The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1925-01-14
THE BOHEMIAN COURIER, WEDNESDAY JANUARY IA, 1925

AAA4 DAh AtattN XOAAE ~ LktGtn UGAOAG
irst sleep on the journey. The new
leaves were just out. but not quite
full. The little naples and beeches
flungtheir sprays Of vivid green foil
age above the darker shades OF the
witch hOpple into the sOft-Iighted air
of the great house Of the wood and
filled It with a pleasant 0dor. A mile
or so back, solomon had left the trail
and cautioned Jack to keep close and
step softly. Soon the old scout stopped
and listened and put his a to the
ground. He rose and. beckOned TO
Jack and the two turned aside and
made their way s%teAlthily up the slant
Of q ledge. In the edge Of a little
thickct ON a messy rock shelf they sat
down. Solomon looked serious. There
were deep burrows in the skin above
his brow.
After a few minutes Solomon turned
and whispered:
"FOur Injun braves fist went by.
Mebbe they're scOutin' Ter a big band
-mebbe not. II so, the crowd Is mp
the trail. II they're comm by, It'll
be fore dark. Wen stop In this ere
tavern. They's a cave on t'other side
o. the ledge as big as a small house"
They watched until the sun had set.
Then Solomon led Jack TO the cave,
in which their packs were deposited.
From the caves entrance they
looked upon the uRdulating green roof
Of the forest dipping Down into a deep
valley. Il by the smooth surface Of
a broad river with mirrOred shores,
and lifting TO the summit Of a distant
mountain range. It's blue peaks rose
into the glow OF the sunset.
Wonder is the great stairway Of
Heaven! !" Jack exclaimed.
"Tve put up in this ere oil tavern
many a night" said Solomon. do
We see it's sign?"
He pointed to a great dead pine
that stood a little below it, towering
with stark, %0utreaching limbs more
than a hundred and fifty feet into the
air.
Il call it The Dead Pine Tavern"
Solomon remarked.
.'On the road to Paradise" said Jack
as he gazed down the valley, his hands
shading his eyes.
"Wisht we could have a nice. hot
supper, but 'twon't do to build no fire.
NOthin' but cold %vittlesi I'll go down
with the pot to a spring an git some
water. You dig fer our supper in that
pack o. mine an spread It out here.
I'm hungry"
They ate their bread and dried meat
mOistened with spring water. picked
some baIsam bOughs and covered q
corner OF the messy floor with them
When the rock chamber was filled with
their fragrance, Jack said:
"If my dream comes true and Mar
garet and l are married, 1 shall bring
her here. I want her to see The DEAD
Pine Tavern and its outlook"
ayes, sir, when ye're married safe
Solomon answered. "WeIl come ~
here fuSt summer an fish, an hRat
an I'll run the tavern an do tn
coOkin' an sweep the floor an maxi
the bedsF"
Jack awoke at daylight and fOun,
that he was alone. Solomon returne
In half an hour or 80.
"Been sc0utin' up the TRAIL" he said
Didn't see a thing but an oil, gna'
bucket. Wen jest eat a bite an pin
of to the nOr'west an keep watch
this ere trail. They's Injuns owe
thar on the slants. We got to knOv
how they look an bout how man
head they is"
They went on, keeping well ava
from the trail.
"We'1l have to watch Il with on
ears" said Solomon in q whisper.
His ear was often on the ground this
morning and twice he left Jack {
"snOok' out to the trail and look fC
tracks. Solomon could initiate til
call of the swamp robin, and whe
they were separated In the bush, b
gave It so that his friend could local
him. At midday they a down in dee
shade by the side Of a brook and al
their luncheon.
"This ERE is PepperwIn Int brook" sal
Solomon. Sits mother one O. my ia,
ems"
"0ur food isn't going TO last long
the rate we r eating It." Jack r
marked. "If we can't shoot a gun VIII,
are we going to do when It's all gone
"Don't worry" Solomon answere
"Ye're In my kentry now an there's
better tavern up In the high trail"
They Jared along. favored by go,
weather, and spent that night on Il
shore Of a little pond not more ths
fifty PAGES Off the old blazed thOrOug
9 fare. Next day, about halfway fro
dawn to dark" as Solomon was wor
. now and then, to speak of the MOI
: hour, they came suddenly upon fire.
g Sign" It was where the bic nor
trail from the upper waters Of &
4 Mohawk joined the one near viii
d they had been travelling. When tn
1 were approaching the point Solom
' had left Jack in a thicket and ca
Al lEE1nuui- GRANT o,,k - a. IL.