The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1907-07-06
A BRAVE
INDIAN

IOu can say Wnat you nina 10
about the nerve Of the redskins, but
don't say II when I'm around" thun-
dered Col. B Seeming a story,
the cowpunchers crowded nearer the
ranchman.
The room Of the adobe shack was
blue with tobacco smoke; just the at
mosDhere that seemed to inspire the
old man.
I have followed q flock OF canvas.
backs down the Poteau for miles. wait.
Ing for them to float within range.
and I've watched with increasing heart
beats battle between the dogs and
black bears In the Mississippi cane
brake, but this was my first and only
experience with a wildcat" said the
colonel. between puffs OF his corn-cob
piLe. by way Of Introduction.
1T was In southwestern Arkansas
IN the days when you got to st. Louis
| by riding third Of the way astride q
broncho. another third in a stage
coach and the rest of the way In a
train which the natives would scorn
II 1t was run over the Jenny Lind coal
branch to-day.
Red Blanket had been my chum
ever since our fathers had smoked the
pipe Of peace and had agreed not to
murder each other oftener than once
a week. 1t was during the big Chero.
kee payment when Uncle Sam unload
ed several millions Of his treasury
notes on the members of that tribe.
and every Indian was rich; that is.
until the tradesmen from the fort col.
lected their long.outstanding &C.
counts.
Red Blanket and I took advantage
Of the excitement to slip OF into the
hills for quiet hunt. We took only
our guns and ammunition. Neither
had been educated to carry kit full
OF eatables when we set forth for big
game. And I don't remember ever
having missed meal. either.
I'VE hunted all day with fair sue
cess and we're searching for good
place to camp for the night when we
encountered the wildcat. Boys, I
have had some terrifying experience
In my time. but they were as tame as
a euchre party at q church festival
compared to this one"
II pride myself on my keen ears,
but II 1t hadn't been for Red Blanket
don't think would be here to repeat
this yarn. My first inkling that any.
thing was wrong came when the In
iian deliberately tripped me-. l fell
alongside log under the branches OF
big tree.
Don't move heard him say.
Before I had time to roll over and
demand an explanation, I heard a
whir.r-r through the air, followed by
shot and gleeful cry. II an Indian
is capable Of such an exclamation.
THE whir-r.r chilled the very mar.
row in my bones, and I believe my
heart stopped plugging for an instant,
but the shot caused me to jump to my
feet Something fuzzy.like brushed
my coat as l rose from the ground.
followed Red Blankets gaze to the
object.
Struggling in its final agony was
the monster. Ordinarily they are not
very big, but this one was about the
size of young panther Boys, as you
know. I'm not much given to demon
STATIONS, but when I realized what
had happened, just Rugged that In
dian kid.
"As he dexterously skinned the cat
he told me that he threw me down
when his eyes met the cleaning balls
of fire of the feline, crouched In the
tree, ready to spring, he thought, upon
my head. And I always will believe
that he acted none too soon.
THAT whir-r-r through the air con
vinced me that the beast would have
torn my eyes out had I not hit the
ground when l did. What do you
think of that Indian, standing W
there as cool as an iceberg and send
ing a ball into the very center of thai
cats heart as 1t leaped for me?
"a good shot? You bet II was. anG
1t took nerve. too. to hit the mark"