Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1905-02-02

nothing moved In the woods. Still,
strangely, l felt no Impotence. no de-
sire TO chide myself for good time lost
In groundless watchfulness sat now
with my cheek on the cool, moist log.
my rife in my lap. watching the trees
along the Fort Pitt trail And as
watched | saw a man come out on the
sandy bank OF the stream and kneel
down where my tracks crossed TO the
waters edge.
The man was Walter Butler. knew
him, though God alone knows how |
could, for he wore the shirt OF Mo
hawk and beaded leggings TO the hips
and at that distance might have been
an Indian. He bore rife and there
was Ratchet in his beaded belt, and
on his head he wore a round cap Of
moleskin. under which his black. coarse
hair. freed from the cue fell to his
chin.
lie crouched there. examining my
tracks with closest attention for fun
a minute then rose gracefully and fol.
lowed, tracing them up TO the Fort
Pitt trail
Here | saw two other men come
swiftly through the trees TO meet him.
but though they gesticulated violently
and pointed down the stream. they
spoke too low for me to hear single
whisper.
Suddenly. to my horror, canoe shot
across my line of sight and stopped as
suddenly. held by the setting pole In
mil 90 q
who leaned on the setting pole. silently
awaiting the result of the conference
on the bank above.
The conference ended abruptly. /
saw two of the men start south toward
Fort Pitt, while Butler came. hastily
down to the waters edge and waded
out to the canoe
He boarded the frail craft from the
bow. straddllpg II skillfully and work
Ing his way to his place. Then the two
setting poles flashed in the sunshine.
and the canoe shot out of sight
How Butter had learned OF my mis-
sion, whether he had actually learned
OF 1t or only suspected II from my dis
appearance, concerned me little. These
things were certain: He was Lord Dun
more's emissary, as was the emlssary
or Sir William. He was bound for
Cresap's camp. as was /, and he In
tended to intercept me and kill me If
that meant the winning OF the race
Aye, he meant to kill me anyhow, for
how could he ever again appear in
Johnstown II lived to bear witness
to his treachery?
must give up my visit TO the Cayu-
gas for the present 1t was to be a |
race now to Cresap's camp. and, though |
they had their canoe to speed withai, |
the advantage lay on my side, for / |
was seeking no mans life, whereas
they must soon end that they had over
run their scent and would spend pre-
ciOus time In ambushes Besides. they |
doubtless believed that somewhere |
had canoe hid, and that would keep
them banging around the carry trails
while made time by circling them.
One thing disturbed me. Two OF them |
had gone BY wtter and two by the
Fort Pitt trail and this threw me
hopelessly into the wilderness without
the ease Of trodden way.
Slowly resumed my pack. reprinted
my rife and turned my nose south |
ward bearing far enough west to keep
cut Of earshot from the river and the
trail.
At first had looked upon Fort Pitt
- hospitable wayside refuge, mark
ing nine-tenths OF my journey toward
Cresap's camp. But now l dared not
present myself there. with Walter But
Ter hot on my trail, armed not only
with Ratchet and rifle, but also doubt
less with some order OF Lord Dunmore
which might compel the officers at
Fort Pitt to hand me over to Butler on
his mere demand.
Fort Pitt commanded the gateway TO
the wilderness. and the Ohio flowed
through Il, and for years Virginia and
pennsylvania had disputed for the
right 20 control this gateway. yirginft
held It BY might, not right Through 1t
Daniel Roone had gone some years
before; NOW Cresap had followed, ana
who could doubt that the governor OF
Virginia had urged him on?
But the march OF Cresap not only
disturbed Sir William In his steward
ship; Il angered all Pennsylvania. and
This Is the reason: X
Tho yirxinians under Cresap went to
little and to keep the Indians at dis
o1nce: the Pennsylvanians, on the 9th
Il hand, went only to trade with the
Cayugas, and they were furious to see !
Ckesap's men spoil their trade.
K<Immro14 &c. n