Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1907-08-08
CHAPTER XIV.
THE PLUME HUNTERS DINNER
TOtIlTV

The one eyed man, Billy Mutt, and his
friend and partner. whose name was
apparently Hank, without further at
tachlment. made a livelihood by trans
crossing the laws of the United States
and supplying a strong demand Ladies
'cf society wished for egret plumes and
other feathers for external adornment.
and the Seminole of the Everglades
desired corn whisky for his stomach's
sake. and white game regulations for
pade collection of the first, Indians pro-
lection acts vetoed lawful distribution
Of the second. And for the transgres-
sor there were distinct and heavy pen.
alties.
But, to begin with, States law does
not cary very far in the Everglades Of
Florida, which is the home of outlaws,
and in the second place Mr., Mutt and
friend were both wanted" on several
counts already, among which unjustif-
able homicide ranked high, so that they
were men entirely reckless and inclined
to look upon rcaching and illicit whisky
pedling to the aboriginal as the mildest
OF mild peccadilloes. Moreover. as in
extremely well armed and apt to shoot
first and eflec afterward when an.
noyed. they We're not persons to be
argued with by any Of the more gentle
methods.
The three men on the steamer were in
az Vs. " e tIl0SS uue
bious visitors-were. in fact, completely
oblivtous of their approach, being still
chained in the deepest slumber. The
sun had dropped below the tree tops,
and already the night noises OF the
forest were begtnning-the rattle of
grunting Of the bullfrog in the swamp.
the dry rustic of the jar flies and the
warm hum OF the never sleeping mo-
squito. In the darker tree aisles there
commenced the brief light snappings of
firefies. and in the black Swallowed
phoreseent glows, like these. only COM
ing from the eyes Of some providing al
ligator.
The sloop ran down her jibtopsail,
N as the iron hanks screamed along
the stay a negro trotted nimbly out
along h nat boWsprit top to secure the
sail in its gaskets. The wind was drop
ping with the sun, n because the cur.
rent raced manfully down the blight
where the stranded steamer was lying
the sloop made but a fathom or SO to
the good by every board across the
a barefoot tattoo Of fury on the floor
boards of the cockpit at this slowness.
n his loose limbed partner. who still
sprawled on the cabin roof. chuckled
with easy amusement. But the breeze
held ong enough for their purpose.
AhSy Aoh 0P dUoNc tue steamer and the
stream ground their planking against
the rust streaked iron. A pair of davit
covereden with water, and oyerhauling
one of these they made It fast ro,nd
the bits. Then. swarming up the other
fall. the whole five Of them gained the
bridge deck above. w
Instinctively when once their fee+
were on the warm gray planks each
man.. black and white, handled hi.
weapon ,ab A. ready to fight any n as
appeared to seek explanation Of thair
presence. and from starting about
them they took to staring at n an.
other rather foolishly. II one has been
expecting a brisk game Of murder. and
one meets with empty silence, it h
spoils the sequence Of ideas.
Come to think of it." said Hank IN
an oppressive whisper: III there'd been
an anchor watch. they'd have hailed M
before we got this far. I bet the oid
mans asleep in the charthouse
'Twouldn't be a bad idea to bottle him.
Continued Next Wssk.l