Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1927-05-13

Needless TO say, we built no fire that
day; nor did we resume our work. All
that afternoon, by turns, we kept the
glass leveled at the top of the butte,
wondering what would be the curse Of
the party when they left, and fervently
hoping that they would not come down
our way. 1t was shutdown when we saw
them prepare to leave and head for the
patch of timber just above the butte,
along the rivers shore. We waited where
we were for a couple of hours; and then,
satisfied that they had struck camp for
the night, made our way to the shack,
cooked a hot supper and went to bed.
Il fancy none of us slept much that
night. We were astir long before day
break; ate a cold bit, and fastened out
to the edge of the grove. The sun came
up, flooding the high cliffs and brakes
with its crimson rays. Little by little,
the shadows faded away from the valley
and it was daylight. Between us and the
butte, the long, sagebrush fiat was COW
cred with little bands of buffalo and an
telope quietly grazing. Nearby, a string
of elk was leaving the river after a vain
search Tor water along the frozen shore.
Further on some mule deer walked aim
lessly about, the bucks stalking proudly,
heads and antlers poised high in the air.
The meek does followed them and, dart
ing about here and there, the playful
fawns jumped, bucked and kicked up
their heels. The clear, frosty morning
was sending its elixir through their veins.
1t was a grand and peaceful sight. and
we knew that SO long as the herds re-
manned IN the fiat, no foe was in sight.
Hours passed and by noon we felt GER
tain that the indians had departed. So,
after partaking of q hearty meal, we re-
sumed work. This was once that we
narrowly escaped; and when a little
'hunch' saved myself and my companions.
Prepare Christmas Dinner
"One evening, Just before Christmas
holiday time, Win proposed that we get
up a grand Christmas dinner
Its a gol' said Batter-Cake, III con-
tribute a big plum duff
Il said l would furnish q saddle of
antelope properly roasted.
will made some burberry jam early
in the fall for this very occasion, he said,
stating that he would also bake some
beans and mix up a batch of lightbread.
We talked a good deal about that dinner
during the following few days. Will was
especially enthusiastic and he would
wonder what Milly this sweetheart back
younger brothers and sisters. How /
wish l could send a few dollars to the
poor GIRL he would say.
Christmas Day
"At last the morning of the eventful
day arrived. 1t was Christmas IN the
morning. We arose early, and for the
first time, VIII asked us to listen to a
verse or two from the Bible. l forget
now Just what passage from the Scrip
lures it was. ! can just dimly remember
that 1t was something about: He leadeth
me into still pastures or-well-some-
thing like that, o know. 1t made Bat
ter-Cake and me sorta uneasy for we
were not used to anything of that sort.
But we had respect for the boy and his
,xxov af fl.tnlftnns G ~ mo liant 90 Gnlnrnf
as owls and let on 1t was fine. And, SO
it was, / guess.
I'VE had some wolf bats to attend to
that morning, SO 1t was afternoon when
we began preparations for the long
planned dinner. The beans and bread
had been baked the day before and only
needed warming up. But 1T was differ
ent with the big saddle of antelope /
had swung up before the fire. / kept
turning and basting 1t for hours. AT
last. when it was thoroughly done and
nicely Drowned and crisped outside,
night had come. We placed the things
on the table-all but Batter-Cake's plum
duf-which was the last to come. We
then sat down to the meal.
Dies with Prayer on His Lips
ION this occasion, spoke up VIII; al
low me to give thanks Milly would wish
me to were she here. It's Christmas,
you know We said nothing, but sorta
bowed our heads. but before VIII could
begin, there was a booming n cracking
of rifles outside and a numbe of the
bullets whizzed through the rawhide
door.
viii, shot fairly through the back
and heart, half rose from the table and
then, without q cry or groan, sank limp
ly to the floor. Batter-Cake and I were
untouched. In q second, we grasped our
rifles and jumped to either side of the
door, the Indians all the while yelling
like fields. But, In spite of the flying
bullets, Batter-Cake coolly walked over
and lifted Will, laying him on the bunk
out of the line of fire.
He's dead, poor fellow he said; but
I'm damned If they will make mince
meat of his body 1t was a brave act.
Old Batter-Cake had lots of nerve.
Three Days Siege
We'll, for three days and three nights
we remained In that shack and stood off
those Indians. They tried to burn us
out. but the logs were green and we