White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1923-02-16
ISSTALLMENT NO. 81

me, swaddled In my stiff coat Of a
bulls fur, and the breath smoking
from my scorched nostrils, when
upon a sudden, singular, eager cry
rang from the borders of the wood.
The sentries answered 1t, the sleep
ers sprung to their feet; one pointed.
the rest followed his direction with
their eyes, and there, upon the edge
of the forest and betwixt two trees,
we beheld the figure of man reach
ing forth his hands like one In
ecstasy. The next moment he ran
forward, fell on his knees at the side
of the camp, and burst in tears.
This was John Mountain. the trad
er, escaped from the most horrid
perils; and his first word, when he
got speech, was to ask IL we had
seen Secundra Dass
"Seen what?" cried William
NO" said I, I'VE have seen moth
ing of him. Why?"
"Nothing?" says Mountain. Then
was right after ALL" With that he
struck his palm upon his brow. But
what takes him back?" he cried.
What takes the man back among
dead bodies? There Is some damned
mystery here"
This was word which highly
aroused our curiosity, but shall be
more perspicacious il l narrate these
incidents In their true order. Here
follows a narrative which have com
piled out of three sources, not very
consistent in all points:
First, written statement by
Mountain, in which everything Grim
inal is cleverly struggled out Of view;
Second, two conversations with Sc
cundra Dass: and,
Third, many conversations with
Mountain himself, in which he was
pleased to be entirely plain; for the
truth Is he regarded me as an &C.
complete.
Narrative Of the Trader, Mountain.
The crew that went up the river
under the joint command of Captain
Harris and the master numbered In
all nine persons, Of whom uf I OK.
cept Secundra Dass) there was not
one that had not merited the gal.
lows From Harris downward the
voyagers were notorious In that col.
ony for desperate, bloody-minded
miscreants; some were reputed pir-
ates. the most hawkers of rum; all
ranters and drinkers; all fit asso-
ciates, embarking together without
remorse, upon this treacherous and
murderous design. could not hear
there was much discipline or any set
captain In the gang: but Harris and
four others, Mountain himself, two
tchmen-Pinkerton and Hastie-
and man Of the name of Hicks, a
drunken shoemaker, put their heads
together and agreed upon the course
In material sense, they were we'll
enough provided; and the master in
particular brought with him q tent
where he might enjoy some privacy
and shelter.
Even this small indulgence told
against him In the minds of his com.
panions. But indeed he was in a po-
sition so entirely false land even ri
diculous) that all his habit of com.
mand are arts Of pleasing were here
thrown away In the eyes of all, ex-
cept Secundra Dass, he figured as a
common gull and designated victim;
going unconsciously to DEATH yet he
could not but suppose himself the
contriver and the leader Of the expi.
dition; he could scarce help but 80
conduct himself; and at the least hint
of authority or condescension, his de-.
ceivers would be laughing In their
sleeves
l was so used to see and to con-
ceive him in a high, authoritative at
titude, that when I had conceived his
position on this journey, was panied
and could have blushed. How soon
he may have entertained a first sur.
mise, we can not know; but 1t was
long, and the party had advanced into
the wilderness beyond the reach of
any help ere he fully awakened to
the truth
Drew Into Woods.
1t fell thus. Harris and some others
had drawn apart into the woods for
consultation, when they were startled
by rustling in the brush. They were
all accustomed to the arts Of Indian
warfare, and Mountain had not only
lived and hunted, but fought and
earned some reputation with the
savages He could move In the woods
without noise, and follow trail like
a hound; and upon the emergence of
this alert, he was deputed by the rest
to plunge into the thicket for intel.
ligence. He was soon convinced there
was man In his close neighborhood,
moving with precaution but without
art among the leaves and branches;
and coming shortly to a place of ad-
vantage, he was able to observe Sc
cundra Dass crawling briskly off
with many backward glances.
At this he knew not whether to
laugh or cry; and his accomplices,
yrhaY hn hoI ~a&,,