Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1924-07-03
CHATTER VI

pyriteS was garrulOusly grateful to
Dlnsdale for providing the stake, and
for two days of their hurried journey
toward the divide between Rapid and
Spring creeks he wearied his silent
companion with his voluble thanks.
After passing through the three
miles of the Elk's narrow and twisted
canyon they emerged from the states
to strike southwest to the Box Elder,
gwiftr, flowing over bare bed rock.
They followed the Box Elder to where
IL headed at the base of Clusters peak.
Near shutdown Pyrites began unpack-
Ing the burros and called after Dins-
dale: Don't you know it's almost
nlght? Well camp here"
'Dinsdale, ahead, reined in and
stared at the sunset lights streaming
across the heavens. Dismounting, he
slowly led his horse back to the camp
ing place and removed the saddle and
placed it in the small tent Pyrites was
deftly setting up.
II feel sort of blue, partner. Sup
pose you do the squaw work while
wander around a Bit" he suggested.
sim afraid I'm a poor. travelling COM
panion."
You're all right" heartily assured
Pyrites "Walk the bile out of your
system. Better make it a short trip,
az it'll be darker n the inside OF a
Burro pretty soon'
"Tll find my way back. never fear"
said Dinsdale.
And taking mis- rifle, he struck off to
the foot of the peak In the south
the country was much more broken,
and was thickly set with serrated
peaks and had bulky Harneys peak
for a background. It impressed Dins-
dale as being desolate and forbidding.
Originally the country had been
heavily timbered, but now there were
large areas of dead pines, and their
Bcraggly tops were unlovely and sug-
gested land that had been dead
many ages.
Dinsdale stared gloomily at the mel
ancholy vista for some minutes, then
breasted the flank of the mountain
aau rapidly began climbing 1t. With
N&EGlGSS CAlSISy WOlhCu Ills way uD
the slope until more gracious pros
pect of rolling hills, with scattering
OF small peaks, came into view Sun
on the heights and darkness in the
gorges. and he suddenly realized 1t was
time for him to be making camp.
When he YEARLY broke through into
the freight he found Pyrites asleep
In the tent. Bacon and beans were
ON q fiat rock by the fire and the
coffee-pot, freshly stocked, was ready
to be boiled. Pyrites awoke and rolled
from the tent and apologized:
Tried to keep things hot for you.
Must have dropped off. You sit down
and get your boots off and wash your
feet and I'll have the coffee hot in
minute"
'The night Is tust beginning back
in Deadwood," mrfsed Dinsdale. as he
pulled off his boots and stuck his feet
into tiny streamlet. up here it's
time folks were abed."
"Bet they're having a hot talk about
Bandy Allen about this time.
Their talk wont bother either AL
Zen or me Neither of us can hear it,"
Judas! But you're cool one
That Allen was never any account"
II had no wish to kill the fool, even
TO hurt him." morosely replied Dins-
dale. "He came at me shooting, shot
gun and two hand-guns. Funny, too.
Where did he get his nerve2 He
wasn't drunk; just cold killer. All
day men had been warning me against
him. ] thought It was joke, their
way of having fun with me. And
derned If he didn't try to get mel''
sMust "a been drunk" insisted Py-
rites as he dished out some beans and
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