The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1907-08-01
CHAPTER XIV.
THE PLUME HUNTERS DINNER


THE PLUME HUNTERS DINNER
PARTY.
Inc one eyed man, Billy Mutt, and his
TREND and partner, whose name was
apparently Hank, without further at
tachment, made a livelihood by trans
crossing the laws of the United States
and supplying a strong demand Ladies
OF society wished for egret plumes and
olhef feather for external adornment,
and the Seminole of the Everglades
desired. corn whisky for his stomach's
sake, n white game regulations for
pade collection of the first, In Iian's 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 uniustif-
able homicide ranked high. so that they
were men entirely reckless and inclined
to TOOK upon aching and illicit whisky
pedllng to the aboriginal as the mildest
or mia peccadllloeS. Moreover, as in
fur~therance of their business they were
extremely we'll armed and apt to shoot
frSt and reflect 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
no way prepared to receive these du-
blous visitors-were, in fact, completely
oDn|louS of their approach, being still
chained in he deepest slumber. The
sun had dropped below the tree tops,
and already the night noises of the
forest We're beginning-the rattle of
cr1ckets and toads in the trees, the
%srunting of the bullfrog in the wamp,
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
hretiies. and in the black Swallowed
water of the bayous We're other phos-
paorescent glows, like these, only COM
ing from the eyes Of some prowling al
ligator.
The sloop ran down her iibtopsail,
and as the iron hanks screamed along
Inc stay a negro trotted nimbly out
along the fiat boHsprit top to u the
sall In It's gaSketS. The wind was drop-
ping with the sun, and 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
river. The one eyed man danced a
a barefoot tattoo of fury on the floor
boards of the cockpit at this slowness.
and his loose limbed partner, who still
on the cabin roof, chuckled
with easy amusement. But the breeze
neld long enough for their purpose.
They ran up above the steamer, and the
stream ground their planking against
the rust streaked iron. A pair of davit
fails hung down, with the blocks weed
covered in with water, n ov%erhauline
one OF these they made it fast round
the bits. Then, swarming up the Their
fail. the whole five Of them gained the
bridge deck above.
1nstincttvely when once their feet
were on the warm gray planks each
man. black and white, handled his
weapon ready to fight any one, as
might be demanded Of him, but no one
appeared to seek explanation of their
presence, and from starting about
them they took to staring at one an
other rather foolishly. II one has been
expecting a brisk game of murder, and
one meets with empty silence, it rather
spoIls the sequence OF ideas.
Come to think Of It," said Hank in
an oppressive whisper. IF there'd been
an anchor watch, they'd have hailed ma
before we got his Gar. / bet the old
mans asleep in the charthouse-
Twouldn't be a bad idea to bottle him"
Continued Next Weekly