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diff --git a/42307.txt b/42307.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 96955c8..0000000 --- a/42307.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,5591 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg eBook, Frank in the Woods, by Harry Castlemon - - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org - - - - - -Title: Frank in the Woods - - -Author: Harry Castlemon - - - -Release Date: March 11, 2013 [eBook #42307] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) - - -***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FRANK IN THE WOODS*** - - -E-text prepared by Greg Bergquist, Matthew Wheaton, and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net) from page images -generously made available by Internet Archive/American Libraries -(http://archive.org/details/americana) - - - -Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this - file which includes the original illustrations. - See 42307-h.htm or 42307-h.zip: - (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/42307/42307-h/42307-h.htm) - or - (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/42307/42307-h.zip) - - - Images of the original pages are available through - Internet Archive. See - http://archive.org/details/frankinwoods00cast - - - - - -[Illustration: - -The GUNBOAT SERIES. - -BOOKS for BOYS, by a GUNBOAT BOY. - -FRANK IN THE WOODS. - -PORTER & COATES, -PHILADELPHIA, PA.] - - -Frank and Archie Series. - -FRANK IN THE WOODS. - -by - -HARRY CASTLEMON, - -Author of "The Rocky Mountain Series," "The Go-Ahead -Series," etc. - - - - - - - -Philadelphia: -Porter & Coates. -Cincinnati, O.: -R. W. Carroll & Co. - - - - -Contents. - - CHAPTER I. THE ENCAMPMENT 7 - CHAPTER II. AN UNPLEASANT COMPANION 15 - CHAPTER III. AN INDIAN HUNT 27 - CHAPTER IV. THE "OLE SETTLER" 47 - CHAPTER V. THE FIGHT IN THE WOODS 52 - CHAPTER VI. THE WHITE BUCK 76 - CHAPTER VII. A MIDNIGHT ATTACK 90 - CHAPTER VIII. A COUPLE OF NEW PETS 101 - CHAPTER IX. CLOSE QUARTERS WITH A GRIZZLY 116 - CHAPTER X. A BEAVER HUNT 132 - CHAPTER XI. BREAKING UP A MOOSE-PEN 143 - CHAPTER XII. THE MOOSE SHOWS HIS QUALITIES 152 - CHAPTER XIII. THE BLACK MUSTANG 169 - CHAPTER XIV. A BRUSH WITH THE GREASERS 180 - CHAPTER XV. CAUGHT AT LAST 194 - CHAPTER XVI. THE LOST WAGON-TRAIN 204 - CHAPTER XVII. THE STRUGGLE IN THE CAVE 216 - CHAPTER XVIII. END OF THE TRAPPER AND BLACK MUSTANG 227 - CHAPTER XIX. THE INDIANS AGAIN 236 - CHAPTER XX. THE JOURNEY HOMEWARD 251 - - - - -FRANK IN THE WOODS. - - - - -CHAPTER I. - -The Encampment. - - -Our scene opens in the swamp that stretches away for miles north of -Lawrence. - -It was a cold, dreary night. The wind moaned and whistled through the -leafless branches of the trees, sending the snow in fitful gusts -through every nook and corner of the forest. On the banks of a small -lake, that lay hemmed in on all sides by tall trees, which bowed to -every gust of the winter's storm, was an encampment. A rude -hut--built, however, after the most approved hunter fashion, with its -back to the wind, and its front open to a cheerful fire--stood in a -little grove of evergreens, ready to receive beneath its friendly -shelter four boys, whom you could easily recognize as our old -friends of the sailing and fishing frolics described in "THE -YOUNG NATURALIST." We left them, after a hard day's work at -fox-hunting--Archie asleep on the bed, and Frank seated in his easy -chair, reading one of his favorite authors; while George and Harry, -who had a quarter of a mile to go before they reached home, were -walking slowly along the road, so weary that they could scarcely drag -one foot after the other. To enable the reader to understand how we -come to find them here in the woods, twenty miles from any human -habitation, we must conduct him back to Lawrence, and relate a few -incidents with which he is not acquainted. - -On the day following the one on which the foxhunt took place, the boys -were too lame to tramp about, and they passed most of their time in -the shop. Frank commenced to prepare the fox-skin for mounting in the -museum, and Archie busied himself in putting his traps in working -order. While thus engaged, Frank exclaimed: - -"Archie, let's go and make Uncle Joe a visit. What do you say?" - -"I should like to go very much," said Archie; "but you know it's a -mean journey to make in winter. I don't like the idea of carrying my -baggage on"---- - -"We need not carry any thing," interrupted Frank. "I have been -thinking it all over, and I don't see why we can't do as the Canadian -trappers do--drag our baggage after us on sleds." - -The village boys had always been in the habit of visiting Uncle Joe in -the summer; the journey could then be made with scarcely any -inconvenience, for Glen's Creek ran within a few feet of the old -hunter's cabin; but in winter the traveling was much more difficult, -for the boys were obliged to carry their provisions, blankets, and -other needful articles, on their backs. But Frank's plan obviated this -difficulty. The creek was frozen over, and using it as a highway, they -could accomplish the journey to Uncle Joe's almost as easily as with a -boat. - -"That's a first-rate idea," said Archie. "I wonder why we did not -think of it before! Let us go right to work and make the sled." - -"We had better wait until we find out whether mother will let us go or -not," said Frank; "besides, we want Harry and George to go with us." - -"I think Aunt Mary will give her consent," said Archie, laying aside -his traps. "Let's go in and ask her." - -The boys readily answered all Mrs. Nelson's objections--such as being -lost in the woods and eaten up by bears--by assuring her that they -were well acquainted with the road to Uncle Joe's, for they had -traveled it several times before; besides, they had a compass, and it -was impossible to get lost; and, as to the bears, there were very few -of them in the woods, and no bear that ever lived was a match for four -boys, all good marksmen, armed with double-barrel shot-guns, and -assisted by three good dogs. So Mrs. Nelson was obliged to consent, -and the boys started off to see George and Harry. The latter easily -obtained their parents' permission, and the boys adjourned to the -kitchen to talk over their plans. It was decided that two sleds would -carry all their baggage, and that every thing should be ready for the -start early on Monday morning; it was then Friday. After making all -their arrangements, Frank and his cousin returned home, and -immediately commenced working on their sled. A stout hickory sapling, -which they had used in stretching and curing the skin of the deer they -killed in the lake, was sawed in twain for the runners, and bent into -shape by steaming. The braces were then put in, and before dark the -body of the sled was completed. It was light and very strong, and -Archie dragged it about the shop in high glee. - -"It's all done but the box," said he. - -"We don't want any box," said his cousin. "It would only make the sled -heavy, without doing any good. We will get an old quilt or blanket -from mother, and that will do better than a box." - -This article was soon obtained, and fastened to the sled in such a -manner that it could be strapped around the baggage; and just as -Hannah called them to supper, the sled was pronounced ready for the -journey. - -The next day Hannah was kept busy baking biscuit and other provisions -sufficient to last until they reached Uncle Joe's; while the boys -busied themselves in cleaning their guns, sharpening their knives and -axes, and getting every thing ready for the start. - -Time seemed to move on laggard wings, so impatient were they to be -off; but Monday morning came at length, and the boys were stirring -long before daylight. As soon as they had eaten breakfast, the sled -was brought out of the shop, and their baggage--which consisted of a -change of clothes, blankets, ammunition, axes, and provisions--was -strapped on securely. Just as they completed their preparations, -George and Harry came along. Bidding Mrs. Nelson and Julia good-by, -they all started off; and, after a hard day's tramp, encamped at the -place where we now find them. - -After they had finished carrying their baggage into the hut, a lively -scene was presented. Harry sat before the fire, cutting a pair of -leggins out of a finely-dressed deer-skin, which he had spread on the -floor of the hut; George was engaged in arranging their beds; Archie -was in front of the hut, chopping the evening's supply of fire-wood; -and Frank was superintending the cooking of their supper. The dogs lay -stretched out on a blanket, enjoying a quiet nap. - -"There," said Archie, at length, leaning on his ax, and surveying the -pile of wood he had cut; "I guess that will last us through the -night." - -"Yes, that's a plenty," said Frank. "Come, boys, supper is ready!" - -Archie accordingly entered the hut, and, after depositing his ax in a -corner, picked out a warm place by the fire, and commenced helping -himself to the eatables. The meal consisted of squirrels, which had -been roasted on spits before the fire, coffee, and bread and butter. -Their long tramp--they had made about twenty miles since morning--had -sharpened their appetites, and the supper rapidly disappeared. But -there was enough left for the dogs, and after they had been -bountifully fed, and the supper dishes washed, the boys stretched -themselves out on their blankets before the fire. Each seemed to be -occupied with his own thoughts. The sifting of the snow over the roof -of the hut, the crackling of the fire, and an occasional howl of a -wolf, were the only sounds that broke the stillness. At length, Harry -said: - -"Now, boys, this is the kind of a life I enjoy. Doesn't it make a -fellow feel comfortable, to lie here and listen to the storm, and know -that he is securely sheltered? For my part, I don't see how a person -can live cooped up in a city all his life." - -"It is a difficult matter," answered Archie; "for I have tried it, and -profess to know something about it. How many times I have sat in -school, when I had a hard lesson to get, and looked out of the window, -and wished that I was off in the woods somewhere!" - -"Well, you're here at last," said George; "but the only way to pass a -long winter evening is in listening to a good story. Come, Frank, give -us one." - -"Yes," chimed in Harry, "give us something exciting." - -"A hunting adventure," said Archie, "or a fight with the Indians." - -"O, you will hear plenty of such stories when we get to Uncle Joe's," -said Frank. "But I will tell you of an adventure which happened to my -uncle, who was a young lawyer at the time, settled in St. Louis;" and -Frank, after rearranging his blanket commenced as follows: - - - - -CHAPTER II. - -An Unpleasant Companion. - - -"It was one bright evening, in the fall of 18--," said my uncle, "while -I was traveling on horseback through the northern part of Missouri, -that I reined up before a pleasant little tavern, where I purposed to -stop for the night. The landlord, a bustling little Englishman, soon -had supper ready for me, and as I had not eaten a mouthful since -morning, I sat down to it with a most ravenous appetite, and ate until -I began to feel ashamed of myself, and finally stopped, not because I -was satisfied, but because I had eaten every thing on the table, and -did not wish to call for more. As I was rising from the table, the -hostler entered the room, and said: - -"'What be the matter with your 'orse, sir? He be so lame he can 'ardly -walk?' - -"'The matter with my horse!' I repeated; 'there was nothing the matter -with him when I gave him into your charge;' and, in no amiable mood, I -started for the stable. - -"My horse, which was the gift of a deceased friend, was one of the -finest animals I ever saw. I had owned him for more than six years, -during which he had been my almost constant companion; and as I had -neither wife nor child to love, it is no wonder that my affections -clustered around him. I found that he was indeed lame; one of his legs -was swollen to twice its usual size, and it was with great difficulty -that he could move. I was for some time entirely at a loss how to -account for it, and felt very much like giving the hostler, who stood -at a little distance, eyeing me as though he expected a kicking, a -piece of my mind, when I happened to remember that, as I was that -afternoon descending a steep hill, my horse had stepped upon a rolling -stone, and almost thrown me from the saddle; and I noticed that he -limped a little afterward; but I thought it was nothing serious, and -had almost forgotten the circumstance. This I explained, in a few -words, to the hostler, who drew a long breath, as if a mighty load -had been removed from his breast. After rubbing the animal's leg with -some liniment, which I had brought with me, I saw him plentifully fed -and bedded down, and returned to the tavern. After spending an hour -listening to the 'yarns' of the occupants of the bar-room, I went up -to bed, and was soon fast asleep. Near the middle of the night, I was -aroused by loud voices under my window; and, as soon as I was fairly -awake, I found that something unusual was going on. The shrill, -frightened voices of the females mingled with the hoarse ejaculations -of the men, and every thing appeared to be in the greatest confusion. -I sprang out of bed, and after hastily drawing on my clothes, ran down -into the bar-room. - -"'What's the matter, landlord?' I inquired of my host, as he hurried -by me, pale and almost breathless with excitement. - -"'Matter!' he repeated. 'Come and see. Giles Barlow has been around -again, and there is one poor fellow less in the world, I'm afraid.' - -"He led the way to a small bed-room, which opened off the bar-room, -where I found several persons crowded around a bed, on which lay the -form of a man, and a surgeon was engaged in bandaging an ugly-looking -wound, which he had received in his breast. As soon as the operation -was completed, he informed us, in reply to an inquiry of one of the -bystanders, that the wound was dangerous, but that by careful nursing -the man might recover; and ended by requesting us to leave the room, -as much depended on his being kept quiet. We moved back into the -bar-room, and I inquired of one of the men who Giles Barlow was. - -"'Why, don't you know?' he asked, in surprise. 'I thought everybody -had heard of him! I guess you are a stranger in these parts, ain't -you?' - -"I replied in the affirmative. - -"'You must live a good piece from here,' said the man, 'or you would -certainly have heard of Giles Barlow. He is a highwayman, that has -been about here for almost ten years, murdering folks and stealing -their money. He goes on the principle that "dead men tell no tales."' - -"'Why haven't you arrested him before this time?' I inquired. - -"'O, yes,' answered the man, 'that's all easy enough to talk about. -Haven't we tried that game? We've hunted him with rifles, and tracked -him with blood-hounds, but you might as well try to catch a -will-o'-the-wisp.' - -"'What sort of a looking man is he?' I asked. - -"'He's a small man,' answered my informant, 'and looks like a dried-up -mullen-stalk. But, the Lord love you, he's quick as lightning, and -he's got an eye that can look right through a common man. And such -hair! It is long and curly, and looks like snakes stuck on his head. -I've seen him once, and I never want to meet him alone in the woods, -now, I tell you.' - -"I felt some curiosity to know something more of this noted robber, -but before I could ask another question the man had walked away, -shrugging his shoulders, and joined a group of his companions, who -stood in one corner of the room, talking over the matter. - -"After the exciting scenes through which I had just passed, sleep was -of course out of the question; and I stretched myself out on a bench -by the fireplace, and waited impatiently for the morning. It came at -length, and, as was my usual custom, I hurried out to the stable to -look after my horse. I found him much better, but his leg was still -swollen, and I knew that he would not be in good traveling condition -for at least a week. - -"'Landlord,' I exclaimed, as I entered the bar-room, 'where can I hire -a horse for two or three days? I must be in Bennington by day after -to-morrow, and my horse is too lame to travel.' - -"'Well,' said the landlord, 'you are in a nice fix. I don't believe -there is a horse about here you can get.' - -"'I must have one,' I answered, 'for I must be in Bennington as soon -as possible.' - -"'Well, I'll see what I can do for you,' said the landlord, and, going -to the door, he shouted to the hostler, who stood in the stable, -rubbing down my horse, 'Tom, go over to Bill Parker's and see if you -can get his mare. Tell him there's a gentleman here who wants to hire -her for two or three days.' - -"Tom started off immediately, but soon returned with the information -that Mr. Parker had gone off into the country to buy cattle, and would -not return in less than a week. - -"What should I do? I had an important case to attend to in Bennington, -and must be there in time. I was about making up my mind that I would -start off on foot, when the landlord suddenly exclaimed: - -"'I'll tell you what you can do. This creek' (pointing to a wide, deep -stream which flowed by a little distance from the tavern) 'runs within -half a mile of where you want to go; and I guess you might hire Jim -Hilton's boat.' - -"Mr. Hilton's dwelling was pointed out to me, and, in a few moments, I -found my man chopping wood in the yard. I made known my wants. After -rolling his quid about in his mouth, he concluded to let me have the -boat, or rather dugout, provided I would 'do the fair thing' by him. -To this I readily agreed. After giving emphatic directions as to the -treatment of my horse, I stepped into the canoe, and was soon out of -sight of the tavern. I used my paddle with a will, and made good -headway. When I became weary, I would cease paddling, and allow the -canoe to glide along with the current, giving only an occasional -stroke to direct its course. - -"About noon, I began to grow hungry, and turned the canoe's head -toward the shore, to eat my dinner and rest myself, for I had become -very tired from the cramped position in which I was obliged to sit. In -about an hour I made preparations to continue my journey, and was -about pushing the canoe from the shore, when a strong, cheery voice -called out: - -"'Hallo, friend! whither bound?' - -"I looked up, and saw a man, dressed in the garb of a hunter, standing -on the bank above me, leaning on his rifle. - -"'I am going to Bennington,' I replied. - -"'Are you? That's lucky. I am traveling in the same direction. Would -you have any objections to good company?' - -"'No sir,' I replied. 'Come on.' - -"The hunter came down the bank; depositing his rifle and knapsack -carefully in the bow of the canoe, he took up one of the paddles, and -we pulled from the shore. As soon as we got out into the current, I -turned, with some casual remark, to take a nearer look at my -passenger. Merciful Heaven! how I started! He was a small man, -considerably below the medium hight, very slim, but well formed, and -wiry as an eel, and the enormous muscles on his limbs showed plainly -with every motion he made. But his eye! How it flashed! and when he -turned it on me I felt as though he were reading my very thoughts. And -then there were the long 'snaky' ringlets, which the man at the tavern -had described to me. My companion was none other than Giles Barlow, -the highwayman and murderer. - -"You may be sure I was not very well pleased with this discovery, and -the cold sweat started out from every pore of my body; still I did not -feel afraid, for I was accustomed to scenes of danger, was well armed, -and had the reputation of being a tough customer to handle. But the -situation in which I was placed would have tried stronger nerves than -mine. I thrust my hand into my pocket, and felt that my revolvers were -safe. I concluded that, if the worst came to the worst, I could at -least have two pulls at him before he could reach me; and, as I was a -good shot, I had little fear of missing my mark. - -"My companion was a very jolly fellow, and joked and laughed as though -he felt extremely happy, and I, of course, joined with him, keeping a -close watch on all his movements. - -"The afternoon wore slowly away, and as it began to grow dark, I -became doubly watchful, for I knew that if he intended to make an -attempt upon my life, the time was approaching. About nine o'clock my -companion suddenly said, as he wound up one of his stories: - -"'There's no need of both of us sitting up. It's a good forty miles to -Bennington, and we shan't reach it before morning.' - -"'Very well,' said I, 'you may go to sleep first, and I will call you -at midnight.' - -"'O, no,' said he, 'I'm not in the least sleepy; I will steer the -canoe, and you can lie down here in the bow, and sleep as long as you -like.' - -"Of course it would not answer for me to raise any objections to this, -for I knew it would arouse his suspicions; so we changed places, and -the highwayman took his seat in the stern of the canoe. After wrapping -my cloak around me, and placing myself so that I could see every -motion he made, I drew one of my revolvers, and waited impatiently to -see what course things would take. - -"For almost an hour my companion steered the boat very well, and I -began to think that perhaps I had been mistaken in my man, when I saw -him carefully draw in his paddle, muttering, as he did so: - -"'Ah, my chicken, you little thought that you had Giles Barlow for a -passenger. I'll just quietly douse your glim, and take what money and -other little valuables you may have, to pay your traveling expenses to -the other world.' - -"As he spoke, he bent over and drew out of his knapsack a long, -shining bowie-knife, and, after trying its edge with his thumb, rose -slowly to his feet. In an instant, I threw aside my cloak, and, -supporting myself on my elbow, I raised my revolver, and took a quick, -steady aim at his breast. He uttered a cry of surprise, but without -hesitating a moment, threw himself forward. But the sharp report of -the revolver echoed through the woods, and the robber sank back into -the canoe, dead. - -"I arrived at Bennington the next morning about ten o'clock, and -delivered the body to the authorities. The news spread like wildfire, -for the name of Giles Barlow was as familiar as a household word. - -"I prosecuted my case with success, and, in a week, returned to the -place where I had left my horse. He had received excellent care, and -was entirely cured of his lameness; but the landlord stubbornly -refused any remuneration. He had heard of my exploit, and that was his -way of showing his gratitude." - - - - -CHAPTER III. - -An Indian Hunt. - - -The next morning, a little after daylight, Frank awoke, and, raising -himself on his elbow, he gazed about him. The storm had ceased, and -the morning was clear and intensely cold. The fire, however, still -burned brightly, for the boys had replenished it several times during -the night. His companions, comfortably wrapped up in their thick -blankets, were sleeping soundly; but Frank thought it was high time -they were stirring, for they had a good twenty miles to travel that -day; so, reaching over, he seized Archie by the shoulder and shook -him. The long tramp of the previous day had wearied the boys -considerably; but with several hearty shakes, Frank succeeded in -getting them all on their feet; then, after washing his hands and -face in the snow, he commenced to prepare their breakfast. - -After a good deal of yawning and stretching, the others began to -bestir themselves; and while Archie cut a supply of wood, with which -to cook their breakfast, George and Harry busied themselves in packing -their baggage on the sleds. As soon as they had eaten breakfast, they -put out the fire, and renewed their journey. - -The traveling was much more difficult than it had been the day before, -for the snow was piled on the ice in deep drifts, and it was dark -before they reached Uncle Joe's cabin. - -As they approached, they were welcomed by the old trapper's dogs, and -Uncle Joe finally appeared at the door. - -"Get out, you whelps!" he exclaimed. "Who's that a comin' there?" he -continued, trying to peer through the darkness. - -"Friends," answered Frank. - -"Jeroomagoot!" ejaculated the old man, who recognized Frank's voice. -"What are you boys doin' out in these woods this time o' night? Come -in--glad to see you any how," and Uncle Joe seized their hands as -they came up, and shook them heartily. "What have you got on them -sleds--your plunder?" - -"Yes," answered Archie. "That's a new way we have got of carrying our -baggage." - -"Fetch it right into the house then, boys;" and, suiting the action to -the word, Uncle Joe seized the sleds and pulled them into the cabin. - -"Bars and buffalers!" exclaimed a voice, as the boys entered. "How de -do youngsters?" and a tall, powerfully built man arose from his chair, -and, striding across the floor, approached the boys. It was Dick -Lewis--Uncle Joe's brother. - -He was a fine specimen of a North American trapper; fully six feet in -hight, with a frame that seemed capable of enduring any amount of -fatigue. Thirty years among savage beasts, and still more savage men, -had brought him in contact with almost every variety of danger. He had -hunted and trapped on every little stream between the Rio Grande and -the Great Bear Lake; had taken more than one rough-and-tumble fight -with Rocky Mountain grizzlies; was very expert with the rifle; could -throw the tomahawk with all the skill of an Indian; and could lasso -and ride the wildest horse that ever roamed the prairie. - -He was a good-natured, jovial fellow, and when stretched out on his -blanket before the cheerful camp-fire, no one delighted more to tell -stories and crack jokes than he. He used to say that there was but one -thing in the world he hated, and that was an Indian. And good cause -had he for enmity; for, if the prairie and the deep, dark woods could -speak, they could tell of many a deed of cruelty which he had seen -practiced upon the unoffending trappers. - -Dick had three times been bound to the stake, once when a mere boy, -and had escaped by making use of his prodigious strength, and almost -incredible swiftness of foot, which had won for him, from the Indians, -the appellation of Big Thunder. - -Of all the trappers, none was more active in punishing the Indians, or -more hated and feared than he. One night, mounted on a powerful, -well-trained mustang, he would appear, in spite of their vigilance, in -their very midst, picking off their favorite chiefs, or "stampeding" -their swiftest horses; and the next morning a warrior, seated at his -solitary camp-fire, fifty miles away, would be startled by the crack -of the rifle that was to start his spirit on its way to the happy -hunting-grounds. He seemed to delight in danger, and being perfectly -acquainted with the Indian mode of warfare, he eluded all the plans to -capture him, with the same skill and cunning he would exhibit in -laying his own. But he did not always escape unhurt, for many an ugly -scar on his body bore evidence to the valor of his enemies, and the -severity of the struggles in which he had engaged. He did not call -Uncle Joe's his home. He had lived on the prairie, and among the -mountains, from boyhood, and despising the ordinary modes of -conveyance used by more enlightened men, he had traveled the entire -distance, from the head-waters of the Missouri to his brother's cabin, -on foot. - -"How are you, youngsters? I say," he exclaimed, continuing his -greeting, which we have so unceremoniously interrupted; and he seized -Frank's hand, and gave it a gripe and a shake, which he felt for a -quarter of an hour afterward. - -"Draw a cheer up to the fire, young'uns," said Uncle Joe, "an' set -down." - -The boys were well acquainted with the trappers, and always made -themselves quite at home with them; so, after brushing the snow from -their feet, they pulled off their overcoats and seated themselves -before the huge fireplace. The cabin--or, as Uncle Joe called it, -"shantee"--was built in the most primitive style, having but one room -and a "loft," to which access was obtained by a ladder. There were -four beds in the room--rude-looking, indeed, but very clean, and -abundantly supplied with quilts and blankets; while around on the -walls hung the trappers' rifles, hunting-knives, and powder-horns. -Three large dogs lay stretched out before the fireplace, and one of -them, a huge, powerful animal, was the only companion Dick had had for -three years. He was an ungainly looking animal, but his strength and -courage had been severely tested in many a desperate encounter, and -twice he had saved his master's life. No wonder, then, that he held a -prominent place in the trapper's affections. The only other inmates of -the cabin were the four hired men--tall, brawny fellows, who despised -the city, with its "eternal jostlings and monotonous noises," but -delighted in the freedom and solitude of the forest. - -"Had any supper, youngsters?" inquired Uncle Joe, as the boys drew -their chairs up to the fire. "No, I reckon not," he continued, without -giving them time to reply. "Bob, just fetch out some grub. I'll bet -the boys are as hungry as wolves, after their long tramp." - -The boys did not raise any objections, for they _were_ hungry, and -they knew that the supper they would get would be worth having. - -Bob, who was one of the hired men, began to bustle about, and, after -hanging the tea-kettle over the fire, he drew out a pine table, and -covered it with a snow-white cloth, and dishes which shone in the -fire-light in a manner that would have delighted a New England -housewife. Then came ham and eggs, which, with the coffee, were cooked -in the fireplace, wheat-bread, honey, and fresh butter and milk. -Although they were forty miles from any settlement or neighbor, in the -midst of an almost unbroken forest, there was no danger but what they -would fare well, for Uncle Joe was famous for good living. - -The boys ate very heartily, and Uncle Joe sat by, smoking his pipe, -and watching them with evident satisfaction. After supper, while they -were engaged in unpacking their sleds, Dick's dog, which answered to -the name of Useless, arose suddenly to his feet, looked toward the -door for a moment, and uttered a dismal howl. - -"Injuns ag'in, by all that's miserable," ejaculated Dick, removing his -pipe from his mouth, and instinctively reaching toward his rifle, -which hung on the wall above his head; but instantly recollecting -himself, he resumed his former position, while a dark scowl settled on -his face. In a few moments, light steps sounded in the snow outside -the cabin, and Useless bounded toward the door barking, and showing -his teeth, with every demonstration of rage. - -"Come back here, dog," said Dick; "I don't blame you, 'cause they are -a mean, thievin' race. The animal understands their natur' as well as -I do," he continued, as the dog reluctantly returned to his place. "Me -an' him war brought up to hate Injuns, an' we believe in makin' war on -'em wherever we find 'em. It's a mighty wonder that they don't steal -Joe out o' house an' home." - -The country around Moosehead Lake was inhabited by the remnant of a -once-powerful tribe, and the Indians, in going to and from the -settlements to dispose of their furs, frequently made Uncle Joe's -cabin a stopping-place. Dick was not at all pleased with this state of -affairs; but, as he often remarked, he was not "boss of the shantee, -and couldn't help himself." - -The footsteps drew nearer, and finally the door opened softly, and two -Indians entered. - -"How are you, Jim," exclaimed Uncle Joe, shaking the outstretched hand -of the foremost. - -"How de do, brother," replied the Indian, in imperfect English; and -this was all the greeting that passed between them. They deposited -their rifles and packs carefully in one corner of the cabin, and then -advanced to the fire, and seated themselves on the floor without -saying a word. They were dressed in the regular Indian costume, with -leggins, moccasins, and hunting-shirts of the finest deer-skin, -gaudily ornamented, and wore knives in their belts. Such sights were -not new to the boys, for Lawrence was a regular Indian trading-post. -Frank thought that he had never seen such fine specimens of savages -before. But different thoughts seemed to be passing through Dick's -mind, for he twisted uneasily in his chair, and smoked and scowled -more vigorously than ever. Useless seated himself by his master's -side, and watched them as closely as a cat ever watched a mouse, now -and then uttering a low, angry growl. Neither of the Indians took part -in the conversation that followed, but, after emptying their pipes, -they spread their blankets out on the floor, and were fast asleep in a -few moments. - -"I don't see what in tarnation you let them ar painted heathen camp in -your shantee in this way for," said Dick, at length, addressing -himself to his brother. "The woods are open, an' they won't ketch cold -by sleepin' out-doors." - -"O, I don't mind it," answered Uncle Joe. "Me an' the Injuns allers -have been on good terms together." - -"Wal, you'll wake up some mornin' an' find your shantee gone," said -Dick, "unless it is fastened down tarnation tight. I hate the rascals -wusser nor pisen, an' I allers ache to begin a knock-down-an'-drag-out -fight with 'em whenever I see 'em. Now, Useless," he continued, -turning to his dog, and speaking as though the animal could understand -every word he said, "I'm goin' to bed, an' I want you to keep an eye -on them fellers;" and Dick stretched his heavy frame out on one of -the beds, while Useless crawled under the blankets, and lay down -beside him. The others soon followed his example, and, in a few -moments, nothing was heard in the cabin but the regular breathing of -the sleepers. - -The next morning the boys slept later than usual. When they awoke, -they found Bob engaged in getting breakfast. The Indians had gone. -According to their usual custom, they had resumed their journey at the -first peep of day. Dick sat by the fire, engaged in looking over his -"plunder," as he called it, to see if any thing had been stolen. - -"Wal," said Uncle Joe, as they arose from the breakfast-table, "what -do you youngsters kalkerlate to do first?" - -"Let's go and set our traps for foxes," said Archie, who was -particularly fond of hunting that kind of game, and had become quite -proficient in the art. - -"Wal," said Dick, "I'll go with you. I have some traps that need -'tendin' to;" and the trapper took down his long rifle and thrust his -never-failing pipe into his pocket, and was ready for the start. - -Archie began to overhaul his traps, which had been piled in one corner -of the cabin. He looked them over and over several times, and finally -inquired: - -"Frank, do you know what has become of all my fox traps? Three of them -are missing." - -"They ought to be in that pile with the others," answered Frank. - -"There are only two of them here," said Archie. "My best ones are -gone; I'm afraid we have lost them. They must have got loose, and -tumbled off the sled." - -"No, I guess not," said his cousin; "they were all there last night, -for I counted them." - -"That ar is what comes of allowin' them Injuns to camp here," said -Dick. - -"Jeroomagoot!" ejaculated Uncle Joe. "You don't s'pose them Injuns -stole the traps, do you?" - -"Sartin, I do," answered Dick, dropping the butt of his rifle heavily -to the floor. "I don't s'pose nothin' else." - -"Wal, it's the first thing I ever had stole," said Uncle Joe. - -"Thar's whar the traps have gone to, any how," said Dick. "Useless," -he continued, turning to his dog, "you aint worth a pinch o' -gunpowder. I told you to watch them fellers. I don't see how the -rascals could do it, for if Useless had seed one of 'em prowlin' -around, he would have muzzled him quicker nor lightnin'. If you want -your traps, youngsters, you'll have to foller them Injuns. I'll go -with you." - -"Will you," exclaimed Archie. "Then, let's start right off." - -"Wal, then," said the trapper, "pull off them overcoats, 'cause it -'ill be the hardest job you ever done to ketch them Injuns." - -There was something novel and exciting in the idea of a chase after -Indians. The boys had often read of such things, and now there was an -opportunity for them to take part in one. They were soon ready for the -chase. Shouldering their guns, they followed Dick from the cabin, and -immediately set out on the trail of the Indians, which could be easily -followed by the prints of their moccasins in the snow. All the dogs -were left at home, except Useless; for he was the only one that -understood "Injun hunting," and the others would only be in the way. -The trail ran directly down to the creek, and as soon as they were -fairly on the ice, the trapper broke into a "dog trot," and the boys -followed close behind him, in Indian file. After going a little way, -Frank said: - -"Dick, I don't believe that both of those Indians went this way." - -"Why not?" inquired the trapper. - -"Because there is only a single track, such as one person would make." - -"I guess you haven't hunted Injuns much," said Dick, with a laugh. -"Don't you know that when they are travelin', the hindermost ones step -exactly in the leader's tracks? If fifty Injuns had been along here, -they would not have left a bigger trail nor those two have. But arter -you have hunted and fit 'em as much as I have, you could tell by -lookin' at a trail how many there was in the party. I hope you -youngsters are good at runnin'." - -"We should not care about running a race with you," answered George; -"but if you will hold this gait, we will agree to keep up with you." - -"O, you'll have to go faster nor this, if you want to ketch them -Injuns," said Dick. "See here--here's where the rascals began to run." - -"How can you tell?" inquired Archie. - -"Why, easy enough. You see the tracks are further apart nor they wur a -little piece back. Come, youngsters! let out a little." - -The boys thought that Dick "let out" a good deal, for he almost -redoubled his pace, and they concluded it was best to discontinue -their talking; for they soon found that they had no breath to waste. -After they had gone about two miles, the trail led them from the creek -off into the woods; and, in a few moments, the trapper came to a -stand-still on the bank of a small stream, where the trail abruptly -ended. - -"Where did they go to?" inquired Frank, after he had looked in vain -for the trail. "They couldn't have jumped across the creek." - -"No;" answered the trapper, "that would be a better jump nor I ever -saw made. We must go back." - -"What for?" asked George. - -"Why, the thieves knowed that we would foller 'em, an' they have -doubled on their trail, just like a fox." - -"The tracks all point the same way," said Frank, stooping down and -examining the trail. - -"In course they do," said Dick. "You don't s'pose you can tell by the -looks of a red-skin's track which way he is goin', do you? I have -knowed 'em to travel backward for more 'n a mile, to throw their -enemies off the scent. But we hain't got no time to waste. Come on." - -The boys followed the trapper back to the creek, and he immediately -started off again at a rapid pace. There was not the least sign of a -trail, and they were at a loss how to account for the trapper's -reasons for following the creek, when he knew that the trail ran back -into the woods. At length he said, by way of explanation: - -"This is takin' a short cut on the Injuns. You see, they went back -into the woods, an' doubled an' twisted about on their trail, an' when -they think they have fooled us nicely, they will come back to the -creek again." - -The next two miles were passed over in silence. The boys could not -have talked if they had wished to, for the rapid pace was telling on -them severely, and they began to think that they had never known what -running was. But the trapper did not seem to mind it in the least. His -motions were easy and graceful, and he appeared to move along without -making any exertion whatever. They ran until almost noon, without -seeing any signs of the Indians, and the boys began to think that the -trapper had been mistaken in his calculations. But their doubts were -soon removed by the finding of the trail. - -"Hurry on now, youngsters," exclaimed Dick; "but don't make too much -noise, for the redskins aint far off." - -And so it proved; for the next bend in the creek brought them in sight -of the Indians, who were walking leisurely along, with their packs on -their backs, thinking, no doubt, that they had effectually eluded -pursuit. But they soon became aware of the approach of the hunters, -and, without stopping to look back, they commenced running at the top -of their speed. - -"Bars an' buffalers!" exclaimed the trapper. "This is somethin' like -ole times. Now, youngsters, I'll show you some runnin' as is runnin'. -Come, Useless, show us what you're made of." - -The dog seemed to understand him perfectly, and was off on the -instant, and the trapper followed after him at a rate of speed which -the boys had never expected to see accomplished by a human being. The -creek, for almost a mile, was perfectly straight, and afforded them a -fine view of the race, which was worth going miles to see. The Indians -were no inferior runners; and, as they had nearly three hundred yards -the start of Dick, the boys were doubtful as to the manner in which -the chase would end. But the trapper had lost none of that lightness -of foot which had rendered him so famous, both among friends and foes, -and before they had gone half a mile, he was near enough to seize one -of the Indians, while Useless pulled down the other as though he had -been a deer. - -The boys had been doing their best; but, of course, were left far -behind; and when they came up they found the Indians standing as -motionless as statues, apparently perfectly unconcerned, and the -trapper and his dog were keeping guard over them. - -"Now, little 'un," said Dick, addressing himself to Archie, and -pointing to the packs which the Indians had thrown down, "look in -them ar bundles an' see if you can find your traps." - -Archie accordingly handed his gun to his cousin, and, kneeling down in -the snow, opened one of the packs, when the first thing he discovered -was his missing property. He arose slowly to his feet, and surveying -the Indian to whom the pack belonged, with a comical expression on his -face, said: - -"You're a grand rascal. I've a good notion to take the ramrod out of -my gun and give you a good trouncing." - -The Indian was a man fully as large as Dick, very powerfully built, -and muscular; while Archie was a little, "spindle-shanked" fellow, -very small for his age, and looked as though he were in danger of -being carried away by the first gust of wind that passed. The former, -after regarding the diminutive hunter for a moment, with an expression -of contempt, drew himself up to his full hight, and ejaculated: - -"Ugh! me big Injun." - -He, no doubt, considered it a gross insult that a person of Archie's -proportions should talk of "trouncing" him. - -"Wal," said the trapper, "we're done with you, you painted niggers; -travel on about your business; but I wouldn't advise you to cross my -trail, in these woods, this winter;" and Dick tapped his rifle in a -very significant manner. - -The savages raised their packs to their shoulders without making any -reply, and walked off as though nothing had happened. As soon as they -were out of sight, Archie packed up his traps, and the hunters turned -their faces homeward. - - - - -CHAPTER IV. - -THE "OLE SETTLER". - - -It was dark before they reached the cabin, but they found a good -supper waiting for them. After they had eaten heartily, they drew -their chairs up around the fireplace, and Uncle Joe inquired: - -"Wal, youngsters, how do you like Injun-huntin'?" - -"I don't believe we like it well enough to try it again," said Harry. -"I never was so completely tired out in my life." - -"O, that wasn't nothin' at all," said Dick. "Such Injun-huntin' as -that we had to-day is fun. What would you have thought if we had -follered them thieves for a week afore we found 'em? But, I must say, -that you youngsters done very well. I'll own up, that when we -started, I thought I would see what sort o' stuff you wur made of; an' -I thought I'd stretch your legs for you in a way that would make you -give in. But you fellers are purty good shakes at runnin', for boys of -your age. But this reminds me o' a scrape I onct had near the Colorado -River. Do yer see this? If you can ketch as many grizzly bars in your -lifetime as this trap has, you are smarter nor I think you are. This -is what I call the 'Ole Settler!'" - -And, as the trapper spoke, he raised from the floor the object of his -admiration, and held it up to the view of the boys. It was an ordinary -bear-trap, with double springs, and huge jaws, which were armed with -long, sharp teeth. It had received a thorough rubbing and greasing, -and shone in the fire-light like silver; but, after all, there was -nothing uncommon in its appearance. There were plenty of traps in the -cabin that were quite as well made, and could, probably, do quite as -much execution. In the trapper's mind, however, the "Ole Settler" was -evidently associated with some exciting event. - -"The reason why I call this trap the 'Ole Settler'" continued Dick, -"is, 'cause it has been in the service so long. My gran'father bought -it, when he war only a boy, of a Mexikin trader, an' he give two -ten-dollar bar-skins for it. When he got too ole to trap, he give it -to my father, an' he give it to me. It has been stole from me a good -many times; but I allers made out to get it back agin. Onct a -yaller-hided Mexikin Greaser bagged it, an' I didn't set eyes on it -for more 'n a year; but I knowed it in a minit when I did see it; an', -arter a little brush with the Greaser, I made him give it up. The last -time I lost it war while I war trappin' in Utah. It war stole from me -by a Blackfoot Injun; and the way it happened war this: - -"I allers had the name of bein' able to bring into market jest as -many an' jest as fine furs as any trapper in the mountains. But I -had a good many good trappers to go agin, and arter awhile my -huntin'-grounds begun to give out; so, one summer, I packed my -plunder, an' moved to the west side of the mountains. I war right in -the heart of the Pawnee region, the wust Injun country in the world; -but I kalkerlated to get all my trappin' done arly in the spring, an' -move out; 'cause as soon as the ice breaks up in the spring, the -red-skins allers come round on a grand hunt, an' I didn't care to have -the rascals near me. I never yet see the Injun that I war afeared of, -but it's mighty onpleasant to have them around; they go screechin' -through the woods, shootin' at a feller, when he can't see 'em, an' -steal his traps an' other plunder in a mighty onfriendly way. - -"Wal, in less than a week arter I got to my new quarters, I war -settled. I had all my traps sot in the best places, an' had mighty -good luck. The streams war full of beaver, otter, an' mink, an' I used -to have a fight with the grizzlies in the mountains every day. In this -way the winter passed; an' about the time that spring come, I had -well-nigh trapped every thing in the valley. It war gettin' about time -for the Injuns to come round on their reg'lar hunts; so one mornin,' -arter a good breakfast on buffaler hump, I started out an' begun to -gather up my traps. A'most every one had some kind o' game in it, an' -I soon got as big a load as I could wag under. So I started back for -camp. I war goin' along mighty keerless like, an' wasn't thinkin' o' -nothin', when all to onct I seed something that made me prick up my -ears, an' step a little lighter. I see that something had been -passin' through the bushes. You, in course, wouldn't have noticed it, -but I knowed in a minit that an Injun had been along; an', arter -lookin' around a little, I found his track. It wasn't a Pawnee; but, -arter examinin' the trail, I found that it war a Blackfoot. What one -of them should be doin' so far from home I didn't know, but most -likely he war layin' around for scalps. - -"'Wal,' thinks I, 'Dick Lewis, you had better be lookin' out for them -traps o' yourn;' so I hid my spelter in the bushes, an' started up -toward the mountains. I had sot the Ole Settler the day before, to -ketch a grizzly that had been botherin' me a good deal, an' I war -afeared the Injun would come acrost it an' bag it. I saw plenty of -Injun signs all the way, but the tracks had all been made by the same -feller. I could see, by the way the rascal had moved, that he knowed I -war in the valley; for he took mighty good care to cover up his trail -as much as possible. Arter a few minits' walk, I come to the place -where I had set the Ole Settler; but, just as I had expected, the trap -war gone. The Blackfoot had been there afore me, an' I knowed that if -I wanted my trap, I must look for it; an' I made up my mind that I -did want it, an' that I would have it, if I had to foller the Injun -clar to his home. So I started arter him, an', for a mile or so, the -trail was toler'ble plain, an' I got along first-rate. I made up my -mind that if the thief got away from me he would have to be smarter -nor I thought he war. But, at last, I come to where he had tuk to a -swamp, an' two or three times I come mighty nigh losin' the trail. The -swamp war full o' logs, an' the Injun had walked on them, an', in -course, he didn't leave no trail. I follered him more 'n a mile by the -marks on the bushes, an' finally I couldn't see a single sign. There -war the print of one of his moccasins in the mud as plain as daylight; -an' there the trail ended. I couldn't tell which way the rascal had -gone. I looked around, examinin' every bush an' twig, but it war no -use. Now, I s'pose you think I war beat at the Injun's own game, don't -you? Wal, I wasn't. In course, I couldn't find the trail in the swamp; -but I knowed which way the Blackfoot war goin', an' if I crossed the -swamp, I knowed that I would find it on the other side. So I started -out, an' as it war gettin' late, I wanted to find the trail agin -afore dark. I guess I made purty good time. I done my best, an' the -way I got through that swamp war a thing to look at. The runnin' you -see to-day wasn't a patchin' to the runnin' I done that night. But I -tuk mighty good care to keep my ears open, an' to make no more noise -than I could help; for, just as like as not, there war Injuns in the -swamp, an' one of 'em might take it into his head to send a chunk of -lead into me when I couldn't see him. - -"About an hour afore dark, I reached the other side of the swamp; an' -in less nor ten minits more I had found the trail, and wur follerin' -it up as fast as my legs could carry me. But afore I had gone a mile -it begun to grow dark. In course, I couldn't foller the trail no -further; an' the only thing I could do, war to camp down where I war, -an' wait for daylight. So, arter makin' my supper out o' parched corn, -I picked out a nice place by the side of a log, and settled myself -down to sleep. - -"The next mornin', bright and arly, I war up, an' on the trail agin. I -follered it all day, without onct stoppin' or losin' sight of it, an' -about night it begun to grow fresher; but it came on dark agin, and I -had to camp. Long about midnight I heerd a sort of rustlin' like in -the bushes. I war wide awake in a minit; for a feller that lives in -the woods larns to keep his ears about him. I lifted my head an' -listened. Yes, thar war no mistake--I could hear something steppin' -keerfully over the leaves, an' I thought it war comin' right toward -me. At first I thought it war some wild varmint; but, as it come -nigher, I found that it war a two-legged critter; so I cocked my rifle -an' waited for the Injun--for I knowed by the step that it war a -red-skin--to come in sight. The steps sounded nigher an' nigher, an' -all to onct the bushes parted without any noise, an' out come the -biggest Blackfoot that it ever war my luck to set eyes on. He didn't -seem to know that me an' my rifle war around; if he had, I reckon it -wouldn't have made him feel very pleasant; but he walked past, within -ten foot of me, an' disappeared in the darkness. - -"Now, perhaps you would like to know why I didn't up and shoot him. -Wal, I'll tell you. That would have jest knocked the hul thing in the -head, an' I should have had all my trouble for nothin'. I knowed that -the Injun that stole my trap wasn't a great way off, and I knowed, -too, that the feller that jest passed war a sort of friend of his'n, -an' that they war goin' to meet somewhere in the woods close by. So I -thought that perhaps, if I took matters easy, I could rub out both of -the rascals. - -"As soon as the Injun wur out o' hearin', I picked myself up, an' -started along arter him, purty certain that before long I would come -in sight of their camp-fire; an' I wasn't mistaken I hadn't gone half -a mile afore I see a light shinin' through the trees; an' droppin' on -all-fours, I begun to crawl along through the bushes, until I come to -a place where I had a full view of the fire. As I had expected, there -war two Injuns settin' by it. One of them--the one that had just -passed me--war eaten' his supper, an' the other lay stretched out on -his blanket, and war showin' his friend the trap he had stole from me; -an' they war both laughin' over it, as though they thought it war a -mighty good joke. This kinder riled me, an' I knowed that I could soon -put an end to their skylarkin'. I might have shot one of them where he -sot easy enough, but that wouldn't do, for the other would have -escaped, an' I wanted to make sure of both of 'em. I wasn't fool -enough to think of walkin' into their camp an' tacklin' both of 'em to -onct; they would have made an end of me in the shake of a buck's tail. -The only way I could work it war to get 'em apart, an' take 'em one at -a time. So I dropped my rifle an' drawed my knife, an' gave two loud -yells, which war a signal to let the Injuns know that one of 'em war -wanted. They both sprang to their feet an' listened for a moment, an' -one of 'em--the one that had stole my trap--picked up his rifle and -come toward me; an' the other went on eatin' his supper. - -"I waited until the Injun had come within ten foot of me, then all to -onct I stepped out from behind my tree an' stood before him. Bar an' -buffaler! how the rascal started! He looked at me for a minit, as if -to make sure that I war a human critter, an' then, givin' an unarthly -yell, he dropped his rifle, an' made at me with his tomahawk. But I -met him half way, an' ketchin' hold of the hand that held the -tomahawk, I give him a stab with my knife that settled his business -for him. He fell to the ground like a log, an' I had hardly time to -grab my rifle afore I seed the big Injun comin' toward me. But he -hadn't made more'n two steps, afore a chunk of lead brought him to the -ground. - -"I then walked up to the camp, and stretched myself out on one of the -Injuns' blankets; and arter makin' a good supper on a piece of venison -I found hung up on a tree close by, I covered myself up, an' in a few -minits war fast asleep. - -"The next mornin' I war up bright an' arly, an' pickin' up my trap, -an' all the Injuns' plunder I wanted, I drew a bee-line for camp. In -another day I had gathered up all the rest of my traps, without seein' -any more Injun signs; but I knowed they would soon be around. As I -didn't care about bein' in their company, an' as game war gettin' -scarce, I tumbled all my spelter into my canoe, an' started down the -river." - - - - -CHAPTER V. - -The Fight in the Woods. - - -The next morning, after breakfast, the trapper took down his long -rifle, saying, as he did so: - -"Now, youngsters, I'm goin' off into the woods, about twenty mile or -so, to camp out for a week, an' see if I can't find some otter. If you -want good sport, you had better go, too. The game is gettin' too -scarce around here to suit me." - -The boys readily agreed to this proposal, and began to talk of packing -their sleds; but the trapper scouted the idea. - -"You'll never larn to be what I call woodsmen," said he, "until you -get rid of some of your city notions. You must larn to tote all your -plunder on your backs. Just fill your possible-sacks[1] with coffee -and bread; take plenty of powder an' shot, a change of clothes, an ax -or two, an' some blankets, and that's all you need." - -[Footnote 1: Haversack.] - -These simple preparations were soon completed, and, after bidding -Uncle Joe good-by, they set out, accompanied by their dogs. - -Dick carried the "Old Settler," and had his blanket strapped fast to -his belt. Frank and George each carried an ax. Archie had several of -his fox-traps, which he could not think of leaving behind; and Harry -brought up the rear, carrying a large bundle of blankets. Besides -these necessary articles, the boys carried their shot-guns, and the -trapper his long rifle. - -Dick led the way directly up the creek, following the same course they -had taken the day before in pursuit of the Indians, for about ten -miles, and then struck off into the woods. About noon they halted in a -little grove of evergreens, and the trapper said: - -"We'll camp here for awhile, youngsters, an' eat our dinner." - -The boys were very glad to hear this; for, strong and active as they -were, they found that they were no match for Dick in traveling. -Archie and George leaned their guns up against a tree, took the axes, -and commenced to clear away a place where they could build a fire. - -"Now," said the trapper, turning to the others, "we'll leave them here -to 'tend to the camp, an' make a good cup of coffee for us agin we -come back, an' the rest of us will take a tramp through the woods, an' -see what we can get for dinner. Take different directions now, so as -to scare up more game." - -The boys immediately set out as directed, each accompanied by his dog. -Brave ran on ahead of his master, beating about through the bushes, -but not a rabbit or squirrel showed himself. But Frank kept on, taking -good care to remember the points of the compass, determined that he -would not go back to the camp empty-handed. At length Brave's -well-known bark caused him to start forward at a more rapid pace, and -the next moment he heard some heavy animal crashing through the -underbrush, just in advance of him, at a tremendous rate. The woods -were so thick that Frank could not see the game, but the angry yelping -of the dog told him that it was being closely pursued. Guided by the -noise they made, he followed after them as fast as his legs could -carry him, keeping a sharp look-out on all sides, for he did not know -but that it might be a bear which the dog had started. He remembered -his meeting with the wild-cat, but felt no fear now, for he had his -trusty gun in his hand, heavily loaded with buck-shot, and knew, from -experience, that, at short range, it was a very efficient weapon. His -first care was to find the trail which the game had made, and, upon -examination, he found that Brave had started, not a bear, but several -moose. He knew their tracks in a moment, for he had often seen them in -the woods; but he could not tell how many of them there were, for -their trails crossed each other in every direction. He had never had -the fortune to meet one of these animals, and his feelings were worked -up to the highest pitch of excitement by the discovery. He started -forward again at the top of his speed. The rapid pace of the game soon -carried all sounds of the chase out of hearing; but Frank had no -difficulty in following the trail. He had run nearly a mile, when the -angry yelps of the dog sounded through the woods in fiercer and more -abrupt echoes. Frank hurried forward, and soon came in sight of the -game. The moose--a huge bull, with wide-spreading antlers--was -standing at bay, and the dog was bounding around him, watching an -opportunity to seize him, but was met at every point. Now and then the -moose would lower his head, and rush upon his enemy, but the latter -nimbly kept out of his way. - -Frank did not pause long to witness the battle, but immediately ran -forward, holding his gun in readiness for a shot. The moose, upon -discovering him, suddenly wheeled, and started off at a rapid trot. -The snow in that part of the woods was nearly three feet deep, and was -covered with a crust strong enough to sustain the hunter and his dog, -but the moose sank into it at every step, and his trail could be -easily traced by the blood which was running from numerous wounds on -his legs, made by the sharp crust. He ran heavily, and Frank, who was -exerting himself to his utmost, had the satisfaction of finding that -he was gaining on him. Brave easily kept pace with him and finally -succeeded in bringing the moose at bay again. This was what Frank -wanted. Just as the deer was about to make a charge upon the dog, he -fired, and the huge animal tumbled to the ground. The young hunter ran -forward, intending to give him the contents of the other barrel, but, -before he could fire, the moose staggered to his feet, and -disregarding the attacks of the dog, which were renewed with redoubled -fierceness and vigor, rushed straight upon the hunter, and bore him to -the ground. - -In falling, Frank lost his gun. The enraged animal pressed upon the -young hunter, burying his antlers in the snow on each side of him, -holding him fast to the ground. Frank gave himself up for lost; but he -determined that he would not yield his life without a struggle. He was -unarmed, and the contest must be one of strength and endurance. Before -the moose could draw back to make another charge upon him, Frank -seized him by the antlers, and clung to them with all his strength. -Brave seemed to understand the perilous situation in which his master -was placed, and fought more furiously than ever. But the moose, -although severely wounded by the teeth of the dog, did not appear to -notice him in the least, but struggled desperately to free himself -from the young hunter's grasp. Frank was dragged about through the -snow, and pressed down into it, until his clothing was almost reduced -to tatters; and he was severely wounded by the sharp crust and the -hoofs of the enraged deer, which cut through his garments like a -knife. It required all his strength to retain his hold. He did not -seem to be in the least frightened; but the manner in which he clung -to the moose, and cheered on the dog, showed that he well knew the -danger of his situation. But he was growing weaker every moment, while -the moose appeared to be growing proportionately stronger, and his -struggles became more furious and determined. Frank knew that the -animal would soon succeed in freeing himself, and then----. It was a -horrible thought! - -At this moment he heard the noise of approaching feet on the crust, -and a voice exclaimed, "Bars and buffaler! Hang on to the creetur jest -a minute longer, youngster! Take 'em, dog! take 'em!" And the next -instant a dark object bounded lightly over him, and commenced a -furious battle with the moose. Benumbed and exhausted, Frank could -hold out no longer. As the moose tore himself from his grasp, the -young hunter saw him pulled to the ground by the trapper's dog, and -then a mist gathered before his eyes, and he sank back on the snow -insensible. - -When his consciousness returned, he found himself in a -rudely-constructed hut, lying in front of a blazing fire, and so -tightly wrapped up in blankets that he could scarcely breathe. Dick -sat in one corner of the hut, smoking his pipe, and gazing vacantly -into the fire. Brave lay stretched out by his master's side, with his -head resting on his shoulder, gazing into his face with every -expression of concern. As soon as Frank opened his eyes, the faithful -animal announced the fact by a joyful bark, which brought all the boys -into the hut. - -"How do you feel, Frank?" inquired Archie, whose pale face showed that -he had more than a common interest in his cousin's well-being. - -"O! I'm all right," answered Frank, in a weak voice. "But you've got -me bundled up so tight I can hardly breathe. I wish you would take a -dozen or two of these blankets off." - -"No, you don't," said Dick, as the boys crowded up around Frank. "I -believe I've got the bossin' of this yere job. Here," he continued, as -he arose from his seat and approached his patient, "drink this;" and -he raised Frank from his blankets with one hand, and, with the other, -held to his lips a cup containing some of the most bitter stuff he had -ever drank. The young hunter made wry faces over it, but succeeded in -draining the cup. "Now," resumed Dick, "lay down agin an' go to sleep. -Shut up! No back talk!" he continued, as Frank essayed to speak. "You -musn't talk till I say you may;" and the rough but kind-hearted -trapper laid him back on his bed, and, drawing the blankets more -closely about him, left him to his meditations. - -He soon fell off into a refreshing slumber; and when he awoke it was -dark, and his companions were seated around the fire, eating their -supper. - -"Wal, youngster," said Dick, "how do you feel now?" - -"O! I'm much better," answered Frank; "and hungry as blazes. Won't you -give a fellow some thing to eat?" - -"In course," said Dick; and he brought Frank some pieces of toast and -a cup of coffee. - -"I don't like your style of doctoring a bit," said Frank, as the -trapper carefully removed the blankets with which his patient was -enveloped. "The remedies you use are worse than the disease. You've -kept me wrapped up so tight that I am sore all over." - -"I shouldn't wonder," said the trapper, laughing heartily; "but that -doesn't come of bein' wrapped up in the blankets. You war purty well -chawed up when me an' Useless diskivered you." - -Dick raised Frank to a sitting posture, and, in spite of his -objections, once more drew the blankets about him, allowing him, -however, the free use of his arms; and the young hunter soon -discovered that he was not quite so well as he had imagined, for sharp -pains shot through his body, and he was so weak he could scarcely sit -up. - -"I believe I had something of a fight with that moose, didn't I?" he -inquired, as he broke off a piece of the toast. - -"I believe you did, judging from the looks of your clothes," answered -Harry, as he laid down his plate, and took from a peg in one corner of -the hut all that remained of Frank's garments. - -The coat and pants were torn almost into shreds, and covered with -blood, and the sole of one of his boots had been pulled off by the -sharp hoofs of the deer. Brave had also suffered severely, judging -from the bloody bandages that he wore. - -"It was a narrow escape, wasn't it?" said Frank, as he gazed in -astonishment at his tattered garments. - -"Yes, indeed," said Archie; "I shouldn't have cared about being in -your boots just then. How you ever made out to get out of those -clothes alive, is more than I can tell." - -"It war a careless trick," said Dick, "tacklin' that animal in that ar -way. You ought to knowed better." - -"Well, we got the moose, didn't we?" inquired Frank. - -"Yes," answered George, chewing away at a large piece of meat; "and we -are eating him up as fast as we can." - -As soon as Frank had finished his toast and coffee, he was glad to lie -down again, for he was still very weak from the loss of blood. The -others, after putting away the supper-dishes, replenished the fire, -and stretched themselves out on their blankets. - -"How do you feel now, youngster?" asked the trapper, as he drew a -brand from the fire and lit his pipe. - -"O! I guess I shall get along." - -"It's a'most time for you to take some more of your medicine." - -"I don't care about taking any more of it," answered Frank. "It's the -meanest stuff I ever tasted." - -"It's Injun medicine," answered the trapper, as he sank back on his -blanket, and puffed away vigorously at his pipe. "I remember," he -continued, after a few moments' pause, "of doctorin' up my chum, Bill -Lawson, an' that war the way me an' him come to get acquainted. But he -war used to Injun doctorin', and didn't growl as much as you do. I've -heered him tell of that scrape a hundred times; an' he used to tell it -in this way: - -"'The way me an' Dick Lewis come to get together,' he used to say, -'war this. I war onct trappin' among the mountains on a little stream -called Muddy Creek. It war about the wust bit of Injun country in the -world; but they didn't bother me, an' I tuk mighty good care not to -meddle with their corn an' beans, an' for a long time I had jest the -best kind of luck in trappin'. Beaver were plenty as black flies in -summer, an' the woods war chuck full o' otter, an' the mountains of -grizzly bars an' black-tails, so I had plenty to do. - -"'I had made my camp in the woods, about a mile back from the creek -where I war trappin', so as not to skeer away the game. Beaver is -mighty skeery animals, an' don't like to have a feller trampin' around -them all the while; and when a man sets a trap, he musn't go to it -agin afore arly the next mornin', for if he does, the game soon gets -mighty shy, an' the first thing the trapper knows, he'll have to hunt -somewhere else for beaver. You see I knowed all this, an' so kept out -of their way. I got along first-rate, until arly in the spring, jest -as the ice begun to break up, an' hadn't seed nothin' of the Injuns. -But one mornin', while I war on my way to 'tend to my traps, I seed -the prints of some moccasins, where three or four fellers had crossed -the creek. I knowed in a minit, from the looks of them, that they -wasn't white fellers' tracks; so I begun to prick up my ears an' look -around me a little. I examined the trail agin, an' I knowed there -could be no mistake. The Comanches had been along there, sure. I begun -beatin' keerfully around through the bushes, for I didn't know but -that the tarnal red-skins war watchin' me all the time; when all to -onct I come acrost another trail, which war as different from the -first as a muskrat is different from a grizzly. It war a white -feller's track. The tracks looked as though he had been crawlin' along -on his hands an' knees, an' onct in awhile I could see the place where -the butt of his rifle had trailed on the ground. I knowed in a minit -that the white hunter, whoever he war, had been follerin' up the -Injuns. - -"'"Wal," thinks I, "Bill Lawson, you had better keep an eye out for -them traps o' yourn." So I begun to draw a bee-line through the woods -toward the place where I had sot one o' my traps, keepin' my gun ready -to put a chunk of lead into the first thing in the shape of an Injun -that I should see. But instead o' goin' up to my trap in the way I -generally did, I went round so as to come up on the other side. Purty -soon I begun to come near the place where the trap was sot; so I -dropped down on all-fours, an' commenced to crawl through the thick -brush. I knowed I should have to be mighty keerful, for an Injun has -got ears like a painter, an' he allers keeps 'em open, too. Wal, purty -soon I poked my head over a log, an' peeked through the bushes; an' -what do you think I seed? There war my trap, with a big beaver in it, -ketched fast by the hind leg; an' right behind some big trees that -stood near the trap war three Injuns, listenin', an' watchin', an' -waitin' for me to come an' get my game. - -"'"That's the way you painted heathen watch for a white gentleman, is -it," thinks I; "I'll fix some o' you." So I drawed my knife an' -tomahawk, an' laid them on the ground beside me, an' then, arter -examinin' my rifle to see that it war all right, I drawed a bead on -the biggest Injun, an' fired. He rolled over, dead as a door nail, an' -the others jumped up an' yelled like two screech owls. I didn't stop -to ax no questions; but, throwin' away my rifle, I grabbed up my knife -an' tomahawk, an' walked into 'em. - -"'They both fired as I came up--one missed, an' the other tuk me in -the leg, an' kerflumux I come to the ground. The Injuns thought they -had me now, sure, an' they came toward me, drawin' their knives an' -yellin' like mad. But I war on my pins agin in less than no time; an', -standin' as well as I could on my broken leg, I swung my tomahawk -around my head, an' let fly at the nighest Injun. It tuk him plumb -atween the eyes, an' I knowed that the work war done for him. But the -next minit the other heathen clinched me, an', liftin' me off my legs, -throwed me to the ground like a log. He had two legs to use, an' I had -only one; there war where he had the advantage of me. But I had the -use of my hands; an' I jest made up my mind that if he wanted my scalp -he would have to work for it; so, quick as lightnin', I grabbed the -hand that held the knife, an' give it a squeeze that actooally made -the bones crack, an' the rascal give one yell, an' let go the weapon. -Then, with the other hand, I ketched him by the scalp-lock, an' done -my best to turn him, knowin' that if I could onct get on top of him, I -would be all right; but I couldn't use my leg; so, thinks I, I'll hold -him here awhile, an' I pulled his head down close to me. But I had -bled so much that I begun to give out; an' the Injun, who hadn't made -a move arter I got hold of his har, knowed that I war growin' weak, -an' the first thing I knowed, he broke away from me, an' sprung to his -feet. I tried to get up too, but the Injun grabbed up his knife, an' -pinned me agin. I fit as well as I could, but the rascal knowed I -couldn't do nothin'; and, placing one knee on my breast to hold me -down, he put one hand to his mouth, an' give a loud yell. - -"'It war answered close by, an' somebody come out o' the bushes. At -first I thought it war another Injun comin' up to help rub me out; but -another look showed me that it war a white feller. He didn't stop to -ax no questions, but made a dash at the Comanche, who got off me in a -tarnal hurry, an' callin' out some name that showed that he knowed who -the white feller war, he begun to make tracks; but he hadn't gone ten -foot afore the trapper had him by the neck. The fight war mighty -short, for the Comanche wasn't nowhere--the trapper handled him as -though he had been a baby, an' in less than two minits he war a dead -Injun.' - -"That's the way ole Bill used to tell his story," continued Dick; "an' -he allers used to pint me out as the man that saved him. The white -feller's trail that he seed by the creek war my own, an' I war -follerin' up the Comanches. Wal, I tuk the old man back to his camp, -an', arter two months' doctorin', I got him all right agin. When he -got well, he wouldn't let me leave him, nor I didn't want to, for he -war jest the kind of a man I wanted for a chum. He hated an Injun as -bad as I did, an' I used to like to listen to the stories he told of -his fights with them. How do you come on now, youngster?" - -"O! I feel pretty well," answered Frank, "only I'm a little weak." - -"You can thank your lucky stars that you wasn't rubbed out -altogether," said the trapper, as he approached the young hunter. "Me -an' Useless got there jest in time. But you won't allers be so lucky." - -After wrapping Frank up carefully in the blankets again, he knocked -the ashes from his pipe, and sought his own couch. - - - - -CHAPTER VI. - -The White Buck. - - -It was a week before Frank was able to travel, during which time -George and Archie had been sent back to Uncle Joe's after supplies of -bread, coffee, and salt. Early one morning they again set out, the -trapper leading the way more slowly than at the former part of the -journey, so as not to weary his young companion. They halted at noon -for dinner, and about four o'clock in the afternoon they reached a -dilapidated cabin. - -"This yere is to be our camp for awhile," said Dick, throwing his -rifle into the hollow of his arm. "I camped here last winter; but I -see the shantee is well-nigh broke down. But we can soon set it to -rights agin." - -They leaned their guns against the logs of the cabin, and Archie and -George cut down some saplings with which to repair the roof; while the -others cleared out the old pine boughs that covered the floor, and -erected a new crane over the fireplace, which was a hole about four -feet in diameter and a foot and a half deep, that had been dug in the -middle of the floor. An opening in the roof directly over this did -duty both as chimney and window. Before dark the cabin was put in -order again, and the hunters began to prepare their supper. - -The next morning the trapper, after giving Frank emphatic directions -to remain quiet during the day, set out, with Useless at his heels, to -look for "otter signs." George and Archie followed him with their -fox-traps; and Frank and Harry, being left to themselves, shouldered -their guns, and strolled slowly through the woods, and amused -themselves in shooting rabbits, which were very abundant. In a short -time they had secured game enough for dinner, and were about to -retrace their steps toward the cabin, when the dog, which was some -distance in advance of them, suddenly stopped, and, after listening a -moment, uttered a low whine, ran back to his master, and took refuge -behind him. - -"What's the matter with the dog, I wonder?" said Frank, patting the -animal's head, and endeavoring to encourage him. - -"I don't know," answered Harry, clutching his gun more firmly; "he -must have seen or scented some wild animal. Perhaps it would be safer -to go back a little way. I shouldn't like the idea of meeting a bear -or panther;" and Harry began to retreat. - -"Hold on," said Frank; "don't be in a hurry. If it is a panther, we -are certainly a match for him. Our guns are loaded with buck-shot." - -"I know it; but if I should see one of the 'varmints,' as Dick calls -them, I should be so excited that I couldn't shoot at all. I think we -had better"-- - -"Hush!" interrupted Frank. "Don't you hear something?" - -The boys listened, and a faint cry, like the yelping of a pack of -hounds, was borne to their ears. - -"It can't be dogs," said Frank, "for if it was, Brave would not have -been so frightened; besides, it does not sound exactly like them, and -I know of no hunter in this part of the country that keeps hounds." - -"I wonder if that is what Brave heard?" said Harry. - -"It must be," replied Frank, watching the motions of his dog, which -appeared to grow more excited as the sound came nearer. "I would like -to know what it is." - -"We shall soon find out, for it seems to be coming this way. Let's -hide behind some of these trees." - -The boys, accordingly, concealed themselves, and waited impatiently, -with a great deal of anxiety, for the animals to come in sight. Louder -and louder grew the noise, and Harry, turning to his companion, with -blanched cheeks, exclaimed: - -"It's the cry of a pack of wolves. Let's get away from here." - -"O, no," said Frank. "They must be in pursuit of something. Let us -wait and see what it is." - -There was something appalling in the sound, which now began to echo -loudly through the woods, and it was no wonder that Harry wished to -retreat. Even Brave, although he was a very courageous dog, seemed -struck with terror, and crept up behind his master, as if endeavoring -to get out of sight. But Frank, with his usual recklessness, -determined to stand his ground as long as possible. - -The wolves seemed to be running directly toward them, and the boys -held their guns to their shoulders, ready to shoot the first one that -appeared. In a few moments there was a crashing in the bushes, and a -white object was seen gliding among the trees, while behind him -followed a pack of a dozen wolves. They ran with their ears laid close -back to their heads, and their mouths open, displaying frightful rows -of teeth. Frank gazed at them a moment, and then turned his attention -to the game. Could he believe his eyes! It was a _white buck_. He was -running at the top of his speed; but his tongue was hanging out of his -mouth, and his legs were horribly lacerated by the sharp crust, into -which he sank at every step. He was evidently almost tired out, and -the wolves were gaining on him rapidly. Frank had often heard of white -deer, but had never seen one before, and he determined to take a hand -in the affair, and, if possible, rescue the buck from his pursuers. - -"Shoot the wolves, Harry," he exclaimed, "and save the deer. We want -him ourselves." - -"Don't shoot--don't," urged Harry. "The wolves will turn on us." - -But it was too late. Frank's gun was at his shoulder in an instant, -and the foremost of the pack leaped high in the air, and fell to the -ground, dead. The others stopped and ravenously attacked their fallen -comrade, and in a moment every vestige of him had disappeared. The -white buck kept on his way, and soon disappeared from their sight. - -"Shoot 'em, Harry," exclaimed Frank, excitedly, turning to his -companion, who stood holding his gun in his hand, and gazing at the -wolves as though he had suddenly been deprived of all action; "shoot -'em, and don't be standing there like a bump on a log. They'll pitch -into us, sure, and the more we kill now, the less we shall have to -deal with by-and-by." - -This seemed to bring Harry back to his senses, and he hurriedly raised -his gun to his shoulder and endeavored to cover one of the wolves with -the sight. But he was trembling violently, and his gun swayed about -like a leaf in a storm. - -"Why don't you shoot?" exclaimed Frank. - -Harry pressed the trigger, and the loud yell that followed showed that -the shot had not been thrown away. One of the wolves was severely -wounded. Maddened by the pain, he dashed toward the place where the -boys were standing, followed by the whole pack. - -"Take to a tree, quick!" exclaimed Frank, who began to be surprised at -his own coolness; "it's our only chance. Be sure and keep a good hold -of your gun." Suiting the action to the word, he swung himself into -the lowest branches of a small pine that stood near, and, reaching -down, seized Brave by his long hair and pulled him up after him. It -was slow climbing among the thick branches, with a gun in one hand and -a dog nearly as heavy as himself in the other; and he had scarcely -ascended out of reach before the wolves were around the tree. Several -of the pack leaped among the branches, and made desperate efforts to -reach him, while their dismal howls made his blood run cold. - -"Hold on, down there," muttered Frank. "Wait until I get Brave fixed, -and then I'll soon be even with you." - -After feeling in all his pockets, he found a stout strap, with which -he tied his dog fast to the branches, so that he would not fall down -among the wolves. - -"I say, Frank, where are you?" shouted Harry, from his tree. - -"Here I am," answered Frank. "Are you all right?" - -"Yes; but I had a narrow escape, I tell you. The wolves pulled off one -of my boots as I was climbing up this tree. You're always getting a -fellow into some scrape or other, ain't you?" - -"I don't call this much of a scrape," answered Frank. "We're safe, at -any rate." - -"I know it," replied Harry, who seemed to be regaining his courage. -"But we may have to stay up here a week." - -"No we won't--not if our ammunition holds out," answered Frank, -pushing his gun through the branches of the tree. "I'm going to -commence shooting them." - -"That's a good plan; I did not think of that." - -The report of Harry's gun followed his words, and feeling safe in his -tree, he made a good shot, the largest of the wolves receiving the -entire charge in his head. The boys continued to load and fire until -the last wolf was killed, when they dropped down from the trees, and -took a survey of their work. Nine wolves were lying dead on the snow, -which was saturated with blood, and a tenth was endeavoring to crawl -away on two legs. Brave immediately commenced a battle with him, but -the wolf had plenty of fight left in him, and was killed only after a -hard struggle. - -"Now," said Frank, "let's follow up that white buck. I would give -almost any thing to catch him alive. He is pretty well tired out, and -can't run far." - -"Lead on, then," said Harry; "but, if Dick was here, he would say it -was no use. You know hunters are inclined to be superstitious about -such things." - -The boys had often heard extravagant stories told about the incredible -speed and tenacity of life possessed by white deer, and had heard old -hunters say that it was impossible to kill or capture them. But Frank -was not superstitious. He could not see why a white deer should be so -widely different from one of the ordinary color. At all events, he -determined to make an attempt to capture the white buck--which would -make a valuable addition to his museum. So, leaving the wolves where -they had fallen, he led the way along the trail, which could be easily -followed by the blood on the snow. They had run nearly a mile, when -they discovered the white buck a short distance ahead of them, making -his way slowly through the snow, and staggering as though he were -scarcely able to keep his feet. - -"There he is," exclaimed Frank, joyfully. "Catch him, Brave." - -The dog was off in an instant, and although the buck made an effort to -run, he was speedily overtaken, and pulled down without a show of -resistance. The boys hurried forward to secure their captive, which -struggled desperately as they approached. But at length Frank -succeeded in fastening his belt around his neck. The buck staggered to -his feet, and, after a few ineffectual attempts to escape, seemed to -submit to his fate, and suffered himself to be led toward the cabin. -He was one of the most noble specimens of the common deer that the -boys had ever seen. He stood nearly five feet high at the shoulders, -and his head was crowned with antlers, which Frank had learned, from -experience, would prove no mean weapons in a fight. He was evidently -an "old settler," and had seen some stirring times during his life, -for his body was almost covered with scars. They reached the camp -without any mishap, and Harry brought from the cabin a long rope with -which the captive was fastened to a tree. After a short struggle, -during which the boys received some pretty severe scratches from the -buck's sharp hoofs, his legs were rudely bandaged, and he was left to -himself. - -After a hastily-eaten dinner, the boys returned to the scene of their -late fight with the wolves, to procure some of the skins, which Frank -wished to mount in his museum. They got back to the cabin just before -dark, and found Dick leaning on his long rifle, and closely examining -the buck. Useless was seated at his side, and near him lay three -otter-skins, which they had captured during the day. - -"See here, youngsters," exclaimed the trapper, as the boys came up, -"what's all this yere?" - -"O, that's our day's work," replied Frank. - -"Give us your hands, youngsters," continued Dick. "Shoot me if you -hain't done somethin' that I tried all last winter to do an' -couldn't. If I shot at that buck onct, I shot at him twenty times. Do -you see that scar on his flank? I made that. An' there's another on -his neck. When I hit him there I thought I had him sure; for he war -throwed in his tracks, an' when Useless come up to grab him, he war up -an' off like a shot. If you war with some trappers I know, they would -tell you to cut that rope an' let him get away from here as fast as he -could travel. Some fellers think these yere white deer have got the -Evil One in 'em." - -"O, that's all nonsense," said Frank; "a white deer isn't a bit -different from any other, only in the color." - -"That's what I used to tell 'em," said Dick. "But this yere is my -day's work," he added, lifting the otter-skins from the ground; "and a -good one it is, too. But five mile back the woods are full of otter, -an' a little further on is a beaver-dam--eight houses in it--forty -beaver at the least kalkerlation." - -As the trapper finished speaking, he shouldered his rifle and led the -way into the cabin, where a fire was soon started, and some choice -pieces of venison, which had been brought in by him were laid on the -coals to broil. In a few moments, George and Archie entered, and the -latter inquired: - -"Who caught that white buck?" - -Frank gave him the desired information, and also related their -adventure with the wolves; when Archie continued: - -"I'm glad you caught him, for you always wanted one for your museum. -We came near catching a black fox for you." - -"A black fox!" repeated the trapper. - -"Yes; the largest one I ever saw," said George. "He's black as a -coal--hasn't got a white hair on him, except the very tip of his -tail." - -"I know him," answered the trapper. "Him an' Useless had more'n one -race last winter. You found his trail down by that little creek that -runs through that deep hollow." - -"Yes," answered Archie. - -"An' lost it up here in the woods but two mile back." - -"Yes," said Archie again. - -"An' that's the way you'll keep doin' as often as you chase him. You -can't ketch him. He's an ole one in these parts, an' I guess he'll -stay here till he dies a nat'ral death." - -"No, I'll be shot if he does," said Archie, decidedly, as he deposited -his gun on a couple of pegs in one corner of the cabin, and began to -divest himself of his overcoat. "I've got a dog that was never fooled -yet. There was a fox that used to live on Reynard's Island, a short -distance from Lawrence, and he had been chased by all the best dogs in -the country; but the first time he got Sport on his trail, he was a -gone sucker. I'm going to start out early to-morrow and try that black -fox again, and if I don't catch him the first day, I'll try him the -next, and keep it up till I do succeed. I don't mean to leave these -woods without him." - -"Then you'd better send home for plenty of grub," said the trapper, -"for you'll have to stay here all winter." - -"Supper's ready," said Frank; and this announcement cut short the -conversation. - - - - -CHAPTER VII. - -A Midnight Attack. - - -After supper, the hunters stretched themselves out on their blankets -around the fire; but the usual evening conversation was omitted. Their -day's work had fatigued them all, and soon their regular breathing -told that sleep had overpowered them. - -About midnight Frank, who slept away from the fire, and almost against -the door, was aroused by a slight noise outside the cabin, like the -stealthy tread of some animal in the snow. He had begun to acquire -something of a hunter's habits, and the noise, slight as it was, -aroused him in an instant. The dogs had also heard it, for they stood -looking at the door, with every hair sticking toward their heads, but -without uttering a sound. Frank reached for his gun, which hung on -some pegs just above his head, and at that moment he heard a sound -resembling the "wheeze" of a glandered horse. - -"Bars and buffaler!" exclaimed Dick, suddenly arousing from a sound -sleep, and drawing his long hunting-knife, which he always carried in -his belt; "there's a painter around here somewhere--I'm sartin I -heered the sniff of one." - -"I heard something," replied Frank, "but I didn't know what it was." - -By this time all the inmates of the cabin were aroused, and there was -a hurried reaching for guns, and a putting on of fresh caps. - -"Lend me your rifle, Dick," said Frank, "and I'll shoot him. I have -never killed a panther." - -"Wal, don't be keerless, like you generally are," said the trapper, -handing him the weapon. "Be keerful to shoot right between his eyes. -Hist--I'll be shot if the varmint ain't a pitchin' into the white -buck--he are, that's sartin!" - -As Dick spoke there was a violent rustling in the bushes, and a sound -as of a heavy body falling on the snow. Then there was a slight -struggle, and all was still again. Frank quickly threw open the door, -and hunters and dogs all rushed out together. It was very dark; but -Frank, who was in advance of his companions, could just distinguish a -black object crouching in the snow near the tree where the white buck -had been fastened. In an instant his rifle was at his shoulder, and as -the whip-like report resounded through the woods, the panther uttered -a howl that sounded very much like the voice of a human being in -distress, and, with one bound, disappeared in the bushes. - -The quick-scented dogs found his trail in a twinkling. Guided by their -barking, the hunters followed after them as rapidly as possible, in -hopes that the dogs would soon overtake the panther and compel him to -take to a tree. Running through a thick woods in a dark night is not a -pleasant task; and the hunters made headway very slowly. But at length -they came up with three of the dogs, which were standing at the foot -of a large tree, barking furiously. Brave was nowhere to be seen. - -"I shouldn't wonder if the varmint war up here," said the trapper, -walking around the tree and peering upward into the darkness. "No he -ain't, neither," he continued. "Useless, ye're fooled for onct in your -life. You see, youngsters, where that big limb stretches out? Wal, -the painter ran out on that, an' has got out of our way." - -"I wonder where Brave is?" said Frank, anxiously. - -"That ar is a hard thing to tell," answered the trapper. "The varmint -may have chawed him up too, as well as the white buck." - -"If he has," said Frank, bitterly, "I won't do any thing all the rest -of my life but shoot panthers. Hold on! what's that?" he added, -pointing through the trees. - -"It looks mighty like somethin' comin' this way," said Dick. "Turn me -into a mullen-stalk if I don't believe it's the painter! He's creepin' -along a'most on his belly." - -In an instant four guns were leveled at the approaching object, and -the boys were about to fire, when the trapper, who had thrown himself -almost flat on the snow, to obtain a better view of the animal, heard -a suppressed whine. Springing to his feet, he knocked up the weapons, -and quietly said, - -"I guess I wouldn't shoot, boys. That's the dog comin back. I -shouldn't wonder if he had been follerin' the painter all alone by -himself." - -The boys lowered their guns, and, in a few moments, to the infinite -joy of Frank, Brave came up. He crawled slowly and with difficulty -toward his master, and the hunters could see that he had been severely -handled. He had several long, ugly wounds on his body, which were -bleeding profusely. - -"Wal, I'll be shot!" exclaimed the trapper, "if that ar fool of a dog -didn't tackle the painter! He ought to knowed better. The varmint -could chaw him up in two minits. Useless here wouldn't have thought o' -doin' sich a thing. But it'll do no good for us to stay here, so we -might as well travel back to the shantee. Ye're minus a white buck, -Frank," he continued, as he led the way through the woods. - -The young naturalist made no reply, for it was a severe blow to him. -He had anticipated a great deal of pleasure in taming the white buck, -and in showing him to his friends, and relating the circumstances of -his capture. But the panther had put an end to these anticipations; -and Frank determined, as long as he remained in the woods, to wage a -merciless war against all his tribe. - -A few moments' walk brought the hunters to the cabin, and they went at -once to the place where they had left the white buck. The panther had -torn an ugly-looking hole in his throat, and he was stone dead. It was -evident, from the position in which he lay, that the panther had -endeavored to drag him away, but was prevented by the rope and the -timely interference of the hunters. As regrets were useless, Frank and -his cousin carried the remains of the buck into the cabin. After -fastening the door and replenishing the fire, the hunters again sought -their blankets. - -The next morning they were stirring long before daybreak, and Archie -busied himself in removing the skin of the white buck, while his -cousin, who was impatient to commence his war upon the panthers, was -employed in cleaning his gun and sharpening his hunting-knife. Brave -seemed to understand that something unusual was on hand. In spite of -the rough treatment he had received the night before, he appeared to -have plenty of spirit left in him still, and acted as though he were -impatient to be off. - -"Dick, will you lend me your trap?" inquired Frank, after he had -finished his breakfast, and was preparing to set out. - -"The 'Ole Settler' do you mean?" asked the trapper. "Sartin I will. -Goin' to ketch the painter, ain't you?" - -"Yes; I'm going to try. I must have at least three panther-skins to -make up for the killing of the white buck. He was worth more to me -than my entire museum." - -"Wal," said Dick, as he handed Frank the trap, "if you can get him to -stick his foot in the 'Ole Settler,' he's yourn, an' no mistake. That -ar trap sticks tighter nor a brother when it gets a hold o' any thing. -Now, be mighty keerful o' yourself." - -"All right," answered Frank. "I'll have something to show you when I -come back." - -He set out, with Brave as his only companion. The trapper did not -accompany him, for the reason that he had work of his own to attend -to; and besides, although he was constantly scolding and finding fault -with Frank for his "carelessness," he was proud of his courage, and -admired the spirit that prompted this somewhat hazardous undertaking, -and wished to allow him to reap all the honors himself. Archie and -George did not go, for they were very anxious to visit their traps, -and see whether there were any foxes in them. They did not like the -idea of panther-hunting, and had tried every means in their power to -induce Frank to abandon his project. Harry thought at first that he -would be delighted to go, but, on reflection, he remembered his -adventure with the wolves, and was fearful of another similar -"scrape." So, as we have said, Frank started out alone, with nothing -on which to depend except the faithful Brave, and his own courage and -skill as a marksman. He was well enough acquainted with the woods, and -the animals that inhabited them, to know that there was danger in the -undertaking; but he thought only of the disappointment he had suffered -in the death of the white buck, and the pleasure there would be in -seeing the panther that had killed him stuffed and mounted in his -museum. - -He followed the same course the panther had taken the night before, -until he reached the place where the animal had taken to the tree and -escaped, Here the trail, of course, ended; but Brave had no -difficulty in finding it again, and from this Frank concluded that he -must have seen the panther jumping from tree to tree, and had followed -him, until the latter, seeing that he was pursued by only one of his -enemies, had descended to the ground and given battle, which had, of -course, ended in Brave's defeat. - -After a careful examination, Frank could discover but three -foot-prints in the trail, which looked as though some one had -endeavored to obliterate it, by drawing a heavy stick over it. He -could not account for this, but he knew, by the blood on the snow, -that the panther had been severely wounded by the shot he had fired at -him; so, without stopping to make any more observations, he ordered -Brave to "Hunt 'em up." - -The dog immediately set off on the trail, and Frank kept as close to -him as possible. The panther had made good use of his time, for they -followed the trail until almost four o'clock in the afternoon, without -coming up with him. In the excitement of the chase, Frank had not -thought of stopping to eat his dinner, and he was both tired and -hungry. A few moments' rest, and a piece of the cold venison and -bread, with which his haversack was well stored, he thought would -enable him to follow the trail until dark. He began to look around to -find a good place to build a fire, when a loud bark from Brave drove -all such thoughts out of his mind, and he ran forward to the place -where the dog was standing, and suddenly came in sight of the panther, -which had killed a wild turkey, and was crouching at the foot of a -tree, just ready to begin his meal. - -One of his hind-legs was entirely useless, having been broken by the -shot from the rifle; and that it was which had given that peculiar -look to his trail. How he had managed to climb so many trees, and -travel such a distance, with his leg in that condition, Frank could -not imagine. But he was not allowed much time to make observations, -for the panther crouched lower over his prey, and lashed his sides -with his tail, as if about to spring toward him. He was within easy -range, and Frank cocked both barrels of his gun, and slowly raised the -weapon to his shoulder. His hand could not have been more steady if he -had been aiming at a squirrel. He glanced along the clean, brown tubes -for a moment, and fired both barrels in quick succession. The gun had -been heavily loaded, in order to "make sure work" of the panther, and -the immense recoil threw Frank flat on his back. When he recovered his -feet, he saw the panther stretched out motionless on the ground. The -buck-shot had done its work. - - - - -CHAPTER VIII. - -A Couple of New Pets. - - -Frank was a big-feeling boy just then. He knew that he had done -something that many an older person than himself would hesitate to -undertake. He was fast becoming accustomed to scenes of excitement and -danger, and he thought only of the feat he had accomplished, and not -of the perilous position in which he had placed himself but a few -moments before. What if his gun had missed fire, or he had only -wounded the panther? How long could he and Brave have withstood his -attacks? The panther would certainly have conquered them. And what -could he have done if he had been disabled in the depths of those -woods, so far from any human being? Such questions as these passed -through the reckless young hunter's mind, but he dismissed them with -the thought that the panther was dead, and that he had nothing to -fear. - -The animal was one of the largest of his kind, measuring, as near as -Frank could judge, fully seven feet in length, including the tail. The -rifleshot which had broken his leg had made an ugly-looking wound, and -he had received both charges of buck-shot in his head; but the skin -was not spoiled, and Frank's first thought was to take it off and cure -it for stuffing. - -Around the tree was a little space, which was clear of bushes, and was -probably as good a camping-ground as he could find. So he placed his -gun where he could put his hand upon it at a moment's warning, and -removed his haversack, hanging it up on a small tree that stood near. -He then unfastened his belt, and took from it his blanket and a small -tin pail, which was to do duty as a coffee-pot. With the aid of his -heavy hunting-knife, he soon erected a hut--rude-looking, indeed, but -sufficiently strong and tight to protect him from the wind. Over the -floor he spread hemlock branches to the depth of four or five inches, -and the camp was finished. He then kindled a fire in front of the hut, -and filled his pail with snow, and hung it on a crane to boil. In a -little while the turkey, which the panther had killed, was dressed, -and cooking as fast as a hot fire could make it. Before his supper was -cooked, the panther was hauled into the cabin, and his skin taken off, -and hung upon a frame to dry. - -The turkey was equally divided between master and dog; and as neither -had eaten any dinner, not a vestige of the fowl was left. While Frank -was building his camp, he had heard a faint ripple, like the noise of -a small water-fall; and he was somewhat surprised thereat, for the -intensely cold weather had formed ice, even in the swiftest water, -almost two feet in thickness. As soon as he had finished his supper, -he started out to see what had occasioned the noise, taking the trap -with him, intending to find a good place to set it. When he arrived at -the stream, he found it had its source in a salt spring, or, as the -hunters would call it, a "deer-lick." The snow on the banks was -trodden as hard as a floor, and the paths that the animals had made, -in going to and from the stream, ran up into the woods in all -directions. These springs are favorite resorts of deer and other wild -animals, which delight to taste their brackish waters; and it is a -common way of killing deer, in places where they are scarce, to watch -one of these "licks" during the night, and shoot the animals as they -approach. - -Frank walked up one of the paths that led to the spring, and began to -make preparations to set his trap. It was just the place for it, as he -would be certain to catch something before morning. He first dug a -hole with his hunting-knife, directly in the middle of the path, and -the next job was to set the trap. He knew how it ought to be done. But -the powerful jaws of the "Ole Settler" had often resisted the efforts -of a stronger person than himself. After half an hour's work, during -which time the skirts of his coat had been cut almost entirely off by -the long, sharp teeth, he succeeded in getting it set, and placed -safely in the hole which he had dug for its reception. Then, with his -hunting-knife, he cut down a good-sized sapling that stood near, and -to this he fastened one end of a short, heavy chain; the other end of -the chain he fastened to the trap. After he had placed every thing to -his satisfaction, he carefully covered the trap and chain with snow, -removed all the twigs and leaves he had scattered about, and returned -to his camp. He employed himself until dark in gathering his evening's -supply of fire-wood, and then lay down on his bed of boughs, well -satisfied with his day's work. - -As it grew dark, it seemed to him that his camp became the center of -attraction to every wild animal in the woods for a circle of ten miles -around. The owl flew down around his fire, uttering his dismal scream; -the barking of foxes was heard in all directions; and, now and then, a -dark object would come out of the bushes, and gaze at him a moment -with eyes that shone through the darkness like coals of fire, and then -beat a hasty retreat. Once or twice he heard a sound that made him -reach, rather hurriedly, for his gun--the same sound that the trapper, -the night before, had pronounced the "sniff of a painter." - -Frank did not feel exactly safe in going to sleep, and sat for a long -time with his gun in his hand. Several times he was half inclined to -shoot at some of the animals that came around the camp; but he finally -concluded to keep the peace as long as they would. In a few moments -after he had made this resolution, he sank back on his blanket, and -was soon fast asleep. - -Near midnight he was awakened by a chorus of loud yells. Starting up, -he found his camp surrounded by wolves. The fire had almost gone out, -and the wolves appeared to be growing bolder by degrees, having -already approached quite close to the cabin. Frank started to his feet -and threw a firebrand among them, when they scattered in every -direction, and were out of sight in a moment. He was not disturbed -again, and when he awoke it was daylight. After putting a good supply -of wood on the fire, and hanging his coffee-pot on the crane, he -shouldered his gun, and started toward the place where the trap had -been set, hoping to find something in it that would make a breakfast -for him. - -There _was_ something in it, beyond a doubt, for both trap and clog -were gone; and the way Brave growled and showed his teeth led him to -believe that he had caught something besides a deer. The hole in which -he had placed the trap was trodden down as though a flock of sheep had -passed over it. It was a matter of some difficulty to follow the -trail of the animal that had been caught in the trap, for he had moved -directly up the path, and the only "sign" that Frank had to guide him -was, now and then, a slight scraping in the snow, which he knew had -been made by the clog, as the animal dragged it after him. He followed -the trail in this manner for nearly half a mile, when it suddenly -turned off into the woods, where he could follow it up considerably -faster. Here he discovered that there was a bear in the trap, for the -prints of his great feet were in the snow. His progress had evidently -been retarded a good deal, for, at intervals along the trail, the -broken bushes and trodden snow showed where the clog had caught and -held him fast. - -Brave led the way, but they had not gone far before he began to show -signs of uneasiness. A little further on, he suddenly came to a halt, -and stood gazing steadily before him, toward a thicket of bushes, that -looked as though it would afford a splendid hiding-place for a wild -animal. - -Frank began to be excited now, and his hand was none of the steadiest -as he cocked his gun and stooped down to caress his dog. He had faced -the wounded panther without flinching, but he did not like the idea -of attacking that bear in his den, for such it undoubtedly was, as -under an immense pile of limbs and bushes Frank could see something -dark, that looked like a cave. - -Brave ran around the bushes, with every hair on his body sticking -toward his head, and now and then making a dash at the den, as though -challenging the bear to come out. But the cave was as silent as death. -Frank could not see how he could attack the bear in there, and the -question was, how to get him out into open ground, so that he could -have a fair shot at him, and a good opportunity to retreat, if that -shot should not prove fatal. After waiting nearly half an hour for the -bear to come out and give them battle, Frank grew impatient, and -determined to commence fight himself. Grasping his gun firmly in one -hand, he set to work with his hunting-knife to cut a passage through -the bushes, so that he could get a fair view of the mouth of the cave. - -While thus employed, he heard a slight rustling of leaves in the den, -accompanied by a low, wailing cry, and followed by a hoarse growl. He -bravely stood his ground, holding his gun in readiness; but, as the -bear did not come out, Frank went on with his work, more determined -than ever to effect the destruction of the animal, for that wailing -noise was the cry of a cub, which he was determined to have. He knew -that this would be no boy's play, for, of course, the old bear must be -killed before he could venture down into the cave. He was also well -aware that she would fight for her young with a ferocity and -stubbornness, against which only the most determined courage and a -steady hand and quick eye could avail. He had heard Uncle Joe relate a -story of a man, and one not wanting in courage either, who, upon -discovering a couple of young bears playing together in the woods, had -shouldered his rifle and made for home at the top of his speed. The -least cry from one of those clumsy little fellows would have brought -upon him an enemy that the bravest hunter would not care to encounter. - -But Frank had great confidence in himself, and worked away -industriously, now and then pausing to look down into the cave and -listen. He had cut away most of the bushes before the opening, and as -soon as he could get a good view of the interior, threw himself flat -upon the snow and looked in. It was dark as midnight inside the cave, -but he could see two fiery eyeballs glaring upon him through the -darkness, which appeared to be approaching the opening. This afforded -a fine mark, and one that he thought he could not possibly miss; so, -throwing forward his gun, he took a steady aim, and fired. - -The report was followed by a howl that made the cold sweat start from -every pore of his body; but, without hesitating a moment, he -discharged the other barrel, and then, springing to his feet, rapidly -retreated, just as the enormous head and shoulders of the bear rose -out of the opening. After running a little distance, and finding that -he was not pursued, he turned and looked behind him, and saw the bear, -in front of the cave, rolling over and over in the snow. The "Ole -Settler" was fast to one of her hind-legs, and the clog had caught and -was holding her fast. - -Frank immediately commenced to reload his gun, keeping his eye on the -bear, ready to retreat again if she should succeed in freeing herself. -He hastily rammed down the charges, and poured a handful of buck-shot -into each barrel, and then crawled toward the bear, which, almost -beside herself with rage and pain, was tearing at her wounds, and -pulling up all the bushes within her reach. - -Frank felt comparatively safe now, knowing that the bear could not -escape; and besides, if she should succeed in getting the clog loose, -she could not overtake him, incumbered as she was with the heavy trap. -He waited until a fair mark was presented, and then fired again. The -wound was mortal. After a few struggles, the bear lay motionless on -the snow. - -The next work was to draw her away from the mouth of the cave and take -off the trap. This was no easy task, for the animal was very heavy, -and, as Dick had predicted, the "Ole Settler" "stuck tighter nor a -brother." After much exertion, this was accomplished, and Frank was -about to commence skinning the bear, when, all at once, the thought -struck him, Where was the father of the family? This thought made him -spring to his feet rather hurriedly, and cast anxious glances at the -cave. - -"The old fellow can't be in there," he soliloquized, "or he would -certainly have come out before this time; but I'll just keep an eye -open for him, and if he shows himself, and undertakes to interfere in -this business, he'll get the worst of the bargain." - -He was not disturbed, however. The old bear, if he was about, probably -thought that his family was capable of taking care of itself and -fighting its own battles. - -As soon as he had taken off the bear's skin, he began to make -preparations to enter the cave and bring out the cubs, which, all the -while, had kept up an impatient cry. He first cut down a stout -sapling, and, after he had lopped off all its branches, fastened his -hunting-knife firmly to it. This he intended to use as a spear, in -case he should be attacked while in the den. Grasping it in one hand, -and his gun in the other, he crawled down into the cave. It was so -dark that he could scarcely see his hand before him; but, after a few -moments' search, he discovered the cubs, nicely covered up in a bed of -leaves. There were two of them, and they were about the size of a cat. -They fought and screamed furiously as Frank took them up, but he -unceremoniously thrust them into the capacious pockets of his -hunting-shirt, and crawled out of the cave. - -When he reached his camp he found that the fire had gone out. It was -soon rekindled, when, after wrapping the cubs up in his overcoat, and -putting them carefully away in one corner of the tent, he sat down on -his bed of boughs, and made a hearty breakfast on cold venison and -bread. While he was eating, he began to think seriously of setting out -for "home," as he called the encampment where he had left his -companions. He had accomplished much more than he had expected he -could during the two days that he had been in the woods, and now had -about as much on hand as he could conveniently attend to. The skins of -the panther and bear must be prepared for stuffing, which would -require his close attention; the cubs, also, must be taken care of and -watched, for they would escape, if left to themselves. If he was at -home, they could be shut up in the cabin while he was off hunting, and -he could have his cousin's assistance in curing the skins. So, after -resting an hour, he pulled on his overcoat again, stowing the cubs -away in his pockets, folded up his blanket, strapped it fast to his -belt, shouldered his gun, and set out. - -It was dark before he reached the cabin. His companions had just -finished eating their supper, and had not expected his return that -night. - -"Why, Frank, how are you?" exclaimed Archie, springing to his feet and -seizing his cousin's hand. "I'm glad to see you back safe. What kind -of a time did you have?--rather lonesome, I guess. What have you got?" -he continued, as one of the cubs, thinking that something unusual was -going on, again set up a furious yelping. - -"I've the skin of the panther that killed the white buck," answered -Frank, "and also a bearskin, and two young cubs." As he spoke, he drew -the cubs from his pocket. - -"You keerless feller!" exclaimed Dick, who had not yet spoken; "I -know'd you'd be in some scrape or other." - -"So did I," chimed in Harry, "and that's the reason why I wouldn't go -with him. It's a wonder you ain't all clawed to pieces." - -"Hain't had any supper yet I reckon?" said the trapper. "Come an' set -down here, an' tell us all about it." - -Frank was quickly relieved of his gun and overcoat, while a plateful -of venison, some bread and butter, and a cup of hot coffee were -passed over to him. Stretching his feet out toward the fire, he -related the details of his adventures, while the trapper sat by, -smoking his pipe, apparently deeply interested in his story. - - - - -CHAPTER IX. - -Close Quarters with a Grizzly. - - -"Wal," said Dick, as soon as Frank had finished his story, "that war -about the keerlessest trick I ever hearn tell on. Here, in the woods, -it's jest the same as it is in a city; let a boy have his own way, an' -he'll make an eend of himself in a tarnal hurry. Don't you know that -that bar could have chawed you up in a minit?" - -"Yes," answered Frank, "I suppose she could; but I had to run the risk -of that in order to get the cubs." - -"Yes, that's another of your boy tricks," continued Dick, knocking the -ashes from his pipe, "an' it 'minds me of some scrapes I had when I -war a youngster. It war while my ole man war livin'. Him an' me were -onct huntin' somewhar nigh the head-waters o' the Colorado River. I -war about seventeen year ole, an' a purty good boy I war for my age, -too. It tuk a smart, lively young Injun to take my measure on the -ground, an' I used to think that what I didn't know about trappin', -shootin', and fightin' grizzly bars, warn't wuth knowin'. I was allers -gettin' into some scrape or another, an' sometimes I used to get pawed -up purty badly, too; but as long as I could crawl round I war all -right. - -"I 'member onct that I had been over to a little creek about two mile -from the camp, to 'tend to some traps I had sot for muskrats, an' as I -war comin' home through the woods, I seed a young bar, jest about the -size of them you brought home. He come out of the bushes, an' looked -at me a minit, an' then jumped back agin. I thought he war a purty -little feller, an' made up my mind that I would ketch him an' take him -to camp with me. I had a kinder hankerin' arter pets, jest like you, -Frank, an' I wanted to tame this young bar, an' I thought me an' him -would have some tall fights when he growed up; so I put arter him, an' -finally ketched the little feller, an' tuk him in my arms, an' started -for camp. He hollered an' fit like the mischief; but I hung on to -him, an' arter half an hour's walk reached home. My ole man warn't -there; he had gone off to 'tend to his traps; but I didn't keer, for I -war used to bein' alone in the woods. Arter feelin' in all my pockets, -I found a long strip o' buckskin, an' I thought I would tie the little -feller to a saplin' that stood close by the cabin; so I sot down on -the ground an' war tyin' the string fast to his neck--he hollerin' an' -fightin' all the while--when, all to onct, I heerd a loud growlin' and -crashin' in the bushes behind me. I looked up, an' seed the ole bar a -comin'. She had heered her baby squallin', an' was comin' arter him. I -jumped up an' let the young bar fall, as though he had been a live -coal. My gun war standin' agin a tree, close by, but I knowed I -wouldn't have time to reach it, so I turned an' begun to go up the -saplin'. You better believe I climbed _some_, an' I thought I war -gettin' along mighty fast; but I warn't a minit too quick. I hadn't -hardly got out of reach afore the bar made a grab at me, an' pulled -off one of my moccasins. I war fairly treed; an' there I had to stay, -too, 'cause the ole bar kept a close watch on me; but the tree war -too small for her to climb, so I knowed I war safe. 'Bout an hour -afore dark I heered the ole man a comin', an' the bar left off -watchin' me, an' begun to get ready for him. So, I hollered to the ole -man, an' he put a chunk o' lead into her. As soon as I see that she -war done for, I slid down the saplin' as fast as I could to ketch the -young bar; but the ole man, who knowed in a minit what I had been -doin', give him a clip side the head with the butt of his rifle, that -knocked the daylights out of him; an' then, bars an' buffaler, didn't -he scold me for bein' so keerless; but, law sakes, it didn't do a bit -o' good, for, in about three days arterward, I war in a wusser scrape -nor that. - -"Arter 'tendin' to my traps, as usual, I started out through the -mountains, on a hunt. 'Bout noon I killed a big-horn, an' while I war -cookin' my dinner, I happened to see, in a rocky place up the side o' -the mountain, a small openin' 'bout large enough for a man to crawl -into, an' I knowed it war a sort of cave. I didn't stop to think any -more 'bout dinner jest then, but picked up my rifle an' started up the -mountain. I wanted to see what kind of a place the cave war. When I -got purty nigh to the openin' I seed a kind o' path runnin' up to it, -an' I knowed the cave must be the home of some wild animal. This made -me prick up my ears, an' be a little more keerful. I didn't like the -idee of havin' a varmint jump down on me afore I knowed it. But I -reached the mouth o' the cave without seein' any thing, and poked my -head in, keepin' my gun ready to crack away at the first live thing I -should set eyes on; but the cave war so dark that I couldn't see into -it two foot; but I _heered_ something, an' I scrambled up into -the openin' an' listened. It war a faint moanin' kind of a -noise--somethin' like the squall of a young kitten, an' I knowed in a -minit what it war that made it; it war a young painter. Now, if I had -knowed any thing, I would have climbed down out o' that place as fast -as my legs would let me. But, no; I tuk it into my head all to onct -that I must have them young painters. I wanted one of 'em to play -with; an' without stoppin' to think, I begun to crawl down into the -cave, an' along a narrer, crooked passage that must a been twenty -yards long. One little feller kept up his cryin', an' it kept growin' -louder an' louder, an' I knowed that he warn't a great way off. At -last I come to a place where the cave seemed to widen into quite a -large room, an' after a few minits' lookin'--or, I should say, -feelin'--for the cave war as dark as a nigger's pocket--I found the -young painters--three of 'em--in a nice bed of leaves made up in one -corner. I didn't mind the hollerin' they made when I tuk hold of 'em, -but chucked 'em all into my cap, an' started back. I had tuk good keer -to 'member my bearin's, an' I knowed I should have no trouble in -findin' my way out; so I crawled along keerless like, as usual, -chucklin' over my good luck, an' thinkin' what nice pets I would make -of the young painters, when all to onct I come within sight of the -mouth o' the cave. Bars and buffaler! I would have give all the -beaver-skins I ever expected to be wuth, if I had been safe out o' -that cave. The ole painter was comin' in. She had smelt my tracks, an' -I could see by the light that come in, in little streaks on each side -of her, that every hair on her body war stickin' toward her head. She -meant mischief. Any greenhorn could a told that I war in somethin' of -a fix. I dropped the cubs, an' as I did so, they all set up a yell. -The ole lady couldn't stand that, an' givin' a growl that made my -blood run cold, she begun to get ready to spring at me. I used to -think I war tall timber at rifle shootin', but, although the painter -war not thirty feet from me, I war 'most afraid to risk the shot. But -I knowed I didn't have much time to waste in sich thoughts, an' -drawin' up my shootin' iron, I blazed away, expectin' to have the -painter grab me the next minit. But when the smoke cleared away, I see -the old lady stretched out, stone dead. I have been in tight places -since then, in fights with varmints an' wild Injuns, an' many a time a -single chunk o' lead has saved my scalp; but that war the best shot I -ever made. It war a thing that many a Rocky Mountain trapper wouldn't -keer to undertake. I like to hunt now as well as I ever did, an' -expect to be in a good many rough-an'-tumble fights with Injuns an' -grizzly bars, but I'd rather be excused from crawlin' down into a dark -hole like that agin. But arter I had got out o' the cave, I didn't -stop to think o' the danger I had been in; the cubs war mine, an' -that's all I keered for." - -Here the trapper paused, and thrusting his hand into the pocket of his -hunting-shirt, he drew forth a clasp-knife and a plug of tobacco, and -after cutting off a generous "chaw," as he called it, and stowing it -away in his cheek, he continued: - -"But 'bout the nighest I ever come to bein' rubbed out, war while I -war trappin' on the Missouri River, with my chum, Bill Lawson--the -poor fellow is gone now"--and here the trapper lowered his voice -almost to a whisper, in reverence to the memory of his departed -companion, and hastily drew his hand across his eyes--"an' I am left -alone. It'll be lonesome on the prairy when I get back there, an' when -I visit the places where me an' him used to camp an' trap together, I -shall miss the ole man. He war one of the best trappers I ever come -acrost. He war generally very good natered an' jolly; but he had -strange ways with him sometimes, an' when he got one of his gloomy -fits on him, there would be days when--although we ate at the same -fire, an' p'rhaps slept under the same blanket--he wouldn't speak to -me. I knowed something war troublin' him, an' it war a sorry sight for -me to see that strong man weepin' like a child; but I trapped with him -for better nor five years afore he told me his story. There would be -weeks at a time when he would seem to forget his troubles, an' then -it done me good to lay beside our camp-fire an' listen to his stories. -He war a'most as big agin as I am, an' strong as a hoss. He could pull -up a saplin' that two common men couldn't budge; and he war as brave -as he war strong--as brave as a man could be; he didn't seem to keer -for any thing, for I never see him frightened in my life, an' I war -with him for better nor twenty years. An' he war a great Injun -fighter, too. It tuk a mighty lively red-skin, an' one that could pick -up his feet in a tarnal hurry, to get away when ole Bill onct set eyes -on his trail; for the way he could run war a caution to owls, an' if -there war one of them varmints in the country for fifty miles round, -ole Bill allers knowed it. He used to tell me that he could smell an -Injun further than he could see him; an' I believe he could. - -"But what I started to tell you 'bout war a little scrape we onct had -with a grizzly. As I said, we war trappin' on the Missouri River, -right among the mountains. One mornin', arter a good breakfast on -buffaler hump, I war gettin' ready to start out to 'tend to my traps, -when ole Bill said: - -"'Dick, I see some grizzly bar tracks down in the gully last night. -Let's go an' hunt up the varmint. I would have follered him up last -night, only it war too dark.' - -"In course I agreed, an' we ketched our hosses, which we had picketed -close by the cabin, an' started out--ole Bill leadin' the way. - -"Huntin' a grizzly is fine sport sometimes; but if a feller is any way -skeery, he had better not take a hand in it. Even the Injuns don't -keer to meddle with the varmint, unless a dozen or two of 'em, well -mounted an' armed, can ketch him out in clar open ground; an' even -then they have to handle themselves round purty lively, for if the bar -onct gets his claws on a hoss he has to go under. You couldn't hire a -red-skin to go into the mountains alone an' hunt up a grizzly. The -varmint allers lives in the thickest part of the woods; an' if you -don't plug him through the brain at the first shot, or if your hoss -gets tangled in the bushes, you're in a mighty onpleasant fix the -first thing you know. But me an' Bill had hunted grizzlies plenty o' -times, an' allers come out o' the fight right side up, an' we war used -to the sport. - -"Wal, as I was sayin', we started out toward the place where Bill had -seed the trail o' the bar, an', arter four hours' hard ridin' over -rocks an' fallen logs an' thick bushes, we come to the gully. It war -'bout a hundred feet deep an' a quarter of a mile broad, an' the banks -on both sides war as steep as the roof o' this cabin, an' covered with -bushes so thick that a hoss couldn't hardly work a way through 'em. It -war a fine place for a bar, an' many a trapper wouldn't have liked the -idea o' goin' down in there to hunt one up, an' I couldn't help -sayin': - -"'Ugly place, ain't it?' - -"'Yes,' answered ole Bill. 'But look over there;' an' he pinted acrost -the gully to a sort o' clar spot, where there warn't no bushes, an' -the timber didn't grow very thick. 'If the bar gets arter us,' he went -on to say, 'we must run for that ar place; an' if we onct get him up -there, he's ourn, sure.' - -"Arter stoppin' a few minits to give our hosses a chance to rest, we -took a look at our rifles, to see that they war all right, an' then -begun to work our way down into the gully. It must have tuk us an hour -to reach the bottom, for the brake war higher than our hosses' heads, -an' it war hard work to get through it. We had sent out the dogs--we -had two of the best bar dogs I ever happened to see--when we first -started down, and jest as we reached the bottom of the gully, they -give notice, by their howlin', that they had found the grizzly's -trail. We rid up to the place as fast as we could, an' ole Bill jumped -off his hoss an' examined the tracks. They war fresh. The bar had jest -passed along, an' we knowed that he warn't far off. - -"'Hunt 'em up, dogs! hunt 'em up! Off with you!' shouted ole Bill; an' -he jumped on to his hoss agin, and the dogs, understandin' what he -meant, war out o' sight in no time. We follered them as fast as we -could, an', purty quick, we heered a great crashin' in the brake, an' -the dogs broke out into a reg'lar yelpin'. We knowed that they had -started the bar, an' war arter him. In a few minits we come up with -'em, and see the bar settin' on his haunches. The dogs war jumpin' -round him, now an' then takin' a grab at his hams, an' they kept the -varmint spinnin' round as though he war sot on a pivot. Ole Bill drew -his rifle up to his shoulder, an' sent an ounce-ball into the bar's -hide, which brought him to the ground; but he war on his pins agin in -less than no time, an', leaving the dogs, he took arter ole Bill, who -made straight acrost the gully toward the clar spot he had spoken of. -The dogs follered close at the bar's heels, onct in awhile makin' a -grab at his back settlements, which seemed to bother him a good deal; -but he didn't stop to fight 'em, cause he thought the ole trapper war -bigger game. The bushes an' trees war so thick that for some time I -couldn't get a chance to put in a shot. I didn't want to fire till I -war sartin of killin' the bar, 'cause it war only throwin' away powder -without doin' no good. So I cheered on the dogs, hopin' that they -would bring the bar to a stand-still; an' I warn't mistakened, for -they begun to pitch in so rough, that the varmint had to stop to keep -'em off. This war what I war waitin' for, an' I sent another chunk o' -cold lead atween his ribs. But he didn't seem to mind it at all; an', -arter beating off the dogs, he started agin for the trapper. - -"Ole Bill had made mighty good use of his time, an' the way he stuck -his heels into his hoss' sides war a thing to look at. He tried to -load up his rifle, but the bushes war so thick that he had to lay -close along his hoss, to keep from bein' swept off by them. - -"I drawed up long enough to ram home a ball, an' then started on agin, -an' when I come up with Bill, I found that he had got into a reg'lar -laurel brake. The bushes war thicker than ever, an' as tough as green -hickory, an' Bill's hoss couldn't hardly make no headway at all. But -they didn't seem to bother the varmint any, for he tumbled along as -though the bushes hadn't been more'n straws; an' he war gainin' on -Bill. - -"It war a fine sight to see the way the ole feller carried himself -then. He held his knife in one hand, an' his clubbed rifle in the -other, keepin' his eyes on the bar all the while, an' leavin' his hoss -to pick out his own way. He didn't look the least bit skeery, but I -knowed he war kalkerlatin' how many clips he could get at the bar -afore the varmint could grab him. The dogs war bitin' at the bar's -legs all the while, an' purty soon he had to stop agin to fight 'em -off. He raised on his haunches, an' struck at the hounds, which war as -spry as cats, an' had been in barfights often enough to know how to -keep out of his reach. - -"'Now's your time, Dick,' said ole Bill. 'Shoot close! My hoss ar -purty nigh tuckered.' - -"I war all ready, an' ridin' up purty close, so as to get in a good -shot, I drawed a bead on him, an' fired, expectin' to bring him, sure. -But a bush atween me an' him glanced the ball, so that I only made an -ugly wound in his shoulder. He give an angry growl, an', beatin' off -the dogs, he dropped on all-fours, an' made arter me. - -"'Now,' thinks I, 'Dick Lewis, you're in a blamed ugly scrape;' and so -I war. The bar warn't more'n twenty feet from me; and afore my hoss -had made three jumps, the bar made a claw at him, an' pulled out half -his tail. The animal was doin' his best, but I see that it warn't -healthy to stay on his back, an', as we passed under a tree, I grabbed -hold of a limb jest above my head, an' swung myself clar off the -saddle, jest in time to see the varmint put both paws on my hoss, an' -pull him to the ground. But that war his last move, for ole Bill sent -a bullet through his brain that throwed him dead in his tracks. - -"I come down out of my tree, feelin' about as mean as any feller you -ever see, for a man might as well be on the prairy without his head -as without his hoss, an' mine war one of the best that ever wore a -saddle. But the bar had done the work for him, an' no amount of -grievin' could fetch me another; so I choked down my feelin's, an' -begun to help ole Bill to take off the grizzly's hide. But there war -plenty of Injuns about, an' it warn't long afore I had another hoss; -an' 'bout a year arter that I ketched one for which many a trapper -would have give all the beaver-skins he ever had. But that's another -story." - - - - -CHAPTER X. - -A Beaver Hunt. - - -The next morning, as soon as they had eaten their breakfast, the -trapper went to the door, and, after listening, and looking at the sky -a few moments, said: - -"Youngsters, if we intend to ketch any of them beaver, we had better -do it to-day. We are goin' to have a storm as is a storm, an' afore -two days the woods will be blocked up so that we can't do no huntin' -at all." - -Frank and George were eager to accompany the trapper, for -beaver-hunting was something entirely new to them; but Archie and -Harry concluded to make another attempt to capture the black fox; for -the trapper's description of his swiftness and cunning had rendered -him an object worthy of attention, and made the young hunters more -anxious than ever to catch him. - -Frank and George drew on their overcoats, strapped their blankets fast -to their belts, and filled their haversacks. When all was ready, each -shouldered his gun and an ax, and followed the trapper from the cabin. -About noon they came to a halt on the banks of a large pond that lay -hemmed in on all sides by the trees. Near the center of this pond were -several objects of a conical shape, looking like drifts of snow. These -were the beavers' houses. - -The boys were entirely at a loss to conceive how they were to go to -work to capture the beaver. If they began to cut through the houses, -the animals would take the alarm in a moment, and dive under the ice, -where they would be safe from all pursuit. - -"I'll show you how it is done," said the trapper, who perceived that -they did not understand it. "In the first place, take your axes and go -and pound on every house you can see." - -"Why, that will frighten out all the beaver," said Frank. - -"That's jest what I want to do," said Dick; "but you must know that a -beaver can't live under the ice any longer than me or you." - -He then went on to explain that the banks on each side of the pond -were supplied with "breathing-holes," which were dug into the bank, -and extended upward above the level of the water, and that the beaver, -when frightened out of their houses, would seek refuge in these holes, -where they could be easily captured. - -"But how do we know where these holes are?" asked George. - -"Easy enough," answered Dick. "All you have got to do is to go along -the bank an' strike the ice with an ax, an' you can tell by the sound -where they are. But I fixed all that when I first diskivered this -pond. I know jest where the holes are. Now, you go an' pound on them -houses, an' drive out the beaver." - -The boys accordingly laid down their guns, and commenced an attack on -the dwellings of the beaver, when the animals at once plunged into the -water under the ice. After every house had been visited, and the boys -were satisfied that they had made noise sufficient to drive out all -the beaver, they returned to the place where they had left the -trapper, and found him engaged in cutting a hole in the ice close to -the bank. As the boys came up, he directed one of them to fasten his -hunting-knife to a long sapling for a spear, and the other to chop a -hole in the bank directly opposite to the one he had cut in the ice. - -By the time the spear was finished, an opening had been cut down into -the "breathing-hole," and the hunters discovered three beaver -crouching in the furthest corner. Useless thrust his head into the -hole, and contented himself with barking at the game; but Brave -squeezed himself down into the opening among the beavers, and attacked -them furiously. The animals made a desperate resistance, and in a few -moments Brave backed out of the hole, with his ears and nose bleeding -from several wounds, which showed that the long teeth of the beaver -had been used to a good advantage. Frank gazed in surprise at the -dog's lacerated head, and exclaimed: - -"There's something besides a beaver in there." - -"No, I reckon not," replied the trapper. "Your dog is jest about as -keerless as you be, an' hasn't got no more sense than to pitch into -every wild varmint he comes acrost. You must understand that a beaver -can get up a tarnal good fight if he onct makes up his mind to it. An' -when you get one of 'em cornered up, it takes somethin' besides a -'coon dog to whip him." - -Frank made no reply, and the trapper reached down with his long spear, -when one after the other of the beavers were killed and pulled out on -the bank. The attack on the houses was then renewed, to drive out any -of the animals which might have returned. In the next breathing-hole -two beavers were found, but only one was secured, the other making his -escape by plunging back under the ice. While they were cutting into -the next hole, a large mink suddenly popped out from under the roots -of a tree into which the trapper was chopping; and although George -made a frantic blow at him with the handle of his ax, he succeeded in -getting past him, and started across the pond toward the opposite -shore. The boys immediately went in pursuit, George leading the way, -and Frank following close behind him, brandishing his spear, and -shouting to the dogs, which were close upon the mink's heels. The -little animal made headway through the snow with a rapidity that was -surprising; but the long bounds of the dogs were rapidly diminishing -the distance between them, and when about half way across the pond, -Useless overtook and seized him. The boys increased their speed, -fearful that the dog might spoil the skin, which was one of the finest -they had ever seen. - -"Useless!" shouted George, "get out! Drop that"---- - -He did not finish the sentence; for suddenly there was a loud crack, -and the ice opened beneath him, and he sank out of sight in the cold -water. Frank, as we have said, was following close behind him, and at -the rate of speed at which he was running, it was impossible to stop; -and the trapper, who had been watching the race, and had witnessed the -accident with an expression of great concern depicted on his -weather-beaten countenance, expected to see Frank disappear also. But -the young naturalist always had his wits about him, and summoning all -his strength, he sprang into the air, and cleared the hole into which -George had fallen, by an extraordinary leap, and landed on the firm -ice on the opposite side. George rose almost instantly, for he was an -expert swimmer; but his sudden immersion into the cold water seemed -to have paralyzed his limbs, and rendered him incapable of action. -Frank turned immediately and made a desperate clutch at George's long -hair; but he was too late, for the unfortunate young hunter again sank -slowly out of sight. Frank's mind was made up in an instant, and -hastily pulling off his fur cap and comforter, he unbuckled his belt -and began to divest himself of his overcoat. - -"Take care now, youngster," exclaimed the trapper, who at this moment -came up. "Don't let George get a hold of you, or you'll both go down -together;" and Dick threw himself on his knees, and stretched his long -arm out over the water ready to catch George if he should come up -within his reach, while Frank stood upon the edge of the ice, ready to -plunge into the water the moment his companion should rise again. - -But his intentions were anticipated; for at this moment Brave came -bounding to the spot, carrying the mink in his mouth. Understanding, -in an instant, that something was wrong, he dropped his game and -sprang into the water. At this moment George's head appeared at the -surface, and the dog seized him, when, to the horror of the hunters, -both disappeared together. But they arose a moment afterward, and -Brave, holding the rescued hunter by the collar of his coat, swam -toward his master, and George was drawn out on the ice, in a state of -insensibility. - -"Here! here!" exclaimed Dick, running around to the place where Frank -was kneeling, holding George in his arms; "give him to me, an' you run -back an' get the axes." - -The trapper raised his young companion in his arms as easily as though -he had been an infant, and started toward the bank at the top of his -speed; while Frank, after pulling Brave out of the water, ran back -after the axes, as Dick had directed. When he again found the trapper, -he was on the bank, kneeling beside George, and engaged in chafing his -hands and temples. - -"Now, youngster!" he exclaimed, hurriedly, "if you ever worked in your -life, work now. Build a fire and throw up a shantee. We must get his -wet clothes off him to onct." - -Frank, as may be supposed, worked with a will, knowing that the life -of his companion depended on his exertions. In a short time a roaring -fire was started, and a rude shelter erected, when George's wet and -frozen clothes were pulled off and hung up to dry, and he was warmly -wrapped up in blankets. The rubbing was continued a few moments -longer, when they had the satisfaction of seeing him open his eyes and -gaze about him. Dick now left the hut. In a short time he returned, -with a bunch of herbs in his hand, and soon afterward a cup of strong, -nauseating tea was pressed to George's lips, and he was compelled to -swallow the whole of it. He was then enveloped in more blankets, and -ordered to "go to sleep." - -While Frank and the trapper were seated beside the fire, talking over -the accident, they heard the noise of approaching footsteps on the -crust, and presently Archie and Harry hurried up to the hut. - -"What's the matter with George?" inquired the latter, hurriedly, for -he saw that Dick and Frank were the only ones at the fire. - -"O, he got a duckin' in the pond, that's all," replied the trapper. -"Don't be alarmed. He's sleepin' nicely now." - -"We thought somebody was drowned, sure," said Archie, "for we saw the -hole in the ice, and your guns and overcoats scattered about, as -though they had been thrown down in a great hurry." - -In about an hour George awoke, and, of course, was immediately -assailed with innumerable questions. Among others, his brother asked -him why he didn't swim when he fell into the water. - -"Why didn't I swim!" repeated George; "I couldn't move. It seemed as -though every drop of blood in my body was frozen solid as soon as I -touched the water. But where's the black fox you were going to bring -back with you? Did you catch him?" - -Archie replied in the negative; and then went on to tell how they had -found the trail in the gully, followed it for a mile, then suddenly -lost it again, all efforts to recover it proving unsuccessful. - -About the middle of the afternoon, George, declaring that he was able -to travel, was allowed to put on his clothes, and the hunters -shouldered their guns and started for home. - -The sight of their snug little cabin was a pleasant thing to the eyes -of the trappers that evening, for the day's hunt had been a hard as -well as a profitable one. A fire was quickly started, and, while -their supper was cooking, George changed his wet clothes; and a strong -cup of coffee, as the trapper remarked, "set _him_ all right again." -After supper, how soft and comfortable their blankets felt! They lay -for a long time in silence, watching the sparks as they arose slowly -toward the opening in the roof that served as a chimney, and listening -to the whistling of the wind and the sifting of the snow against the -walls of the cabin; for the storm that the trapper had predicted had -already set in. - - - - -CHAPTER XI. - -Breaking up a Moose-Pen. - - -On awaking the next morning, they found that the cabin was almost -covered with snow, and the woods were filled with drifts, that -rendered it impossible for them to resume their hunting. The two days -that followed were passed in-doors, curing the skins of the animals -they had taken, and listening to the trapper's stories. - -On the third day, a heavy thaw set in, and at night the wind changed -around to the north, and covered the snow with a crust that would -easily bear a man. Early the next morning the hunters set out. George -and Frank accompanied the trapper, to assist in breaking up a -moose-pen, which the latter had discovered a few days previous to the -storm, and Archie and Harry determined to again attempt the capture -of the black fox. - -The trapper led his young companions through the woods, and across the -pond where George had met with his accident. About a mile further on, -he came to a halt, and said, almost in a whisper: - -"Now, youngsters, we are a'most to the moose-pen. You stay here, -George; an' remember, don't go to movin' up on the game till you hear -me shoot." - -"I don't see any moose," said George. - -"In course you don't," said the trapper. "But they are in the woods -here, an' me and Frank will go an' surround them. It'll take mighty -keerful steppin', though," he continued, turning to Frank, "for moose -have got an ear like an Injun's. Be keerful now how you walk." So -saying, the trapper shouldered his heavy rifle, and moved off through -the woods, accompanied by Frank. About half a mile further on, the -latter was stationed on the banks of a deep ravine; and Dick, after -repeating his instructions, continued on alone. - -The stalwart form of the trapper had scarcely disappeared, when Frank -heard a noise in the bushes, and presently a large moose appeared, -leisurely wading through the deep snow, and cropping the branches as -he approached. As if by instinct, Frank's gun was leveled; but -remembering the trapper's instructions, the weapon was lowered, and -the young hunter stepped back into the bushes, and watched the motions -of the animal. He was a noble fellow--very much like the one with -which Frank had engaged in that desperate struggle in the woods--with -antlers fully four feet in length. The animal appeared totally -unconscious of danger, and, after browsing about among the bushes for -a few moments, walked back into the woods again, but almost instantly -reappeared, and made for the ravine at the top of his speed. At this -moment, the well-known report of the trapper's rifle echoed through -the woods. It was followed by a crashing in the crust, and presently -another moose appeared, and, like the former, ran toward the ravine. A -short distance behind him came the trapper, holding his rifle in one -hand and his huge hunting-knife in the other, and rapidly gaining on -the deer, which sank through the crust into the deep snow at every -step. Frank and Brave immediately joined in the pursuit, and the -moose had not run far before he was overtaken and seized by the dog. -Frank, remembering his first experience in moose-hunting, halted at a -safe distance, and was about to "make sure work" of the game, when the -trapper darted past him, exclaiming: - -"Don't shoot, youngster. That's a young moose; an' if you can ketch -him, he'll be worth more nor all the stuffed critters you've got at -home." - -Here was an opportunity which, to Frank, was too good to be lost. -Hastily dropping his gun, and producing a piece of rope from the -pocket of his overcoat, he ran up to the game, and, after a brief -struggle, succeeded in fastening it around his neck. The dog was then -ordered to let go his hold, when the moose instantly sprang to his -feet and started to run. Frank was thrown flat in the snow, but he -clung to the rope with all his strength. After a short time the young -moose, wearied with his useless efforts to escape, ceased his -struggles, and his captors led, or rather pulled, him along through -the woods toward the place where the game had first been started. - -"Now," said the trapper, "you've got a pet that is worth something. -He's jest the thing you want. You won't have to drag your sleds home -now." - -"Why not?" inquired Frank. - -"Cause this yere moose can pull you four fellers further in one day -than you can travel in two. I knowed a trader at Fort Laramie that had -one o' them critters, and he used to hitch him up to a sled, an' think -nothin' o' travelin' sixty miles a day." - -While they were talking, George came up, and, after the hunters had -collected their game, Dick led the way toward home, while Frank -brought up the rear, leading the young moose. - -Meanwhile, Archie and Harry were in hot pursuit of the black fox. They -found the trail, as before, in the gully, and Sport started off on it, -and met with no difficulty until they arrived on the banks of a small -stream that ran a short distance from the cabin. Here the trail came -to an abrupt termination, and all efforts to recover it were -unavailing. This was the identical spot where they had lost it before. -For almost an hour they continued, but without any success; and Harry -exclaimed, as he dropped the butt of his gun to the ground, and leaned -upon the muzzle with rather a dejected air: - -"It's no use. We're fooled again. That fox has got his regular -run-ways, and we might as well call off the dogs, and go home." - -"Not yet," said Archie; "I can't give up in this way; neither do I -believe that any fox that ever lived can fool Sport. Hunt 'em up! hunt -'em up!" he continued, waving his hand to the dog, which was running -about, tearing the bushes with his teeth, and whining, as if he, too, -felt the disgrace of being so easily defeated. The obedient animal -sprang upon the trail and followed it to its termination, and then -commenced circling around through the bushes again; and Archie walked -across the stream and examined the banks for the twentieth time, but -no signs of a trail could be found. - -At length, Harry suddenly exclaimed: - -"Look here, Archie; here's where the rascal went to;" and he pointed -to a small tree that had been partially uprooted by the wind, and -leaned over until its top reached within ten feet of the ground. - -"You see," Harry went on to say, "that the tops of all the other trees -are almost loaded down with snow, but this one hasn't got a bit on it. -The fox must have shaken it off when he jumped up there." - -Archie, who was ready to catch at any thing that looked like -encouragement, hurriedly recrossed the stream, and, after examining -the top of the tree, climbed up on it, when he discovered the tracks -of the fox in the snow that had fallen on the trunk. He descended to -the ground, and the boys ran along up the stream, carefully examining -every log and stick that was large enough for a fox to walk upon, and -finally, to their joy, discovered the trail, which ran back toward the -gully from which it had started. - -The dogs immediately set off upon it, and the boys, who had learned -considerable of the "lay of the land," struck off through the woods, -in an almost contrary direction to the one the dogs were pursuing, -toward a ridge that lay about three miles distant. - -Archie led the way at a rapid pace, now and then looking over his -shoulder, and exclaiming, "Hurry up, Harry." Half an hour's run -brought them to the ridge, and their feelings were worked up to the -highest pitch of excitement, when they discovered that the fox had not -yet passed. - -"We're all right now," said Archie, joyfully; "that black fox is -ours." - -"Yes," said Harry, "provided this is his runway." - -"O, don't begin to throw cold water on our expectations," said Archie. -"It'll be too bad if----. There they come, now; get out of sight, -quick." - -As Archie spoke, a long, drawn-out bay came faintly to their ears, and -the dogs appeared to be coming up the ridge. The young hunters hastily -concealed themselves, and Archie had just cocked his gun, when the -black fox broke from the bushes, and, as if suspicious of danger -ahead, turned off down the ridge. It was a long shot, but Archie, -without a moment's hesitation, raised his gun to his shoulder and -fired. - -"I told you he was ours," he shouted, as the smoke cleared away, and -the black fox was seen struggling in the snow. A blow on the head with -a stick stilled him, and the boys, after examining their prize, which -was the finest of his species they had ever seen, started down the -ridge to meet the dogs, and soon arrived at the cabin with their -prize, and were delighted to find how successful their comrades had -been in capturing the moose. - -Frank and Archie immediately set to work to break the young moose to -harness. He proved very tractable, and soon learned to draw the boys -in a sled, over the ice, with all the regularity of a well-broken -horse, more than compensating them for all the care they had bestowed -upon him. - - - - -CHAPTER XII. - -The Moose Shows his Qualities - - -A severe storm having set in, rendering hunting or trapping -impossible, the hunters passed a few succeeding days in-doors, and -busied themselves in making a sled and harness for the moose, which, -since his capture, had received a large share of Frank's attention. He -had been hitched to a sled regularly every day, and had been trained -until he had learned to obey almost as well as a horse. He was very -much afraid of a whip, and his only fault was a desire to get over the -ground as fast as possible. Sometimes, when fairly started, it was a -difficult task to restrain him. But the boys, far from considering -this a failing, looked upon it as a quality worth cultivating; and -their horned horse was always allowed to show off his speed to the -very best advantage. - -One morning, after the weather became settled, Archie proposed taking -a ride up the creek, to which the others readily agreed. The moose was -brought from the barn, and after considerable trouble--for the new -harness had been made too small--he was finally hitched to the sled. -It was their intention to camp in the woods and eat their dinner. -After providing the necessary articles, an ax, plenty of ammunition, a -supply of coffee, salt, and pepper, a camp-kettle and frying-pan, they -sprang into the sled, and waving their hands to Uncle Joe and the -trapper, who stood in the door, watching their departure, they shouted -to their horned horse, which set off up the creek at a rapid pace. - -"Let him out now!" shouted Frank to his cousin, who was driving. "Let -him out. We've got all day before us, and let us see how fast he can -go." - -Archie pulled his cap down over his ears, and commenced shouting to -the moose, which almost redoubled his pace, and whirled them over the -snow at a rate the boys had never seen equaled by a living animal. -His gait was an awkward, shambling trot; and as the boys watched his -movements, they could not help laughing outright, whereupon the dogs -joined in the chorus, yelping and barking furiously. This frightened -the moose, which uttered a loud snort, and throwing back his head, ran -faster than ever; and Archie, who began to fear that he was running -away with them, pulled and jerked at the lines, but all to no purpose; -the moose ran faster and faster, and the boys, who did not pause to -consider the danger they might be in, laughed and shouted until they -were hoarse. At length Frank exclaimed: - -"You had better check him up a little. The first thing you know, the -concern will run away with us." - -"I believe that is what the rascal is trying to do now," answered -Archie, pulling with all his strength at the reins. "He has got a -mouth like iron." - -"Well, let him go then, until he gets tired," said George; "he can't -run this way all day, and besides, if we are obliged to spend a night -in the woods, it will be no new thing to us. Get up there! Hi! hi!" - -Archie, finding that it was impossible to stop the "concern," as Frank -had called it, turned his entire attention to keeping him in the -creek, in which he succeeded very well, until, as they came suddenly -around a bend, they discovered before them a huge log, lying across -the ice. To avoid it was impossible, for the log reached entirely -across the creek. - -"Stop him! stop him!" shouted Harry. "If he hits that log he'll break -the sled all to smash. Stop him, I tell you!" - -"I can't," replied Archie, pulling at the reins. - -"Let him go, then," said Frank. "Lay on the whip, and perhaps he will -carry us, sled and all, clean over the log." - -This was a desperate measure; but before Archie had time to act upon -the suggestion, or the others to oppose it, they reached the log. The -moose cleared it without the least exertion, but the next moment there -was a loud crash, and Frank, who had seated himself on the bottom of -the sled, and was holding on with both hands, suddenly arose in the -air like a rocket, and pitching clear over his cousin, turned a -complete somersault, and landed on the crust with such force, that it -broke beneath his weight, and he sank out of sight in the snow. The -next moment he felt a heavy weight upon him, and heard a smothered -laugh, which he knew was uttered by Archie. The latter regained his -feet in an instant, and making a blind clutch at his cousin--for his -face was so completely covered up with snow that he could not -see--inquired, as he helped him to his feet: - -"Who's this?" - -"It is I," answered Frank. "But where is the moose?" - -"Gone off to the woods, I suppose," answered Archie. "It's just our -luck. Eh! what? No, he hasn't--he's here, safe." - -He had succeeded in clearing his eyes of the snow, and saw the moose -struggling desperately to free himself from the sled, which had caught -against the log, and was holding him fast. Frank and his cousin at -once sprang to secure him, and, while the former lifted the sled over -the log, Archie seized the lines, and, in order to render escape -impossible, made them fast to a tree. By this time George and Harry -had come up, and at once commenced searching about in the snow for -their weapons, and the others busied themselves in repairing the -runners of the sled, both of which were broken. In a short time every -thing was ready for the start. George volunteered to act as driver, -provided the dogs could be kept quiet, and, after a few objections -from Harry, who "didn't like the idea of riding after that moose," -they again set out. Fortunately no one was injured in the least--not -even frightened--the only damage sustained by the establishment being -the breaking of the runners. Boy-like, they gave not one thought to -the danger they had been in, but amused themselves in laughing at the -comical figures they must have cut, as they all "pitched -head-over-heels out of the sled together." The dogs, however, did not -seem to regard it in the light of an amusing adventure, for they could -not be induced to enter the sled again. They ran along behind it, -keeping at a respectful distance, and the moment the sled stopped, and -their masters began trying to coax them in, they would retreat -precipitately. - -The moose now seemed to have become quieted. Whether it was for the -reason that the dogs were kept still, and there was less noise behind -him, or that he had been fatigued by his sharp run, the boys were -unable to decide. He trotted along at an easy gait, but still going as -fast as they wished to travel, until Harry announced "that it was half -past eleven o'clock, and high time that they were looking up a place -to eat their dinner." A suitable spot for an encampment was soon -selected, and, after the moose had been unharnessed and fastened to a -tree, Frank and Harry set out to procure something for dinner, leaving -the others to attend to the duties of the camp. - -The Newfoundlander, which accompanied the hunters, was sent on ahead -to start up any game that might be in his way. After he had led them -about a mile from the camp, his loud barking announced that he had -discovered something. The boys hurried forward, and found the dog -seated on his haunches at the foot of a tall hemlock, barking -furiously at something which had taken refuge among the branches. - -"It's a bear," exclaimed Harry, as soon as he could obtain a view of -the animal. - -"Yes, so I see," answered Frank, coolly pouring a handful of buck-shot -into each barrel of his gun. "We'll soon bring him down from there. -You be ready to finish him, in case I should miss." - -"Shoot close, then," answered Harry; "for if you only wound him, he -will prove a very unpleasant fellow to have about." - -Frank, in reply, raised his gun to his shoulder, and a loud report -echoed through the woods, followed by a savage growl. The shot was not -fatal, for, when the smoke cleared away, they discovered the bear -clinging to the tree, apparently none the worse for an ugly-looking -wound in his shoulder. - -"Shoot me if the rascal isn't coming down!" exclaimed Harry. "Try the -other barrel, Frank, quickly." - -It was as Harry had said. The bear was beginning to descend the tree, -and his whole appearance indicated that he meant fight. Frank was a -good deal surprised at this, for he had great confidence in his -double-barrel, and in his skill as a marksman, and had been sanguine -of either killing or disabling him at the first shot; but the celerity -of the animal's movements proved that his wound did not trouble him in -the least. It was evident that their situation would soon be any -thing but a pleasant one, unless the other barrel should prove fatal. -Frank could not pause long to debate upon the question, for the bear -was every moment nearing the ground, now and then turning toward his -enemies, and displaying a frightful array of teeth, as if warning them -that it was his intention to take ample revenge on them. Again he -raised his gun to his shoulder, his nerves as steady as if he were -about to shoot at a squirrel, and carefully sighting the head of their -shaggy enemy, pulled the trigger. The bear uttered another of his -terrific growls, and after trying in vain to retain his hold upon the -tree, fell to the ground. Brave was upon him in an instant, but the -bear, easily eluding him, raised on his haunches, and seized the dog -in his paws. One smothered howl came from Brave's throat, and Frank, -clubbing his gun, was rushing forward to the rescue of the -Newfoundlander, whose death now seemed inevitable, when another charge -of buck-shot, from Harry's gun, rattled into the bear's head, and -again brought him to the ground. Brave was released from his dangerous -situation, and the moment he regained his feet he attacked the bear -with redoubled fury; but the animal easily beat him off, and rushed, -with open mouth, upon Frank. - -"Run! run!" shouted Harry; "the rascal isn't hurt a bit." - -But with Frank, retreat was impossible; the bear was close upon him, -and he would have been overtaken in an instant. Bravely standing his -ground, he struck the animal a powerful blow, which staggered him for -an instant; but, before he had time to repeat it, his gun went flying -out of his hands, and he was stretched, stunned and bleeding, on the -snow. The bear, no doubt, considered him disposed of, for he kept on -after Harry, who, being unable to fire for fear of wounding either -Frank or the dog, had been compelled to witness the struggle, without -having the power of lending any assistance. - -The bear had struck Frank a severe blow, which, for a few seconds, -rendered him incapable of action; but as soon as he had recovered, he -ran for his gun, and while he was ramming home the charge, he saw -Harry's coat-tails disappearing in a thicket of bushes, and the bear, -seated on his haunches, engaged in fighting the dog, which, having -experienced some pretty rough handling, had learned to keep out of -reach of the dangerous claws. - -As soon as Frank had loaded his gun, he hurried forward to put an end -to the fight, when a sheet of flame shot out from the bushes, and the -bear ceased his fighting, and lay motionless on the snow. A moment -afterward Harry appeared, and, upon seeing Frank, exclaimed: - -"I've finished the job for him! But he gave you fits, didn't he? Your -face is all bloody. I guess he made your head ache!" - -"I guess he did, too," replied Frank. "I tell you, he hit me an awful -crack. I had as soon be struck with a sledge-hammer." - -Fortunately, there were no bones broken. After Frank's wounded head -had been bandaged with his handkerchief, the boys proceeded to remove -the skin of the bear, which was the largest of his species they had -ever seen. Selecting some of the choice parts of the meat, they then -started toward the camp. - -Their appearance relieved the anxiety the others had begun to feel at -their prolonged absence. The story of their adventure afforded -abundant material for conversation while they were eating their -dinner, which Frank, who had experienced no serious inconvenience from -the blow he had received, speedily served up; and many were the -speculations in regard to the lecture they would be certain to receive -from the trapper, for their "keerlessness." - -It was nearly four o'clock in the afternoon before the boys started -for Uncle Joe's cabin. As it promised to be a fine, moonlight night, -they were in no hurry. Allowing the moose to trot along at an easy -gait, they sat in the bottom of the sled, enveloped in furs, amusing -themselves in shouting and singing, when Archie suddenly exclaimed: - -"Look there, boys! Now, see me make that varmint jump." - -The boys looked in the direction indicated, and saw a large, gaunt -wolf standing on the bank of the creek, regarding them attentively, -and seeming to be not the least concerned about their approach. As -Archie spoke, he raised his gun; but the wolf, as if guessing his -intention, suddenly turned, and disappeared in the bushes. - -"Boys," said Frank, "that little circumstance has set me to thinking. -Supposing that a pack of those fellows should get after us to-night, -wouldn't we be in a fix?" - -"That's so," answered the others, in a breath, their cheeks blanching -at the very thought. - -"I never thought of that," said Archie. "Hurry up, Harry. Lay on the -goad, and let's get home as soon as possible." - -The joking and laughing instantly ceased, and the boys bent suspicious -glances on the woods, on each bank of the creek, over which darkness -was fast settling, and their hands trembled as they reached for their -guns, and placed them where they could be found at a moment's warning. - -Harry urged on the moose, intent on reaching the tree where the -accident had happened in the morning, if possible, before dark. That -passed, they would feel comparatively safe; for if the wolves should -overtake them before they reached the tree, escape would be -impossible. The moose shuffled over the snow at a rapid rate, as if -he, too, knew that they were in danger; but Harry kept him completely -under his control, and in less than half an hour the tree was in -sight. After considerable exertion, the sled was lifted over the -obstruction, and as the boys resumed their seats, they felt relieved -to know that the worst part of the ride had been accomplished; but -they had not gone far when, faintly, to their ears came the sound for -which they had been waiting and listening--the mournful howl of a -wolf. The moose heard it too, for, with a bound like a rocket, he set -off on that break-neck pace that had so amused the boys in the -morning. But it was far from a laughing matter now. The moose was not -running from a harmless noise behind him, but from a danger that -threatened them as well. - -Presently the dreadful sound was repeated from another part of the -woods, still distant, but nearer than before. The boys had often heard -the same sound, when seated around their blazing camp-fire, and had -smiled to think what a momentary horror would seize upon them as the -sound first came pealing from the depths of the woods. But they had no -camp-fire to protect them now; nothing but the speed of their horned -horse and their own bravery could save them. - -In a few moments, another and another joined in the hideous chorus, -each nearer and more fearfully distinct than the others. The wolves -were closing in behind them from all sides; but with their usual -cowardice, were delaying the attack, until a sufficient force could be -collected to render an easy victory certain. Up to this time not a -wolf had been seen, save the one that Archie had first discovered; but -in a few moments they could be heard dashing through the bushes on -either side of the creek, and, soon after, the boldest began to show -themselves on the ice behind them. - -To describe the thoughts that ran with lightning speed through the -minds of the terrified boys were impossible. In spite of the piercing -cold, so intense were their feelings of horror, that they were covered -with perspiration, and every thing they had done in their -lives--minute incidents, long since forgotten--seemed spread out -before their eyes like a panorama. Rapidly ran the terrified moose; -but nearer and nearer came their dreadful pursuers, each moment -increasing in numbers, and growing more bold. The moment was fast -approaching when they would make the attack. - -"Let us commence the fight, boys," said Frank, in as firm a voice as -he could command. "We must kill as many of them as we can, before they -close on us. George, take Harry's gun. Archie, you and I will fire -first. Remember now, no putting two charges into one wolf. Harry, keep -on the ice. Ready--now!" - -The guns cracked in rapid succession, and the howls which followed -proved that the ammunition had not been thrown away. The wolves sprang -upon their wounded comrades and commenced to devour them, and George -seized the opportunity to put in two excellent shots. During the delay -thus occasioned, short as it was, the wolves were left far behind, and -the boys had ample opportunity to load their guns. Harry, although -generally very timid, when he found himself placed in danger, was the -most cool and collected one of the party; and it was well that it was -so, for it required all his presence of mind and power of muscle to -keep the moose on the ice. He was struggling desperately, first to -relieve himself of the weight of the sled, and, failing in this, he -would make frantic endeavors to turn into the woods. If any part of -the harness should break, they would be left at the mercy of their -pursuers. - -Again and again did the fierce animals overtake them, and as often -were some of their number stretched on the snow. At length, a loud -hurrah from Harry announced that they were nearing home; and a few -moments afterward, just as the wolves were closing around them again, -the sled entered Uncle Joe's "clearing." The noise of purling waters -to the desert-worn pilgrim never sounded sweeter than did the sharp -crack of rifles and the familiar voices of the trapper and his -brother, to the ears of the rescued boys. The inmates of the cabin had -heard the noise of the pursuit, and had rushed out to their -assistance. - -The moose was speedily unhitched from the sled, and after the boys had -closed and fastened the doors of the cabin, they began to breathe more -freely. - - - - -CHAPTER XIII. - -The Black Mustang. - - -Supper over, the hunters drew their chairs around the fireplace, and -Dick, after filling his pipe, and drawing a few puffs by way of -inspiration, said: - -"I believe I onct told you 'bout havin' my hoss pulled out from under -me by a grizzly bar, didn't I? Wal, I told you, too, that I ketched -another, an' I had a job to do it, too--to ketch the one I wanted; an' -the time you've had tryin' to ketch that black fox reminds me of it. -You know, I s'pose, that large droves of wild hosses roam all over the -prairy, an' them droves ar allers led by some splendid animal--allers -a stallion--one that has got the legs to go like lightnin', an' the -wind to keep it up. An' he's allers the cock o' the walk, too--the -best fighter in the drove; an' when he moves round, it would make you -laugh to see the other hosses get out of his way. He holds his place -until he dies, unless some other hoss comes along an' wallops him. -Then he takes his place with the common fags o' the drove, an' the new -one is king till he gets licked, an' so on. It ar a mighty hard thing -to capture one o' them leaders. You can ketch one o' the others easy -enough, but when it comes to lassoin' the 'king,' it's a thing that -few trappers can do. Jest arter my scrape with the grizzly bar, Bill -Lawson an' me fell in with a lot o' fellers that war goin' to spend a -season on the Saskatchewan, an' they wanted me an' Bill to join 'em; -so I bought me a hoss of an ole Injun for a couple o' plugs o' -tobacker--reg'lar Jeems River it war, too--an' we started out. My new -hoss was 'bout as ugly a lookin' thing as I ever happened to set eyes -on. He war big as all out-doors, an' you could see every bone in his -body. An' he war ugly actin', too; an' if a feller come within reach -of his heels, the way he would kick war a caution to Injuns. But I -hadn't been on the road more'n a day afore I diskivered that he could -travel like a streak o' greased lightnin'. That war jest the kind of -a hoss I wanted, an' I didn't care 'bout his ugly looks arter that. - -"For more'n three year, me an' Bill had been keepin' an eye on a hoss -that we wanted to ketch. He war the leader of a large drove. He war a -sort o' iron-gray color, with a thick, archin' neck--a purty feller; -an' the way he could climb over the prairy was a caution to cats. We -warn't the only ones arter him, either, for a'most every trapper in -the country had seed him, an' had more'n one chase arter him. But, -bars and buffaler! It war no use 't all, for he could run away from -the fastest hosses, an' not half try; an' many a poor feller, who -straddled a hoss that every body thought couldn't be tuckered out, had -left his animal dead on the prairy, an' found his way back to his camp -on foot. We war in hopes that we should see him, for we war travelin' -right through his country; an' I knowed that if we did find him, I -would stand as good a chance o' ketchin' him as any one, for my -ugly-lookin' hoss was the best traveler in the crowd. - -"One night we camped on a little stream, called Bloody Creek. We -called it so from a fight that a party of us fellers had there with -the Injuns. About an hour arter supper, while we war all settin' -round the fire, smokin' an' telling stories, ole Bob Kelly--the oldest -an' best trapper in the country--started up off his blanket, an', -cockin' his ear for a moment, said, 'Somebody's comin', boys.' An', -sure 'nough, in a few minits up walked a stranger. - -"It ar a mighty uncommon thing to meet a teetotal stranger on the -prairy, an' a man don't know whether he is a friend or foe; but we war -mighty glad to see him, and crowded round him, askin' all sorts o' -questions; an' one took his rifle, an' another pulled off his -powder-horn an' bullet-pouch, an' a big feller dragged him to the -fire, where we could all get a good look at him, an' made him drink a -big cup o' coffee. - -"'Whar do you hail from, stranger?' inquired ole Bob Kelly, who allers -took them matters into his own hands, an' we little fellers had to set -round an' listen. - -"'I b'long anywhere night ketches me,' answered the stranger. 'I'm an -ole trapper in these yere parts.' - -"'Whar's your hoss?' asked ole Bob. - -"'I left him dead on the prairy--dead as a herrin'. I rid him a -leetle too hard, I reckon. I war chasin' up the black mustang.' - -"If I should live to be a hundred year older 'n I'm now, an' should -live among the Blackfoot Injuns the hull time, I shouldn't expect to -hear another sich a yell as 'em trappers give when the stranger -mentioned the black mustang. They crowded round him like a flock o' -sheep, all askin' him questions; an' he tried to answer 'em all to -onct; an' sich a row as there war round that camp-fire for a few -minits! It war wusser nor any Injun war-dance I ever seed. Now, me an' -Bill hadn't never seed the black mustang, nor heerd o' him afore, -'cause we hadn't trapped in that part o' the country for a'most three -year, but we knowed in a minit that it must be the leader o' some -drove. But Bill had lived among the Injuns so much that he had got -kinder used to their ways, an' he didn't like to see them trappers -carryin' on so, an' actin' like a parcel o' young'uns jest turned -loose from school; so, as soon as he could make himself heered, he -yelled: - -"'What in tarnation's the matter with you fellers? As soon as you git -through hollerin', me an' Dick would like to know what all this yere -fuss is about.' - -"'Why, the black mustang has been within ten mile of this yere camp -to-night,' said one of the trappers. - -"'Wal, an' what o' that?' said Bill. 'Ar the black mustang any better -hoss than the gray king?' - -"They all set up another yell at this, an' one of 'em said: - -"'Why, the gray ain't nothin' 'long side o' the black mustang. He -could run away from him in less'n two minits. I guess you hain't hearn -tell of him, have you?' - -"'In course I hain't,' said Bill. - -"'Then you ain't no great shakes of a trapper,' said another. - -"Now, the rascal knowed that war a lie, for there warn't no trapper in -the country that could lay over Bill, 'cept ole Bob Kelly, an' every -one said as how he war the best trapper agoin'; an' the way Bill eyed -the feller, made him kinder keerful of his we'pons for a day or two -arterward. - -"Arter talking a little while, we found out the black mustang war the -leader o' the largest drove on the prairy. He had been round for 'bout -a year, an' every trapper in that part of the country had had a chase -arter him; but it war like chasin' the wind; an' besides this, he -could run all day, an' be jest as fresh at night as when he started in -the mornin'. - -"'Wal,' thinks I, 'Dick, here's a good chance for you to try your -hoss's travelin' qualities;' an' I made up my mind that I would start -off an' foller the black mustang till I ketched him, if it tuk me my -lifetime. - -"The next mornin', arter breakfast, one o' the trappers proposed that -we should spend three or four days in huntin' up the mustang, an', in -course, we all agreed to it. The stranger wanted to go, too, but we -had no hoss to give him; so, arter biddin' us all good-by, he -shouldered his rifle an' started out alone acrost the prairy. Wal, we -spent a week tryin' to find that hoss, but didn't even get a sight at -him; so one mornin' old Bob Kelly concluded that we had better make -another strike for the Saskatchewan. We packed up an' got all ready to -start, when I tuk them a good deal by surprise by tellin' 'em that I -war goin' to stay an' hunt up the black mustang. How they all laughed -at me! - -"'Laugh away, boys,' says I, as I got on to my hoss. 'I'll see you on -the Saskatchewan in a month or so, an' I'll either bring the mustang -with me, or he'll be a dead hoss. If I can't ketch him, I can shoot -him, you know; an' I won't see you agin till I do one or the other. -Good-by, fellers.' An' I turned my hoss an' rode away from the camp. - -"Wal, I rode all over them prairies for a'most six weeks, without -seein' the sign of a hoss; an' one arternoon I stopped on the top of a -high swell to take my reckonin'. I found myself on the east side o' -the Black Hills, an' I knowed that my first job was to get on the -_other_ side; the mustang had prob'bly struck off toward the -mountains. So I began to look around for a good place to get over. The -hills rose from the prairy reg'lar bluff-like--sometimes a hundred -feet high, an' so steep that a sheep couldn't climb up 'em. Jest as it -begun to grow dark, I come to a deep ravine, that seemed to run up -into the hills a good way; an' the bottom of this yere ravine was as -hard an' smooth as a floor, an' looked as if it had been traveled -over a good deal. But I war kinder tired with my day's tramp, an' -didn't notice it much, for I thought it war nothin' more'n a buffaler -road; so I picked out a good place an' camped for the night. - -"'Arly the next mornin' I set out agin; but as soon as I got on the -road I knowed that no buffaler had made them tracks; they war -mustangs, an' there war the prints of their hoofs in the dust, plain -as a bar's ears. When I come to examine the signs, I found, as nigh as -I could kalkerlate, that there war about three hundred hosses in the -drove, an' I knowed, from the looks of the tracks, that they had been -along lately; so I pushed ahead as fast as my hoss could carry me, an' -that wasn't slow, I tell you. I rid him all day at a tearin' rate, an' -at dark he seemed as willin' to go as when I started out. This put me -in high spirits, an' I made up my mind that if me and my hoss ever got -arter that black mustang, he would have to pick up his feet mighty -lively to get away from us. The next day, about noon, I war riding -along at a thumpin' rate, when all to onct I come to a place where the -ravine opened into a small prairy, and scattered all over it war the -wild hosses, feedin' away as peaceably as if no one had ever thought -of disturbin' them there. I pulled up so quick that it a'most brought -my hoss on his haunches; but the mustangs had seed me, an' the way -they snorted an' galloped about war a purty thing to look at. I drawed -off into the bushes as quick as I could, an' gathered up my lasso, -which I allers carried at my saddle-bow, an' then looked toward the -drove agin. The first hoss I seed was the black mustang. He war -runnin' about, tossin' his head an' snortin' as though he didn't -hardly understand the matter. He war the purtiest hoss I ever sot eyes -on; but I couldn't stop to examine his pints then. Then I tuk a look -round the prairy, an' saw that the hills rose on all sides of it; -there was but one way the hosses could get out, an' that war through -the ravine. I war in luck for onct in my life. Now, you boys, if you -had been there, would, most like, run out into the prairy to onct, an' -tried to ketch him, but that would have been a reg'lar boy trick, and -would have spiled it all. I knowed that I had the black hoss -surrounded, but if I begun to race him round that prairy, he would -dodge me, an' be off down the ravine like a shot; so I kept still in -the bushes; an' my hoss knowed his own bisness, and stood as though he -war made of rock. - -"Purty soon the hosses begun to get over their skeer an' commenced -comin' toward me--the black hoss leadin' the way. He would come a few -steps, an' then stop an' paw the ground, an' then come a little -nearer, an' so on, till he come within 'bout half a lasso-throw, when, -all of a sudden, I give my hoss the word, an' he jumped out o' them -bushes like a streak o' lightnin'. It would have made you laugh to see -the way them hosses put off; the black hoss, seemed to me, war on -wings; but he hadn't made three jumps afore my lasso war around his -neck. _The black mustang war mine!_ - -"In about three weeks I reached the Saskatchewan, an' if you could -have heard the yell them trappers give when I rode up to the camp on -the mustang, it would have done your heart good. I had kept my -promise." - - - - -CHAPTER XIV. - -A Brush with the Greasers. - - -Dick replenished his pipe and prepared to rest, after his tale was -completed, when Frank suddenly inquired: - -"Dick, how came that scar on your face?" - -The "scar" Frank had reference to, was an ugly-looking wen, extending -entirely across the trapper's face, and completely "spilin' his good -looks," as he sometimes used to remark. - -"That war done in a fight with some tarnal Greasers," answered Dick. -"I come mighty nigh havin' my neck stretched that night, an' the way -it happened war this:" - -After a few whiffs at his pipe, he continued: - -"When our government war settlin' our little dispute with the Mexikin -Greasers, I, like a good many other trappers, thought that I should -like to take a hand in the muss. I hate a Greaser wusser nor I do an -Injun. So, arter a little talk, me an' Bill jined a company o' Rangers -that war raised by an ole trapper we used to call Cap'n Steele. A'most -every man in the company war a trapper or hunter, for the cap'n -wouldn't take only them as could show the claws o' three or four -grizzlies they had rubbed out, an' as many Injun scalps. - -"Wal, when we got together, I reckon we war about the roughest lookin' -set o' men you ever see. Each one dressed as suited him best, an' all -armed with rifles, tomahawks, an' huntin'-knives. But our looks didn't -seem to set ole Gen'ral Taylor agin us, for when we rode up to his -camp, an' our cap'n had told him what we war, an' what we could do, he -seemed mighty glad to see us; and we war sent to onct to the -quarter-master, an' detailed to take care o' his cattle an' hosses, -fight guerrillas, an' carry letters from one place to another. We -knowed the country purty well, for there were few of us that hadn't -traveled over it more'n onct in our lives; but whenever we war sent -off anywhere we used to have a Mexikin guide, who showed us the short -cuts through the mountains. - -"Wal, just arter the battle o' Monterey, our company war cut up into -little squads, an' scattered all over the country; some went with the -gen'ral, an' some war put in Cap'n Morgan's company, an' sent scoutin' -around, an' four of us war left at Monterey with the quarter-master. - -"One day ole Bill come to me an' said: - -"'Dick, the kurnel wants to see you. I guess he's got some business -for you to 'tend to.' - -"I went up to the head-quarters, an' the kurnel told me that he had -some very important letters which he wanted to send to Major Davis, -who was then stationed at a little town called Alamo, an' as I had the -finest hoss in the town, he thought it best to send me. Alamo war on -the other side o' the mountains, an' about a hundred an' fifty miles -off. As the kurnel had said, I had the best hoss in the hull camp, -an', in course, it wouldn't have been no trouble to have gone there if -the country had been clear--the ride wasn't nothin'; but the Mexikins -war comin' down toward Monterey, an' the kurnel thought that they war -goin' to try to take the city from us agin. I knowed there war danger -in it, but I didn't mind that. I war used to it, an' if I got into a -scrape, it wouldn't be the first one I war in; so I started off arter -my hoss, an' in a few minits I war ready an' waitin' at the kurnel's -door for the letters. Purty soon he come out an' give 'em to me, -sayin': - -"'Now, Dick, be mighty keerful of 'em, 'cause there's some news in 'em -that I shouldn't like to have the Mexikins get hold of. This man,' -pintin' to a Greaser that stood a little behind me, holdin' his hoss, -'will be your guide. He knows all about the mountains.' Then, movin' -up a little closer to me, he whispered: 'He'll bear watchin', I think; -I don't know much about him, but he is the only man I have got to send -with you, an' them letters must be in Major Davis's hands by to-morrow -night.' - -"'All right, kurnel,' I answered; 'I'll look out for him. I never see -a Greaser yet that could pull the wool over my eyes. I'll give the -letters to Major Davis afore this time to-morrow. Good by.' An' me an' -the guide rid off. - -"As soon as I had got out of the city, I turned to have a look at my -guide, an' I thought, as the kurnel had said, that he would bear -watchin'. He war the most villainous lookin' Mexikin I ever sot eyes -on. He war a young feller, not more'n twenty-two or twenty-three year -old; but he had an eye that looked like an eagle's, an' it wasn't -still a minit. He war dressed in a reg'lar Greaser's rig, with a -slouch hat, short jacket, all covered with gold lace, an' pantaloons, -wide at the bottom, an' open on the side as far as his knees. He had a -splendid hoss, an' war armed with a carbine, short saber, an' a lasso; -an' I knowed that if me an' him got into a muss, that lasso would -bother me more'n his sword or shootin'-iron. The Greasers, as a -gen'ral thing, ain't no great shakes at shootin', an' in a -rough-an'-tumble fight they ain't nowhere; but them ar raw-hide -lassoes ar the meanest things in the world to fight; they'll have one -of 'em around your neck afore you know it. I had a little experience -in that line afore I got back. Arter we had got outside o' the pickets -a little way, he turned in his saddle, an' tried to commence a talk -with me in Spanish; but I made him believe that I couldn't understand -a word he said. I thought that if I should tell him that I couldn't -talk his lingo, it would make him a little keerless; an' so it did. - -"We rid all day as fast as our hosses could travel, an' afore dark we -got acrost the mountains, an' stopped afore a little house, where the -guide said would be a good place to pass the night. I didn't much like -the idee; had rather camp right down in the woods; but, in course, -that would only put him on the look-out, an' I knowed that the best -way to do war to act as though I thought every thing war all right. A -man come to the gate as we rid up, an', as soon as he see my guide, he -touched his hat to him in reg'lar soldier style. The guide answered -the salute, an' asked the man, in Spanish: - -"'Are you alone, Jose?' - -"'Yes, gen'ral,' answered the man. Then making a slight motion toward -me, which, I made believe I didn't notice, he asked: - -"'But the American?' - -"'O, he can't understand Spanish,' said my rascally guide. 'No fear of -him; he thinks it's all right. Did you receive my letter?' - -"'Yes, gen'ral,' answered the man, touching his hat agin. - -"'Don't make so many motions, you fool,' said my guide; 'the American -is not blind. You got my letter all right, you say? Then Bastian, with -five hundred men, will be here at midnight?' - -"'Yes, gen'ral.' - -"The guide seemed satisfied, for he got off his hoss, an' motioned me, -with a good many smiles an' grimaces, to do the same. I could see that -I war in a purty tight place, an' I had a good notion to draw one o' -my six-shooters an' kill both o' the rascals where they stood. But, -thinks I, there may be more of these yere yaller-bellies around here -somewhere, an' besides, if I wait, I may get a chance to capture the -gen'ral, for my guide war none other than Gen'ral Cortinas, an' one o' -the best officers the Mexikins had. He had bothered us more'n their -hull army, an' the kurnel had offered to give a thousand dollars for -him alive, or five hundred for his scalp. I didn't care a snap for the -money, 'cause it warn't no use to me on the prairy; all I wanted war a -good Kentucky rifle, plenty o' powder an' lead, an' a good hoss, an' I -war satisfied. But I wanted to capture that gen'ral, an' take him into -camp, for he war a nuisance. In battle he never showed no quarter, -an' if he tuk any prisoners, it war only that he might let his men try -their hands at shootin'. He seemed to understand fightin' better nor -the rest o' the Mexikins, an' it showed that he war a brave feller -when he would come right into camp, with sich a price sot on his head. - -"I warn't long in makin' up my mind what I ought to do, an' I got down -off my hoss, as though there warn't a Greaser within a hundred miles -o' me; but, instead o' givin the hoss into charge o' the man, I hit -him a cut with my whip that sent him flyin' up the road. I knowed that -he wouldn't be far off when I wanted him, an' I knowed, too, that my -saddle an' pistols war safe, 'cause nobody couldn't ketch him besides -me. Arter goin' a little way up the road, he turned an' looked back, -an' then jumped over a hedge into a field, an' begun to eat. I could -see that the Mexikins didn't like it a bit, for they looked at each -other an' scowled, an' Jose said: - -"'_Carrajo!_ do you s'pose the American suspects any thing, gen'ral?' - -"'It don't make no difference whether he does or not, said my guide, -turnin' on his heel, an' motionin' me to follow him to the house; -'he's in our power, an' don't leave this place alive.' - -"Now, you wouldn't have called that very pleasant news, I take it. -Wal, it did make me feel rather onpleasant; but I didn't exactly -believe what the ole rascal had said about my not goin' away alive. -Thinks I, shootin' is a game two can play at, an' as long as you don't -bring them tarnal lassoes round, I'm all right. I had never seed a -six-shooter afore I went into the army, but I had l'arnt to use 'em -a'most as well as I could my rifle. I found that they war mighty handy -things in a fight. I had four of 'em, two in my huntin'-shirt, and two -had gone off with my hoss; an' I knowed that when the time come I -could get up a nice little fight for the Greasers. - -"There war only two women in the house, an' they seemed mighty glad to -see him, an' sot out a cheer for him; but they scowled at me, an' left -me to stand up. But that didn't trouble me none, for I helped myself -to a seat, an' listened to what my guide war sayin' to 'em. He war -mighty perlite, an' talked an' laughed, an' told the women as how he -war goin' to rub me out as soon as his men come; an' then he war -goin' to pitch into Cap'n Morgan, who war out scoutin' with his -company, an' had camped a little piece back in the mountains. - -"It war the kurnel's order that I should see him as we passed through -the mountains, an' send him to Monterey to onct, afore the Mexikins -could ketch him. But my rascally guide had heered the order, an' had -led me out o' my way, so that I shouldn't see him. I listened with -both my ears, an' arter I had heered all the rascal's plans, which -were purty nicely laid out for a boy, I made up my mind that he would -be a leetle disappointed when he tried to ketch Cap'n Morgan. - -"In a little while the man that had tuk charge o' the gen'ral's hoss -come in, an' I soon found out that he war the man that war expected to -do the business of cuttin' my throat. But the gen'ral told him not to -try it till midnight, when he would have plenty of men to back him up. -This showed me that, brave as the young Greaser war when leadin' his -men, he didn't like the idee o' pitchin' into an American -single-handed. I guess he knowed by my looks that I could do some -purty good fightin'. - -"Arter eatin' a hearty supper, an' smokin' a cigar with the gen'ral, I -wrapped myself up in my blanket, which I had tuk from my saddle afore -lettin' my hoss go, an' laid myself away in one corner of the room. -The Mexikins didn't like this, an' one o' the women made me understand -by signs that there war a bed for me up stairs. But I thought that my -chances for escape would be much better where I war; so I motioned her -to go away, an' pretended to go to sleep. The gen'ral an' his man had -a long talk about it, an' I expected every minit to hear him tell the -feller to shoot me. If he had, it would have been the signal for his -own death, for I had both my revolvers under my blanket. But no sich -order war given, an' finally the gen'ral, arter tellin' the man to -keep a good watch on me, went into another room an' went to bed, an' -his man stretched himself out on his cloak, right afore the door. - -"Wal, I waited about two hours for him to go to sleep, an' then made -up my mind that I might as well be travelin'. So I throwed off my -blanket an' war risin' to my feet, when 'bang' went the feller's -pistol, an' the bullet whizzed by my head an' went into the wall. I -warn't more'n ten feet from him, an' I'll be blamed if he didn't miss -me. The next minit I had him by the throat, an' a blow from the butt -of one o' my six-shooters done the work for him. I dragged him away -from the door, jumped down the steps, an' made tracks through the -garden. - -"The night war purty dark, but I knowed which way to go to get out o' -the yard, which war surrounded by a palin' eight foot high. You'd -better believe I run _some_; but I hadn't gone twenty yards from the -house afore I run slap agin somebody. I thought at first that it war -the gen'ral, an' I muzzled him. '_Carrajo!_ what does this mean?' said -the Mexikin, in Spanish. As soon as I heered his voice, I knowed that -he warn't the feller I wanted; most likely he war one o' the men the -gen'ral had been expectin'; so I give him a settler with my knife, an' -tuk to my heels agin. - -"The pistol that the Mexikin had fired in the house had set the women -a goin'; an', when I reached the fence, I heered 'em yellin' an' -wailin' over the feller I had knocked down. I didn't stop to listen to -'em, but jumped over into the field where my hoss war, an' commenced -whistlin' for him. I thought he war a long while a coming an' I ran -along whistlin', an' wonderin' where he had gone to. Purty soon I -heered his whinny, an' see him comin' toward me like mad; an' right -behind him war three or four Mexikins, with their lassoes all ready to -ketch him. But my hoss war leavin' 'em behind fast; for the way he -could climb over the ground when he onct made up his mind to run, war -a caution to them Greasers. He come right up to me, an' in a minit I -war on his back. - -"I now felt safe. The first thing I did war to pull out my -huntin'-knife an' fasten it to my wrist with a piece o' buckskin; -then, drawin' one o' my revolvers, I turned in my saddle, an' thought -I would stir up the Greasers a little, when all to onct somethin' -struck me in the face like a club, an' I war lifted from my saddle -clean as a whistle, and the next minit I war bumpin' an' draggin' over -the ground in a mighty onpleasant kind of a way. One o' the Greasers -had slipped his lasso over me, an' war pullin' me along as fast as his -hoss could travel. I fell right flat on my face, an' every step the -Greaser's hoss tuk plowed my nose in the ground, an' my eyes war so -full o' dirt an' blood that I could scarcely see. - -"But I war not quite so fast as the Greaser had thought for. The lasso -hadn't gone down round my neck, but had ketched jest above my chin. I -hadn't never been in sich a mighty onpleasant fix afore, but I warn't -long in gettin' my wits about me. Reachin' up with my huntin'-knife, I -made a slash at the lasso, an' the next minit wor standin' on my feet -agin. I had hung onto my revolver, an', drawin' a bead on the Greaser -that had ketched me, I tumbled him from his saddle in a twinklin'. My -hoss hadn't run an inch arter I war pulled off his back, an' I war -soon in the saddle agin. - -"I knowed I war safe now, for, as I galloped over the field, I see the -Greasers travelin' down the road as though Gen'ral Taylor's army war -arter 'em. They war three to my one, but didn't think themselves a -match for a single American." - - - - -CHAPTER XV. - -Caught at Last. - - -"But that isn't all the story," said the trapper, again filling his -pipe. "As soon as the Greasers had got out o' sight, I galloped back -toward the road an' tuk the back track, intendin' to find Cap'n -Morgan, an' tell him that the Mexikins were kalkerlatin' on ketchin' -him, an' then go on with my dispatches. - -"I had paid purty good attention to what the gen'ral had told the -women, an' I knowed exactly what road to take to find the cap'n's -camp; an' you'd better believe I rid _some_. Purty soon some one -yelled out: - -"'Who goes there?' - -"'Friend!' I shouted, 'an' I want to see Cap'n Morgan to onct. I've -got some news for him.' - -"You'd better believe the ole cap'n opened his eyes when I told him -my story; an' arter furnishin' me with a fresh hoss--the best one in -the camp--he set to work gettin' ready for the Greasers. I didn't much -like the idee o' startin' out agin, for I didn't know the short cuts -through the country as well as I ought to, an' the cap'n had no guide -to send with me. But I knowed that them letters must be in Alamo by -night, an' I shouldn't ever be able to look ole Bill Lawson in the -face agin if I didn't obey my orders; so, arter biddin' the boys -good-by, an' wishin' 'em good luck in fightin' the Mexikins, I set -out. - -"I did plenty of doublin' an' twistin' to get clear o' the Greasers, -for I met 'em about half way atween the mountains an' the house where -we had stopped, goin' up to ketch the cap'n. They war in high spirits, -but when they come down agin, about two hours arterward, they were -runnin' like white-heads, an' the Texas boys were close at their -heels. - -"I war used to hard work, but when I got off my hoss that night in -Alamo, I war about as tired a man as you ever see. Two days arterward -I war back in Monterey agin. Ole Bill didn't know me, for my face war -purty well cut up. I told him the story of the Mexikin gen'ral, an' -arter talkin' the matter over, me an' him concluded we would capture -that Greaser, an' started up to head-quarters to have a talk with the -kurnel about it. - -"'You can't do it, boys,' says he. 'If Cortinas war an Injun, you -would be jist the fellers to do it; but you don't know enough about -soldierin'. Howsomever, you can try.' - -"The next mornin', when me an' Bill rid up to the kurnel's -head-quarters to bid him good-by, you wouldn't a knowed us. We had -pulled off our huntin'-shirts an' leggins, an' war dressed in reg'lar -Mexikin style. We left our rifles behind, an' tuk carbines in their -place. We didn't like to do this; but if we had carried our long -shootin'-irons into a Mexikin camp, any one would a knowed what we -war. We had our six-shooters and huntin'-knives stowed away in our -jackets. - -"'Good-by, kurnel,' said Bill, shakin' the ole soldier's hand. 'We'll -ketch that Greaser, or you'll never see us agin.' - -"'Do your best, boys,' said the kurnel. 'Bring back the Greaser, an' -the thousand dollars are yourn.' - -"We follered the same path that the gen'ral had led me--takin' keer -not to ride too fast, 'cause we didn't know what we might have for our -hosses to do--an' afore dark we come to the house where me an' my -guide had stopped, an' knocked at the gate. When it war opened we -could see that the place war full o' Greasers; but that didn't trouble -us any, for we knowed that we should have to go into their camp if we -wanted to ketch the gen'ral. We told the Greaser that come to the -gate, that we were Mexikin soldiers, an' wanted to stay there all -night, an' he war as perlite as we could wish--asked us to walk in, -an' sent a man to take keer of our hosses. - -"This war the first time we had met a soldier in our new rig, an' we -were a little afeered that he might diskiver who we were; but we could -both talk Spanish as well as he could, an' the rascal didn't suspect -us. - -"We asked to see the commandin' officer, an' when we found him we -reported to him as scouts belongin' to Gen'ral Santa Anna's -head-quarters, an' that we had come with very important news for -Gen'ral Cortinas. What that news was we didn't know ourselves; but we -knowed that we could get up a purty good story when the time come. - -"'All right,' said the Greaser cap'n. 'I'm goin' up to Gen'ral -Cortinas' camp to-morrow, an' you can ride right up with me.' - -"We touched our hats to him an' left the room. I hated mighty bad to -salute that dirty Greaser jest as I would my kurnel. I had rather put -a bullet in his yaller hide; but we war in for it, an' we knowed that -the hull thing depended on our behavin' ourselves properly. As we -passed out o' the house we met the women, an' I begun to shake in my -boots agin, 'cause I knowed them women had sharp eyes, an' I war -afeered it war all up with us. But they didn't suspect nothin', an' I -knowed that we war safe; 'cause if they couldn't see through the game -we war playin', nobody could. - -"Wal, we went out into the yard an' eat supper, an' lay down around -the fire with them ar dirty Mexikins, an' listened to their insultin' -talk agin the Americans, an', in course, jined in with 'em. They -thought me an' ole Bill war lucky dogs in bein' with a great gen'ral -like Santa Anna; but I couldn't see what there war great in a man who, -with an army o' fifty thousand men, would run from six thousand. But -we told 'em a good many things about the gen'ral that I guess they -never heered afore, an' we hadn't heered of 'em neither; but they -believed every thing we said war gospel truth, an' we made our -kalkerlations that in less nor a month the American army would all be -prisoners. - -"The next mornin' we made an 'arly start, an' that arternoon drew up -in the Mexikin camp. It war a purty sight, I tell you--nothin' to be -seen but white tents as far as our eyes could reach. There warn't less -nor a hundred thousand men in that ar camp, an' I begun to feel rather -shaky when I thought of our small army at Monterey. While me an' Bill -war lookin' about, a spruce little Greaser come up, an' said that -Gen'ral Cortinas war waitin' to see us. We found the rascal in a large -tent, with a sentry afore the door, an' when I sot eyes on him, my -fingers ached to ketch him by the throat. He looked jest as he did -when me an' him set out from Monterey together, only he had on a blue -uniform. - -"'Wal, boys,' said he, smilin' an' motionin' us to set down, 'I -understand that you're from Gen'ral Santa Anna, an' have news for me.' - -"'Yes, gen'ral,' said ole Bill, takin' off his slouch-hat, an' -scratchin' his head as if thinkin' what to say. 'We've got news for -you. If you want to ketch Cap'n Morgan an' his band o' cutthroats, -I'll tell you jest how you can do it.' - -"'How can it be done, my good feller,' said the gen'ral, rubbin' his -hands. 'I thought I should capture him the other night, but he had too -many men for me.' - -"'Wal,' said ole Bill, 'me an' this feller here'--pintin' to me--'war -in Monterey yesterday, an' heered an order read to Cap'n Morgan to -march out o' the city at midnight, an' jine Cap'n Davis at Alamo. Now, -if you want to ketch him, all you have got to do is to take fifty men, -an' wait for him in the mountains. He has got jest twenty-eight men in -his company.' - -"'I'll do it,' said the Greaser. 'But I'll take a hundred men, to make -sure of him. Which road is he going to take?' - -"'That's what we can't tell exactly,' said ole Bill. 'But me an' this -feller thought that we would come an' tell you, so that you could have -every thing ready, an' then go back and find out all their plans.' - -"'Very well,' said the Greaser; an', arter writin' somethin' on a -piece o' paper, he handed it to ole Bill, sayin': 'Here's a pass for -you an' your friend to go in an' out o' the lines whenever you please. -Now, you go back to Monterey, an' find out all Cap'n Morgan's plans, -an' I'll go out with a hundred men an' ketch him.' - -"This war exactly what me an' Bill wanted. We were afeered at first -that he would send some one else instead o' goin' himself; but now we -knowed that we war all right; the gen'ral war ourn, an' no mistake. - -"As soon as we got out o' sight o' the camp, we made good time, an' -afore midnight we war in the kurnel's head-quarters. As soon as he -heered our story, he sent for one o' his officers, an' told him to -march 'arly the next evenin' with eighty men, an' draw up an ambush, -in a deep gorge, through which ran the road that led to Alamo. An' he -ordered Cap'n Morgan, who had reached Monterey the day afore, to be -ready to march through that gorge at midnight. - -"Arter me an' Bill had rested a little while, we set out on fresh -hosses, an', in a few hours, were back in the Mexikin camp agin. That -arternoon we rid out, side by side, with Gen'ral Cortinas, an' about -ten o'clock in the evenin' we reached the gorge. Every thing war as -silent as death; but I knowed that eighty Western rifles war stowed -away among the trees, on each side o' the road, an' behind 'em war -sturdy hunters an' trappers, achin' to send a bullet in among us. - -"Arter the gen'ral had fixed his men to suit him, we drawed back into -the bushes, an' waited for Cap'n Morgan to come up. Jest a little -afore midnight we heered a faint tramp, an' in a few minits the -rangers swept down into the gorge. For a minit nothin' war heered but -the noise o' their hosses' hoofs on the road. It war a fine sight to -see them brave men ridin' right down into that ambush, knowin', as -they did, that death war on each side o' them. Nigher an' nigher they -come; an' the gen'ral war about to give the order to fire, when, all -to onct, a yell like an Injun's burst from among the trees, an' the -reports of eighty rifles echoed through the mountains. You never seed -a more astonished Greaser nor that Gen'ral Cortinas war about that -time. - -"'_Carrajo_,' he yelled, 'you have betrayed me.' - -"'Shouldn't wonder if we had, you tarnal yaller-hided scoundrel,' said -ole Bill; an' afore the Greaser could make a move, we had him by the -arms, an' two six-shooters were lookin' him in the face. His cowardly -men didn't fire a shot, but throwed down their guns, an' run in every -direction. But our boys closed up about 'em, an' out o' them ar -hundred men that come out to ketch Cap'n Morgan, not half a dozen -escaped. The only prisoner we tuk back to Monterey war the gen'ral." - -After Dick had got through his tale, the hunters held a consultation -over the state of their larder. As their coffee, bread, and other -supplies were exhausted, and they did not like the idea of living on -venison and water, they concluded to break up camp. The next morning -they packed their baggage into the sled, and, taking a last look at -the place where they had spent so many happy hours, set out for Uncle -Joe's cabin, which they reached a little before dark. - - - - -CHAPTER XVI. - -The Lost Wagon-Train. - - -Uncle Joe met them at the door, and, while they were relieving -themselves of their overcoats and weapons, asked innumerable questions -about their sojourn in the woods. Dick took the part of spokesman, and -described, in his rude, trapper's style, the scenes through which they -had passed, dwelling with a good deal of emphasis on the -"keerlessness" displayed by the Young Naturalist in attacking the -moose, and in starting off alone to fight the panther. The trapper -tried hard to suppress the feelings of pride which he really felt, and -favored the young hunter with a look that was intended to be severe, -but which was, in fact, a mingling of joy and satisfaction. - -Frank bore the scolding which Uncle Joe administered with a very good -grace, for he knew that he deserved it. - -"I'd like to take the youngster out on the prairy," said Dick, seating -himself before the fire, and producing his never-failing pipe. "I'll -bet that, arter he had follered me and Useless a year or two, he -wouldn't be in no great hurry to pitch into every wild varmint he come -acrost." - -Frank made no reply, but taking the cubs from the pockets of his -overcoat, allowed them to run about the cabin--a proceeding which the -dogs, especially Brave, regarded with suspicion, and which they could -not be persuaded to permit, until they had received several hearty -kicks and cuffs from their masters. - -"You can't blame the critters," said the trapper, puffing away at his -pipe. "It's their natur', an' I sometimes think that them dogs have a -deal more sense than their human masters, an'"---- - -"Supper's ready," interrupted Bob, the cook and man-of-all-work, and -this announcement put an end to all further conversation on the -subject. - -The boys were highly delighted to find themselves seated at a -well-filled table once more, and Uncle Joe's good things rapidly -disappeared before their attacks. It made no difference to the -trapper, however. With him a few weeks "roughing it" in the woods was, -of course, no novelty. A log for a table, and a piece of clean bark -for a plate, answered his purpose as well as all the improvements of -civilization, which those who have been brought up in the settlements -regard as necessary to their very existence. - -After supper, they drew their chairs in front of the fire, and Uncle -Joe and his brother solaced themselves with their pipes, while Bob -busied himself in clearing away the table and washing the dishes. - -"This Bill Lawson," said the trapper, after taking a few puffs at his -pipe, to make sure that it was well lighted, "used to take it into his -head onct in awhile to act as guide for fellers as wanted to go to -Californy. He knowed every inch of the country from St. Joseph to the -mines, for he had been over the ground more'n you ever traveled -through these yere woods, an' he was called as good a guide as ever -tuk charge of a wagon-train. In course, I allers went with him on -these trips, as a sort o' pack-hoss an' hunter, cause ole Bill -couldn't think o' goin' anywhere without me; an' I have often thought -that the reason why he made them trips as guide, was jest to get a -good look at the folks; it reminded him o' the time when he had -parents, an' brothers an' sisters. He never laughed an' joked round -the camp-fires, as he used to do when me and him war off alone in the -mountains. He hardly ever said a word to any body besides me, an' -allers appeared to be sorrowful. This give him the name of 'Moody -Bill,' by which he was knowed all through the country. Every trader on -the prairy war acquainted with him, an' he allers tuk out a big train. -I never knowed him to lose but one, an' he lost himself with it. The -way it happened war this: - -"One night, arter we had got about a week's journey west of Fort -Laramie, we stopped in a little oak opening, where we made our camp. -It war right in the heart o' the wust Injun country I ever see, an' -near a place where me an' ole Bill had often _cached_ our furs an' -other fixins, an' which we used as a kind o' camp when we war in that -part o' the country trappin' beaver an' fightin' Injuns. It war a cave -in the side of a mountain, an' the way we had it fixed nobody besides -ourselves couldn't find it. We never went in or come out of it until -arter dark, 'cause the Comanches were a'most allers huntin' 'bout the -mountains, an' we didn't want em to break up our harborin' place. We -had made up our minds that, arter we had seed our train safe through, -we would come back to our 'bar's hole,' as we called it, an' spend a -month or so in fightin' the Comanches an' skrimmagin' with the -grizzlies in the mountains. - -"Wal, as I war sayin' we made our camp, an' while I war dressin' a -buck I had shot, ole Bill, as usual, leaned on his rifle, an' watched -the emigrants unpack their mules an' wagons, an' make their -preparations for the night. Arter supper he smoked a pipe, an' then -rolled himself up in his blanket an' said----'Dick, you know this -place, but you ain't no trapper;' an', without sayin' any more, he lay -down and went to sleep, leavin' me to station the guards, an' see that -every thing went on right durin' the night. - -"I knowed well enough what ole Bill meant when he said, 'Dick, you -ain't no trapper.' He had seed Injun sign durin' the day, an' war -pokin' fun at me, cause I hadn't seed it too. I don't know, to this -day, how it war that I had missed it, for I had kept a good look-out, -an' I had allers thought that I war 'bout as good an Injun hunter as -any feller in them diggins, (allers exceptin' ole Bill and Bob Kelly;) -but the way the ole man spoke tuk me down a peg or two, an' made me -feel wusser nor you youngsters do when you get trounced at school for -missin' your lessons. - -"Wal, as soon as it come dark, I put out the guards, an' then -shouldered my rifle, an' started out to see if I could find any sign -o' them Injuns that ole Bill had diskivered. It war as purty a night -as you ever see. The moon shone out bright an' clear, an', savin' the -cry of a whippoorwill, that come from a gully 'bout a quarter of a -mile from the camp, an' the barkin' o' the prairy wolves, every thing -war as still as death. You youngsters would have laughed at the idea -o' goin' out to hunt Injuns on such a night; but I knowed that there -must be somethin' in the wind, for ole Bill never got fooled about -sich things. Here in the settlements he wouldn't have knowed enough to -earn his salt; but out on the prairy he knowed all about things. - -"Wal, I walked all round the camp, an' back to the place where I had -started from, an' not a bit of Injun sign did I see. There war a high -hill jest on the other side of the gully, an' I knowed that if there -war any Injuns about, an' they should take it into their heads to -pounce down upon us, they would jest show themselves in that -direction; so I sot down on the prairy, outside o' the wagons, which -war drawn up as a sort o' breastwork round the camp, and begun to -listen. I didn't hear nothin', however, until a'most midnight, and -then, jest arter I had changed the guards, an' was goin' back to my -place, I heered somethin' that made me prick up my ears. It war the -hootin' of an owl, an' it seemed to come from the hill. - -"Now, you youngsters would'n't have seed any thing strange in that; -but a man who has spent his life among wild Injuns and varmints can -tell the difference atween a sound when it comes from an owl's throat, -and when it comes from a Comanche's; an' I to onct made up my mind -that it war a signal. Presently from the gully come the song of a -whippoorwill. It didn't sound exactly like the notes I had heered come -from that same gully but a few minits afore, an' I knowed that it war -another signal. When the whippoorwill had got through, I heered the -barkin' of a prairy wolf further up the gully to the right o' the -camp; an' all to onct the wolves, which had been barkin' an' -quarrelin' round the wagons, set up a howl, an' scampered away out o' -sight. This would have been as good a sign as I wanted that there war -Injuns about, even if I hadn't knowed it afore; so I sot still on the -ground to see what would be the next move. - -"In a few minits I heered a rustlin' like in the grass a little to one -side of me. I listened, an' could tell by the sound that there was -somebody in there, crawlin' along on his hands an' knees. Nearer an' -nearer it come, an' when it got purty clost to me it stopped, an' I -seed an' Injun's head come up over the top o' the grass, an' I could -see that the rascal war eyein' me purty sharp. I sot mighty still, -noddin' my head a leetle as if I war fallin' asleep, keepin' an' eye -on the ole feller all the time to see that he didn't come none of his -Injun tricks on me, and finally give a leetle snore, which seemed to -satisfy the painted heathen, for I heered his 'ugh!' as he crawled -along by me into camp. - -"What made you do that?" interrupted Archie, excitedly. "Why didn't -you muzzle him?" - -"That the way you youngsters, what don't know nothin' about fightin' -Injuns, would have done," answered the trapper, with a laugh, "an' you -would have had your har raised for your trouble. But, you see, I -knowed that he had friends not a great way off, an' that the fust -motion I made to grab the rascal, I would have an arrer slipped into -me as easy as fallin' off a log. But I didn't like to have the varlet -behind me; so, as soon as I knowed that he had had time to get into -the camp, I commenced noddin' agin, an' finally fell back on the -ground, ker-chunk. - -"I guess them Injuns that were layin' round in the grass laughed -_some_ when they see how quick I picked up my pins. I got up as though -I expected to see a hull tribe of Comanches clost on to me, looked all -round, an', arter stretchin' my arms as though I had enjoyed a good -sleep, I started along toward the place where one o' the guards war -standin'. I walked up clost to him, an' whispered: - -"'Don't act as though you thought that any thing was wrong, but keep -your eyes on the grass. There's Injuns about.' - -"The chap turned a leetle pale when he heered this; but although he -was as green as a punkin, as far as Injun fightin' war consarned, he -seemed to have the real grit in him, for he nodded in a way that -showed that he understood what I meant. I then dropped down on -all-fours, an' commenced crawlin' into the camp to find the Injun. The -fires had burned low, an' the moon had gone down, but still there war -light enough for me to see the rascal crawlin' along on the ground, -an' making toward one of the wagons. When he reached it, he raised to -his feet, an', arter casting his eyes about the camp, to make sure -that no one seed him, he lifted up the canvas an' looked in. Now war -my time. Droppin' my rifle, I sprung to my feet, an' started for the -varlet; but jest as I war goin' to grab him, one o' the women in the -wagon, who happened to be awake, set up a screechin'. The Injun -dropped like a flash o' lightnin', an', dodgin' the grab I made at -him, started for the other side o' the camp, jumpin' over the fellers -that were layin' round as easy as if he had wings. I war clost arter -him, but the cuss run like a streak; an finding that I war not likely -to ketch him afore he got out into the prairy, I jumped back for my -rifle an' tuk a flyin' shot at him, jest as he war divin' under a -wagon. I don't very often throw away a chunk o' lead, an', judgin' by -the way he yelled, I didn't waste one that time. He dropped like a -log, but war on his feet agin in a minit, an', without waitin' to ax -no questions, set up the war-whoop. I tell you, youngsters, the sound -o' that same war-whoop war no new thing to me. I've heered it -often--sometimes in the dead o' night, when I didn't know that there -war any danger about, an' it has rung in my ears when I've been -runnin' for my life, with a dozen o' the yellin' varlets clost to my -heels; but I never before, nor since, felt my courage give way as it -did on that night. Scarcely a man in the hull wagon-train, exceptin' -me an ole Bill, had ever drawed a bead on an Injun, an' I war a'most -sartin that I should have a runnin' fight with the rascals afore -mornin'. - -"The whoop war answered from all round the camp, an' the way the -bullets an' arrers come into them ar wagons warn't a funny thing to -look at. My shot had 'wakened a'most every one in the camp, but there -warn't much sleepin' done arter the Injuns give that yell. Men, women, -an' children poured out o' the wagons, an' run about, gettin' in -everybody's way; an' sich a muss as war kicked up in that ar camp I -never heered afore. There war about seventy men in the train, an' they -war all good marksmen, but there war scarcely a dozen that thought o' -their rifles. They kept callin' on me an' ole Bill to save 'em, an' -never onct thought o' pickin' up their we'pons an' fightin' to save -themselves; an', in spite of all we could do, them ar cowardly sneaks -would get behind the women an' children for protection. It war enough -to frighten any one; an' although that ar warn't the fust muss o' the -kind I had been in, I felt my ole 'coon-skin cap raise on my head when -I thought what a slaughter there would be when them Comanches onct got -inside o' the camp. There war only a few of us to fight 'em, an' we -did the best we could, sendin' back their yells, an' bringin' the -death-screech from some unlucky rascal at every shot. But the Injuns -warn't long in findin' out how the land lay, an', risin' round us like -a cloud, they come pourin' into camp." - - - - -CHAPTER XVII. - -The Struggle in the Cave. - - -"Me an ole Bill warn't hired to run away, an' we wouldn't need to have -done it if them ar cowards had stood up to the mark like men; but when -I seed them Injuns comin', I knowed that the game war up--it warn't no -use to fight longer. I jest ketched a glimpse of ole Bill makin' for -his hoss, an' I did the same, 'cause I knowed that he would stay as -long as there war any chance o' beatin' back the Injuns. - -"To jump on my hoss, an' cut the lasso with which he war picketed, -warn't the work of a minit, an' then, clubbin' my rifle, I laid about -me right an' left, an' my hoss, knowin' as well as I did what war the -matter, carried me safely out o' the camp. - -"As I rode out on to the prairy, the Injuns started up on all sides o' -me, but my hoss soon carried me out o' their reach. As soon as I -thought I war safe, I hauled up to load my rifle, an' wait for ole -Bill. I felt a leetle oneasy about him, 'cause, if the Comanches -should onct get a good sight at him, they would be sartin to know who -he war, an' wouldn't spare no pains to ketch him; an' if they -succeeded, he couldn't expect nothin' but the stake. - -"Wal, arter I had loaded up my rifle, an' scraped some bullets, I -started back toward the camp, to see if I could find any thing o' -Bill; an' jest at that minit I heered a yell that made my blood run -cold. By the glare o' the camp-fires, which the Comanches had started -agin, I seed the cause of the yell, for there war ole Bill on foot, -an' makin' tracks for the gully, with a dozen yellin' varlets clost at -his heels. In course I couldn't help the old man any; an', besides, I -knowed that they would take him alive at any risk, an' that, if I kept -out o' the scrape, I might have a chance to save him. Wal, jest at the -edge o' the gully he war ketched, an' arter a hard tussle--for the ole -man warn't one of them kind that gives up without a fight--he war -bound hand an' foot, an' carried back to the camp. - -"In course the news spread among the Comanches like lightnin', an' it -had the effect o' stoppin' the slaughterin' that war goin' on, for the -Injuns all wanted to have a look at the man who had sent so many o' -their best warriors to the happy huntin'-grounds. - -"Finally, some o' the varlets yelled out my name--the rest took it up, -an' clouds of the warriors went scourin' through the camp an' over the -prairy to find me; 'cause they knowed that whenever the ole man war to -be found, I warn't a great way off. It begun to get mighty onhealthy -for me in them diggins, so I turned my hoss, an' made tracks acrost -the prairy. I rid _some_, now, I reckon, an', in a short time, war out -o' hearin' o' the yells o' the savages. - -"As soon as I thought I war safe, I camped down on the prairy, an', -with my hoss for a sentinel, slept soundly until mornin'. I then -started for the camp, or, rather, the place where the camp had been, -for when I got there, I found nothin' but its ruins. The Injuns had -burned every thing they did not want or could not carry away, an' -made off with their prisoners. Their trail war plain enough, an' I to -onct commenced follerin' it up, determined that I would either save -ole Bill or die with him; an', on the fourth day, durin' which time I -had lived on some parched corn I happened to have in the pockets o' my -huntin'-shirt, an' war in constant danger of being ketched by -stragglers, I seed the Injuns enter their camp. In course there war a -big rejoicin' over the prisoners an' plunder they had brought in, an' -it war kept up until long arter dark. - -"The camp, which numbered 'bout fifty lodges, war pitched in a small -prairy, surrounded on three sides by the woods. The nearest I could -get to it without bein' diskivered war half a mile; an' here I tied my -hoss in the edge o' the woods, an' lay down to sleep. - -"'Arly the next mornin' I war aroused by a yellin' and the noise o' -drums, an' found the hull camp in motion. Near the middle o' the -village war a small clear spot, where the prisoners war stationed. -They war not bound, but a single glance at a dozen armed warriors, who -stood at a little distance, showed that escape warn't a thing to be -thought of. All except two o' the prisoners sot on the ground, with -their heads on their hands, as if they wished to shut out all sights -an' sounds o' what war going on around 'em. The two who were standin' -seemed to take matters more easy. They stood leanin' against a post -with their arms folded, an' watched the motions o' the Injuns as -though they war used to sich sights. One o' these I picked out as ole -Bill, but, in course, I couldn't tell sartin which one war him, it war -so far off. - -"A little way from the prisoners were the principal chiefs o' the -tribe, holdin' a palaver regardin' what should be done, an' a little -further off stood the rest o' the tribe--men, women, an' -children--waitin' the word to begin their horrid work. - -"It war nigh noon afore the council broke up; then one o' the chiefs -commenced shoutin' some orders, an' one o' the prisoners was led out -o' the camp by two Injuns, while the rest o' the varlets set up a -yell, an' armin' themselves with whatever they could lay their hands -on, commenced formin' themselves in two lines; the prisoner, whoever -he was, must run the gauntlet. While the savages war fixin' -themselves, the white chap stood between the Injuns who had led him -out, watchin' what war goin' on, an' I could easy tell what he war -thinkin' of, 'cause I had been in sich scrapes myself. I knowed that, -as he looked through them long lines o' screechin' Injuns, an' seed -the tomahawks, clubs, knives, an' whips, all ready to give him a cut -as he passed, he thought of every thing he had done durin' his life. -But he warn't given much time for thinkin', for, purty quick, the -chief set up a yell to let the prisoner know that the time had come. -The chap didn't hesitate a minit, but jumped from the place where he -war standin', like a streak o' lightnin'. I see him disappear atween -the lines, and made up my mind that that chap war a goner, when, all -to onct, out he come, all right, and made toward the place where I war -standin'. I guess them Injuns never see any thing done quite so purty -afore, an' I knowed well enough now who the fellow war, 'cause there -warn't but one man livin' that could come through them lines in that -way, an' that war Bill Lawson. In course, the hull tribe, yellin' an' -screechin' like a pack o' wolves, war arter him in less nor the shake -of a buck's tail, and tomahawks, bullets, an' arrers whizzed by the -prisoner in a mighty onpleasant kind o' way; but Bill kept jumpin' -from one side to the other in a way that made him a mighty onhandy -mark to shoot at, an' the way he did climb over that prairy was -somethin' for owls to look at. But, fast as he run, I could see that -there war one Injun gainin' on him, an' I made up my mind that if the -ole man could hold out long enough to fetch him within pluggin' -distance o' my shootin'-iron, I would put an end to his jumpin' for -awhile. Nearer an' nearer they come, the Injun all the while gainin' -purty fast, an' when they got within 'bout forty rod o' me, I could -see that the varlet war gettin' ready to throw his tomahawk. I watched -him until he raised his arm, an' sent a bullet plumb atween his eyes. -The next minit the ole man jumped into the bushes. - -"There warn't no time for talkin' or sayin' how de do?' for the rest -o' the Injuns war comin' up, an' we must put a good stretch o' prairy -atween us an' them afore we war safe. - -"'Bill, says I, there's my hoss. I'm younger nor you be, so jump on -him, and be off in a hurry; I'll meet you at the ole bar's hole, -Good-by.' - -"I didn't wait to give the ole man a chance to say a word, 'cause I -knowed that he didn't like to take that hoss; but I made off through -the bushes. Ole Bill seed that I war gone, an' jumpin' on the hoss, he -rode out on the prairy in plain sight, to get the Comanches to foller -him, which some of 'em did; but the ole braves, who had heered my -shot, an', in course, knowed that there war more'n one feller 'bout, -couldn't be fooled easy, an' thinkin' they could ketch a man on foot -sooner nor a man on hossback, they kept on arter me. But I war fresh -for a long run--a week's travelin' acrost the prairy on foot warn't no -new thing for me--an' as I never see the Injun yet that could beat me -in a fair race, I felt safe, an' knowed that I should come out all -right. I didn't waste time in tryin' to throw 'em off my trail, but -kept straight ahead at a steady pace, an' whenever an Injun come in -sight, me an' my rifle settled things with him in a tarnal hurry. This -made 'em kind o' keerful, an' afore sundown I war out o' hearin o' -their yells, an' a greenhorn wouldn't have thought that there war an -Injun in them woods. But I war too ole a coon to believe that they had -give up the chase, an' it warn't until the next mornin' that I camped -to take a leetle sleep, an' eat a squirrel I had shot. - -"Wal, I traveled for 'bout ten days, durin' which time I didn't see a -bit o' Injun sign, an' finally found myself gettin' purty nigh the ole -bar's hole. As soon as I come to the woods that run down from the -mountain, I tuk to a creek that run clost by the cave, an' walked -along in the water, all the while keepin' a good look-out for Injun -sign an' for ole Bill. Arter I had gone 'bout a mile, I come to the -mouth o' the cave. It war a hole jest large enough for a man to -squeeze himself through, an' so covered up with bushes that a feller -might hunt a week without findin' it. The cave itself war 'bout as -large as this yere cabin; an' right acrost from the entrance war a -passage which led up to the top o' the hill. Me an' ole Bill had made -this ourselves, so that, in case our harborin' place should be -diskivered, we would have a chance for escape. - -"When I come to the cave it war purty dark; so, arter listenin' awhile -for signs of Injuns, if there war any around, I crawled along into the -hole, which war, in course, as dark as pitch, an' commenced fumblin' -around for a torch that I had left stuck into the wall o' the cave, -all ready to be lighted. Arter searchin' 'bout for a long time I found -it--not where I had left it, but lyin' on the ground in the middle o' -the cave. This seemed suspicious, an' I begun to be afraid that -something war wrong. I hadn't seed no Injun sign near the cave, -neither had I seed any thing of ole Bill, an' I knowed that that torch -couldn't get moved clear acrost that cave without somebody had been -foolin' with it. I reckon my hand war none o' the steadiest, as I -lifted the torch an' commenced feelin' in my possible-sack for my -flint an' steel, thinkin' that as soon as I could strike a light, I -would jest examine into things a leetle. - -"Wal, I hadn't made more 'n one blow at my flint, when the cave echoed -with the war-whoop, an' the next minit I found myself lyin' flat on my -back, with a big Comanche on top o' me. - -"When I first heered the yell, I thought the cave war full of Injuns, -an' I'll allow it made me feel a heap easier when I found that the -feller that clinched me war alone, for I knowed that if any one Injun -could master my scalp, he must be a tarnal sight smarter nor any -red-skin I had ever met; an', without waitin' to ask no questions, I -made a grab at the varmint, an', by good luck, ketched the hand that -held his knife; an' then commenced one o' the liveliest little fights -I war ever in. - -"The Injun war mighty strong, an' as wiry as an eel, an', although I -could keep him from usin' his knife, I could not get him off me, -neither could I get my left arm free, which, in fallin', he had pinned -to my side; but I kept thrashin' about in a way that made it mighty -onhandy for him to hold me. But findin' that I could do nothin' in -that way, I all to onct let go the hand that held the knife, an' give -him a clip 'side the head that would have knocked down a buck. It -kinder staggered his daylight some, I reckon', for I made out to get -my arm free, an', ketchin' the varlet by the scalp-lock, I had him on -his back in a minit. He yelled an' kicked wusser nor I I did when he -had me down, an' slashed right an' left with his scalpin'-knife; but -it didn't take long to settle matters, an' all fears that our -harborin' place had been broke up war put at rest by the death o' the -Comanche." - - - - -CHAPTER XVIII. - -End of the Trapper and Black Mustang. - - -"My first job, arter I war sartin that the Comanche war done for, war -to light the torch an' examine the cave. First makin' sure that thar -war no more Injuns about, I crawled along up the passage that led to -the top o' the hill, where I found that the log which covered the hole -had been moved, an' I knowed in a minit that that war the place where -the Comanche had come in. I didn't care 'bout showin' myself much, -'cause I didn't know how many more o' the savages there might be -about; so I pulled the log over the hole agin' an' crawled back into -the cave. I stuck my torch in the ground, an' arter movin' the -Comanche up in one corner out of the way, I pulled over a pile of -hemlock-boughs, that had many a time served me an' ole Bill for a -bed, an' found a kag o' spruce beer, an' enough jerked meat to last a -month. Me an' Bill allers took good keer to leave plenty o' provender -at the cave when we left, so that if we should get hard pressed by the -Injuns, or game should get scarce, we would know where to go to find -good livin'. As I hadn't had a good meal since we lost the train, I -eat a heap o' that jerked meat, an' then lay down to sleep, hopin' -that when I woke I should find ole Bill with me. I warn't much anxious -about him, 'cause I knowed he war on as good a hoss as ever tracked a -prairy, an' war too ole in Injun fightin' to be ketched easy; an' I -went to sleep, sartin that he would turn up all right afore daylight. - -"Wal, I slept like a top until 'arly the next mornin', but didn't see -nothin' of ole Bill. Arter a breakfast on jerked meat an' spruce beer, -I smoked a pipe, an' crawled up the passage to the top o' the hill, -pushed off the log, an' settled down to listen. For two days, I kept -watch at that hole, listenin' an' peepin', but there war no signs of -ole Bill. On the second arternoon, I heered the tramp of a hoss in the -creek, an' a'most at the same minit a big Comanche poked his head -over the bushes not ten foot from where I war, an' looked toward the -place where the sound come from. How the rascal got there without -seein' me, I didn't stop to think; but, risin' to my feet, I chucked -my tomahawk at him, an' there war one Injun less in them woods. Nigher -and nigher come the trampin' o' the hoss, an' I war sartin it war ole -Bill; so when he got within yellin' distance, I give the gobble of a -turkey, jest to let him know that there war danger ahead. The ole man -heered it, for the trampin' o' the hoss stopped, an', for a minit, the -woods war as still as death; but all to onct I heered the crack of a -rifle, follered by the death-screech of a Comanche, an' then the -clatter of hoofs an' a loud laugh told me that the ole man war -retreatin'. I knowed there warn't no use o' watchin' any more, so I -pulled the log over the hole agin, crawled back into the cave, an' -went to sleep. It war night when I woke, an' takin' my rifle, I -crawled out into the gully an' lay down in the shade o' the bushes. I -lay there till near midnight without hearin' any thing, an' had a'most -made up my mind that ole Bill warn't comin', when the low hootin' of -an owl come echoin' down the gully. I answered it, an', in a few -minits, up come Bill an' crawled into the cave. - -"'Here I am,' said he, 'an' I had mighty hard work to get here, -too--the timmer's chuck full o' the outlyin' varlets.' - -"'Where's my hoss?' I asked. - -"'He's down in the bushes, all right side up with keer, an' hid away -where the rascals will have to hunt a long time to find him. He's -worth his weight in beaver-skins, that hoss is. - -"Ole Bill eat his supper in silence; but, arter fillin' his pipe, -said: - -"'Dick, them 'ar Comanches have got my hoss, an' I'm goin' back arter -it.' - -"Now a feller would think that, arter what Bill had gone through, he -wouldn't be in no hurry about goin' back among the Injuns agin. But -sich scrapes warn't no new thing to him; an' when he said 'Go,' in -course I warn't goin' to stay behind. So, arter takin' another smoke, -the ole man tuk the knife and tomahawk o' the Injun I had killed in -the cave, an' led the way out into the gully. As he had said, the -timmer was full of Injuns, an', as we crawled along on our hands an' -knees, we could hear 'em talkin' to each other all around us. But we -got past 'em all right, an' as soon as we got out o' the gully, the -ole man rose to his feet and said: - -"'That hoss knows that there's somethin' wrong; he hasn't moved an -inch; he knows a'most as much as a human man, he does;' an' pullin' -aside the branches of a thicket of scrub pines, I see my hoss standin' -as quiet an' still as could be, jest as Bill had left him. He seemed -mighty glad to see me agin, an' rubbed his head agin my shoulder, as I -fastened on the saddle an' jumped on his back. - -"It war a good two weeks' work to get back to that camp, for the -prairy an' woods war full o' Comanches huntin' around for Bill, an' -sometimes we had to go miles round to get out o' their way. - -"When we reached the camp, we found it nearly deserted by the braves; -still, there war enough left to ketch me an' ole Bill, if we should be -diskivered. Wal, we lay round in the woods until dark, but not a glimp -could we get o' the ole man's mustang. The critter might be in the -camp, but more 'n likely as not he war carryin' a Comanche on his -back, an' scourin' the prairy in search o' Bill. - -"As soon as it war fairly dark, the ole man stuck out his hand, and -said: - -"'Dick, I'm goin' now. Good-by.' - -"I never before felt so bad at partin' from him. Somehow I knowed that -somethin' mighty onpleasant war goin' to happen; but it warn't no use -to try to keep him from goin'; so I bid him good-by, an' he commenced -crawlin' through the grass toward the camp. I watched him as long as -he war in sight, an' then settled back agin a tree, an' waited to see -what would turn up. For two hours I sot there listenin', an' thinkin' -of all the fights me an' ole Bill had been in, an' wonderin' when the -time would come when we must part--not as we had now, for a little -while, but forever--when all to onct I heered the barkin' of a dog in -the camp. In course the hull village war aroused to onct, an' a loud -yell told me that ole Bill had been diskivered. The yell was follered -by the crack of a rifle, an' the ole man come gallopin' out o' the -camp on his own hoss, shoutin': - -"'Come on now, Dick, I'm even with the rascals. There's one less -Comanche in the world.' - -"The Injuns were clost on to Bill's trail, an' come pourin' out o' the -camp on foot an' on hossback; an', seem' one big feller far ahead of -the others, I hauled up for a minit, sent him from his saddle, an' -then, jumpin' on my hoss, started arter the ole man. In course the -yellin' hounds war soon left behind, 'cause there warn't no hosses on -them prairies that could hold a candle to ourn; an' we war beginnin' -to grow jolly over our good luck, when, the fust thing we knowed, -crack went a couple o' rifles, an' Bill throwed his arms above his -head an' fell from his saddle. - -"We had run chuck into a party o' Comanches who had been out huntin' -the ole man, an' had give up the chase, an' were 'turnin' to camp. The -minit ole Bill fell I war by his side, an', while I war liftin' him -from the ground, the rascals charged toward us with loud yells, sartin -that they had now got both of us in their power. - -"'Dick,' said the ole man, a'most in a whisper, 'I've sent a good many -o' them screechin' imps out o' the world, an' it's my turn to go now. -They have finished me at last. You can't help me--so save yourself; -but remember that every Comanche that crosses your trail falls, to pay -for this. Leave me.' - -"'Bill, me an' you have been together too long for that. When I leave -you it'll be arter this, said I, an', liftin him in my arms, I got him -on my hoss, an' started off agin. The way that little mustang got over -the ground carried us ahead of all except two o' the Comanches, who -kept bangin' away at us as fast as they could load their rifles. If I -hadn't had ole Bill in my arms I would have put an eend to their -shootin' an' yellin' in a tarnal hurry. - -"It war no light load that hoss had to carry, an' I knowed that we -must come to closer quarters soon, 'cause he couldn't stand that gait -long. But he carried us five mile 'bout as quick as I ever traveled, -an' then, all to onct, commenced to run slow. He war givin' out fast. -The yellin' varlets kept comin' nearer an' nearer, an' I had only one -chance for life, an' a poor one at that. I would stick to the hoss as -long as he could step, an' then try it on foot. So I turned toward a -strip o' woods which lay 'bout a mile off, but he hadn't made a dozen -jumps when one o' the pursuin' Injuns sent a ball through his head, -an' we all come to the ground together. - -"The minit I touched the prairy I dropped ole Bill an', at the crack -o' my rifle, one o' the Injuns fell; the other then commenced -circlin' round me, 'fraid to come to clost quarters. But I kept my eye -on him, an' jest as he war goin' to fire, I dropped behind my hoss, -and kept dodgin' 'bout till I got my rifle loaded, and then I settled -matters to onct. I war safe--but ole Bill war dead. I tuk him up in my -arms agin, and carried him into the woods, where I rolled a log from -its place, an' arter scoopin' out some o' the ground, I put him in, -an' pulled the log back over him. It war the best I could do for him, -an' arter swearin' above his grave that a Comanche should fall for -every har on his head, I shouldered my rifle, an', jest as the sun war -risin', struck out acrost the prairy, which I knowed I must now tread -alone. - -"Is it a wonder, then, that I hate an Injun? The bones of many a brave -that lay scattered 'bout the prairy can tell how well I have kept my -oath. Of all the Injuns that have crossed my trail since ole Bill's -death, the three that camped in this shantee that night ar the only -ones that ever escaped. I am not done with 'em yet; an' when I go back -to the prairy, the Comanches will have further cause to remember the -night that see the eend of ole Bill Lawson an' the Black Mustang." - - - - -CHAPTER XIX. - -The Indians Again. - - -The next morning the boys were up before the sun, and after a hearty -breakfast, set out to spend the day in the woods; Frank and Harry, -bending their steps toward the creek that ran through the woods, about -a mile from the cabin, to set their traps for minks, while Archie and -George started toward a ridge--the well-known "fox run-way" as it was -called--to engage in their favorite sport. The trapper and Uncle Joe -set off in an opposite direction, to cut down a bee-tree, which the -latter had discovered a few days before. - -When Frank and Harry arrived at the creek, the latter said: - -"Now I want to understand something about this business, before we -commence operations We're after minks, and nothing else; and I don't -want you to endanger a fellow's life by getting him into any more wolf -scrapes, or any thing of that kind." - -"All right," answered Frank, with a laugh. "I'll not get you into any -scrape to-day." - -This satisfied Harry, and he was ready to begin the hunt. They found -plenty of mink tracks on the bank of the creek. After eating their -dinner, they commenced following up some of them, and, before night, -succeeded, with Brave's assistance, in capturing two large minks, -after which they returned to the cabin, well satisfied with their -day's work. - -They found Uncle Joe and his brother seated at the supper-table, and a -large plate full of honey, which was rapidly disappearing before their -attacks, proved that they also had been successful. Archie and George -came in shortly after dark, tired and hungry. A fox-skin, which the -former threw down in the corner, bore testimony to the fact that Sport -was losing none of those hunting qualities of which his young master -so often boasted. The day's hunt had been successful on all hands; and -the boys being pretty well tired out, the trapper's stories were -omitted, and all the inmates of the cabin sought their couches at an -early hour. - -The next morning the boys were "fresh and fierce" for the woods again, -and once more started out in their respective directions, leaving -Uncle Joe and the trapper seated before the fire, solacing themselves -with their pipes. Frank and Harry, as usual, went together; the -latter, as on the previous morning, exacting a promise that Frank -would not get him into any "scrapes," to which the latter, as before, -readily agreed, little dreaming what was to happen before night. - -A few moments' walk brought them to the place at which they had set -their first trap, in a hollow stump, where they had noticed a -multitude of "mink signs," as the trapper would have called them, and -as Harry bent down and looked into the stump, Frank exclaimed: - -"Look at these tracks; somebody besides ourselves has been here." - -"Yes, some other hunters, I suppose," answered Harry, peering into the -stump. "I hope they were gentlemen enough not to interfere with our -arrangements here. But where's that trap gone to?" - -"These tracks were not made by white persons," said Frank, bending -over and examining them, "for the hunters in this part of the country -all wear boots. These fellows wore moccasins, and the tracks all toe -in." - -"Indians, as sure as I'm alive!" ejaculated Harry; "and, shoot me, if -our trap isn't gone." And thrusting his arm into the stump, he -commenced feeling around for the article in question, but it could not -be found. - -"Yes, sir," he continued, rising to his feet, "it is gone, and no -mistake. Feel in there." - -Frank accordingly got down on his knees and made an examination of the -stump; but the trap, beyond a doubt, had been carried off. - -"Now, that is provoking!" he exclaimed. - -"There was a mink in the trap, too," continued Harry, pointing to some -bits of fur that lay scattered about over the snow. "I wish the -rascals that took it had it crammed down their throats." - -"It does no good to scold, Harry," said Frank, "for that won't mend -the matter. But let us go around and visit the other traps; perhaps -they have carried off all of them." - -The boys accordingly went around to every place where they had left -their traps, but not one of them could be found. - -"Now, there's thirteen dollars gone to the dogs," said Harry, angrily; -"for every one of those traps was worth a dollar, at least. I wish -Dick was here. We would follow up the scoundrels and recover our -property. What shall we do?" - -"Let's follow them up, any how," replied Frank. "Perhaps we can catch -them--the trail seems plain enough. How many of them do you suppose -there were?" - -"There were two Indians and as many dogs," answered Harry. "Here's a -track made by a fellow that must have had a foot as big as all -out-doors; and here's another, of very respectable size." - -The boys commenced measuring the tracks, and found, as Harry had said, -that there were but two different sizes. As soon as this had been -determined, Frank exclaimed: - -"Well, we mustn't waste any more time. Let's start after the rascals; -and if we catch them, we'll make them give up those traps or fight." - -Harry shrugged his shoulders, and answered: - -"If you are going in for a fight, just count me out, will you? One of -those Indians must be a strapping big fellow, judging by the size of -his feet; and the other, although he may be a smaller man, would -probably prove a tough customer. If Dick was here, I wouldn't mind it. -Let us go after him." - -"O no," answered the reckless Frank. "I guess we and our double-barrel -shot-guns, with Brave's assistance, can recover those traps. If we -can't catch the thieves, we'll make the trail, at any rate." - -Harry made no reply, but ran along after Frank, who commenced -following up the trail of the Indians, which, as no care had been -taken to conceal it, was very plain. As on the former occasion, it -appeared as if the tracks had been made by one person; but, on closer -examination, Frank discovered that the larger savage had taken the -lead, and that his companion had stepped exactly in his tracks. The -trail ran directly away from Uncle Joe's cabin, and then turned -abruptly and ran parallel with a ridge for the same distance; and here -the boys came to a place where there was a confused mingling of -tracks, conspicuous among which were some made by boots. There were -also the tracks of two more dogs, and several drops of blood on the -snow. - -"The thieves have received reinforcements here," said Harry. "A couple -of white hunters, or else two more Indians, with boots on." - -"Yes, it looks like it," answered Frank. "And they must have killed -some game, for here's blood on the snow." - -"I guess we've gone about far enough," said Harry. "Four men and four -dogs are more than a match for us." - -"No matter; I'm going to see the end of it now. You won't leave me to -go on alone!" - -"O no. If you are bound to go on, I shall stick to you." - -Frank immediately set off on the trail, which turned suddenly to the -left, and led toward a ravine. After running a short distance, he -said: - -"These last fellows that joined them are not Indians, Harry, because -they didn't step in each other's tracks." - -The trail led directly through the gully, and up the other side; and -while the boys were climbing up the bank, they heard the angry barking -of dogs, followed by the report of a gun, and a yell that made their -blood run cold. Harry immediately drew back, but Frank kept on; and -when he reached the top of the bank, he saw a sight that filled him -with horror, and which disturbed his sleep for many a night afterward. - -But let us now return to Archie and George, whom we left starting out -with their hounds. - -When they reached the bottom, through which the creek ran, they found -Sport standing over a fox-trail; and, at his master's command, he at -once set off upon it, followed by Lightfoot, while the boys struck off -through the woods toward a ridge which they knew the fox would be -certain to follow. They reached it just as the hounds passed; and were -about to start off again, when they were startled by the crack of two -rifles in rapid succession, accompanied by a howl of anguish. The -baying of the hound ceased, and, the next moment, Lightfoot came -running back, and took refuge behind his master. - -"What's the matter, I wonder?" inquired Archie, in alarm. - -"Somebody has shot Sport," answered George, as the howls of pain -continued to come from the part of the woods where the shots had been -heard. - -"Sport shot!" repeated Archie, indignantly. "I won't stand that, you -know. Come on; let's see who it was." - -As the boys commenced running up the ridge, the howls ceased, and -Archie began to be afraid that his hound had been killed; but, in a -few moments, he saw Sport coming toward him. He bore an ugly-looking -wound on his back, which had been made by a bullet; and although it -had at first disabled him, he was fast recovering his strength and -ferocity, and answered his master's caresses by showing his teeth, and -giving vent to angry growls. - -"I'm going to find out who that was," said Archie. "Hunt 'em up, -Sport! hunt 'em up, sir!" - -The hound was off on the instant, and led the way to the place where -he had been shot, which was marked by a little pool of blood on the -snow, and here he turned off to the left of the ridge and ran down -into a gully. Instead of baying as when on the trail of a fox, he ran -in silence, and the boys soon lost sight of him; but just as they -reached the bottom of the gully, they heard his bark, followed by a -yell, and a crashing in the bushes, as if a severe struggle was going -on; and when they gained the top of the bank, they found Sport -resolutely defending himself against two Indians and their dogs. The -latter--large, shaggy animals, of the wolf species--had closed with -the hound, which would undoubtedly have proved more than a match for -both of them, had not the Indians (who could not use their rifles for -fear of wounding their own dogs) attacked him with clubs. But Sport -was valiantly holding his own against their combined assaults, now and -then seizing one of the dogs in his powerful jaws, and giving him a -tremendous shaking, and then turning fiercely upon one of the Indians, -who found it necessary to retreat, in order to save himself. - -The boys comprehended the state of affairs at a glance. Running -fearlessly up to the place where the fight was going on, Archie placed -the muzzle of his gun against the head of one of the dogs, and killed -him on the spot, exclaiming: - -"Turn about is fair play, you know. I'll teach you to shoot my hound -when he isn't bothering you." - -The large Indian immediately ceased his attacks upon Sport, and, -turning upon Archie with a yell, threw his brawny arms about him, and -hurled him to the ground. But Archie still retained his presence of -mind, and, while struggling with his assailant, shouted to his -companion: - -"Shoot the other dog! shoot the other dog!" - -George had just time to act upon this suggestion, when the smaller -savage closed with him. Of course the boys, although they fought -desperately, were speedily overpowered by the athletic Indians, who at -once commenced beating them most unmercifully with their clubs. -Archie, especially, was being punished most severely, when the hound, -finding himself at liberty, sprang upon the Indian, and pulled him to -the ground. Archie was on his feet in an instant; and, cheering on the -dog, was about to spring to George's assistance, when he noticed that -his late assailant was in a most dangerous situation, the long teeth -of the hound being fastened in his throat; and although he struggled -desperately, he could not release himself. Archie at once hurried to -his relief, and endeavored to choke off the hound, while the smaller -Indian continued to shower his blows upon George, who received them -without giving vent to a single cry of pain. - -Such was the scene presented to Frank's gaze as he came up out of the -gully. Of course he was entirely ignorant of the cause of the trouble, -but, seeing George's situation, he at once ran to his assistance. The -Indian, seeing him approach, uttered a yell, and, springing to his -feet, was about to "make himself scarce," when the sight of Frank's -double-barrel, which the latter aimed straight at his head, brought -him to a stand-still. By this time, Archie, with Harry's aid, had -succeeded in releasing the Indian, but it required their utmost -strength to prevent the hound from renewing his attacks. - -The savage, however, had not fared so badly as they had at first -supposed; for, although during the last few moments of the struggle he -had lain so still that Archie began to fear that he was dead, the -moment he was released he sprang to his feet, and, uttering the usual -"ugh," was about to retreat, when he also was brought to a halt by -Frank's double-barrel. - -The circumstances which had brought the boys together in so singular a -manner were speedily explained, after which Frank commenced an -examination of the "possible-sacks" that the Indians carried slung -over their shoulders, which resulted in the recovery of the missing -traps. - -"Now, what shall we do with these rascals?" he inquired. - -"They're the same ones that camped in the cabin that night," answered -Archie; "and this is the second time they have been guilty of stealing -traps, and I say let's take 'em prisoners, and let Dick pass judgment -upon them." - -This plan was hailed with delight by the others; and the savages, who, -during the conversation, had stood with their arms folded, as if they -were in no wise concerned in what was going on, were at once relieved -of their knives and hatchets, and, in obedience to Archie's order, -fell in behind Frank, who led the way toward the cabin. George and -Harry followed close after them, carrying the weapons that had been -taken from the prisoners, and ready to resist the first attempt that -should be made at escape, while Archie brought up the rear, struggling -hard to restrain the hound, which, every moment, renewed his -endeavors to reach the Indians. In this order they marched through the -woods, and, just before dark, reached the cabin. Frank entered first, -standing with his gun at a shoulder-arms until the prisoners had -passed him and the rest of the boys had entered and closed the door. - -"Eh! what?" ejaculated the trapper, who had watched these movements in -surprise. "What did you youngsters fetch them ar tarnal varlets back -here for?" - -The affair was soon explained, and Uncle Joe and the trapper rolled up -their eyes in astonishment. At length the latter said: - -"They stole your traps, did they, an' shot the hound, an' you follered -'em up an' ketched 'em, did you?" - -"Yes," answered Archie, "and they mauled George and me with clubs; and -we have brought them here to know what to do with them." - -"Wal, I never _did_ see sich keerless fellers as you youngsters be," -said Dick. "You get wusser every day. Why didn't you come arter me?" - -"We should have lost too much time. Besides, we wanted to catch them -ourselves." - -"Wal, 'cordin' to prairy law," continued the trapper, "there oughter -be short work made of 'em; but what's law on the prairy won't do in -the settlements. Pitch 'em out-doors, and don't never bring no more -Injuns here." - -"Shall we give them their guns?" asked Frank. - -"No; don't give 'em nothin'. Open that door." - -Frank did as the trapper ordered, and the latter walked up to the -large Indian, and, seizing him around the body, lifted him from his -feet, and threw him headlong into a deep snow-drift outside of the -cabin. A smothered "ugh" broke from his lips as he sank out of sight. -After considerable struggling, he reappeared, completely covered with -snow, looking very unlike the sedate Indian that had stood in the -cabin but a moment before, and started, at the top of his speed, for -the woods. As soon as he had disappeared in the darkness, the trapper -seized the smaller Indian, and served him in the same manner; then, -without waiting to see what became of him, closed the door, and -returned to his seat in front of the fire. - - - - -CHAPTER XX. - -The Journey Homeward. - - -Next morning, as soon as they had finished their breakfast, in -accordance with the promise they had made their parents before -starting, that they would be at home before the holidays, the boys -began to make preparations to leave the woods. The sled was brought -around to the door, and, while George and Harry were engaged in -loading it, Frank and his cousin went to the barn to harness the young -moose, which had become very tractable, and would trot off with a load -as well as a horse. Their traps and guns, together with the furs they -had taken, were stowed carefully away in the bottom of the sled; then -came the cubs, and the skins of the moose, bear, white buck, and -panther, and the whole was crowned by the huge antlers of the moose, -to give it, as Harry said, "an imposing appearance." - -After the moose had been hitched to the sled, and all was ready for -the start, the boys turned to shake hands with Uncle Joe and the -trapper. Dick seemed to regret their parting very much. After drawing -his coat-sleeve across his eyes, he seized Frank's hand, and said: - -"Good-by, youngster! We have had some good times in these yere woods -this winter. I'm sorry that the partin' time has come, for I hate to -have you leave us. You are a gritty feller--jest sich a one as I like -to see; an' I have tuk to you jest the same as poor ole Bill Lawson -onct tuk to me. As soon as spring opens I shall start agin for the -prairy. The woods here are too small for me. We prob'bly shall never -meet agin, but I hope you won't forget your ole friend, Dick Lewis. -Good-by! an' may your trail never be as rugged an' rough as mine has -been." - -"I shall never forget you, Dick," replied Frank, as he returned the -trapper's hearty grasp. "You saved my life." - -At length the farewells had all been said, and the boys got into the -sled. Frank took up the reins, and the moose broke into a rapid trot, -that soon carried them out of sight of the cabin. - -There was no danger that the boys would soon forget the wild scenes -through which they had passed during their short sojourn in the woods. -Each had something to remind him of some exciting hunt which he had -gone through. Frank thought of his desperate struggle with the buck, -during which he had received scars that would go with him through -life. Harry remembered his adventure with the wolves. George shivered -as he thought of his cold bath in the pond. And Archie, in -imagination, was again in pursuit of the black fox. - -"Well," said the latter, at length, "we've had some fine times since -we traveled over this road." - -"Yes," said George, "and I should like to go through them -again--ducking and all." - -"I had rather be excused," said Frank. - -"So had I," chimed in Harry. - -"I shouldn't like the idea of going through the fight with that moose -again," continued Frank. - -"Nor I shouldn't like to meet those wolves again, and have them pull -off my boots as I was climbing up a tree," said Harry. - -"I wonder what the folks will think, when they see us coming home in -this rig?" said Archie. - -That question was answered when, about an hour before dark, they -turned up off the creek into the road, in full view of the cottage. - -They were first discovered by Aunt Hannah, who, after shading her eyes -with her hand, and gazing at them a few moments, ran into the house. A -moment afterward the whole family appeared at the door. - -"There's my folks!" exclaimed Archie. "I thought they would be here to -spend the holidays. Show them what we can do, Frank." - -His cousin accordingly put the moose through his best paces, and in a -few moments they whirled through the gate, and drew up before the -door. - -"Well, boys, I'm glad to see you all back safe," said Mr. Winters, as -soon as the greeting was over. "It's a wonder that Archie didn't shoot -some of you--he's so careless with his gun." - -"O no, father," replied the boy, "I've got over that. I always hold my -gun muzzle down, as you told me." - -The boys began to unload the sled, and one after another of the -articles were taken out and laid on the portico. Finally, Harry drew -out the panther's skin. - -"A panther!" exclaimed Mr. Winters. "Where did you buy that skin?" - -"Buy it!" repeated Archie. "We didn't buy it. Frank killed the panther -that once wore this skin; with a shot-gun, too; and that isn't all he -killed, either. Look here!" and he threw out the bear and moose-skins, -and finally the cubs. "He had a nice time killing that moose," Archie -went on to say, "and he came near being"---- - -Here he was interrupted by a look from his cousin. He was about to -say, "and came near being killed himself;" but finished his sentence -by saying, "He came near killing the moose at the first shot, but -didn't quite." - -Mr. Winters had seen the glances that the boys exchanged, and knew -that it meant something more than they were willing to reveal; but he -made no remark. After the things had all been taken out, with the -exception of those that belonged to George and Harry, and the cubs had -been taken into the kitchen and delivered into Aunt Hannah's especial -charge, the boys got into the sled again and started for Mr. Butler's. - -Their appearance in the village created a great commotion. After -driving around to the post-office for the mail, as well as to show off -the qualities of their horned horse, they started home again. - -That evening was passed in a pleasant manner, in the recital of the -boys' adventures in the woods, which also formed the topic of -conversation for many days. In spite of the emphatic instructions -Frank had given his companions "not to say a word about his fight with -the moose," it gradually "leaked out somewhere," as Archie expressed -it, and Frank became a hero in his own family, and in the village. - - * * * * * - -Here we will leave them, only to introduce them again in other and -more stirring scenes on the Western Prairies. - - -THE END. - - -FAMOUS CASTLEMON BOOKS. - - - GUNBOAT SERIES. By HARRY CASTLEMON. Illustrated. 6 vols. 16mo. - Cloth, extra, black and gold. - FRANK THE YOUNG NATURALIST. - FRANK ON A GUNBOAT. - FRANK IN THE WOODS. - FRANK BEFORE VICKSBURG. - FRANK ON THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI. - FRANK ON THE PRAIRIE. - - ROCKY MOUNTAIN SERIES. By HARRY CASTLEMON. Illustrated. 3 vols. - 16mo. Cloth, extra, black and gold. - FRANK AMONG THE RANCHEROS. - FRANK AT DON CARLOS' RANCHO. - FRANK IN THE MOUNTAINS. - - SPORTSMAN'S CLUB SERIES. By HARRY CASTLEMON. Illustrated. 3 - vols. 16mo. Cloth, extra, black and gold. - THE SPORTSMAN'S CLUB IN THE SADDLE. - THE SPORTSMAN'S CLUB AFLOAT. - THE SPORTSMAN'S CLUB AMONG THE TRAPPERS. - - GO-AHEAD SERIES. By HARRY CASTLEMON. Illustrated. 3 vols. 16mo. - Cloth, extra, black and gold. - TOM NEWCOMBE. GO-AHEAD. NO MOSS. - - FRANK NELSON SERIES. By HARRY CASTLEMON. Illustrated. 3 vols. - 16mo. Cloth, extra, black and gold. - SNOWED UP. FRANK IN THE FORECASTLE. BOY TRADERS. - - BOY TRAPPER SERIES. By HARRY CASTLEMON. Illustrated. 3 vols. - 16mo. Cloth, extra, black and gold. - THE BURIED TREASURE; OR, OLD JORDAN'S HAUNT. - THE BOY TRAPPER; OR, HOW DAVE FILLED THE ORDER. - THE MAIL-CARRIER. - - ROUGHING IT SERIES. By HARRY CASTLEMON. Illustrated. 16mo. - Cloth, extra, black and gold. - GEORGE IN CAMP. - - -_Other Volumes in Preparation._ - - Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1865, by - R. W. 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