The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1905-07-21
CHAPTER XXX.
HOW A STUMBLING HORSE
BROUGHT TIDINGS,

00CzaOOuI-1 ICTIuWltup Taxing " Sis
fields and making q wide circuit around
the manor house and the quarteri
where the blacks were already stirring
sStn come out to the river and SO te
cross lin canoe.
The morning, soft and warm enough
threatened now to break the fail
weather promise OF the starlit night
Away In the east a heavy loud bank
curtained Off the sunrise, and In the
fields the few maize blades left BY the
partfzan barriers were whispering te
b gusts.
IN the great forest all was yet dim
shadOwy, and silent as he grave
hut for the whispering murmur OF the
rising wind in the higher tree tops; q
sound so like the babbling Of brooks as
most cunningly to- deceive the ear and
make It set the Eye at work to look
for water where there was none.
Not to take q certain hazard for the
sake OF better speed, we Stunned the
road, and for the first hour or so were
notgggreatly hindered by keeping to the
forest paths. In vast areas this virgin
wood was free of underground, open
and park like as q well kept grove.
Firestde tradition on h border tells
how the Indians kept the forest clear
iby yearly bugnings OF the smaller
growth; this for the better hunting of
the deer. I youch, not for the truth OF
this accounting for the fact, but for the
fact itself. For endless miles between
h watercourses these park like
stretches covered hill and dale; a vast
mysterious temple OF Gods own build
ing. its maven and choirs and transepts
scolumned by the countless trees, with
all their leafy crowns to interlace and
FORM the groined arches overhead.
Through these pillared aisles we
3tramped abreast, stunning the road. as
have said. yet holding 1t parallel with
our course where its direction served.
In the open vistas we had frequent
s<mpses Of 1t. winding, at feud with
all the points Of the compass. among
the trees. But farther on we came into
the lower. land of q creek bottom, and
here q thickset underground robbed US
OF any view and made the march a toll
some struggle with III bushes.
It was In the densest Of this under
wood, when we could hear the purring
OF b stream ahead, that Jennifer
stopped suddenly and began to sniff
the air.
Smoke" he said. briefly. in answer
to my query. "a camp fire. with meat
tabroiI. Never tell me you can't smell
it,.
I said ! could not-did not. at all
events.
Then you are o az sharp set for
breakfast as I am. Call UP your wood
craft and we'll stalk It" And, suiting
action to the word. he dropped
notselessly On hands and knees to inch
his way cautiously out OF the thicket.
followed at his heels, %marveling at
skill In threading the maze with
never . snapped twig to betray him.
Tor though I have called him a youth
Linz, he came Of great, square-should-
cred English stock. and a well upon
Rnvp p% aa ~k~~>N ~.T@,A4,L w .,-1~
occasion, as now, he could be as 1.-the
cat-like az an Indian, stealthy In
approach aud tiger-strong to spring.
! due time our creeping progress
brought us out OF the thicket on the
brink of h higher creek bank. JUST
here the stream ran In a shallow ravine
With shelving banks Of clay, and on its
htther margin was q bit Of grassy In
tarvale big enough for a horse to roll
upon. Though It was sadly out Of
reason. the carcass of q deer. fresh
killed, hung upon a branch of the near
est tree. with q rife leaning against the
trunk az IL to guard It In the middle
OF The bit Of sward O tiny camp fire
burned: and at the ire, squatting with
stheir backs to 10 and each toasting a
cut Of the deer's.meat onsa forked stick.
were two men,
One Of these men would pass by
courtesy ~ q white. His hunting shirt
and leggtngs were Of deer skin, well
8rtIned n greasy, with leather fringes
at the seams Of leg and sleeve. Fol- all
the summer heat, he wore q cap fash
toned Of raccoon skin with the fur on:
and Q this great cap his iron gray
matted and unkempt, served as a
fringe to keep the other tasselings in
couHtenance. The hunting shArt was
aloeIted at the waist, and in the belt was
thrust D sheathless knife huge enough
TO serve q butchers purpose From two
leather thongs crossed upon his should
hung the powder horn and bullet
pouch: and these. with the knife and
rifle. sunmed UP his Announcements.
4 tn other was q red man, and his at
tire was simpler. Like all our southern
indians, he went naked to the waist;
but the savage's love Of ornament
showed forth In the fringe Of colored
porcupine quilts or his leggingB and in,
his raven hair bestuck with feathers.
20 arms he had an arsenal In his belt;
two great pistols, a ~tomahawk, and the
scalping knife. this last smaller than
the white mans carving tool. but far
more vicious looking.
i For a moment or two we crouched ir-
resolute on the brink of he ravine,
Neither OF US recognizing the two men
below. Then my young rashling must
needs let out q yell.
NoW,gDy all that's lucky" he cried,
and would have leaped to his feet. But
AT the instant the earth edge gave way
under him. and he was sent tumbling
with the small landslide Of clay down
upon the twain at the fire.
s 1t went within a trembling hairs
breadth Of a tragedy. The two at the
fire sprang up as one man; and the
bound that set the hunter afoot brought
hisslonE rifle to his shoulder. But that
the Indian was the quicker, Richards
would have paid the penalty Of his
ssllp. I think. At the trigger pulling
instant the Catawba thrust the thick
of his hand between stone and steel.
and the flint bit. harmless for Jennifer.
into the palm Of the Indian.
Wait" he calculated, In his soft
Hnttural. No wan kill Captain ZEN
ME, hey"
Mphrtam Yeates lowered his weapon
and released the pinched hand held
by the gun-flint.
We'll. I'm daddled, fair and square.
Cap'n Dick!"" he declared. Jest n
more shake Of a dead lambs tail. and
I'D e had We on my mind. sartain sure!
q allowed " knowed better than to
come whammling down that-away be-
ih1nt4n man vybtlok hAS~ 49,