The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1909-05-12

Every trapper but us, it seemed, had
Joined the gold hunters. think we
were the only ones left along the trail
from Fort Laramie to Salt Lake.
$50 the beaver multiplied and trap
ping was good. On our second sea-
son we took so many that our two
pack animals couldn't have carried
half of them. We sent the horses to
Fort Laramie by return freighter,
and built good, stiff boat. A string
of outgoing mules had been drowned
at the crossing, the goods they carried
were lost, and our salvage was three
freighter boxes, out of which, with
the help of native timber, we fash
ioned stout, roomy skiff of the fiat
bottom sort.
"A day or two before we set out
down the Medicine Bow River six
gold hunters camped at the crossing
They were on foot, with but two pack
animals to carry their grub and blan-
kets. They said the Utes had run off
their riding stock up Green River
way. They wanted to engage passage
with us.
I'VE could have taken three of
them, who would have helped might
lily in the four portages we would
have to make round Medicine Bow
Falls, but the fellows were a rough
looking lot, and we decided against
them. So they passed on toward
Laramie.
1--WE took days run down the
river, then, seeing black tail deer
abundant, we stopped for a couple of
days shooting. When we returned
to camp on the second evening, our
boat was gone and our beaver with it.
"A brief examination of the tracks
of the thieves tcld us there were six
of them, and all white men. Then
we knew that gang of back trailers
had slipped down the river and lain
In wait for us. Doubtless they had
expected to waylay us somewhere be-
low, then had got impatient of delay,
and had come up river to find our
boat an easy pickup.
we munt overhaul them at the
portages,' l said to Bat, and circum-
vent them somehow Bat simply
grunted assent. We each ate a piece
of half raw venison, then we tight
ened our belts and set out on a run.
"The crooks of the river gave us
an advantage, otherwise we would
have had no hope of overtaking a
boat on its swift current. The first
portage was about forty miles, as the
crow flies, and over rough ground all
the way.
Never did put in such night in
running. We reached the first port
age before daylight, and cautions
examination showed that we were
ahead of the thieves. Then we hid
and waited, taking turns at cat maps.
I'VE expected the fellows to split
up here, or at least to make two trips
of the carry. But no, they were in a
hurry, evidently expecting pursuit,
and they simply gathered up that
big skiff on their shoulders and
plodded along over the rough carry
The boat and its freight must have
weighed close to 500 pounds.
"The outlook for us was mighty
discouraging. Even If we hadn't been
opposed 10 shooting men down in cold
blood we were but two against six
well armed men. We could only hope
that somewhere in the carries they
would tire out and split the cargo
So we took to cover and ran again
We headed the gang off, and went
into hiding at each carry, only to see
them shoulder the loaded boat and
forge ahead They evidently knew
the river, and they we're stout and
willing bunch of rascals.
eve were about to hail them from
our cover at the foot of the last carry,
having determined to demand the re-
turn of our property, and to fire upon
them if they should refuse to unload
our peltries as a compromise. But
before was ready to open my mouth
they set the boat down on the river
bank
I'VE kept quiet to see what might
be their next move. We were in some
O4 tnC CdSC Va
about 100 yards off.
After they had rested one OF
them got up and began to gather
wood for fire; another got out some
of our grub and coffee pot. Before
they sat down to eat they carried the
boat about thirty yards below and
put it in the river.
Now our ravine ran to the river
still farther down, and We saw just a
desperate chance of getting away
with the boat. We knew the current
was very swift for several miles be-
low, and If we could get mile OIL
two the start we might at least be
able to unload the beaver and get tc
fighting cover with the bales.
When we had seen the fellows
come back and-sit down to eat We
stole silently and swiftly down thu
bottom of the draw. When we came
to the river we found to our Joy tina
we could crawl, still under cover
clear to the boat.
Everything was there, furs. tw'
rolls of robes-our bedding-and tw'