Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1911-05-19

was filled with cartridges. And this
was not the last day when the gun
sagged against his thigh, as he tray
ersed his little domain, patiently wait
ing for the appearance of GA Bur
| rows"
When the time came, 1t was almost
as a surprise. 1t was one bright
| forenoon when the air was redolent
with the fragrance of bloom, and the
dew lay heavily in the hollows of the
tangled blackberry and rhododendron
bushes, that the storm burst Sandy
| had grown somewhat older in these
| days Of waiting. His quick ear caught
the unusual sound of voices, and, by
the tree where the first location no.
tice had been posted, he waited
Through the woods, with axes
cleaning across the packs on their
backs, with rifles in hand, and steady
| tread, came four woodsmen
"Hello!" they said, in the way of
| greeting to the tall, grim man who
/! barred their way.
Sandy wasted no time in civilities.
'Lookin' for this?" he queried, point
| ing at the white claim notice which
| started at them unwinkingly.
EFF that's the Burrows location, we
| shore are" came the reply from the
| man who was evidently the leader of
| the party.
WELL that's it, and ye kin save yer
eyesight," said Sandy grimly. "But
In iI0' t~ ho.
cause l owns this claim, and I reckon
| I'm goin' to keep on ownin' it."
''The hell you are! We been sent
up here to put a cabin on it, and l
reckon we're goin' to keep on and do
| it," came the retort. EFF there's any
| dispute about it, it's up to you to go
to the cote and fix it.. We're goin' to
bumped into you squatters a heap O.
times afore this"
The arrivals had slipped off their
| packs and were clustered around their
| leader. Sandy had held his temper
well, but now Miss Trouble" was
here. He dashed out with his knotted
right fist, caught the foreman ham
!
him up in the air
A whirlwind couldn't have worked
faster. The four struck at him, and
kicked him, and endeavored to bring
him to the ground. He felt himself
being overpowered, and worked his
hand to the butt Of his revolver. 1t
| spoke with one quick snap, and the
| snarl was untangled.
One man seized a useless shoulder
through which the bullet had torn it's
way, and the others sprang for their
weapons. Sandy tried to wing one of
them, and found that his remaining
cartridges were defective.
This wouldn't do He must take to
cover and put in fresh ones. He
| jumped, with long leaps. toward one
Of the barriers of fallen trees, and
sought shelter. AS he dropped down
behind his logs, two rife bullets sang
dangerously past his head, and went
"1ick-f1icking" through the tree tops
Sandy stood behind a log, with
feverish energy threw out the cart
ridges which had failed him in his
need, and inserted fresh ones from
his belt Then he clambered along
| to a point where he could catch a
sight of his battlefield, and took
survey. Not target was in sight
He worked his way back, cut stick,
and showed his hat upward to the top
of the log, trying to draw his enc
mics fire 1t was effective, and the
; old hat went sailing to the ground
| behind him. He rushed to point
of observation and took another look,
| but nowhere was an enemy in sight.
Not even rifle barrel protruded from
behind any of the forest giants, who
calmly furnished shelter.
| Sandy recovered the hat, and from
a new point of vantage tried his ruse.
| Tt failed to attract attention. Plainly
his opponents were enemies of no
mean caliber. An old trick could be
| played upon them once, but that was
all. He must either retreat or use
new tactics. The first was untenable,
because he never had run yit," and
| the second meant a reconnoiter.
Sandy made his way around the thick
! ct, and by the aid of another fallen
| log gained an angle, from which he
peered An elbow was in sight. He
would practise on that.
"Whang" went his pistol and the
elbow lurched violently, and smoth-
cred oaths told that the shot had been
well aimed Sandy smiled. The joy
| of battle was on him He felt that
| exultation which comes from deadly
strife He wanted to yell. 1t would
have helped him, he felt sure. He
caught sight of head, and fired, but
evidently missed. That bothered him
a little Misses were not in his line
Once more he emptied his pistol
and carefully inspected each load as
he placed it in it's chamber. "Too
bad" he unused. ito lose that last
shot! Fellers that sell no-account
cartridges like these ought ter have
/ the law on 'em. Coin ter smash that
| Teller one, next time 1 see him."
/ clnE