The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1904-06-16

The Indian never expected to kill OF
even MORALLY wound his game, but he
would follow for miles the blood drops
caused by his little wounds until the
animals in sheer exhaustion allowed
dispatching blow. At o'clock he re-
turned with a small buck, tied scientif
ically together for toting, with the
waste parts cut away, but every ounce
Of utility retained.
II show" said the Indian, and he did
Thorpe learned the Indian tan.
The Indian appeared to intend max.
ing the birch knoll his permanent head.
quarters. Thorpe was at first a little
suspicious of his new companion, but
the man appeared scrupulously honest,
was never intrusive and even seemed
genuinely DESTROYS 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
~ spoke. They merely sat near each
other and smoked. One evening the In
dian suddenly remarked:
"You look 'um tree?'
whats that?" cried Thorpe, star
tied.
"You no hunter, no trapper. You look
'um tree for make 'um lumber
what makes you think that, Char
ley?" he asked
"You good man in woods replied
1njun Charley sententiously. Il tell
by way you look at him pine.''
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.
Thorpe looked at the Indian again.
There seemed to be only one course.
Eyes, I'm lumberman," he confess
ed, "and I'm looking for pine But,
Charley, the men up the river must not
know what I'm AFTER
'"They get 'um pine,' interjected the
Indian like a flash.
Exactly" replied Thorpe, surprised
afresh at the others perspicacity.
"Goodv' 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.
Three days later be 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
Charley busy over the making of a
birch bark canoe
So idly intent was Thorpe on this
piece Of construction that he did not
notice the approach of two men from
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
bullying meal sack Topped 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, Charley!' said one Of them.
What you doing here? Amt seen you
since the Sturgeon district"
MAX 'um canoe,'' replied Charley
rather obviously.
$50 see. But what do you expect to
get in this God forsaken country?"
Beaver, muskrat, mink, otter.''
Trapping, eh?" the man gazed keen.
~ at Thorpe's recumbent figure. "Who's
the other fellow?''
Thorpe held his breath, then exha!ed
it in a long sigh of relief.
Him white man." Injun Charley
was replying. Him hunt too. He
max 'um huckskin'
The land locker arose lazily and
sauntered toward the group.
! "Howdy?" he drawled. Got any
smokin'?''
How are you?" replied one Of the
scalers, eying him sharply and tender:
ing his pouch. Thorpe filed his pipe
deliberately and returned it with q
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, OF
I'll make you boys moccasins. I got
some good buckskin.''
1t was the usual proposition.
Pretty good, guess. Come up and
see," advised the scaler. 'The crews
right behind u.s."
"Pn send Charley" drawled Thorpe
I'm busy now maxim traps.' He
waved his pipe, calling attention to the
pine and rawhide deadfalls.
They chatted few moments. Their
two wagons creaked lurching by, fol
lowed by fifteen or twenty men. The
last of these, evidently the foreman
was joined by the two scalers.