The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1903-12-05

gan the. little army encamped Tor q
nights rest sat the edge OF a wood. and
here. Just after ntghtfall. when the fires'
were burning merrily aud the smell OF
broiling buffalo steaks burdened the
damp air. a wizened old man suddenly
appeared, how or from where nobody
had observed. He was dirty and In
every way dlsreputable in appearance,
looking like an animated mummy.
bearing a long rifle on his shoulder and
walking with the somewhat hating
activity OF very old yet vivaclous and
energetic simian. or course II was On
Gle Jazon. "Oncle Jazon sui generis," as
Father Beret had dubbed him.
"Well, here / amv' he cried. APP
preaching the fire by which Colonel
Clark and some OF his officers were
cooking supper. "But We can't guess in
n mile o. who | am to save yer livers
an lights"
He danced few stiff steps, which
made the water gush out of his tat
tered moccasins, then dotted his monde
script cap and nodded his scalpless
head I'm salutation TO the commander.
Clark looked inquiringly at him,
while the old fellow grimaced and
rubbed his shrunken chin.
II smelt yer fat a-fryin' somepin'
like mile away. an II set my inards
TO grumblin' for n snack, so / jes'
thought I'd drap In on ye an chaw
whites WI ye."
"Your looks are decidedly against
you" remarked the colonel, with a dry
smile. He had recognized oncle Ja-
zon after little sharp scrutiny. II
suppose. however, that we can let you
gnaw the bones after we've got eff the
meat"
THANK zee, thank zee. plenty good
through bone like feesh through
water"
Clark laughed and said:
II don't see any teeth that you have
worth mentioning. but your gums may
be unusually sharp"
"Ya-a-s, bout as sharp as yer wit
Colonel Clark, an sharper N yer eyes
a long shot. Ye don't know me, dc
ye? Take ernother squirt at me, an
see 4 We kin member a good lookin
mani"
"You have somewhat the appearance,
of an old scamp OF the name OF Jazor
that formerly loafed around with {
worthless gun on his shoulder, and
used to run from every Indian he saw
down yonder in Kentucky" Clark held
out his hand and added cordially:
How are you, JaZon, my old friend
and where upon earth have you come
fromT"
Oncle Jazon pounced upon the hand
and gripped II in his own knotted fin
gers, gazing delightedly UP into Clark's
bronzed and laughing face.
"Wlercd / come frum? | come frum
cverwheres. Fust time | ever got
lost in all my born days. I've been a
trompln round In the water seems
like a week, crazy as a pizened rat, not
a-knowin' north rom south ner my
big toe rom II turnipl Who's got some
tobackery'
Oncle Jazon's story, when presently
he told Il. interested Clark deeply
He and Kenton had, with wise judg
ment, separated on escaping from the
Indian camp. Kenton striking out fol
Kentucky, while Oncle Jazon went TO
ward Kaskaskia.
The Information that Beverley would
be shot as soon as he was returned 10
Hamilton caused Colonel Clark serious
worry OF mind Not only the fact that
Beverley, who had been charming
friend and a most gallant officer, was
now In such imminent danger, but the
impression given by Oncle Jazon's ac
count that he had broken his parole
was deeply painful TO the brave and
scrupulously honorable commander
Still friendship rose above regret, and
Clark resolved TO push his little col
umn forward all the more rapidly
hoping TO arrive in time TO prevent the
impending execution.
Next morning the march was resum
ed at the break OF dawn, but a swollen
stream caused some hours OF delay
during which Beverley himself arrived
from the rear a haggard and weirdly
unkempt apparltion. He had been FOL
three days following hard on the ar