke. They merely sat near each other and smoked. One evening the In- dian suddenly remarked: "You look 'um treeY'
 Whats that?" cried Thorpe, star 1 tied.
 You no hunter no trapper. You look 'um tree for make 'um lumber"
 What makes you think that, Char | ley?' he asked
 l You good man in woods" replied Injun Charley sententiously. T tell by way you look at him pine." 1 Thorpe ruminated. Charley" said he, "why are you | staying here with me ?'
 Big frien',' replied the Indian promptly
 ''Why are you my friend? What have ever done for you?'' You got 'um chiefs eye" replied his companion, with simplicity. l Thorpe looked at the Indian again. 1 There seemed to be only one course.
 "Yes, I'm a lumberman," he confess 1 ed, land I'm looking for pine But, Charley, the men up the river must not know what Pm after tThey get 'uIn pine,' interjected the | Indian like flash. Exactly" replied Thorpe, surprised afresh at the others perspicaeity.
 ''Goodr" exclaimed Injun Charley and fell silent. With this, the longest conversation the two had attempted in their peculiar acquaintance Thorpe was forced to be | content
 l Three days later he was intensely thankful the conversation had taken place.
 After the noon meal he lay on his blanket under the hemlock shelter, smoking and lazily watching Injun l Charley busy over the making of a l birch bark canoe. So idly intent was Thorpe on this I piece of construction that he did not notice the approach of two men from l the down stream side. They were short, alert men, plodding along with the knee-bent persistency of the wood walker, dressed in broad hats, flannel shirts, coarse trousers tucked in high laced cruisers and carrying each a bulging meal sack loopedv by a cord across the shoulders and chest. Both were armed with long slender scalers' rules. The first intimation Thorpe re- ceived of the presence of these two men was the sound of their voices. Hello, Charleyv' said one of them What you doing here? Amt seen you since the Sturgeon district" l Max 'um canoe,'' replied Charley l rather obviously.
 "So I see. But what do you expect to I get in this God forsaken country?"
 Beaver, muskrat, mink, otter.'' l Trapping, eh P the man gazed keen lyat Thorpe's recumbent figure ''Who's the other fellow i" | thorpe nelQ HIS iDreaLn, then eXnaleO it in long sigh of relief. l Him white man." Injun Charley was replying. Him hunt too. He l mak' 'um buckskin.'' 1 The land locker arose lazily and sauntered toward the group.
 ''Howdy?'' he drawled, / '.Got any smokin' P
 "How are you?" replied one of the scalers, eying him sharply and tender ing his pouch. Thorpe dlled his pipe deliberately and returned it with 8 heavy lidded glance of thanks. To all appearances he was one of the lazy shiftless hunters of the backwoods Seized with an inspiration, he said What sort of chances is they at your camp for little flour? Me and Char ley's about out. I'll bring you meat, or I'll make you boys moccasins. I got some good buckskin.''
 It was the usual proposition.
 Pretty good, guess. Come up and see," advised the scaler. tsThe crews right behind us."
 "I'll send Charley" drawled Thorpe ''I'm busy now maxim traps" He