The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1905-07-21
CHAPTER XIX.
HOW A STUMBLING HORSE
RROUGHT TIDINGS.

BROUiHT IlDlNiS.
Having a definite thing to do. we
set about 1t forthwith, taking to the
| fields and making q wide circuit around
the manor house and the quarters
where the blacks were already stirring.
to come out to the river and 80 to
cross in our canoe.
The morning. soft and warm enough.
threatened now to- break the fair
weather promise OF the starlit night.
Away In the east a heavy cloud bank
curtained off the sunrise, and in the
| fields the few maize blades left by the
partizan barriers, were whispering to
the gusts.
In the great forest all was yet dim
and shadowy, and silent as the grave
but for the whispering murmur OF the
rising wind in the higher tree tops; a
sound so like the babhltng of brooks as
most cunninEly to deceive the ear and
make 1t set the y at work to look
for water where there was none.
Not to take a certain hazard for the
sake of better speed. we Stunned the
road, and for the first hour or so were
not greatly hindered by keeping to the
forest paths. In vast areas this virgin
wood was free Of underground, open
and park like as a well kept grove.
Fireside tradition on the border tells
how the Indians kept the forest clear
by yearly burnings of the smalles
growth: this for ths better hunting Of
the deer. l vouch. not for the truth OF
his accounting for the fact. but for the
fact itself, For endless miles between
the watercourses these park like
stretches covered hill and dale, a vast
mysterious temple OF Gods own build
ing, Its nayes and choirs aud transepts
columned by the countless trees. with
oil their leafy crowns to interlace and
form the groined arches overhead.
Through these piliared aisles we
trarnped abreast, stunning the road. as
I have said. yet holding 1t parallel with
our course where Its direction served.
In the open yistas we had frequent
glimpses 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 a creek bottom, and
here g. tpickset underground robbed us
Of any view and made the march q toll
some struggle with the bushes,
1t was In the densest OF this under
wood, when we could ear the purring
of the stream ahead. that Jennifer
stopped suddenly and began to sniff
the air.
Smoke" no said, briefly. in answer
to my query. "A camp fire, with meat
abroil. Never tell me o can't smell
It,"
said / could not-dld t., at all
events.
Then you are not as sharp set fol-
breakfast as I am. Call up your wood
craft and We'll stalk It," And. suitine
the action to the word. he dropped
noiselessly on hands and knees to Inch
his way cautiously out Of the thicket
l followed at his heels. marveling al
his skill In threading the maze with
never a snapped twig to betray him
For though I nave called him a youth
ling, he came of great, square-should
cred English stock. and was well upor
fourteen stone for weight. Yet upor
OCCASION, as now, he could be as 1.-THE
n cat-like as an Indian, stealthy Ii
approach and tiger-strOng to spring.
In due time our creeping progress
brought US out of the thlcket on the
brink of the higher creek bank, Jus
here the stream ran in a shallow ravln'
with shelving banks of clay. and on 1t!
hither margin was a bit Of grassy In
tervale big enough for a horse to rol
upon. Though 1t was sadly out o
season, the carcass OF q deer, fresl
killed, hung upon a branch Of the near
est tree, with a rifle leaning against tn
trunk as II to guard 1t. In the middl
Of the bit of sward a tiny camp fir
burned. and at the fire. squatting witt
their backs to us and each toasting
cut Of the deer's meat on a forked stick
were two mon.
.l 2L ~ 49, AiSCS- Z EoSS ~,
courtesy az a white. His hunting shir
and leggings were Of deer skin. wei
grimed n greasy. with leather fringe
at the seams Of leg and sleeve. For al
the summer heat. he wore a. cap fash
toned Of raccoon skin with the fur on
and for this great cap his iron gra
hair, matted and unkempt. served as
fringe to keep the other tasselings l
countenance. The hunting shirt wa
belted at the waist. and in the belt wa
thrust q ~sheathless knife huge enoug
to serve a butchers purpose. From tw
leather thongs crossed upon his should
ers hung the powder horn and bulle
pouch: and these. with the knife an
rifle. summed up his accoutrements.
The other was a red man, and his a.
tire was simpler. Like all our souther
Indians, he went naked to the wais
but the savage's love Of ornamer
showed forth In the fringe of colore
%porcupine quilts on hts leggings n
his raven hair bestuck with feather
W great pistols. q tomahaWk, and tt
scalplng knife. this last smaller tina
the white AMI carving tool. but ia
more vicious looking.
For a momen or W we crouched 1
resolute on the brink of the ravin
neither of us recognizing the two me
below. Then my young rashling mus
~ IlNSuH ISt ouN a yCH. -aa
@"Now, by all that's lucky!" he criet
and would nave leaped to his feet. Bl
at the instant the earth edge gave wa
under him. and he was sent tumblin
with the small landslide of clay dow
upon the twain at the fire.
1t went within a trembling hair
breadth OF q tragedy. The two at tn
fire sprang up as one man: and tn
bound that set the hunter afoot brougt
his long rifle to his shoulder. But ths
the Indian was the quicker. Richard
life would have paid the penalty OF HI
slip. I think. At the trigger pullin
instant the Catawba thrust the thic
of his hand between stone stee
and the flint bit. harmless for Jennie,
into the palm of the Indian.
WANT" he calculated, iG&his sol
cultural. mo want kill Captain Jer
nif', hey?o
Ephriam Yeates lowered his cap
and released the pinched hand hel
fast by the gun-fint.
We'll, I'm daddled, fair and squar,
Cap'n Dick!" he declared. Jest on
I more shake of q lead lambs tail, an
ida. had We IN my mind. sartain sur
I allowed We knowed better than /
come whammling down hathaway BIZ
hint q man whilst he's a-cooking h
ven'son."