Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1904-07-14

moderation.
II wouldn't stir the boys up," he
painted. for the pace was very swift.
''They'l kill some one over there; it III
be murder on both Sides
He received no answer. About mid
night they came to the camp.
Two great fires leaped among the
trees, and the men were grouped be-
tween them. talking. Evening had
brought its accumulation of slow anger
against the perpetrators Of the outrage.
Even as the woodsmen Joined their
group they had reached the intensity
Of execution. Across their purpose
Thorpe threw violently his personality.
"You must not go!' he commanded.
Through their anger they looked at
him askance.
II forbid ftp Thorpe cried.
They shrugged their Indifference and
arose. This was an affair Of caste
brotherhood. and the blood Of their
mates cried out to them.
''The work." Thorpe shouted hoarse-
y. ''The work! We must get those
logs out! We haven't timer
Then swiftly between the white,
strained face Of the mailman trying to
convince his heart that hts mind had
been right and the fanatically exalted
river men interposed the sanity of Rad
way. The old jobber faced the men
calmly, almost humorously, and some
bow the very bigness of the man COM
manded attention.
"You fellows make me SICK" said he.
You haven't got the sense God gave a
rooster. Don't you see you're playing
right in those fellows hands? What
do you suppose they dynamited them
dams for? To kill our boys? They
never dreamed we was dry pickin' that
dam. They sent some low lived whelp
down there to hang our drive, and it
looks like they was going to succeed.
thanks to you mutton heads.
"S'pose you go over and take 'em
apart. What then? Then have q scrap.
Probably you lick 'em. You whale day.
lights out Of a lot of men who probably
don't know any more about this here
shooting Of our dams than a hog does
about a ruff1ed shirt Meanwhile your
drive hangs. Well? Well, do you sup
pose the men who were back Of that
shootng-do you suppose Morrison &
DAILY give a tinker's dam how many
men Of theirs you lick? What they
want is to hang our drive. If they
hang our drive, it's cheap at the price
Of few black eyes,"
The speaker paused and grinned
good humoredly ut the mems attentive
faces. Then suddenly his own became
grave.
"Do you want to know how to get
even?" he asked. do you want to
know how to make those fellows sing
so small you can't hear them? Well.
III tell you. Take out this drive! Do
1t in spite Of them. Show them they're
no good when they buck up against
Thorpe's One Our boys died doing
their duty. the way a river man ought
to. Now hump Yourselves! Don't let
them die in vain!"
The crew stirred uneasily, looking at
each other for approval of the con-
way turned easily toward the blaze.
"Better turn in, boys, and get some
Sleep" he said. "We've got a hard
day tomorrow" He stopped to light
his pipe at the fire. When he had
again Strengthened his back after rath-
er prolonged interval the group had
already disintegrated. A few minutes
later the cookee scattered the brands
Of the fire from before sleeping
camp.
Before daylight 1njun Charley drift
ed into camp to find Thorpe already
out. With curt nod the Indian seat
ed himself by the fire and, producing
square plug Of tobacco and knife,
began leisurely to fill his pipe. Finally
1njun Charley spoke in the red mans
clear cut, initiative English, a pause
between each sentence.
II find trail three men," said he.
"Both dam, three men. One man go
boot. One man no have cork boot. He
boss"
The Indian suddenly threw his chin
out, his head back, and half closed his
eyes in cynical squint. AS by flash
Dyer, the scaler, leered insolently from
behind the Indians stolid mask
"How do you know" said Thorpe.
For answer the Indian threw his
shoulders forward in Dyers nervous
fashion.
"He make trail big by the toe. light
by the heel. He make trail big on in
side"
Charley arose and walked after by.
er's springy fashion, illustrating his
point in the soft wood ashes of the
immediate fireside.
Thorpe looked doubtful. Il believe
you are right, Charley" said he. "But
II is mighty little to go on. You can't
be sure"
II sure" replied Charley.
He pulled strongly at the heel Of his
smoke, then arose and without farewell
disappeared in the forest.
Then began the wonderful struggle
against circumstances which has be-