The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1920-04-29

not rapid, was steady, n we must
have covered several miles before the
east began to show gray, the CHASTITY
light of the new dawn revealing our
tired faces. Ahead Of us stretched an
extensive swamp, with pools of stag
nant water shimmering through lush
grass and brown fringes of cat-tails
bordering their edges. Some distance
out in this desolation, and only half
revealed through the dim light, a some
what higher bit Of lan1, rocky on. its
exposed side, it's crest crowned with
trees, arose like an islaId. Tim stared
across at it, shading his eyes with one
hand. ..
IF we wus goin' ter stop enywhar,
cap" he said finally, II reckon thar
amt no better place then tibet, pervidin'
we kin git thar"
1 followed his gaze, and noticed that
the mulatto girl also lifted her head
to look.
"We certainly must rest" 1 con
fessed. Miss Beaucaire seems to be
sleeping, but I am sure is thoroughly
exhausted. Do you see any way Of
getting across the swamp"
He did not answer, but Elsie in
stantly pointed toward the left, crying
out eagerly: -
"Sure, All do. The lam is higher
long thar, sah-yer kin see shale
rock" ..".'
$50 you can; it almost looks like a
dyke. Let's try it, Tim" =
It was not exactly a pleasant pas
sage, or q safe one, but the continual
Increase in light aided us in picking
our way above the black water on eth
er hand. I let my horse follow those
in front as he pleased and held tightly
to the bit of the one bearing Eloise.
The island proved a small one, not ex-
ceeding a hundred yards wide, rather
sparsely covered with forest trees, the
space between these thick with under
growth. What first attracted my gaze
after penetrating the tree fringe was
the glimpse of a small shack, built Of
poles, and matched with coarse grass,
which stood nearly in the center Of the
island. 1t was a rudely constructed,
primitive affair, and to, all appearances
deserted.
Hold the horses here, Tim; let me
see what we have ahead first"
l approached the place from the rea
peering in through the narrow open
ings between the upright poles. The
light was so poor I was not able to
perceive much, but did succeed in
fully convincing myself that the dis
NAL shack was unoccupied. The door
stood Unattached and I pushed it open.
A single glance served to reveal every
thing the place contained. Without
doubt it had been the late abode of
Indians, who, in all probability, had
fled hastily to join Black Hawk in his
foray up Rock river. What interested
me most was a small bit of jerked
deer meat which still hung against
an upright and the rude stone fire
place in the center of the hut, with an
opening above to carry away the
smoke.
I had found during the night a fair
supply of hard bread in my saddle-bag,
and now, with this additional gift of
Providence. felt assured, at least, of
n sufficient meal.
1T IS all right, Tim, there is no one
here. An old Indian camp with moth
ing but a hunk of jerked deer meat left
behind. Elsie, gather up some of that
old wood yonder and build a fire.
Kennedy and I will look after Miss
Beaucaire."
1t was bright day by this time, the
red Of the rising sun in the sky, and l
could trace the radius of swamp land
stretching about us on every hand, q
grim, desolate scene even in the beauty
of that clear dawn. We had been for
tunate enough to approach the spot
along the1only available pathway which
led to this little oasis, and a more Sc
cure hiding place it would be difficult
to find. I felt almost at ease for the
present and satisfied to rest here for
several hours.
Tim assisted me in unstrapping
Eloise, and lifting her from the sad
die, and, as she made no effort to help
herself, the two Of us carried her to a
warm, sunny spot beside the wall of
the hut. Her cramped limbs refused
to support her body, and her eyes, then
open, yet retained that vacant look SO
noticeable from the frst. The only
change was in the puzzled way with
which she stared into our faces, as
though memory might be struggling
back, and she was vaguely endeavor-
ing to understand.
Tim led the horses away and staked
them out where they could crop the
rich, dewy grass. After removing the
saddles he followed the mulatto girl
into the hut, and I could hear the muir
muir of their voices. I endeavored to
address Eloise, seeking thus to awaken
her to some q of my presence, but
she merely smiled meaninglessly,
leaned her head YEARLY back against
the poles and closed her eyes.
It was a poor meal enough, although
it sufficed to dull hunger and yield us