The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1909-04-30

dance.
When the schoolmarm made her de.
mand this story came to Stag-Hounds
mind. 1t seemed the quickest way to
earn $1,000 of which he knew. and he
determined to make the attempt. He
went into the north and traded his
trinkets with the Canadian Indians for
all the priced trophies with which they
would part, and when they would sell
no more he went into the mountains
and hunted. The tusks he got there
represented hardships which would
have killed most men; but the hard.
ships were past; Stag-Hound thought
smilingly of the future. He counted
the teeth again and his eyes shone,
Then he crept into his blanket.
Sleep would not come to Stag.
Hounds eyes, and he wondered at his
wakefulness. He was not hungry. he
was not cold, and what besides could
keep man awake? The wind brought
cry, and he sat up, alert. It was
only the plaintive whine of the cat in
the canyon, and he lay down impa-
tiently.
An hour passed, and still he had not
closed his eyes. Suddenly the horses
lifted their heads and snorted. He
heard the floundering of some animal
upon the frozen crust-perhaps hun
cry mountain lion coming to inyesti.
gate.
Stag-Hound's hand slipped to his
rifle, and he waited for the shifting of
the brute at the door. o.
my Gar! Oh, my Carl" 1t was
human voice gasping in agony. Stag
Hound sprang from his bunk and
hurled aside the log which propped the
door. A man fumbling at the side Of
the cabin gave'a thick, inarticulate cry
and dropped unconscious.
Stag-Hound carried him to his bunk
and covered him with blankets. To re-
kindle the fire was moments work.
When the dried brush lighted the
cabin he went to look at the man in
the bunk.
Percy Dubois, the horse-thief!" An
expression of dislike followed Stag
Hounds exclamation of amazement.
Percy Dubois, the French-and-Indian
breed" who stole mems wives with
his suave tongue and handsome ewes.
and sold their horses across the line"
Percy Dubois had robbed his cache
once upon time. But Stag-Hound cut
the boots from Dubois feet and rubbed
the marble-like face with snow till he
opened his eyes and screamed with
the pain of returning circulation. Percy
Dubois would rustic no more horses:
his feet and hands were dead.
Il go for hunt mountain Sheep"
he said. Il get off trail on re pass.
Pack-horse, saddle-horse, slip off re
mountain and slip to pieces on re rock
tree, four hundred feet down, by Gar!
No grub, mo blanket, walk, walk and
freeze!" in his pain the half-breed went
at the recollection of his sufferings.
Never mind, pard," said Stag.
Hound, gently. Tomorrow I'll fix you
up comfortably here and strike out to
the Agency for help. Well fetch you
out easy. Just keep a stiff upper
lip"
With the first faint light of morning
Stag-Hound rode from the cabin. There
was one blanket tied behind his sad
die and a bit of jerked meat in his
pocket. He forced his horse down the
dangerous mountain trail and out upon
the trackless prairie. That night he
shivered beneath clump of willows
in a coulee which already sheltered
fWn mr. thro1 ho1f cko
On the third day the sun was down
when Stag-Hound's exhausted horse
staggered over the slushy road which
led into the Agency. The chinook had
come at last.
There were lights and laughter in
Sharpe's, the Indian traders, store,
which, in the absence of saloons, was
the general gathering place for the
Indians, breeds, and whites of the
reservation. When Stag-Hound threw
the reins over his horses head, he
could have cried at hearing the voices
of his kind again. He opened the door
and stood before them, gaunt, haggard.
his clothes in rags.
There was moments silence, then
a great shout went up. They dragged
him forward and crowded about him.
Even the faces of the Indians about
the stove wore looks of friendliness.
All, it was good to be home again!
The welcome, the warmth, the com.
radeship made the blood run fast in
his veins. 1t was good, all good; but
he trembled in his eagerness to hear
of Her. He was vaguely surprised
that her name was not on every
tongue, as it was ever in his heart.
They told him the news eagerly; of
Dad Symonds, who froze on the Koot-
mai pass; of "Hen" Barnes, sent over
the road again for rustling; of the
parties" from st. Paul, who had bond
ed the Bridal Chamber mine: of Pete
who married the squaw and
came to the Agency each Thursday
with her GRUB" ticket; and the school.
marin from Cut Bank
Stag-Hound could not breathe; his
very heart stood still-"She married.