St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1903-10-17

tall, broad-shouidered fellow, a favor
lite with his troop and the admiration
and envy Of every girl in Guaymas
His unfailing truthfulness and sin
certify had won for him the title O
OId Honesty" among his men, ant
these qualities had found their com
plement in The grave, simple dignity O
the Indian girl, whom his laughing
cordial ways had won.
When Kfrkham and the girl hat
passed out of hearing the bidder
shadow drifted noiselessly toward tn,
open spaces of the plain. For little
while the figure was visible crossins
the sand dunes that at intervals broke
the expanse, but when the moon
emerging from behind passing cloud
cast her clear light over the treeless
solitude, the vast plain lay white and
silent for miles.
Three months later two hulie
were tracking their way through the
range of mountains that bordered the
desert waste. They had been four days
on the trail of puma, which had fled
through canyon and gully and through
the tortuous mountain trails, till
strength and spirit exhausted, they
sought only for food and shelter.
The elder Of the two suddenly ut
tered an exclamation.
| See here, Kirkham," he said, "some
ones been here before us, and by the
old Harry, some ones got that puma"
He pointed to where blood stained
trail led up into the winding Businesses
OF the mountain ridge. The earth
around was torn and the bushes
showed signs of q severe struggle.
You're right, Havens," he said.
Pm with you,'' he added, reading the
others intention in his eyes.
Somewhat revived by this unexpected
happening, the two men tramped stur-
| Oily up the narrow trail. It grew
sleeper and narrower as they climbed,
| but as the entire way showed traces
of the deadly struggle which had evil
evidently taken place, they felt en-
couraged at every step, and unheed-
ing fatigue and hunger, gradually ap-
preached the mountains top.
I'D give buttin' to know who
| killed that puma" said Ravens sud-
denly, pausing in his tracks. "Why,
Kirkham, there hasn't been big game
killed in these mountains for years.
You know that as we'll as l do. It's
next to impossible. These mountains
were made for hiding places. When
old Indian Charley killed that panther
three years ago, the whole post was
thirsty for more: but did they ever
get it? No, though every man spent
every day he could get in these noun
tains, there's never been q kill shot
since"
well, by Jupiter!'
They had reached the top, and were
staring in stupefaction at little hol-
low few PAGES to the left. On the
rocky ground solitary campfire
burned, and on poles and the limbs of
trees suspended in a large circle
around the fire, were the skins of at
least dozen wild beasts in various
stages Of preservation, and near the
burning embers lay the body of the
slain puma with it's death-wound yet
oozing. Not sound broke the 81
lence Not q human being was to be
seen.
WELL" said Kirkham, smiling
grimly, you're wrong this time, Ha-
vens. Somebody's fired kill-shot.
and pretty lately, too, should judge"
HaveDs nodded. what do you say
to tracking the hunter instead Of the
gamer" he asked laconically. I'VE can
ambush here, if you're good for a
siege"
Kirkham frowned. II don't know"
be said uncertainty. We've passed
the time limit: Altoonah-"
"Oh, say, old fellow. you're not
afraid of your wife tracking you!"
laughed Havens, comfortably. ''She is
all right. Girls of her blood under
stand these things
This time Kirkham scowled. ''Ill
stay" he said briefly. 49,
They concealed themselves in an
underground of scrub, a short distance
from huge boulder raising its pre-
.
veritable fortress of strength, and lay
ing their rifles across projecting rock
waited in silence as the sun disap-
peared behind the highest peak in a
red blaze of fire.
The slow hours dragged on. Kirk
ham, about to yawn, felt his arm abb
1uptly seized in heavy grip. With
his mouth half open he turned quickly
to where Ravens was pointing to a |
solitary figure outlined in giant i'm
mensity among the shadows.
Kirkham barely suppressed the ex-
clamation which rose to his lips.
by George!" he whispered excit-
edly to Havens. Its Eagle Wind!"
Havens nodded, his eyes glued to the |
advancing figure, a cautious hand on |
his rifle.
The Indian advanced into the circle |
of the campfire, and with a satisfied |
grunt, lay down his burden. The two |
hunters noted the fine deer, and even !
in their excitement pang of envy |
shot through them. Eagle Wind cast |
a wary glance about him, and they
held their breath. Had he heard some |
slight sound inaudible to their duller
ears? His splendid, muscular figure !,
seemed to crouch cat-like for spring, |
and he turned his deep, burning eyes
upon the bush clump where
Kirkham and Ravens lay like statues.
In an instant, the two rifles COW
cred him. Havens had sprung to his
feet, and Kirkham had jumped sim
The Indian, his back to
the frowning rock, and the light Of the
dying fire full on his dark features,