Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1911-04-14

The heavier grass which ran along
the outer rim of the valley wriggled
mysteriously for several minutes and
songs as he crawled along to get as
far forward as possible He would
surprise them If he could get close
enough, and if he couldn t-well, then
it was up to the best side to make
good.
He crept onward to where the grass
was too short for concealment, and at
the edge of bare spot rested for
few minutes, with every nerve strung
to a pitch.
It's strange how, when men know
they are doing wrong, they get as
alert as wild animals. Jim had hardly
climbed to his feet and started war1ly
toward them, when one Of the men
sighted him and swung gun into
view, shouting, as he did so: stop, or
I'll shoot"
Jim, seeing that further caution was
useless. went ahead If he had be-
lieved there was a chance Of his get
was a crash, and all four men opened
fire on him at once, without waiting to
see whether his errand was peaceable
or not. He had served too many years
on the frontier to take chances, and
their shots went above his head, be-
cause he had suddenly dropped nat up
on the ground. Without hesitation,
he fired back, and the one who had
begun the battle pitched forward, and
was out Of the fight.
The others started to get away from
the light of the fire which made them
too good a target, but before they
could do so Jim fired again. A Sec
ond man staggered back, his gun fall
ing from his hands, and did g. wab-
bling turn, while Jim watched.
"Td give it to you again" Jim
thought, "but I'm little shy On cart
ridges, and will take chance on that
one being enough"
The man staggered for moment,
then dropped to the ground, where ne
rolled over and over, but without Of
fering further fight. Jim saw his fall,
and then sprang up and forward, on
the run. The boiling in his blood
caused by that first sight of the
burned cabin had long ago given way
to a cooler mood, but it was none the
less deadly. He knew the chances he
was taking in running forward, and
resorted to the border trick Of "buck-
Jumping" from side to side as he ran,
rendering the aim Of the enemy less
certain.
One of the men stood his ground,
and fired repeatedly. Jim felt quick,
soaring shock that was followed by an
instants giddiness, but continued his
forward rush. His opponent was ap-
parently out Of ammunition, and fran
tically snapped his hammer on empty
shells. It was this alone that saved
his life. Jim dropped his gun into
aim, and his finger was convuls1Vely
Tightening on the trigger, when he
heard the harmless clicking, and low
cred the weapon.
Drop that gun and put your hands
Nd" he shouted, land tell your pard-
ner to come alongside with his hands
up. Quick! or I'll get you and tend to
him later"
The Jumper had sense enough to
recognize that this was his only nope,
and did as ordered. The other man,
who had been In the background hur-
riedly reloading his pistol, came slow
ly forward with his hands In the air,
and stopped beside his accompl1ce.
No one spoke for an instant, and the
whole scene was like a picture; two
men standing there in the light Of the
night with their hands above their
heads, while in front of them, with
the glow bringing out the grimness
of his face and the steady, cold glare
of his eyes, was a man who leaned
slightly forward with poised pistol
ready for instant action.
AS If to add to the seriousness Of 1t
all. at one side rested a tragically
still shape, and on the ground between
them was seated another man who
wove to and fro as If unconscious Of
the others, and half-delirious from
wound in his breast which he clutched
with both hands.
"Who hired you to jump my Armies
claim?" Jim asked of the man who
had stood his ground, and now there
was no drawl in his voice, but sharp
incisiveness.
The Jumper hesitated, and didn't ap-
pear to want to answer. The packers
gun came suddenly into quick line
with the mans head, and nothing but
a brisk confession saved him. After
that he was ready to talk. He real
lied that the one before him was in
no mood to stop at anything, least of
all his death. He read something in
the grim, set face that sent shud-
dering question through his mind as
to whether even the answering Of all
question would bring mercy. It seemed
that at that moment now 1t might be-
come an execution. Two examples OF
resistance were ct his feet.
There was another instant's silence,