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RED RIVER ROVERS; of, Life and Adventure in ibe Northwest

BY C- D- CLARK,

AUTHOR on- “CRUISE OF THE FLYAWAY," “THE FLYAWAY AFLOAT," 1:10., mm, ETC.

\ \~,A_.

“srr sunny, BOYS!" CALLED our A GRUFF vomn. “ DUBN n", D’YE WANT 1'0 SPILL THE BULL OUTFIT INTO THE DRINK?"I

 

 

. 2

Red. River govera, j.

 

 

 River Rovers; .

Life and Adventure in the Northwest.

 

BY C. D. CLARK,

AUTHOR or “camera or run FLYAWAY,”
. f‘THE FLYAWAY AFLOAT," ETC.

 

CHAPTER I.

am) RIVER or- rnn mourn—run 1mm.
r'numns-wno own man CAMP?-——A.
aroma mwmo.

"Sir sti‘ddy, boys!” called out a gruff

, voice. “ Durn it, d’ye want to spill the hull
Outfit into the drink?”

The speaker sat in a large canoc'upon the

waters of a mi ht river flowing toward the

north, one of tie ew in this countr which

take that direction. It is the Red' iver of
the Northfithat magnificent stream which
bears the waters of the northern slope to
mingle With those of the great lakes of Brit-
ish America—a stream once haunted by
 and tra ers, but now a Water-way
for, hose who w s to enter the British pr0v~
inces of the far North and West.

The canoe contained four persons, each of
Whom is worthy of description. The first
was the guide and hunter, Walt Wilson, who
was known all over the vast regidrr through
which he had trumped from his boyhood un-

til now, when the snows of nearly sixty

Winters rested on his head. He was partly

of Indian blood and had taken from that race

his iron endurance and powerful frame. He
was nearly six feet in hitrht, with muscles
wonderfully developed, and had the strength
of a giant. The hand which griped the
paddle and sent the canoe on with nervous
strokes was almost black from exposure to
the weather, and his face was of the same
hue, the effect enhanced by the color of his
hair, which was white as snow. He sat in

A the stern of the canoe and had general super-
vision of the craft. '

In the center of the ‘boat were two boys,
dressed in buckskins throughout, who might
have been eighteen and nineteen years of age.
They were handsome, bold-loo iug young
fellows, and this was not the first time they
had seen adventures in the midst of a wild
country. The were New York boys, Basil
and Edward 6 Fevre, and looked tough
enough to meet-almost any adventure.

The man in the bow was their brother,

' Gaspard, who had spent many years in ur-
suit of wild game in various quarters the
globe. He was a hunter-naturalist, who

_ preferred to study the habits of wild animals

m their gwn hauling, in order tot 1write fin

speak un erstan ing concernin em. e

was amen of poweriyul frame, véith a hand-

some, sun-burned face. He handled apaddlc
with a skill which showed that he was no
amateur in the Work.

,“Nearly time to camp,‘ I think, friend
,Wolt,” suggested Gaspard, casting a quick

' glance at edeciining sun. -

"I reckon, Gas ard, thet ou ar’ about
right," replied the unter, fam iiarly. “The
first camp we make will be on thet p’int
ahead, an’ unless some of these cussed French
thieves hev taken possession, thus a hun-
ter’s cabin waitin’ fur us than”
' “Push on then, Walt. We may gain
somethin by putting in a few extra strokes,”
declared aaspard, cage 1y.

Both bent to their work, and the canoe
fairly flew through the water andquickly
landed on the oint. Bcarccly had they done
so when Wa t wright up his rifle, sprurég
ashore, and hurrie up to the cabin, whi
stood under the shelter of the trees on! a
short distance from the river bank. Flin ng
, open the door, he looked in and saw at once
‘ that the cabin was untenanted, for the ashes
, in the rude fire-place were oak hard.

. ward and Basil were eng

 

Walt quickly gathered, some wood about
the door, and in ve minutes had a fire blaz-
ing, the‘smoke rolling up the vent at the top
of the cabin. He had just done this when
he heard himself called, and hurriedto the
the door, where he found Gaspard watching
a canoe which Was shooting across the river
from the other shore, impelled by the strokes
of four paddles.

“Do you know those fellows?” Gaspard
asked. “I thought, as they left the shore
yonder, that I heard them breathing curses
against us.”

“‘Do I know them?” hissed Walt, his face
blazing with anger. “I should just sayI
did! t’ll take some strong-armed Sampson
to hold me if Jean La Bart gives me any of
his 1i an’ I know the cuss will.”

“ ho are they?" ' '

“The La Bart brothers, a set of blamed
trap~thieves, thet ain’t got enough sand to
trap game for themselves, and go round rob-
bin the traps of honest men. But you
can’t prove it on the cusses; thet’s what
fairly makes my blood b’ile when I think of
it."

The canoe, containing the four men, ran
up to the shore close to the lace where Ed-
ao‘ iii landin their
goods from the canoe. They Were ta 1, sin-
ewy half-breeds, the Indian blood predomi-
nating. The leader, a remarkably villainous-
looking fellow, with a hideous scar extend-
ing across his face from the left eye to the
chm on the right side, hastily approached the
boys. ‘

“Vat you do here?” he demandedin a
savage tone.

Both the boys had been tau ht to be gen-
tlemanly, but the manner of t e fellow was
annoying, and Basil was rather prompt in his
answer.

“I think, if your will exercise your mag-
nificent judnment, you will be able to see
that we are fending the goods from our ca-
noe."

“You make camp here, eh?” he in uired.

“ We had some such intention, my rierid,
unless you object too seriously,” was the
laughing reply.

“You nice boys,” said Jean La Bart, for
he was the speaker, “and ve don’t vant to
hurt 'ou, but you s’all find some odder camp;
ve vi 1 take zis." *

“ If you hear any persons say that we gave
up this camp because you demanded it, you
are at libert to tell them they are liars,’ -re-
s onded E ward, as he threw a bundle of
b ankets on shore. “We are not in that kind
of business.” ' v . '

La Bart fairly danced with rage, for the
cool courage of the two’bo swas not what he
had expected, and he mm c a spring toward
Basil, when the boy quietly drew a revolver
and cocked it.

"I don’t want any quarrel with you, my
festive friend, but I have been tau ht to de-

fend myself, and if you take anot or step I

will break your arm. Let that be under-
stood.”

La Bart recoiled and lured at the two
young fellows savagely, at there was so
much determination In their eyes that he did
not dare to lift a hand. i

“ Hold on, ” called out Walt Wilson, sud-
denly striding to the front. ” I b’ile in here
an’ make my loud bazoo heard: What in
thunder do you want here, Jean La Bart,—
you an’ yer gang?” .

“Ve come to make camp," replied Jean,
“and zis boy say he not go away. ’

“Then yer may take it fur ospel, ez
what this boy says is always he truth.
Now, don’t let us make any, mistake, , an’
We kin start right. Doesyer claim this
cam ?1’ . L ,i .

“ ui,” replied La Bart. ‘ ’

" What right have yer got to claim 1W?»

“Ve make camp here slvsys,”’replied

f

“ 'Cept when yer of! robbin’ traps er some

I l
/

. I ,

 

sech thing, yer mean. But it’s a lie, Jean; I
don’t mind tellin’ yer thet. Thar
fire in thet cabin this four months good.
What’s more, me and my chum, EmlDourett,

put up thet cabin, an’ I claim it; "Sides from ‘

thet, we ar’ hya-r ahead of you. an’ we ain’t
goin’ to move. Nowoyou understand it-

on 'ti” - ,

Th half-breed looked at his three brothers
and saw that they were cowed, for they knew
the sturdy old guide well, and that unless
they got the first shot he would kill two of
them before they could lift a hand. There
was nothing for it but to yield, and he made
a sign to the othersto get into-the canoe.
They did so, but Jean stopped to shake his
fist at Old Walt. 'This was more than the
hunter could bear, and makin I-a sudden
13:15}, he abbed the half-breed y the waist

shou ders, and with but a slight efiort of
his powerful muscles, sent him ten feet out
into the river, where he struck with a loud
splash and disappeared. ,

“Thar!” thundered Walt; “ef the rest of
ylog will jest step ashore I’ll serve you all
a 1 e.” .

Jean La Bart rose dripping from the river,
and was helped into‘the canoe, and
out into the stream, they crossed . 9 river
and landed on the opposite point. Soon the
sound of axes could be heard, and. it was
evident that the fellows were making
camiB
“ urn the’r hides,” growled Walt, “I'd
ruther a nest of rattlesnakes ’ud make camp
over thar than them cussed critters. Ef it
wa‘n’t thet I knew they’d foller, I’d make
another camp.”

“Do you'think we are in any danger from
them, Walt?" asked Gaspard.

“Danger! I should so so. They’ll steal
the very hide off a man e they get a chaince,
an’ we won‘t dare to leave the camp alone a
minnit. But never mind; I’ll fix Jean La
Bart the fust time he sticks his ugly nose
into my camp ag‘in. Basil, take your rod an‘
go over to the creek thar an’ ketch us a mess
of trout.” ,

Basil was not long in doing it. The trout
were plenty and hungry, and he did not
waste any time in fancy fishing. In twenty
minutes he had caught enough for supper,
Edward cleaning them .as fast as they were
thrown on the bank. B the time they were
ready for the pan Old Walt had the coffee
boilin , and they were soon seated over a.
capita dish and ate heartily. Then Wall:
and Gaspard brought up the bedding, while
the boys out pipe u hs upon which to lay
it, and before eight oclock everything was
settled for the night. The last thing they
did was to draw the canoe up the creek and
conceal it under a mass of overhanging
grass which drooped from the bank, for they
had no confidencein their neighbors. ‘ Shortly
after this they retired to rest, and the boys
and Gaspard were soon-slumbering peace—
fully, but Old Walt took what he.called
“cat naps,” his rifle resting across his feet.
It was right moonlight, and as the paper
which was hung up before the window
shifted with the wind, the moonbeams fell
upon the cabin door. It might have been
two hours later when Walt saw a' hand and
arm pass through the open window and reach
for the bar which held the door with a long
stick. Without raising himself, the Old

ide felt for a revolver, cooked it under the

lanket, and takin a quick aim, fired at the
hand of the prow er.‘ There WM 3 e11 of.
pain and the rush of f t, and when alt got
to the door no one was 11 night, and shortly
after he heard the dip of paddles on the
river. .

   

“Thet settles it fur a  “the guide
muttered. “1 w  .‘ ‘ \ ’in’
an"I.’ve puts. n  , 0:"th fll
beartohisdyineg day» .   x .

The return to the cabin; rolled them-

selvm n their-blankets, and slept peacefully

until morning.

\

ain’t b’en a.

 w.:.fi_\ar'-‘~A¢'  .

‘ programme for to—day,
I" Gaspard.

y' ,4 Red River Rovers.

3

 

CHAPTER u.

THE  BARTS DEPmP-MLMON-FIBHING
ON RED RIVER—BASIL AND THE BUCK——
A STRUGGLE IN THE WATER. '

OLD WALT was afoot first, and as the
gray lightappeare’d in the east he launched
the canoe and went out on the river, and,
making a circuit, came down along ‘shore
with a noiseless paddle, close to the camp of
the half-breeds. He had a purpose in com-
ing out, and having satisfied himself that all
was quiet in their cabin, he quietly drew
their two canoes off the bank where the lay,
kicked holes in them and saw them fill, and
float away. This good work done, he pad-
dled softly back, and by the time the boys
were out and had taken their morning bath
he had everything ready for breakfast.

“ You are an early bird, Walt,” said Gas-
pard, as he came out, “but you are in the
right; there is nothing so beautiful as early
morning in a northern climate.”

“It’s the breath of life to me,” replied
Walt; “an’ besides, I hed nuthin’ to do.
I've bin studyin’ nat‘ral history on my own
‘eount this mornin’, a class on don’t know
nuthin’ about, the durned alf—and-half, no
‘count trap - thieves. They won’t come

prowlin’ ’round my camp ag’in until'they'

get a canoe.” .

“ What do you mean ‘2”

“ I’ve bin over thar an’ bu'sted the life
out’n both the’r canoes, an” set ’em adrift.
Oh, hark to thet music; they’ve “est found
it out. S'pose we take a walk own ’long
shore an’ hear 7em cuss.”

The two walked down to the bank, from
which the camp of the La Barts was in full
sight, perhaps one hundred and fifty yards
distant. The Frenchmen were running up
and down the shore in a distracted manner,
and the air was loaded with curious French
profanity as they realized that the canoes
were gone. Jean La Bart, with his arm in a
slin , came out on a point and hailed Old
W a t.

“ Oh, I say, you, Valt Veelsonl Vat you
do wiz ze canoe?” he roared.

“Oh, what’s the matter with you,
Frenchy?" bawled Walt, _ in return. “ I
don't want your durned canoes; got one of
my own.” ‘

“Vat for you steal him, zen? Oh sacre—
dam! I vill ’ave ze ’art’s blood out of you for
118. 1 say so, oui, by gar, certainement. I vill
follow you like as besem of destrr—r-ruction.
Vralment; you know Jean La Bart.”

“ See here,” roared Walt, beginning to get
angry, “do you want me to go over an’ jump
on you With both feet? You've ot 111 mark
on you now, you'cussid sneak t ef. hat’s
the matter with your hand, eh?”

“I met forget,” replied Jean La. Bart.
“Zis vill help me to remember. You steal
our canoes so zat we cannot get revenge; you
steal our camp, you t‘row me in re river, and
by gar I vill have unc grande revenge.”

“ Whar’s my rifle, Basil ‘1" cried Walt,
turning toward the cabin. “ I‘ll see if I can’t
put another mark on that frog-eatin’ French
lialf-an’-ha.lf. "~

Basil hurried down with the rifle, but Jean
got out of sight instantly, and scarcely had
he done so when the crack of a rifle was
heard, and a ball whistled by the ear of Walt
Wilson, so close, indeed, as to almost graze
the flesh. The hunters all ran for their rifles,
and began to push out their canoe, intending
to cross and finish the Frenchmen, but im-
mediame the fellows took to their heels and
Engaged into the dense fprest behind their

11 . ‘

“ Let ’em go," said Walt. “ We’ve got ’em
on the run an’ I don’t reckon they’ll make us
any more trouble right away, an’ before they

. 8'8" backfmm where they must go-to get a
canoe we’ll break  Now" what’s the
“ Any thing that comes handy," replied
“ ou know that} want to study

1

\

‘ La Barts.

, prise

 

the animals of this, re iOn, and I don‘t care
particularly where we ' .”

“Then we’ll leave the boys in camp and
let them fish today. They can have sport
enough at that, I tell you, an’ we‘ll take a
tramp to see what we kin pick up."

After breakfast Walt and Gaspard, shoul-
dering their rifles, started off into the forest,
and the two boys, not at all troubled b being
left alone, pushed out upon the broa river,
first crossin to the late camp occupied by the
he fellows had not left any thing
behind them of any consequence, and after
looking about for a while the boys again took
to the canoe and addled down to aplace
where the water sli swiftly over some broken
rocks, portions of rthem entirely ab0ve the
surface. Having secured their canoe so that it
was safe, they took their salmon rods, step-
ped out on the rocks, and prepared their cast.
Basil threw first, and the gaudy salmon—flies
had scarcely settled on the stream when there
wasaswift rush, and the elastic rod bent
nearly to the water, when Basil essayed some-
thing which no one ever did successfully—to
throw a twelve-pound salmon over his shoul-
der. Amoment more and he was looking
ruefully at the poor remains of asix-foot
leader, the rest having departed with the
game fish.

“Well, if that wasn’t soft in you, Basil,”
cried Ed, laughing, as his flies went sailing
through the air. “Bend on another leader
and don‘t try that game again, if you love
me.”

There is no such sport on the water as
salmon-fishinf—first, because the fish is of
the gamiest escription, and second, for the
resison that his eat size and strength make
him a “hard firmer.” The water teemed
with them, and d soon had one hooked, and
royal fun followed as the skillful fisherman
played the giant fish, turning him here and
there, taking every advantage which excel-
lent tackle and rare fishing-ground afforded,
until, with his great mouth a ape, the sat—
mon came up within reach of t )0 eff hook,
and, with a. whoop of delight, E adminis-
tered the coup de grace and laid‘ the big fish
lovingly upon the rock. He had been sur-

, during his strug le with the salmon,
at not hearing anything rom Basil, and sup-
posed that he was engaged in pulling on a
coder. But, turning to look for him, he
saw him in the canoe and pulling up the
river with rapid strokes.

“Wonder what the fellow is after now?"
thought Ed. ‘ “ It’s mighty queer he should
leave me in this way. la—by George! I see
what he is‘ after.” ,

There was something in the water, moving
slowly from shore to shore, which looked at
that distance like a floating lo with pro
jecting branches. But if it he been‘ slog
there was no reason why it should move
across the current instead of down. Ed knew
at a lance what it' was, the antlers of a buck
whic was crossing the stream; and Basil,
sly dog, had seen it first and started in pur-
suit, leaving Ed upon the rocks.

“Now I call that about the meanest thing
I ever heard of,” shouted Ed, stampin
furiously upon the bare rocks. “ To cut 0
like that after a buck, and leave me to my
own devices! But, it’s ust like Basil, and
some of these do s I’m gomg to get even with
him on these litt e tricks."

Basil had taken the canoe with no thou ht
but that Ed was a better fly—caster than m-
self, and could have all the sport he wanted
while he went off after the swimmin deer.
He was usin the paddle sWiftly an skill-
fully, and E knew that he had hes re-
volvers with him and was almost cc to

et the game he was after. The deer had
fust found out that he was being chased, and
was swimming viciousl , workingwith might
and main to reach the ank before the bum
‘81‘ head him off, but before two-t rds
of t e distance was traversed he saw t at
the canoe was passing between him and the

I

bank. It

 

coveted haven. Basil had ut out all his
powers to get there first, an was not sur.
prised when the buck stopped swimming in
that directidn, and whirling suddenly, made
for the bank he had just left. The‘canoe
shot after him, Basil shouting at the.top of
his voice as he saw the struggling animal
within easy reach, and soon to be his prey.
He fired one shot, which struck just at the
base of the. antler, and seemed to drive the
animal crazy, for it turned quickly toward
him and came plunging at the canoe,
throwin itself half out of the water at every
effort. §Sasil fired again, but in an unsteady
manner, for he missed completely, and the
fore feet of the buck were thrown over the
gunwale of the canoe, upsettingit in min-
stant, and throwing Basil into the water.
As he came up the deer was swimmingto—
ward the shore, and full of anger at being
upset in the presence of his brother, Basil
reached out his right hand and caught the
animal by his stumpy tail and held on firm-
ly, thrusting his pistol into his belt under_
water and drawing his knife. He began to
swim back, the deer lashing out victously
with his hind feet, when all at once the boy
sunk, andEd, who had been laughing until
the tears ran down his cheeks, began to be
alarmed for the safet of Basil.

The buck, relieve of the incubus which
had clung to him, be an to‘swim rapidly to-
ward the bank, and id had thrown off part
of his clothing with the intention of going
to the rescue of his brother, when he saw
the buck ivc a convulsive leap from the
water, as it? suddenly pierced, and then he
began to swim feebly, and a moment later
went down in the sha low water, while Basil,
with his huntin -knife in his teeth, came
swimming over t 6 spot.

“He has done the trick." shouted Ed.
“ Ha! here comes the canoe.” I

The overturned craft had fleated down
with the current, and headed directly for'the
rock upon which Ed stood. He stepped out
into the water a little way and caught the
light craft before it struck, and hauling it
up on the rock, emptied out the water and
replaced it. The paddles, following ‘the
course of the canoe, soon reached him, and
throwing the fish and tackle into the canoe,
Ed embarked and joined his brother, and‘the
two got the buck out of the water to the
roved to be a four-year Old, in
prime condition, and Basil thought no more
of the ducking, as he realized that’he had
drawn first blood from a deer. ' ‘

CHAPTER III.

a cm: FOR HELP—FIGHTING THE PANTHER
-—8TERN HEART, THE CREE—TEE ESCAPE
or JACQUES LA BART.

As the boys stood gazing at the splendid

game—Ed With feelings nearly akin to env’y, v,

or his salmon was as nothing compared to

such game as this—they were startled by
hearin a piercing cry from the forest just
behin them, and both turned and ran back
with all their speed in the direction from _
which the cry came. A scuflfing noise was
heard as they came on, and both bovs ran at
their best‘speed and burst intoalittle shsl- ‘
tered glade, where a huge hairy animal was
rolling on the earth, tearing at something
which looked like a human being, but was so
mantled in blood that it was quite im ossible
to be sure. Both boys were well-s led in
natural history, and at a glance the recog-
nized hi the creature before themt 9 great

American panther, which, when it has at-

tained full growth and is rendered mad by

hunger or a wound, is one of the most den- r

gerous animals alive.

Basil and Ed were brave boys, and al-
though they had not their rifles with them,
there wasno hesitation on the part of either ’

 

of them about attacking the panther. v, Basil,
’whose revolvers were wet, caught up a heavy

club and rushed in, dealing the animal a tre—
mendous whack across the small of the back

. set

  

4

 

—-which it had arched in its stm gles with
its prey—a blow which, under or inary cir-

cumstances, would have broken the creature’s

spine. As it was, the panther uttered a

scream of pain, and bounding into the air,

alightcdyin the branches of a low tree, six
feet from the earth, and glared about for its
enemies.- The first person to meet its gaze
was Ed Le Fevre, who had drawn his revol-
ver and was taking sight at the panther,
using his elbow for a rest. Just as \he fired,
certain that he could send the ball ‘through

I the brain of the ferocious brute, the animal
made a spring into the air, and came down
upon all fours about ten feet from Ed, who
quickly put in another shot which struck the
wild beast somewhere in the lower jaw, but
did not stop it: for, with an agile bound, the
creature again leaped, and this time the boy
had not a chance to fire again, and went
down, prostrated by the infuriated panther.
It would have gone hand with Ed this time

, had not Basil been on hand with his club, but
that dought young Nimrod again rushed
forward,.an swinging the club with both
hands, struck a tremendous blow, and the
hind-quarters of the enraged beast sunk in
such a. way that Basil was uite satisfied with
the result of the blow. d shook himself
free and rolled out of the way, while the pan~
that, evidently cowed by the reception which
it had received, began to crawl away as fast

as possible. ’ .

“That won’t do, you know,” cried Basil,
springing to his feet and rushing between the
panther and the bushes. .“You’ve treated
us ¥ofiroughtoallow you to get away in that

at e’ ‘

‘ ' he panther really seemed to understand,
for she stopped, and resting her head upon
her”fore~paws, looked at 'the boy with a gaze

' that was full of rage and pain: Twice she
made an attempt to leap, but as often as she
did so her hind-quarters sunk, and the mus-
cles refused to perform their functions, as the

last blow from the club had completely para- _

lymd the magnificent animal. As she lay
t ere helpless the be actually hesitated
about putting in the nishing shot, but he
feared that the effects of the blow might pass
awe. , and another struggle follow which
mi t not result so pleasantly for him. Rais-
ing the heavy wea n, and taking good aim,
he planted a ball 'rectly between the gleam-
ifng eyes, and the creature fell dead at his
cat. .
“Now let’s see what she was at,” cried
Basil, a}; roaching the heap of tattered cloth-
ing wine the panther was worrying when
they came to the rescue. “ The high jinks,
Ed! It’s a young Indian!”

It was indeed an Indian boy, though of
what tribe the did not know, who lay ex‘
tended on the ry leaves, which were stained
with blood. His hands were considerably
lacerated, there were several scratches on his
face, and he was senseless.

‘ “Bring some water," cried Basil, as he
tore open the hunting—shirt of the young In-
dian. “ Let us wash away the blood and see

. how had his hurts are.”

Ed darted to a pool not far away and
scooped u some water in his cap, which he
own y the side of the injured be and
; they quickly washed away the bloo , and
‘ found to their delight that although some of
the scratches were quite dee , none of them
were ofa serious nature. hey dashed the
remainder of the water into his face, when
. the Indian shivcred and his 9 es opened. He
stared in utter amazement as he saw the two
boys, .aud raisin I himself on his elbow,
looked aboutfor tie panther, and uttered an
exclamation of joy as he saw her lying dead
upon the earth, and, springing to his feet,
shaking his head as if to free it from some
confusion, he hurried to the side of the pan-
ther and looked at her curiously, while the
boys could hardly kee their eyes from him,
he was so like the idea Indian of whom we
often read but seldom see. ‘ . ’

Red River Rovers.

“Me SternHeart,” he said. “Me Cree
Indian. Who kill black beast?"

They signified that both of them had a
hand in it, and he smiled as he reached out a
hand to each. Stern Heart was taller than
either of the Le Fevre boys, and his copper—
colored face was full of intelli ence.

“ See,” he said. ~“ Stern I cart go under
tree—not look. Panther up in tree, jump on
head, knock down, no know nothing, no can
Have time to scream once—then all
dark.” v

“We heard you,” said Basil, “and ran
over to help you.”

“You good; Stern Heart loves you, and
will make camp with you. Who else in
camp?”

“My brother and Old Walt Williams," re-
sponded Ed.

“Walt big heart! Me like Walt; lad
shake hands with he. Ha! you know can
La Bart?” he demanded.

“ Yes,” replied Basil.

“ He in your camp? Me no like Jean; no
like brothers. Bad heart; steal Injun game;
steal fish—anythin . Stern Heart no camp
with Jean La Bart, ’ he added, in a decided
tone.

“We drove them away this morning. But
come; let’s get the panther down to the
river, for Gaspard will like to see him. He
hasn’t got any such specimen mounted in his
collection,” said Basi .

‘,‘ I should so not,” replied Ed. “ I think
he will be like y to preserve this one; he’s
got all the materials for the work.”

The two boys began to drag the body of
the panther toward the river, the young In—
dian assisting, but evidently at a loss to
know what the wanted of the panther, as
his ears were al that were necessary to show
that they had~actuall killed the creature.

“ N 0 can eat,” he eclared, when they had
got the body down to the bank.

Basil laughed.

“I don't think I’d care to wrestle with a
steak off the old ‘critterlmyselffl he said,
“but my brother is a great hand to preserve
such thin s." ,

Stern glean shook his head doubtfully
and turned back to ick up his bow and ar-
rOWs, which he he dropped when first as

sailed by the panther.
“He better than

“Got deer,” he said.
panther; good to eat; panther no good.

Want him over river, ch ‘2’

“ That was what we were figuring on, old
fellow,” replied Ed.

“Me take him over,” said Stern Heart.
“ Not good put big load in canoe; take them
over on log.”

He walked along the bank until he came
to an eddy, in which a number of logs had
been caught, and quickly selected one which
suited him, a rather flat stick about twelve
feet _lon , with broken branches stickin up
here an there. Upon this log he lai the
deer and panther, fitting their bodies among
the branches in such a way that they coul
not possibly fall off. Then the boys got into
the canoe and took up the paddles, and Stern
Heart, seating himself aft, took hold of one
of the branches on the log and drew it after
the canoe, while they paddled across, When
he sprung out and pulled the log triumphant—
ly ashore. He had scarcely done so when he
stopped and held up his finger by way of
warning.

“ Some one in lodge,” he asserted, in an
undertone.

“Perhaps Wait and Gaspard have come
back,” replied Ed, looking at the sun and
notin that it was not more than twelve
o’cloc . “We didn’t expect them back un-
til ni ht, however.”

“ e go scout," said Stern Heart. “ You
kee quiet; me come bac‘ .”
e stepped into the creek, and. crouching

under the bank, went up the stream until he
could enter the Woods. Then he crawled out

 

of the water, and they watched the house

s

'lialf carrying Gaspar

 

closely. In a few minutes they saw some-

thin moving on «the ound in the rear of the
buil ing, but so cautiously that had they not
been on the watch they mightnevcr have de-
tected it. A moment later they saw Stern
Heart extended upon the earth behind the
cabin, peeping through a chink in. the logs.
He appeared to satisfy himself quickly, for
he rose and beckoned them to come on, while
he .fitted an arrow to his bow and stepped
cautiously to the) front of the house. Just as
he did so Jacques La Bart, the younger of the
four brothers, came out of the cabin, literally
bending under the weight of a number of
rifles, shot-guns and other articles which he
had stolen. But, as he stepped into view,
there stood the young Indian, with an arrow
drawn to the head, looking him in the face.
Jacques, with a cry of astonishment, dropped
his plunder and stood aghast.

“Well, you me a nice duck, ” declared Ed,
as he came up. “ Make yourself nite at
home. There isn’t any other little th ng you
would like, is there ‘2”

The follow seemed to have lost his power
of speech, so completely was he taken by
surprise. His under jaw dropped, and he
shook like a man suddenly stricken with the
a e.
“Don’t shoot him yet, Stern Heart,” said
Basil. “N ow then, my sweet flower, where
are the rest of your gang?”

Without making any re ly Jacques sud~
denly sprun forward, an before either of
the boys con d seize him, he had reached the
bank of the river. An arrow from Stern
Heart’s bow pierced his wrist as he ran, but

he broke off the shaft, and, in s its, of the. ,

gain, plunged into the water and dlsappeared.
hey got out the canoe and waited for him to
rise, but to their utter surprise, when he did
so, he was almost across the river, and quickly
reached the bank and lunged into the woods.

“There is a snake in the path, brothers,”
said Stern Heart. “Next time you kill it,
or it live to strike you.”

And they saw the time, before many days,
when they were sorry they did not let the n-
dian drive his arrow through the heart of
Jacques La Bart. «

.._.___..

CHAPTER IV.

CAUGHT IN AN AMBUSH‘THE STOLEN CA—
NOES~STEILN HEART ON THE TRAIL.

STERN HEART was used to dressing game,
and in a wonderfull short time he had the
buck cut up and ready for consumption. He
had removed the h , under the direction of
Basil, as it bore a fine set of branches, and
the young hunter was anxious to preserve it.»
The boys had carried back the guns which
Jacques La Bart had taken, and rearranged
everythin in the cabin, and after that‘built
a fire an cooked some venison steaks, as
Gaspard and Old Walt did not appear. As
it grew dark, and they did not come, the
boys began to get nervous, and If they had
known which way to go, would have started
out after. their missing friends, A large
number of venison steaks were prepared for
cooking, read to go on the coals the moment
they a care , but the hours crawled on and
they  not come. Ashe understood their

fears, an expression of sympathy came into,
~ the dark face of the young Indian. "

“No come to-ni ht, we nd ’em to-morrow.
Stern Heart goo scent and can follow a
trail, but not at night as well as by daylight.
Ma be they come soon.”

lire had hardly said this when they heard
the sound of hurryin feet, and Old Walt,

Le Fevre, came in
hastily. . .

“ Thar,” he exelaimed; releasing his hold,
“ down on that lie of blankets, an' let
me idol; at yer leg. urn an’ biastthe ’izen
Frenchmen; no man’s life is safe With 1; cm.”

Gas :1 “sunk down Weanly, and upon-

removgr‘l; the stockingptrom his right foot,

‘ .

I..4__ ....,..

 

 

w, .\,s.,

M‘s. ..

‘ - the old E“

Red River Revers.

 

 

the boy's saw that he was wounded in the
calf of the leg, the ball passi quite through
the muscles, inflicting a psi ul hurt.

" Me look,” said Stern Heart, touching the
guide, on the arm. .

“ Oh, lory hallelujah, Stern Heart, is that
you? Véall, I never was so glad sence m
mother concluded to spank my brother ‘stead
of me. Tell you what, Gaspard, this young
Injun understands flesh wounds better than
most doctors. He’s big medicine—he is.
Yes, take a look at it, young ’un, an’ tell us
what you think.”

The lithe fingers of the youn warrior
passed quickly over the hurt, an then he
smiled;

“ Cure ’em quick,” he asserted.
da s more he may go and hunt."

8 had a small pouch at his side, from
which he took some dried herbs, which he
soaked in a little water, applied to the wound
and put on a bandage to old it. The boys
were eager to know how the accident—for
such they supposed it to lie—«had happened,
and while the venison was cooking, Walt
told the story.

“ We didn’t start out this morning so much
0n the hunt as to mark down places for other
days, and so of course we took a big circuit.
I’m thinkin‘ now that it‘s well we did, ‘cause
the course we took puzzled the mean cusses,
an’ they couldn’t come up to us all day.”

“ Who?” demanded Basil.

“Jean La Bart an’ his ang. It seems they
didn’t go away arter all, ut was watchin‘ us,
an’ three of ’em licv b’en on our trail all day.
Perhaps I wouldn’t have known we was
bein’ tracked, but this arternoon we crossed
the trail we had made along in the morning,
an’ I happened to look at it, an’ durned of I
didn’t see sign r1th atop of ours. Thet set
me thinkin’, an’ follcred it long enough to
make sure thet three of them cussed French
Injuns was tryin’ to run us down. Some
one hez got to pay fer this racket though, you
hear me!

“ Soon ez I made up my mind we wuz fol-
‘lered I thought the best way wuz to put for
camp, an’ away we went, an' I kept a mighty
Sharp look-out fur trouble. We’d got almost
in, an’ I calculated to take to the creek an'
wade down, when we come upon the cussid
ambush afore we kn'owed it; but they didn’t
get a square pop at us, or one on us might
hev Chawed grass, fur I see the shine of a
riflevbarrel, aii’ pulled Gas ard down jest in
time. We got kiver an’ Bad a brush with
’em, an’ somehow in the scrimmage Gaspard
not it in the leg. That’s about the size M in
I’Ve fou’t through ’ein an’ got to the cabin,
an’ now the question is, whether we ar’ goin’
to stand this kind of a racket; I ain’t, fur
one.”

The boys then recounted their adventures

“Two

,of the day, and the guide grew great] ex-

cited over the fact that the younger La art
had attempted to rob the cabin. While he
Was yet stormin over it they heard the sound
of voices outsi e, and Walt bounded to his
feet with a rifle in his hand and sprun to
the door, just in time to see half adozen ark
forms comingup from the beach.

“ Who goes thar?” he cried. “ Speak quick
or I fire!”

“All friends; Walt," replied a cheerful
voice. “ What the deuce is the matter ‘round
here? I hope you are not at war with any
one.” ~

“ Is that Jim Nesdall?” demanded Walt.

" You bet!" was the rgply. ’

“Come along, then. en ar' just the boys
I want to see,” cried the guide, eagerly.

The party came up quickly, and as they
advanced into the light of the fire the boys
saw six hardy-looking men in the dress of

“WW” and voyagers.“ This was Captain -

J 8.11188 Nesdall, in the employ of the Hudson
Bay ompany, now on his way to a trading

station further north, '
“I’m mghiy glifd to see you, Jim,” said
8.. “ There‘s got to be a. gineral

, .

they were too late.

 

cleaning out. of the La Bart fam’ly. Put on
more steaks, Basil; the boys will be him .”

While the meal was being prepared alt
told what had happened to them since their
landing, and the trappers listened with deep
interest, for they had suffered afiin on
again from the depredations of the Baits,
but had never been able to trace it home to
them. When Walt had finished, Nesdall
brought his hand down on his thigh with a
resounding slap.

“We’ve got the skunk at last," he cried,
" and now we’ll hunt the scoundrels down if
it takes a. month. They haven’t dared to use
the rifle openly before, but this fixes it. You
don’t doubt it was the La Barts ‘2”

“ Nary; I’ve see’d the’r cussid tracks among
my traps too often. The’r little feet gives
’em away. an’ the hull fam’ly have got ’em.
Oh, it was the La Barts—bet yer life.”

“They shall have frontier law,” averred
Nesdall, sternly. “We have allowed them
to have their swing too long already. What's
that snapping? And where is the young In!
jun gone ‘2"

Stem Heart, unseen by an one, had silent-
ly glided from the cabin, an all at once the
silence was broken b the crack of a rifle,
followed by a rcven e 111 yell and the twang
of a bow-string. he next moment, as the
wind rose, the cabin was full of smoke, and
a bright liaht showed through the chinks in
the sides of the building. It was on fire, and
the La Baits were again at their work.

“Lay out there, boys," cried Jim Nes-
dall. “The skunks are at it again, as sure
as you live.“ ,

tthis moment Stern Heart came up at
his noiseless run, pointing with his bow to-
ward the river.

“They one,"_ he gasped.
canoe; go own river." _

Leaving three men to extinguish the fire
the rest darted down to the river bank, but
The loud dip of paddles
could be heard, and a crashing volley was
sent in the direction of the sound, but only
mocking laughter came back. The scoun—
drcls had made clean work, and had even
taken the two canoes with which Nesdall
and his party had come, containing all their
supplies for the trapping season. The rage
of the trappers can hardl be described, par»
ticularly that of Walt Wilson.

“Listen,” said Stern Heart, speaking ra-
pidly in the Cree langua e, which Walt and
Ncsdall understood; “ iey are gone, but
Stern Heart can find them. Water leaves
no trail, but they must land somewhere; you
know'that.” I

“Away you go then, Injun; and bear in
mind, if you run them down the best rifle in
the party belongs to you,” replied Nesdall.

“Stern Heart does this because he loves
the white boys, who saved him from the
panther; he does not do it for pay,” declared
the Indian.

“You’d like a rifle, just the same,” an»
swcred Nesdall. “ I never saw an Injuu yet
that didn’t want one. But 0 ’long and do
your work, and when you hive the skunks
come back here and bring us word. Kin you
use a revolver? Here, take this, but don’t
fire it unless you really need it, for the bow
makes no noise.”

The boy caught the hands of Basil and
Edward in succession, pressed them upon
his heart, and darted awa in the dark-
ness, taking the diameter 0 the half-circle
which was formed by a great bend in the
river. He was a rapid runner, and so well
did he know the ground that he ran swiftly
and noiselesst even in the darkness. Woe
to the La Barts, now that this persistent foe
was on the track.

Fjor two hours’he continued his tireless
Pace, when the moon came out [in the clear
sky and he. saw the river gleaming before
him. By takin thecourse which he had
pursued he ha gained at least two miles,

‘ ‘ Steal all

and felt quite certaiu'thatthe thieves had

/ ' t

I _,.,

 

not yet passed. Cree ing down close to the
water’s edge, he 13 at upon the earth'and
soon after heard 1: e513); beat of paddles
and saw two canoes p in the middle" of
the stream, the rascals bending to their work
and sending the light canoes rapidly for-
ward. They had evidently got rid of the
third canoe and had piled the stolen property
in the two largest.

Stern Heart hesitated for a moment, and
halfdrew the revolver from his belt, but
thought better of it and did not shoot.
were too far ofl‘, and a shot might only
frighten them without doing any harm.
Springin lightly to his feet, the young war~
rior ran own the river to a place where the
eddy would bring them close inshore, and
crept down into the water at a spot where
a huge tree cast a long shadow, and waited,
a. grim smile upon his face. As if fortune

was on his side, just at this point the thieves ,

ceased paddling, and the two canoes drew
together, and went slowly drifting down the
river, while Jean La. Bart and his brothers,
laughed like hyenas over the result of their
bol
brave Indian boy was so close at hand.

CHAPTER V.

 

STERN HEART AND THE F'IEIIZINCHMENd

DRIVEN mro CAMP—BACKWOODS JUSTICE. '

“ZAT well done, man flares,” cried Jean.
“Ha, ha, ha! By gar, I vish I could see he
faces of zat Jim Nesdall and Valt Vee1-,
son ven ze canoe all gone; oui, oui; zat ‘vas
ze best sing I evare done, by gar.” "

“I hope I hit ze Indian,” hissed Jacques
La. Bart.
row esterday.” ,

“ ow listen, man flexes,” said , Jean.
“ Vat ve ‘ave done make it necessaire zat ve
keep vat ze Americaine shall call shady, lav
low, keep dark. Zat Jim Nesdall very mad;-
and he nevare rest until he have revenge.

Bali! zis is not good canoe; zero is too much] ‘

vataire in it. Give me ze gourd, Jacques.”

“ Vataire in zis-end of ze canoe, too,” cried
Jacques, as he took up the gourd which was
used in bailing. “ By gar, she sink.”

“ Oh, ze diable!” roared another of the
brothers.
zere is no bottom in her.”

‘ Stern Heart had been at work, and what
he had done had rendered further fli lit by
water impossible. The Indian had sipped
under the canoe, and with a sharp knife cut
a number of holes in the bark in such a way
that it was impossible to repair the damage
quickly. He then sunk agin, and swim—
ming under water reached 0 shore unseen,
where even his Indian gravity was disturbed
by the furious manner of the baffled thieves.
In spite of all their efforts they could not
keep the canoes above the water, and they

ran into the shallow part of the stream and '

sprung out to save their ammunition and
rifles, which they carried up and laid on the
bank, when they hurried back to save such

goods as they could. Before they got back 

the canoes had floated dowu tliirt or forty

feet, the goods were landed in anot ier place, i

and the canoes were dragged out of the water
in order to examine them, and the fury of
the thieves was simply terrible as the saw,
by the light of the moon, that they ha been
cut, and the keen-witted Jean knew in an
instant that it was the work of Stem Heart.
« “ Remember,” lie hissed, “ verever you See
zat Indian dog, Stern Heart, kill him. . He is
ze one who cut ze canoes.”

“ S’pose he near by?" said Jacques.
“Look out and see; I have not sink of set;
hurry.” ’

Th ran the bank together and darted
tower the p e where they had left their
weapons. As they came over the bank they
saw Stern Heart, with a rifle at the T“ ready. ’
coolly waiting for them. One of the French—

man made a movement to retreat, but a stern,
conimand from the younglndian called them - ‘
,bao . - ' A ’ _ '

"~ .

“ Ze acelemt mark, me wiz his ar—“_

“Zis canoe half full of vataire;

They \

robbery. They little knew that the,“ u

    

6

, “Come out in opening,” he commanded,
in a tone which they knew meant business.
“Come and sit on ground; you lift a hand,
me shoot, and me no miss]?

The fellows obeyed without a word, so
completely were they taken by surprise. The
four were desperate men, but all their wea-
pons were piled at the feet of the youn ln-
dian, and they knew he could and won] kill
them before they could lay a finger on him.

~ Utterly dumfoundcd, they sat down in a
forlorn row immediately in front of the brave
young: chief.

“ Marius La Bart," said Stern Heart,
“you have lariat there; here is a knife; cut

the Iariat in so many pieces."
» 'He held up four fingers on his left hand
twice, and Marius, the most cowardly of the
four brothers, did as he was ordered.

” ’I‘ic your brothers up,” was the command
of Stern Heart. “Hands and feet———tie ’em
tight.” ‘

“Marius, you dog!” hissed Jean; “you
have a knife: why you no rush at him ‘!”

Stern Heart clicked the lock of his rifle in
an ominous manner, and h'l'ariusground his
teeth in rage and groaned; but there was
nothing for it but to obey, and in five min—
utes he had bound his brothers hand and
foot. ,

“Now sit on ground, Marius," cried Stern
Heart; “tie your own feet—tic 'cm tight."

Marius obeyed.

"Now throw away knife and lie on face;
all do same. or the shoot."

The. villains threw themselves on their
faces, and Stern lIcart approached and ex»
amined their bonds, after making the hands
of Marius secure. He found that the fellow

.had tied them faithfully, and the nearest ap-
proach to a laugh of which he was capable
appeared upon the face of the young Indian
as ho gazed upon his captives. The thing
had been so skillfully and rapidly done that
they could only realize that they had been
trap ed, and were so dazed that they could
her make out just how it was done.

(“A ow, Jean La Bart," said the lndian.
“me tie you to trees and leave you while
fetch Jim Nesdall."

“Nun! mm!“ screamed Jean La Bart.

. “ S” ose wolf come?"

“ olf cat wolf,“ replied Stern lleart,
again allowing that. shadow of a smile to pass
over his face.

At that'momcnt a distant howling told
that the wolves Were indeed in the woods,
and much as he hated them, he did not wish
to leave them to be devoured by the savage
creatures. After a moment’s hesitation, he
loosened thcmonds upon their feet in such a
way that while they could step, they could
not run.

“Go before me,“ he commanded. “We
go back to camp, and \Valt say what to do
with you."

By the expression of the four villainous
faces it was hard to say which they preferred
—-to be left a prey to thewolves or be carried
back to meet the tender mercies of the trap-
pers and Walt Wilson. The walk back was
a weary one, only enlivened by the lavish
curses which the four Frenchmen heaped
upon each other for their foolishness in leav-
ing all their weapons on the bank, It was
nem'l two o’clock in the morning when they
stum led into the opening, where thcy were
hailed by the guard who had been set since
the departure of Stern lleart. As he saw
the four Frenchmen advancing he leveled his
rifle and was about to fire, when Stern Heart
called to him, and he saw that the French-
men had no weapons and their hands were
tied behind them. He shouted to. those
within the hut, and all came running out, to
see Stern Heart driving his prisoners across
the opening at the muzzle of a cocked re-
volver. '

“ Here Frenchmen, Ca tain Jim," he said,
addressing Nesdall. “It tern Heart catch

’em all,” '

\

 

/

Red. River Rovers.

“Oh, you little cuss!” roared Walt Wil-
son, “come here and let me bug you! How
did you do it; how‘ in thunder could you?
The hull gang, nipped as easy as get out, anl
drove into camp together. I don’t know
what ‘to say or do, I'm so tickled.”

Stern Heart in a few brief Wrds explained
the manner of their capture, while the
Frenchmen stood in sullen silence, awaiting
their fate. After the Indian boy had told
his story, Nesdall turned to \V alt.

“I s’posc these fellows have got to swing,
eh? It’s the shortest way to get along with
them, and they won’t make an more trou~
ble. Life and property ain’t, sate while they
are alive.” ‘ .

“That’s about the ticket," answered Walt,
grimly. “ Ef they ain’t murderers oz well
ez trap-thieves it ain‘t their fault. They
tried hard enough to kill Gaspard Le Fevre
an7 me.”

“Mon Dion!" screamed Jean La llart.

“You dare not hang us; it vould be mnr~
dcr."
. “ 0h, thcr’ ain’t any one in this kentry go—
In’ to find fault with us fur stringing you up,
you dirty dogs. Rope is cheap, but we
wouldn’t waste it on on. A raw—hide lariat
'an’ a ride on a swinging bouin is about the
racket fur you. S’pose we may c7. well let
‘cm live till mornin’, (lap? Ef they’ve got
any prayers to say, they kin say ‘em to—
night."

“All right; we‘ll tie them up and set
guards over them. You stand by them. Ned
Carey, and you, Tom Fish, and if they move
a finger through the night put a bullet
through the one that stirs. It will save trou-
ble in hanging that one in the morning."

It was an awful night which the four \ril»
lains passed as they lay bound upon the sod,
with the guards passing to and fro in front
of them. Joan commenced to talk of a bribe
to them, but the rifle-locks clicked in such
an ominous manner that he said no more
about corrupting these men. How they
cursed the hour when they picked a quarrel
with Walt ‘Wilson’s party. If they had
known the stuff of which they were com-
posed, or had even known that Walt was
with them, they‘would not have done it.
’l‘hcykncw well that if they were hour by
these trappers, in the unsettled state 0 the
country, no questions would be asked, and
every one who knew them would be glad
that such villains were out of the way. Such
things had been done before, without ques-
tions being asked, and there was no sign of
mercy in the eyes of the guards. 'l‘hcy
writhcd in their bonds and cursed themselves
for permittingr the indian .to make them
prisoners. Some of them might have es—
caped if they had made a bold push for lib-
erty, and now here they were, trussed up
like chickens, only awaiting the morning for
their fate to be decided. They suffered all
the pangs of death until daylight appeared,
when the party came out of the cabin and
took breakfast in a methodical manner, pay-
ing not the slightest attention to thcm.
After breakfast a consultation was held,
when the prisoners were taken out, each
with a lariat about his neck, and led out
under the trees.

“You are not going- to hang them really,
Walt?" whispered Basil. " That would be
too tough."

“ ()1), hold your hush, boy,” replied Walt.
“We know What We are going to do.”

“ Now, my French friends,” said Captain
Jim, as the lariats were adjusted over the
limbs of different. trees, “ have you :mything
to say before you go up?"

The wretchcs howled for mercy and
groveled at the feet of the caitain, and
would have kissed them if he hat permitted
it. Their abasement disgusted the in?“
trap ers. .

“ 11, here,” Nesdall said, "‘I can’t stand
this. Tie the cowards up, give them forty
lashes each, and turn them running.”

|

“ t

 

 

One of the men soon appeared with a
bundle of green beech rods, and the four
scoundrels were tied to separate trees and
lashed without mercy. When the work was
fzfifithfully done their bonds were stripped
o .

“Now go," said Walt, sternly. ' “And
remember this: any one of us who gits sight
of you in this kentry will put a ball in you;
git!”

“Give me my rifle!” hissed J can, through
his set teeth.

“Nary rifle; git-l”

The four beaten wretches 'slunk away
without another word. At the edge of the
forest Jean La Bart paused, and turned his
.. .trred i'aee toward the party with such a.
vicious look in his eyes that Walt half brought
his rifle to his shoulder. Jean instantly dove
out of sight. .

“Mebbe we’ve done wrong not to hang
Ran,” muttered \Valt, “ but let ‘em go.”

And indeed there did come a time when
they knew that mercy to such scoundrels
was thrown away.

CHAPTER VI.

OLD MAN AT IIOME—-H’l‘l'lllN HEART
AND THE BEAR-A GOOD HIIO'I‘.

 

THE

THE trappers did not stay long after the
departure of the Frenchmen, and after learn-
ing from the young Indian where their goods
were left, took their rifles and departed on
their tramp to the North. It is a strong
commentary on the thievinrr character of the
Frenchmen when we say that they ran with
all their speed to the place where the goods
were landed, packed all the lighter and most.
valuable articles and carried them away, two
hours before Captain Nesdall and his men
reached the spot. They repaired one of the
canoes as Well as they could and loaded the
remaining goods to take them to the next
station. It was well for the Frenchmen that
they had not time to follow, or the trappers
might have run them down and given them
the benefit of the luriat yet. But the were
in haste to get to the next station, an went
(in their way swearing vengeance another
( ay.

The party in camp upon the point felt
easier now, and prepared for a grand
hunt. Gaspard, who was much better,

but not yet able to take a long tramp, re—’

maincd to guard the cabin, although they
had no fear that the Frenchmen would
return at present. It was thought by all.
that the lesson which they had received.
would be a warning to them and they would
give this section of country a wide berth.
Captain Ncsdall had kept his word with
Stern Heart. and, with pardonable pride, he
now carried a handsome rifle, which he han-
dled in a way which showed that he knew
how to use it. Gaspard had given him a.
revolver, and with a long bowie, the propel"
ty of one of the Frenchmen, he was one of
the best-armed men in the party. Before
starting out hc‘had whispered some informa-

, tion to Walt which seemed to please thetold

hunter, and they pushed on rapidly through
the forest, the Indian in front, the boys in
the center and the guideln'inging up the rear.
For over an hour they marched Oh, when the
forest became more open, and they be an the
ascentvof a high ridge, covered with roken
rocks—a wild and desolate place. At last
the Indian paused half-way up the ridge, and
pointed to a. dark opening in the rocks, large
enough to admit the body of a. man by slight—
ly stooynng.

“W'hat‘s here?" demanded Basil.
don‘t look much like hunting."

“ It will, before you get through,” an—
swered Walt. “ It’sabear-hole; look’round
an’ see if the Old Man’s at home, Injun."

Stern Heart stepped forward alone and
looked carefullyat the opening for a moment.
and then came aek. .

“ Old Man here,” he averred.

“This I

-m.

 

‘2 ,I , 'l, ’ 7’
Red. River Rovers.

.7'

 

‘ " How'do you know that?" asked 
"Claws go in. not come out again," re—

- pliedthe (young Indian. “Now you getgood

placesan wait.”
They concealed themselves behind the

‘ rocks and watched the opening, while Stern

Heart, holding his rifle firmly, stooped and
entered the cave, and takinlgI up a stone,
hurled it into the cavity. e had hardly
done so when he came out on a run, and the
tremendous roar which rolled from the depths
of the cave told that the “ Old Man ” was in-
deed at home. A loud scratching was now
heard within the cave, and directly after the
head of a lar c brown bear emerged from the
opening, an the huge, unwield animal
came out at a rolling gait, his he wagging
from side to side in the manner peculiar to
the. brute when angry. Ordinarily, the
brown bear is not a dangerous opponent, but
when made angry by an assault upOn him in
his own haunts, or when hungry or guarding
his cubs, he becomes furious, and there is no
creature which is more ferocious. ‘

This was one of the largest of his species,
and the stone which Stern Heart had hurled
into the den had struck him on the nose and
made him angry. A chorus of growls, which
came from within, told that there were cubs.
He had got his eyes on Stern Heart and went
after him with a growl, his little eyes twink-

‘ling in a vicious way, as the Indian ran

lightly ahead to lead bruin away from the
den. As he came in range of the concealed
hunters three rifles were depressed, and as
many bullets were planted in the shagg hide
of the animal. From the position which he
occupied, Old Walt, who was behind the
bear, could not get in a shot in the part of
the body which he would have selected, and
the boys, not knowing much in regard to
hunting such animals, buried their bullets in
the fat sides of the brute without doing him
any material damage, and drew from him
roars of fury as he continued his chase of
Stem Heart, who held his fire until the others
could load again, and continued to run,

‘ dod ing lightly among the rocks, and from

his eetness of foot managing to keep out of
the way of the savage creature. The breech-
loaders were quickly charged, and the hunt‘
ers prepared to close in.

“ Fire at the head; you two!” cried Walt.
" You might go on plumping bullets into that
fat fool for a month and do no harm. Watch
Stern Heart: do ez he duz.”

’Stern Heart, seeing the bear close upon
him, the foam dropping from his bloody jaws,
ran mmny up a slope and reached the level
above, looking at the state of his rifle as he
ran, so as to be ready for action. Once on
the level above be turned, and raising the
rifle breast high, waited calmly. The bear
rushed on furiously, and when close to the
hunter raised himself on his hind legs and
made his waddling approach, while Stern
Heart never moved a muscle, but stood like
a statue, his bright black eyes fixed upon
every movement of the animal.

“ Fire, lire, Stern Heart!" cried Basil,!wild-
1y. “ Why do you wait?”
it “Let the boy alone,” growled, Old Walt.
“ He knows his biz on bear—shootin‘.”

He had scarcely spoken when the young
Indian brou ht the rifle sharply to his
Shomder, att e moment when the hear was
almost close enough to give it a cufi with his
paw. The annual stopped, settled back on
his haunches, pawed the air wildly for a mo-
ment, reeled like a drunken man, and then
sunk down In a heap, dead before he touched,
the earth. I

“ Well done, Stern Heart, well done," cried
Walt. “You‘ve Irot a stiddy hand, that I’ll
as f fur yer. Coul n’t ’a’ done that better my-
se .” ,

“Stern Heart no ’fraid of Old Man," he
883d. “ Kill him with knife, ’fore now.”

"I’llbet yer hev. But come along. When
the Old Woman finds out what’s been done,
thar will be wigs on the greensward but

 

 

what she’ll hev revenge. Hairk to that, she’s

callin’ him now.” .

The she bear, ensconced in her den, was
making the rocks tremble with roars for her
absent mate, and they knew that in a few mo—
ments she would come out to see what the
trouble was.

“Get kiver ag‘in, boys,” the guide said.
“We’ll hev to wait a bit afore she shows up,
but when she does come she’ll come acwhoop-
in’. Let her find her Old Man afore yer fire
a shot; remember an’ aim at the head an’ see
of yer kin fetch her with one shot, same as
Stern Heart did. Hyar; Basil; do you want
to t1 your hand?” '

“ hat’s me,” cried Basil, eagerly. “I’ll
do justas near what Stern Heart did as I
can." .

“Mind you take time. Ef you miss the
bar you’ve got to come to a hug, an’ look out
thet you don’t let her git your knife-arm in
her grip, or yer won’t be no use to nobody.
Stiddy now; I think she’s a~comin’.’v’

The rattlin of claws was again heard
upon the roc y bottom of the cave, and
a huge she bear, nearly as large as the
“ Old Man,” came plunging out of the open-
ing, evidently in a fury. Her wrath, how-
ever, was against her husband, who had been
called into the house, and did not respond,
as many a husband has done before and
will do again. It was plainly her intention
to chastise him for his bad conduct, and her
eyes roved quickly about the rocks in search
of the delinquent. She did not see him at
first, and ran up the slope a little way,
searching for him, and at last got to a place
where she could see him lying on the rocks.
Yes, there he was, sunning himself and hav-
ing a good time, when she had repeatedly
ca led to him to come in. She trotted up
with a belligerent air, certainly meaning
business, and got nearly up to the body when
something on the rocks attracted her atten-
tion, and that something was fresh blood——
the blood of her slain mate. The roar which
burst out when she bent to smell this was
perfectly hideous. Then, with a single
bound, She reached his side and bent over
him. '

She seemed to realize in a moment what
had happened, and with another wild roar,
turned furiously to take ven canoe upon the
murderers of her mate. cc to the man
Who stood in her way, as with hair bristling
and teeth snapping together with a horrible
sound, sh‘e rushed dOWn the slope.

“ Better let me take her," whispered Walt.
“ She's just on her muscle.”

“No, sir!” replied Basil.
my mea ."

And with his rifle pointed, he stepped
boldly out to meet the furious brute.

CHAPTER VII.
IN THE sun BEAlt'S HUG—THE Two cuss—
EAGLE AND o'rrnn. .

IT has been said before that Basil was not
without practice in hunting, but up to this
time his attention had been confined to the

ame to be found within the limits of the

tatc of New York, especially in the Adiron-
dack wilderness. But he had something
which should be the prominent characteristic
of every hunter, the most perfect coolness in
moments of danger. In this respect he
was superior to Ed, who was apt to et a
little flurried in times of excitement,- an per-
haps it was for this reason that of the two
Walt had selected Basil to “plug” the she
bear. It is doubtful whether he would have
done it, even then, but for the fact that he
was so close at hand, to give him aid if it
should be reall necessary.

Basil carrie a short but heavy rifle of
great power, and one in which he had the
utmost confidence. He knew, that he was a
good shot, but he had never been tried in a
place where a miss might have such disas-
trous consequences. The moment hestepped
out in view the bear stopped and looked at

“ That bear is

 

l . ’9‘

 

his strangp form fixedly, for it was strange

to her. , he country had not yet been over- i

run by hunters, and it was probably the first
time the creature had ever seen a white man.
It was only for a. moment. that she paused,
however, for she seemed to know that a
creature of this kind had destroyed her mate,
and dropping again on all—fours, she trotted

/

up to him at a rolling pace, plainly bent on .‘

avenging, in his person, the evil which had
been wrought. As her mate, had done, she
raised herself on her hind feet and walked
toward Basil, and he drew a fine sight on
her head, through which he fully intended
to drive the ball. But, just as he pulled the
trigger, she jerked her head on one side, and
the ball, instead of passing through the
brain, tore through the flesh at the side, in-
flicting a very painful but far from dangerous
woun .

Basil dropped his rifle and drew his knife,
holding his hands high above his head, and
the next moment he was locked in an em-
brace which was too close to be pleasant.
Lowering his left hand, he caught the, bear

by the loose skin on the lower part of the‘

neck and clung toit with desperate strength,
while he drove the knife again and again,
with all his force, into her Vitals. 'At the
third thrust the bear staggered, and as Stern
Heart rushed up to help him, Basil cried out
to him to keep off. Once more he drew back
his hand and buried the broad blade to the
very hilt in the body of the bear, and with a
half—human groan she sunk at his feet, and,
after a few convulsive struggles, expired.

Basil thrust his knife into the‘moss W- . .

ing on the rocks and wiped away the loud

before he returned it to its sheath, while Ed , 

looked rather annoyed. He was a- good-
natured young fellow, but his luck had beef:
bad late , and he'felt the fact somewhat.
But Stern Heart whispered something to him
which made him look brighter.

“ The cubs are mine, understde Now,
then, Stern Heart, let’s have ’em out,” he
cried. .

“ Wait a bit,” responded Walt. “ Cubs is
cubs, but sometimes they are mi hty un—
healthy critters to handle, ’specialy when
the’r’ 'ttin’ growed up. Git a pitch'pinc
knot, tern Heart. A little light on the sub—
ject won’t come amiss.”

The Indian darted away and quickly came
back with a couple of pine knots, which
were li hted, and the two boys entered the
bear’s en together.
assailed their nostrils as they passed in told

that the place had long been occupied in this ‘ I

way. The passage inclined downward for some
distance and then widened, and they were in

The fetid odor which ‘

a high arched room about twenty feet s flare, ‘

and by the light of the torches cou d see
two pair of gleaming eyes in the further cor-
ner. Hurrying to the spot, they found two
bright-looking cubs, not more than a month

old, and each of the boys collared one and ‘

dragged him out, in spiteof his spitting and

scratching. \

“Gaspard will be tickled to death with
these,” Basil said. “ He always wanted a
pair of cubs to train; he has said so a dozen
times.” ,

“ These are just the fellers for him, then,”
averred the old hunter, “ and I’m ' hty
glad we captered ’em. I reckon we arfnllifiely
to hev a load going home.” i r

“Going to take bears?" asked Stern Heart.

“Oh no; jist the’r skins and the heads; I
reckon we can tote ’em,” was the answer.

“Carry to creek, make raft and take ’em
down,” suggested Stern Heart. ‘ '

“You’ve got. a head, anyhow," declaréd 1

Walt. “ Just strip the

it off thet she b’ar,
will ye? Leave the

on H 4

The two set to work, and in a remarkabg;

short space of time, the animals were stripp
of their hides, and the party started for the

creek, Basil and Ed each coaxing and drivu

ing one of the cubs at the end of a lariat.

They quickly reached the creek,: when Stern,

.-n

 

i
i.
1

   
 
 
 
    

- send her rollin

, meet;

   

 

‘c

Red River Rovers.

 

8 .

Heart collected logs enough to make a ser-
Viceable raft, to which the two cubs were
strapped, and Basil, Ed and Sternllileart,
with long poles in their hands, embarked.
The raft bore them on finely, while Walt
trumped along shore, as the raft was not
quite heavy enou h to carry his weight as
well as the rest. fter they had roceeded
down-stream about three miles, 1; e youn

Indian, who was at the head of the raft, su ~

' denl thrust his pole into the sand and stop—

ped ts course.

“Watch out,” he said.
fish.”

A short distance ahead of them was a widen-
ing of the creek, forming a sort of bend, on the
surface of which ducks and Wild geese were
floating. On the right hand side was a hi h
bank, escending in almost a perpendicu ar
line to the water’s edge, and upon the crest
of this bank stood two strange creatures,
gazing intently into the water below. At
the eight of the long shining bodies, the
round and beautiful heads and brilliant
eyes, Basil, who was a student in natural
history under his brother, knew the fishing
otter.

“Ain‘t they beauties?" said the guide
from the shore. “ Wait a minute an’ maybe
you’ll see some fun. I wouldn't wonder.”

Ashe spoke the bod of one of the others
tended downWard, an he slid into the wa-
ter with a smooth graceful motion, Without
a splash, and disappeared. A moment after
he rose to the surface, bearing in his jaws a
good sized salmon, with which he began to
swim toward the other bank. The second
otter at once sprung into the water and over-
took him, and seizing the tail of the stmg.
gl'n fish, they swam side by side to the
an , and drew the salmon up on the low
bank, resisting its efforts to struggle back
into the water until it was dead, when they
laid it out carefully on the grass, and pro-
pared'for a meal.

“ Oh, look at that," said Old Walt. “ Ef
thar ain't an eagle. Now he wants that fish
and he’s goin’ to hev it ef it’s in the books.
The otter don’t see him, nuther.”

“Where is he?” whispered Ed, eagerly.

“ 0n thatdr limb of the (lead pine above
the otter. “ out '6 see the critter? he’s
bending his head an lookin’ down.”

"Yes, Iscc hini;” replied Ed, “and by
George, there he comes!”

The monarch of the air, a magnificent
specimen of his tribe, seated on the. dry
limbahundrcd feet above the unconscious
otters, suddenl folded his wings and drop-
ped like a bul et. The whirring sound he
made caused the otters to look up, and the
male was on his feet in an instant, showing
his white teeth, and snapping viciously at
the descending carrle. When - near the
ground the great bird spread his wings
and scared away to a little distance, evident-
ly designing to draw the otters away. from
the fish, but the female seemed to be up to
his “ little game,” and instead of leaving the
fish, she covered it with her body, while the

“ You see otter

~ ,male ran to and fro beneath the eagle, look-

ing as ugly and belligerent as it is possible

I for an animal to look, and not showing the

slightest disposition to relinquish his dinner,
even to please the king of the air.

The eagle sailed upward again, and gaining
an altitude of perhaps three hundred feet

'  came flashin r down on the male otter, which

on iis hind feet, seemed ready to
e foe boldly; but when near him, the
eagle suddenly changed his course, and
hurled himself against the female, who was
slightly off her guard. with force enough to
to a distance of several feet.
Before she cou d recover herself or the male

rearin

1, rush to the rescue, the eagle had the salmon

in his talons, and had risen quite out of their

reach. The otters «ran to and fro on the

ground below, uttering cries of distress and
re. e, which were almost human. and Old
alt was touched Wltll compassion.

I

 

“You old fraud!" he cried, raisin his
rifle, “ yer ain’t got sand enough to catc yer
own dinner, and live b robbin’ honest

critters. Yer ez bad ez t er La Bart gan ,
every bit. Come down, an' bring that fis
with ye.”

The muzzle of the rifle made a short circle
as it followed the spiral upward flight of the
eagle, and then the whip-like crack sounded
through the forest. The eagle made an
upward spring, and Basil cried:

“ Missed him, by gracious!"

“ Not much, my son; look at thet," replied
Wait.

The talons of the eagle slowly opened, and
the fish dropped from them to the earth
below, where it was quick] seized by the
otters, who proceeded to ma e their meal as
if nothing had happened. The eagle made a
desperate effort to struggle upward, but it
was vain, and folding his wings, he fell
through the tree tops not far from where the
otters lay, and they sprung up and scurried
away, taking the fish with them. The boys
pushed their raft down, and Basil landed to
secure the eagle, which would form a great
addition to his collection of stuffed birds~—-
and few boys were better posted in the art of
taxidermy than he was.

“Thar,” said Old Walt. “I reckon tliet
ought to satisfy you chaps for one day. Yer
mighty lucky though, I'm tellin' yer, to hev
made a friend of Stern Heart the Cree, cause
what he dunno about the huntin’ grounds
ain’t hardly wutli knowing."

They pushed the raft rapidly down-stream
and reached camp before nightfall, where
the found that Gaspard, already able to
Wu k about, had prepared supper, and over
their coffee, corn bread and juicy venison,
the boys fought again the battles of the day,
while Gaspard looked with delight on the
acquisitions the had made, and wished that
he had been wit 1 them.

CHAPTER Vlll.
CHANGING CAMP—FIRE IlIlN’l‘ING——ED AND
THE CARCAJOU.

THE party remained in this camp for a
week, and in that time the panther and eagle
had been mounted, and presented a fine ap-
pearance. - The heads of the deer and bears
had been preserved, and Gaspard had made
some progress in training the cubs, which
were young enough to take kindly to him.
The cabin presented the appearance of a
naturalists studio, and Gaspard obtained
many hints in regard to the habits of the dif-
ferent Northern beasts and birds from Old
Walt, who had passed the greater portion of
his life in the midst of wild scenes, and know
much of the life of thcdenizcns of the forest.
'l‘hcir (-vcniiigs were generally spent in listen-
innr to tales. of border life or natural history
and 1in working on specimens already so-
('ui'c< .

“ W 0 must move on," declared ()ld W'alt,
one day. “We’ve pretty nigh cleaned out
everything rirht about ycr, an‘ I’ve had a
talk with the lnjun, an’ he says he kin take
us to ahuntin’ground that beats an thing I
ever see; an” tlict’s sayin’ a good den .3‘

“Vtht shall I do with my specimens?“
asked Gaspard. “ I hate to leave them."

“I’ve tuk care of thet. You know Stern
Heart went to his village yesterday. Waal,
half a dozen of the tribe are comin' down
liyar to-iiight, an’ will keep camp fur us while
wear‘ "one."

The ndians arrived early in the evening,
most of them young men, eager to reap a
portion of the same benefits which “had come
to Stern Heart through his intercourse with
the white men, The sight of the weapons
with which he was provided had made them
anxious to get some of the same kind, and
they were ready to do anything to earn them.
Stern Heart explained to them that they were
expected to keep camp and see that nothing
was disturbed, and assured them that they
might depend upon the generosity of the

 

I

 

white men for their reward. As the Indians
had brought two large canoes w'th them, one
of these was bought b Gas and paid for
on the spot, a good ri e being the price, the
weapon to be used for the common good of
the party until they could get more. At
early morning the canoe was launched, and
the party set 0ut,'delighted to have other
means of locomotion than “hoofing it," as
Bas11 eigpressed it. They swept on through
the rapids, passed the place where the young
chief had his famous encounter with the La
Barts, and held a steady course down the
stream for twenty miles, when, at the sug-
gestion of Stern Heart, they entered the
mouth of a small river and landed for supper.
A camp was soon made, and, after supper.
althou h somewhat weary, the two boys and
Stern leart started out on a “fire hunt,” as
Basil and Ed wished to try their new fire
helmets, which they were certain would
equal, if not surpass, the invention of Rev.
Mr. Murray of Adirondack fame. These hats
had been built for them in New York, and
were each fitted with a contrivance by which
a broad funnel of light could be thrown for-
ward, while the form of the hunter was en
veloped in darkness. They trumped on
through the silent woods, Stern Heart leading
the way, until they came out in a broad
opening in the forest, covered with short.
green grass, 9. splending feeding-ground for
deer. Having taken their stations, the boys
put on their helmets, which they had carried
slung at their backs while passing through
the woods, and presented a comical appear-
ance with these strange head-dresses. Then,
by a touch, the lantern in the front was
opened and two broad streams of light swept
the edge of the woods in search of deer.

There is no creature which roams the for-
est so gifted with the curse of curiosity as
the red deer of America. A light at any
time in the night has a strange attraction for
them, and they will approach it, no matter at
what danger to themselves. The boys had
scarcel stood five minutes when the light
from asil‘s cap was reflected on a pair of
sparkling points, about four feet from the
ground. In an instant his rifle was brought
to a level, and as he looked through the
double sights he was sure of his shot, and
pulled the trigger. Something fell with a
crash upon the earth, and there was a con—
fused rustling among the leaves, and Basil,
drawing his hunting-knife, was about to rush
in, when Stern Heart caught his arm.

“Load,” he said. “Always load rifle
first”.

At this moment Ed fired, and at once
sprung away to finish the game which he
had brought down. Basil slapped a cartridge
into his breech-loader and hurried toward his
struggling game, and Stern Heart, seeing him
so prepared, darted away on the track of Ed.
who had not taken the same precaution.
Basil found the deer at which he had aimed
down, with a ball through the base of the
neck, for he had held a little too low. and at
the sight of the hunter the animal bounded
up and made a rush at him with lowered
head, and Basil had learned a lesson—never
to attack a wounded animal with an em ty
rifle. Bringing the weapon to his shonl er.
with a well-directed shot he dropped the deer.
and then, throwing down his rifle, he sprung
in with'his knife and gave the death-blow.
Scarcely had he done so when he heard a
hideous scream, followed by rapid revolver-
shots, and know that Ed was in trouble.
Throwing another cartridge into his rifle as
he ran, he darted back in the direction of
the sound and soon heard the noise of a des‘
pcrate struggle in the darkness, and ran as if
life depended on his speed.

Ed was in trouble and needed aid badly.
The creature at which he had fired—not
knowin what it was—had dropped athis
shot, and with the impulsiveness which made
the fault in his character as a hunter, Ed
dropped his rifle and ran in the direction

we

 

 

ash”,

Red River Reyers.

I 

 

from which the s0und of struggling came.
When near the spot a strange creature rose
suddenly from among the leaves, with an an-
gry snarl, and began to run toward him,
somewhat after the manner of a bear. It
was a creature which he had never seen, hav-
ing a long, tawn bod , short, thick legs,
and showing in its con ormatIon something
of the points of both bear and wolf. The
long white teeth gleamed in the light of the
lantern, and Ed recoiled, for he had never
seen so ferocious a brute. But before he
could turn the strange animal was upon him,
and they rolled to the earth together, the
boy, in his desperation, driving his long
bowie into the mouth of the animal, burying
it so deeply in the bone and muscles that he
could not withdraw it. Then he caught the
animal b the loose skin on both sides of the
neck, an b desperate efforts kept the long
teeth away rom his throat, which the animal
seemed working to reach. It was impossible,
however, to guard against the long claws on
the hind feet, which were working viciously,
tearing his buckskins into strips and inflict-
ing painful scratches on his lower limbs.
How it might have fared with him is impos-
sible to sa , had not Stern Heart come rush-
ing up an drove his knife into the back of
the furious beast.

With a snarl of rage the creature tore him-
self out of Ed’s grasp and he sprung up,
while Stern Heart fired three shots in rapid
succession asthe animal came at him with
hideous yells. These were the shots and
screams which had startled Basil, and brought
him to the rescue with his loaded rifle. Stern
Heart had an imperfect light to work by, as
the helmet which Ed were had been so but-
tered in his fall that the light was nearly ex—
tinguished. Just as the mad beast sprung
upon the Indian, and Ed was tr ing to get at
his own revolver to give him ai , Basil came
darting through the opening, throwin the
light of his lantern upon the struggling arms
of the young Cree and the savage beast. This
Was all Ed wanted, and getting his revolver
out, he rushed in, caught the animal by the
back of the neck, placed the revolver in its
ear and fired two shots, and the creature
dropped to the earth in its last convulsions.

“See here!” exclaimed Ed, looking over
his tattered attire ruefully. “What 1's the
thin , anyhow?” ' ‘

“ ndiau devil,” replied Stern Heart, rising
 unhurt. “ You load rifle next time,

“You bet I will!" answered Ed, quickly.

The'creature ave a last convulsive kick
and fell baCk. an the boys examined it curi-
ously. It was the nondescript animal famiL
iarly known as the “ Indian Devil ” and the
“ Carcajou,“ which is sometimes met by
hunters, and is claimed to partake of the
nature of the grizzly bear and the Canada
wolf. Whatever it may be, it is a ferocious
beast, and one which no hunter cares to en-
counter alone. Upon examination they found
Why Ed had escaped from the teeth, for his
knife was so firmly driven into the mouth
that the animal could not close his jaws, and
was forced to de and u on his claws as offen-
s1ve weapons. he be y was dragged down
to the creek and hung up out of reach of the
wolves, the same disposrtion was made of the
deer which Basil had shot, and than the
march homeward commenced. And although
Stern Heart used the best lotions upon the
torn limbs of Ed Le Fevre, it was some days
before the smart of his wounds had passed
awa . But all this pain was stoned for by
the act that he had slain an animal which
almost any hunter would go out of his way
to avoid.

 

CHAPTER IX.

THE NEW CAMP—HOW STERN HEART CAUGHT
DUCKS—wt COWARDLY SHOT.

GasrAnD took possession of the body of
the (‘arcrmou next day. quite as a matter of

 

course, and it is needless to say that it made
an addition to his collection of which he was
justly proud. . They passed on up the creek,
which in England would have deen di ‘

by the name of river, and at the close of the
second day entered a beautiful lake, perhaps
seven miles in length and containing water
of extraordinary purity. The place selected
for a camp was on a long een point which
extended into the lake, w ere there was a
beautiful landing, and they found a large In-
(lieu lodge read for occupancy.

“ Cree come ere to fish sometime,” cried
the young Indian. “Good place here; big
trout; plenty sport here, you see."

They prepared supper, the deer brought
down by Basil playing the principal art,
while 0 d Walt laid himself out upon resh
corn-cakes, on the baking of which he justly
prided himself. This, with stron coffee,
made an excellent repast. As evening came
on the clouds began to roll up, and Stern
Heart pointed to the skyand said they had
reached camp just in time, for a storm was
coming. They had not long to wait, for the
thunder began to boom, and the sky was
1i hted by the flash of heaven’s artillery.
The wind came rushing across the lake from
the rear of the cabin with tremendous force,
the forest bowing before it, and the little
lake was at once 1n commotion, great waves
rising upon the surface and chasing one an-
other toward the other shore. It was a
beautiful scene, and one to be long remem-
bered, and as the rain began to pour Ed and
Basil, throwing on their waterproof coats,
stepped out upon the bank and watched the
progress of the storm. Then it ceased as
suddenly as it had begun, only the lightning
continued to flash, an the call of the loon
sounded on the bosom of the lake.

“Oh, you don’t fool me, Mr. Loon,” cried
Ed, laughing. “Basil and I chased one of
them on Big Sodus bay .on Lake Ontario
until our hands were blistered rowing, and
I‘ll bet we knocked two pounds of feathers
out of him. But we didn't get him, just the
same.” . .

“Takes good shooting to hit a loon," said
Walt, who had been watchin closely, as
the great bird came in towar the shore.
“ There’s only one way, an’ that is to get a
party blazing at him until he cts confused,
an' can’t dive at the flash. loon’s body
ain’t bigger then a man's fist. Now what’s
the matter with you, Stern Heart?"

“ Come and see,” replied the Indian, in a
low tone.

He found the yOung chief standing on the
shore, lookimr at a number of footprints in
the sand. alt stooped and examined them,
and decided that they had been made within
a da ' or two.”

“iinow tracks, eh?” asked Stern Heart.
“ Me know."

Walt looked more closely at the tracks,
and then brushed his foot over them. There
Eva‘s a look of strange determination on his
ace.

“I’ve only got one thing to say, my boy,"
he whispered. “Better keep quiet about it
to them boys, but at these cusses cross my
path ag’in it will go hard with them. Now
it’s time to turn in; who keeps guard ‘2"

Stem Heart tapped his bosom.

“ All right, I only wish we had brought
the rest of your party with us, that’s all.”

The hunters retired early and were up be-
fore the sun, ready for a raid upon the wa-
ter-fowl which peopled the lake in myriads.
As Basil looked across the lake his heart
gave a great leap, for there he saw the feath-
ered web—foot race in all their perfection
Clouds of mallards, wood-duck, butter-balls
and teal came in from all directions, heading
for, their feeding—grounds, and he saw, too,
the canvas-back and black ducks, which he
had not been able to secure in good shape
for preservation. The 0 posite shore of the
lake was lined with reedy- banks, and deep
coy’es set in, which were partially covered

 

by these rank grasses, making splendid feed-
ing- ounds.

“ won’t go out today," declared Walt;
as the party prepared to depart. “I've got
something to do here, an’ besides, I’ve got a
lazy fit on. Stern Heart knows all about
duck-hunting.”

The oung Indian led them around the
shore _ the lake to a creek which let into it,
and quickly built two stout rafts which
were piled with grass to make them look
like the tufts which were continually float-
ing down the stream, and under these piles
of grass lay the hunters, and swam down to
the feeding-ground of the ducks where they
lay idly floating on the water. Flocks of er~
rant “hell divers” swam up and looked at
them earnestly, but the hunters lay quiet
and waited tor bigger game. Butter—balls.
and wood duck passed over them or settled
on the water close at hand, but for this day
they were safe; only canvas-back and blac
duck would satisfy the hunters now.

They had not long to wait, for a flock of
black (luck, the drakes resplendent in their
shining coats, relieved by red and green
about the throat and head, came :sailing ma-
jestically over, and landed in the water near
at hand. The hunters had double-barreled
shotguns with them, and each selected his
bird and dropped him. Then, as the great
flock rose, the second barrels did fearful
work, and for a moment it actually seemed
to min black ducks. They came tumbling
down in all directions and the others on the
pond rose in confusion and sailed away, al-
though they had no conception of the man-
ner in which their companions had been
done to death. Those innocent-looking
bunches of grass had nothing to do with it,
they thought. Although the denizens of the
pond decamped, others were not wanting to
take their places, and scarcely had the party
loaded again when the whirr of wings was
heard, and a large flock of canvas-backs
came fluttering down. Again the double»
barrels cracked and did fearful execution.

“This is slaughter,” averred Gaspard,
throwing off the grass and sittin up.~ “It
is almost a shame to take duck 1i 6 that. 1
say, Stern Heart; is there any way you can
get me a pair of canvas-backs and another.
of black duck without tearing them all to
pieces with shot?”

“Me do it,” answered the Cree. “You
come ashore and watch.”

The party landed under the trees, after
collecting about thirty-five birds which had
already fallen, and Stern Heart threw off his
hunting—shirt and head-dress, and appeared
with only a breech-cloth. He ran up the
creek a little distance and disappeared among
the trees. Shortly after tufts of grass bee
gan to float down, which at first caused some
commotion among the ducks, but that was
soon over and they paid no more attention to
them. The tufts continued to float down,
and soon one of them was seen surrounded
by a flock of black ducks, led by a stately
drake, one of the finest s ecimens Gaspard
had ever seen. While t e naturalist was
gazing at him, and wishin that he could
have that beauty in his co lection, he and-
denly disappeared beneath the water with a
loud “quack,” and directly after another of ,
the flock went out of sight. Soon after the
tuft began to float again and was seen in the
midst of a flock of canvas-backs, and to the
surprise of the boys, a similar result fol-
lowed, the finest pair of ducks disappearing ~
as if by ma 'c. Five minutes later the
strange tuft o grass began to move toward
the bank, and the young Cree, shaking off a
quantity of clinging ass from his head, ap-
peared
tives to Gaspard—for he had been under the
tuft of grass all the time, and by means of it
had been enabled to make the best selec-
tions. ,

“That was neatly done, Stern Heart,”
averred Gaspard; as he took the ducks.‘

‘ /

elow the ban , holding out his 0843— ‘ »

  

p

 
  
 
   

a

, having a hot time.

, from the cree

      
 

"‘ Upon my word I never dreamed for a
moment that you Were under the grass.”

. “ My way catch ducks,” replied Stern
Heart, With his rare smile. “ Good way, too;
save powder and no scare ducks.”

The hunters remained on the bank, and
contented ‘ themselves with doing some
fancy shooting, only aiming at birds which
were flying in such a way as to make the
shots difficult. Stern Heart, using his rifle,
shot two ducks in succession as they were
seated on the water, aiming only at the head.
They had a pleasant lunch under therlofty
trees, and were thinking of going to a goose
pond further inland, when they heard the
crack of a rifle coming from the direction of
the camp.

“ We go back, ” cried Stern Heart hurriedly.
“Maybe Walt have trouble. Follow lake
shore; me no wait.”

He darted away with the speed of a gray-
hound, heading in the direction of the camp,
from which a regular fusilade could be heard,
which plainly showed that some one was

Basil, who was light of

foot, kept pretty well up with Stern Heart,

and when they were almost into camp, as the
I\young Indian appeared on the crest of a
ridge, the crack of a rifle was heard, and ’he
fell like a log. Basil grasped his shotgun
more firmly and sprung to the side of his In-
dian friend, who lay extended on the earth
with, the blood oozing from a wound in the
head. As Basil reached him he saw the hid-
eous face of Jean La Bart rise from the
bushes beside the path, and without a mo
ment’s hesitation the boy gave him both bar-
rels. He uttered a yell of pain and rolled
back into the bushes, and the boy s rung
after him, drawing his revolvers as he did so,
but could find nothing of the scoundrcl. He

could see the track where his body had rolled'
own the bank, but he had entirely disapg

peered from si ht.
Basil run bac to Stern Heart and lifted his
'I head upon his knee.
senseless and ap cared to be dead, and laying
ing him gently own, Basil was about to run
for help, when he saw Gaspard and Ed hur-
rying up. They lifted the Indian and carried
r him down the slope, when they were met 1)
Old Walt, his rifle still smoking in his ham .
“ Oh, I've had the cussidest fight you ever
heard of,” he declared. “ Them durned La
Barts ar’ on deck ag’in, well armed and ready
for War. I marked Jacques La Bart, though,
ahd I don’t reckon he’ll worry any one long.
You hear me. But what’s the matter with
the Injun?”
" Shot by Jean La Bart," replied Basil.
t Old Walt raised his hand in an impressive
gesture as he said:
“I sw’ar to give myself no rest until I run
them black dogs to earth. Let them look out
_ fur me. Now let’s carry the poor boy into
'ther cabin."
They raised the bod between them and
passed into the hut, an laid him on a pile of
. blankets, While the hunter looked at his
wound.

 

, , CHAPTER X.
IRON Bow, THE CREE CHIEF—THE DEAD

MESSENGER—JACQUES LA BART’s GRAVE.

BASIL broug{t a gourd full of water
, and Walt washed away
the clotted blood from the wound. As he
did so the lodge door was darkened, and
amajestic figure stalked in, that of an
Indian, probably sixty years of age, with
long gray hair floating down on his
shoulders. Walt looked up with a start,
for in thi old man he recognized the
father of Stern Heart, the noted Cree
chief Iron Bow.

“Who has hurt Stern Heart?” he
demanded, in the Cree tongue. “The
boy never did harm to any.”

“You know Jean La Bart, chief? He
is the man who shot him,” replied Walt.

The young chief was]

 

Red River Rovers.

“Then Jean La Bartis as good as dead,
and a. Cree chief does not lie. Is the
b0 dead?"

alt was running his finger along the

furrow made in the seal by the rifle
ball, and looked up again, 0 efully.
“The ball glanced, ,chief. f the skull

ain’t fractured, an‘ I’m thinkin’ it ain’t,

then he’s all right. You’ve got suthin’

good for hurt flesh in that sack of yours,
’11 go ball.”

The old chief opened the bag and took
out a handful of green leaves, and while
the guide continued to bathe the injured
part, he bruised these leaves between two
stones and made a sort of poultice. Gas—
pard opened his carpet ha and took out
an old cotton shirt, which e tore quickly
into bandages, and the poultice was laid

 

 

 

l

he did, Walt was sure he would be on his
feet in a few hours.

“Ez thar ain’t any thing partic’lar to
keep me hyar,” he declared, “ I think I’ll

o.on a bit of a Scout. Thet is, of no one
as any objections. Hullo ! What’s
that?”

As he spoke there came the sharp re-
port of a rifle from the forest, in the direc-
tion taken b the Indian messenger.
Walt grasped is rifle and darted from
the hut, and makin a wide circuit, came
out upon the path W ich led to the Indian
village, the sition of which he knew
well. At thls point he could see the well-
defined trail which the Indian had left,
for he had made no effort to hide it. Walt
again plunged into the bushes. and crept
up to the path at another point and peered

upon the wound and the bandage tied j cautiously in, and saw something which

neatly over it.
naturalist had a flask of brandy, a small
portion of which he poured into a cup
and passed to Walt, who managed to get
a few drops between the. set teeth of the
boy. He gasped and opened his , eyes
wearily, and made an attem t to rise, but
Iron Bow laid his broad hand on his
breast and kept him down.

“ Rest in peace, my son!” he said.
am with you and I will avenge you.”

A contented look passsd over the face
of the b0 as he sunk back again upon
his soft be After resting a few moments
he spoke:

“The bullet of Jean La Bart was not
molded to kill Stern Heart. I shall live,
my father.”

“Oh, let me get outside and dance,”
cried Ed. “I never felt so happy in my
life. But say; where have those French
fiends gone, Walt?”

“ I just got a glimp’ at ’em thar below
the pint when the was creepin’ u to
shoot me in the bac , an’ I give Jacks a
pill that he’ll carry to his grave, I reckon.
Then we all tuk kiver, an thar was some
lively shootin’ fur twenty minutes, but
they must have heerd ou comin’, fur all
to onc’t the lit out. ut it ain’t goin’ to
save the s unks, nohow. I thought I
heerd a shot-gun jest afore you come
in, boys?” he added, in a questioning
tone.

“I (rave Jean La Bart two charges of
duck shot after he shot Stern Heart, but
he rolled down the bank and got away,”
responded Basil. “It will make funny
business for him, picking the shot out of
his carcass.”

“ Good for you! I only wish you had
ended him. Now then, chief, ef you
think the boy is safe in our hands, you’d
better go to the village for men.”

Iron Bow stepped to the door and gave
a signal whoop. It was answered imme-
diately, and in a. few moments a Cree
brave appeared. Iron Bow met him at
the door and gave him some orders in a
low voice whereupon the brave darted
awe. through the forest.

“ e’d better let things 0 on just as
they have to'da ,” said %7Valt. “Of
course them hr f-an’-half devils won’t
come back right away, an’ one of ’em I
don’t reckon will come back at all. Only
we’ve got to keep our eyes peeled, or some
on us may git a stray shot.”

Iron Bow nodded gravely and sguatted
on the earth floor of the lodge, c ose to
his son, looking earnest] at his face.
The color was coming bac now, and the
appearance of his eye was good. All
could see that he was rapidly improving,
and knowing the nature of the Indian as

((1

l
J

 

Among other things the ' made his stout heart beat hard, more with

anger than fear.

In the path, just as he had fallen at the
shot, lay the dead body of the messenger.
He had been shot through the heart and
killed instantly; of that there could be
little question. Even from where he stood
Walt could see that the rifle had been
held so close that the buckskin hunting—
shirt of the dead man had been scorched
by the powder.

“The dirty thieves suspected that the
Injun was arter help, an’ killed him,”
muttered Walt. “I’ve got to look out
fur myself, I reckon. An’ then, ag’in,
they prob’ly come on this poor teller un-
awares, an’ thought best to put him out’n
his misery. No doubt they was on the
git when they come acrost him, an’ this
yer is a mighty good place .to trail ’em
from.”

Creeping cautiously from the thicket,
he gained the lake shore half a. mile
above the cabin and worked his way care—
fully back. If the La Barts had seen
the face of the old chief when the death
of the messenger was announced, they
would have trembled, for the menace in
it was fearful.

“I must go,” he announced. “In
our hands I leave my son, old hunter; I
now you will care for him.

“Be might keerful, chief; thar’s no
telling whar e skunks hav got kiver,”
Walt warned. '

“ There is not a better scout than Iron
Bow among the northern tribes. Have
no fear for me,” answered the chief, con—
fidently. ' Y

He stepped out of the cabin and drop—

at once under the cover of the pro-
Jectin bank. Even Walt, who was
watchmg him closely, could not see
when he left the water and took to the
woods, so carefully were his movements
concealed. Walt drew a long breath of
relief.

“ He’ll git thaw,” he said, turnin back, ,

“ an’ woe to the La Bart gang w en the
In'un avengers al" on their trail !"
here was no sleep for any one that
night, but although they kept a close
watch, nothing was seen or heard of the
enemy. Before morning was fully come
the sound of a mournful chant was
heard, and there came
from the woods a hum of Indian
braves, bearing in their midst the body of
the slain warrior. At the sound of their
voices Stern Heart rose, and walked with
a strong step to the side of the murdered
brave. _
“ Oneto was a brave warrior,” he said,
looking down on him, “ and he died like
a man. It is for the living to avenge

I

going slowly ,
r .

. ..—a_.._.4l-_ _ ,_ A

 

. does not

 

‘sel i” asked alt

 

r y: g  A. m

i .1?

 

Red River Rovers.

 

him, and build a bright fire, that  soul
may not wander in darkness beside the
unknown river. Let us go." ’ 

» “ Yen ain’t  enough, my boy,”
replied Old Walt. ‘ I‘ Better stay ere an’
leave this work'to us.” .

The young wamor shook his head
stubbornly. v

“ I am strong again. The bullet which
ierce cannot lon rob Stern
Heart of is strength. W ere' is the
Weasel? 'Let us set him on the tra' .”

The man called the Weasel stepped
briskly forward. He had a sh . ferret
face, a bright, piercing eye, wdlhis mo-
tions were as sinuous and agile as those
of the animal from which he derived his
name.

“ \Ve seek Jean LaBart and his brothers,
Weasel,” explained Stern Heart. “ The
trail leads from the place where you
found the body of Oneto. Take up the
trail and find the La Barts, that we may
take‘ven eance.”

The easel lided from the cabin with
the silence an agility of his namesake,
and the rest trooped after him in single
file, leaving only Gaspard at the cabin.
Their footsteps awakened no noise among
the forest leaves. The place where the
body was found was quickly reached,
and the Weasel, with his nose to the
ground, studied the earth intently, mak-
ing a circuit about the spot Where the
body had lain. About six feet from the
path he sto ped and gazed more closely,
and pointe to the place where the assas-
sin had stood as he firedxthe fatal shot.
From this point the trail-hunter turned
and/went westward in a course which
must bring him to the north side of the
lake and the others followed closely,
keeping far enough behind him so as not
to interfere with the trailer. He took u
the sign readily and advanced at a quic
pace, and in an hourhad passed the small
creek from which the duck—hunters had
emerged, and here, for a moment, the
trail was lost. Then he came back to the
creek and looked into the water, and
plamly. saw the tracks of the hunted men,
in ‘the fine sand at the bottom.

"How now do ye make them, Wea-

The trailer held u three fingers.

‘ There must be our, old man, unless
I fixed Jacks la. Bart when I hit him.
Look at the tracks again.” '

I “Ha 1” cried the easel. “Two carryr
one and make deep tracks; other mail
step lighter.”

“That‘s it,” declared Walt. “One Of
them is wounded and the rest are lugging
him along. Get on, Weasel! you take

, one bank and I’ll take the other.”

The two ran along the bank for a
quarter of amile, until they came to a
place where a log crossed the creek and
they could see that the trunk was slight-
ly wet in places. Following this log to
t. e north side, they again took up the
trail, until they came to a place where
the part had stopped to rest, and there
was a p e of leaves, with marks of blood

‘on them, where a heavy body had lain

for some time.

From this point the trail turned abrupt-
1y to the left, entered the woods, and
stop (1 in a little sheltered hollow, where
am e of stones had been heaped up hur-
ried] .’ .

“ Sfl’ with these stones,” cried Walt.

‘ “ I reckon we‘ll find suthin’ here.”

_ The stones were hurriedly thrown aside

and [the face of a dead man was revealed

'3' ,.

 

-“—-the as; a the “yo‘filif a; 

brothers, Jacques La , . . r~ I _

“One!” cried Walt, solemnly, “Now
for the others I” ‘ _ ‘

And, after again hea ing the stones
over thedead man, the easel resumed
the trail and the party moved steadily
northward. ' ’ ‘

CHAPTER XI.
THE SWAMP REFUGE—TRAPPED BY EN-

EMIES.

IT was plainly to be seen that the fly—
ing scoundrels could not go far without
rest, bearing a wounded man with them.
The old guide was delighted as he
thought that Jacques La Bart was out of
the way, for, although the youngest, he
was at the same time the most dangerous
of the gang. '

“I don’t set no store on the other two,
boys,” averred Old Walt. ”‘ Jean
Bart and his youn est brother Were the
head an’ front of t e hull g. Lord,
don’t I wish we’d strung up t e onhealthy
critters, that time we had em for stealin’
our canoes!”

Iron Bow nodded gravely.

“ When you meet a snake in the woods,
it is best to set your heel upon it. Jean
La Bart and his brothers have lived too
long, and done too much evil. Why do
you stop, Weasel?” u v

“The trail is lost,” replied the trailer.
“ I cannot find it.” I

“ The rest on you keep back,” Ordered
Walt. “ I know these yer skunks like a
book, an’ I tell e thet the beat of them
fer deviltry  sarcumventure ain’t to
be found in the Canada. Woods. Oh, I
reckon they ar’ tough; it ain’t no name
fur them. Keep back, an’ don’t spile the
trail.” , "

The Indians understood him, and ste
ped quietly back, while only the gui e
and Weasel studied the trail. It ended
at the iiloot of a lfir e tree, aéld at fltlhis
point t e party groupe to er
and at the place where Jean La 13% had
stood dark spots upon the leaves showed
ghatdhis wounds had notyet ceased to

ee . .

“ByVJinks, Basil,” said Walt, la h-
in , “ you must hev filled him ez fu of
ho es as a cullender. Durned efi‘ ye
didn’t.”

“ I put four ounces of shot into him at
twentv paces,” replied the boy, “and if
he didn’t feel it some, he is made of dif-
ferent stuff from any fellow I ever saw
in in life.”

“ wish end ’a’ finished the cuss,”
aver-red W t, “cause ez long ez he‘s got
any life in him, he’s bound to sting. I
Wish I Could get started on this trail
ag’in, fur while we ar’ foolin’. hyar, they
ar' gittin’ along mighty lively toward
safety." '

At this moment Stern Heart, who had
been standing at a little distance, azing
about him With keen eyes, step up to
the tree and began to look at it intently.
Then he raised his hand and pointed to
blood stains which showed themselves on
the bark.

“Jean La Bart go uptree,” he declared.
“ he do that?” ,

Walt cast a hasty glance upward, and
uttered a cry of joy. The top of the tree
was overrun by-a. wild gra vme, which
had reached out its tendrils‘ and caught
the branchesof a tree close at hand, and
continuingto w, had formed aperfect
mat ~between ,
sustain a greet‘weight. W

 

tdartedto

\ t. ‘

 

the foot of :the other tree, which stood
aside from the path which they had been
following, and again found the tracks of
the fugitives, as they had reached the

The break in the mail was easily ex—
plained'now! ' A.

The villains had chmbed the tree, crept
across upon the matted vine, and reached

the other tree, from which they got: to ,

earth again. By this cunning ruse they
had gained over half an hour, ‘and'no
doubt had made good use of the time.

“ Oh, blame my head,” bawled Old
Walt, as he danced wildly on the sod,

“ to think that I let them sneakin’ cusses -. '

cheat me thet way. See here; we’ve got,
to push this thing, or we will git left.’

The again took up the trail, and ad— i , .

van almost on a run, for the afternoon
was nearly over and they knew that,

La Jean La Bart and his companions would 
travel all night, if they were able to do "

so. But, just as night came on, they " i

found themselves on the edge of a t
swamp, extendin
miles, and of near y the same width. The I

trail led into the swam , and the party »

looked at each other in ismay. ,
“Burn the luck,” growled Walt,
“this yer makes trouble. Here, Iron
Bow; let’s hev a talk.” ‘ ‘ ,
The leaders of the party grouped to-
gether for a few moments, and uickly
decided on a plan. Iron Bow ed his
men to his side and gave them hasty
orders, and forty braves departed hastily ‘
to form a cordon about the swamp leav—

‘ing Walt, Iron Bow, the Weasel, the

two boys and six’braves, at the place ‘ I}

where t e trail entered the swamp. The
Crees went along on a re id run, with the
intention of so surroundin the swam
that the villains whom is ey pursu

could not leave it without beingh  i,
n e

and the rest threw themselves 0 ,
and waited, for it would not do for them
to pass into the swam until the “sur-
round” had been m 6. Stem Heart
had gone with the braves to give them
their stations and arrange a code of sig—
nals by which they could know at what
point the villains were leaving the
swamp, if indeed they attem ted to,do-
so. An hourpassed, and the leard far
away, a long quavering ye , and lron
Bow started up at once. ‘
said. “Let us 0.” ’
ing a revolver.
better stay here.”
But neither Basil nor Ed id any
attention to the order. Their 100d was: .
up, and they were as eager as any of the
others to have a grapple with the murder
ous villains of whom they were in puro
suit. Walt plunged at once into the
swamp, and advanced slowly, the Indians ,
following in single file, and the two boys
bringing up the rear. There was an
awful silence in the swamp as they '

"‘You two boys

stepped from one tuftof grass to another I ‘ i

with cautious steps, for. they knew not at.
what moment they nnght run into, an

ambuscade pre ared for them b the wily ,
haltbreeds. t was already I
they could just make out the trees about,
them indistinctly, and the test care,
was necessaésf. At len
fromWaJt ncall, themtoahalt.
They were on a little island in the-
Th

bees, mostly of swamp»

;

'I

, andw

a low  

i

a distance of ree  

.VI

' \

“Itis the signal of Stem he, I “ ”
3*: go first,” eclared 01d Walt,  \ ,
‘i ,_

‘ swampl, containing perhaps three acres of 3 "1
euees,stron enough‘to groun . _ e . _, 
al oak growth, stood thickly upon it, and - .1

’12

Red River Rovers.

 

it was a capital spot to serve as a hiding

plies, such a one as woodmen like the

‘Barts would be likely to seek. Em

one sto ped at once just where he s ,

and mien‘ ed intently. They could hear
the ‘ hing of the wind among the tree-
tops, t e shrill cry of the tree—toad and the
mournful voice of the whip—poor-will;
and& even as they stopped, there came the
sud en rush of a heavy body, and the
two boys their weapons and stood
ready for battle, but the next moment
were ashamed of their panic as they
realized that the sound came from the
tree-tops over their heads. The Indians

had not moved, for they knew every
sound of the forest, and were satisfied
that the noise was made b the great owl
of the North, which hady been startled
from the branches by their approach.
Walt ed from man to man. and
orde them in a whisper to sta where
they were while he and the YVeasel,
creeping like snakes upon the earth, made

I the circuit of the island in opposite direc-
r tions and met at the upper end, without

finding anythin . Then the turned
and came down t e center of t e island,
with as little success as before.

“Sing’lar,” declared Walt. “Queer

thing as ever I see’d. I’d ’a’ swore thet I’d

find the skunks on this hyar island, but

they ain’t on deck. , Now, my ’ inion is
thet they ar’ on the other island t et bears

. nor’west of this yer. Waal; let’s be

trottin’. An’ ez fer you, bo s, you jest
set yer-selves down hyar an’ eep settin’.

Ye ain't ekal to ‘s hyar work, an’ fust
I knows ye’ll m e a noise an’ give the
skunks warnin’, an’ I won’t hev it.”

I “All right, Walt,” assented Basil, good-
n’aturedly. “ I can see that we are not
of much use to you in this kind of work,
and perhaps we can do as much good by
staym here. What sio‘nal shall we give
' if we 5 ould see them, by chance?”

, “ You’ve got the night-hawk call pretty
fine‘Ed,” answered the guide. “Give
usthat, and we’ll soon be on hand.”

The party departed in silence, leaving
the’ two boys on the island. The utter
loneliness of their surroundings made an
impression upon them which they could
not shake off. It did not seem possible,
as they stood listenin that fifty or more

, g
' . ‘ Cree warriors surrounded the swamp and

(that quite a number of men were movin
about in it, for not a sound was hear ,
save the usual noises heard in a Northern
forest by night.

“I sa , asil,” whis ered Ed, as he

ressed c ose to his bret or, “it wouldn’t
pleasant if the rascals got after us while
we are alone.” V

“ They wouldn’t dare to try it,” replied
Basil. “We’d make so much row that
it would bring the others qn them, and
they know it.’

‘ I reckon we’d better keep our clams
shut, anyhow,” responded Ed, “ because
our fellows might drive them on this
island, and if they did come across us, it
would hard with us, I should say.”

“FI on’t know about that. They are
only three and one of them hurt. We
ought to be able to give them a lively
shake up.”

“ So we could. in a fair stand~up fi 'ht,”
answered Ed, “but you see this ush
fighting is different, and I don’t under-
stand it. ” ‘ l

And the boy cast uneasy glances into
the surrounding darkness. If he had
known it, the danger was closer than he
thought, for the t ree villains they pur-

sued were desperate and knew that the
island was surrounded by hostile Cress,
and that the death of the messenger of
Iron Bow would be avenged in a savage
way, should they fall into the hands of
their pursuers. The b0 3 advanced to the
genteii1 of the island an gittlilng down un-

er a uge tree, arrange t eir weapons
and prepared to do defiperate battle should
the enemy appear. alf an hour passed,
and Basil began to get drowsy, but Ed,
Whose fears were on the alert, did not
think of sleep. He crept away through
the bushes to a little distance, his revol-
ver ready for action, and listened intently.
Not a. sound brOke the awful stillness of
the swam , and he turned back toward
the spot w ere he had left Basil, when a
dark form started up beside him, and he
was floored by a tremendous blow, which
knocked him senseless and three men
flung themselves u n Basil and mastered
him before he con (1 rise from the spot
where he was seated. At the same time the
moon sailed‘upCl in the sky and revealed
the forms of is captors, one of whom
held a knife at his breast.

“Aha!” hissed a well—known voice;
l‘i‘fiou move a finger, and by gar, you be
. i 171

The speaker was J ean La Bart!

CHAPTER XII.
nELD AS HOSTAGES‘A SUDDEN ESCAPE
——FOLLOWING THE TRAIL.

THE two boys were dragged out into
the light, and their captors bent over
them in savage lee, and the face of Jean
La Bart looked emoniac under the light
of the moon. Their plans had been well
laid, and they had managed to elude their
pursuers, who had passed close to them
several times without seeing them. All
at once Ed, who was aparently sense—
less, gave the night~hawk) call with start—
ling distinctness, and Marius La Bart
sprung at him with a howl of rage.

“You’d better look out,” cried Basil,
warningly. “ You’ve got enough to an—
swer for without adding to it.”

“ Be tranquil, Marius,” ordered Jean,
pushing his brother back. “Zis young

ound is right, and zey are of no use to
us except as hostages. You perceive!
ch leave us go free, ve vill not harm ze
boys. Give ze call a ain, m brave
young huntaire. Call alt Vee son. I
,vish to converse wiz him.”

But‘it was not necessary. Walt had
heard the cry the first time, and re rd-
less of consc uences, was already ash-

 

} ing through t e swamp in the direction

of the island, boiling over with rage. No
need to tell him what had ha pened, for
he understood perfectly well3 that the
half—breeds had doubled on them, and
had succeeded in overpovvering the boys,
He was not surprised, then, upon near-
ing the swam , when the voice of Jean
La Bart call him to halt.

“Aha, man amt,” hissed the desperate
wretch. “Unless you vish to have me
kill ze boys, you vi 1 stop vere you are.”

“Oh, you dirty, fro -eatin’, easant—
stuffin’ snake!” roared alt. “ ave ye
got any sand, you three? Ef e hev,

’m makin’ ye an ofier. I’ll fight the
hull three together, with only a bowie in
my hand, here on the island. ’

“ Non, man camarade!" answered
Jean, with his shrill, devilish laugh. “I
’ave got ze best of you. and I vill not
give it up. See you; ve"ave Captured
ze two boys, and vill keep zem as hose

 

tages. ”

 

“What do you want?” groaned Walt.
“ Oh,- ef it had only bin you I plugged
instead of Jacks l”

“Mable! Don’t speak about Jacques,
or vezzer I live or die, I vill kill ze boys.
Now listen: you ’ave got Indians all
round ze swamp?"

“ Yes, I have; you can’t escape.”

“Ve can get revenge, and zat is het-
zaire, unless you do vat I say. Why ze
Crees chase us ?”

“You know well enough. The chief,
Iron Bow, is here, use you shot his
son and killed the messenger he sent to
the village. Mebbe it Will lease you
when I tell you that Stern eart ain’t
dead.”

A sava hiss came from the lips of
Jean La art. He had counted on the
death of Stern Heart, in revenge for that
of his brother, and it drove him nearly
wild to think that he had escaped. He
was half tempted to defy the ’de and
kill the boys on the spot, but e feared
that his remaining brothers, who were
more cowardly than himself, would not
listen to that. But, he wished to save
his life, and at once demanded that the
Indians who guarded the swamp should
be withdrawn, and they should be al-
lowed to go, taking the boys with them;
and the Villain swore that if they would
not agree to this the boys shouldbe killed
immediately. Knowing the ‘desperate
wretch  he did, Walt was certain that
he would keep his word, and a messenger
was sent at once to order the entire band
to the south side of the swam , and in
the mean time Walt and Iron ow held
a conference. In half an hour they were
joined by Stern Heart, who uttered a
fierce ejaculation as he heard what had
befallen the boys."

“ Listen, you French dog,” he cried;
“ if you hide at the bottom of the sea, I
will find j, on and kill you, if you dare to
do harm to the white boys.”

“ Aha!” screamed Jean; “ areyou zere,
Stern Heart? Ze next next time I shoot,
I vill take bettaire aim.”

“ You have the best of it now," replied
Walt. “But remember, that if you
harm the boys, there’s more than we will
be on our trail, an7 never leave it till
you ar under the sod. Now, what do
you want? The Indians have crossed the
swam ), and are on the south side.”

ou go to ze ozzer island, and wait
until morning,” was the answer.

“And leave you free to murder the

prisoners? Not ef I know it,” responded

Walt.

“Non; I vill not hurt zem, if you
leave ze path clear for us to make our
esca e.”

“ don’t like to trust ye, durn ye,"
retorted Walt, in a perfect rage, “ but ye
understand it will go hard With ye ef ye
don’t do ez ye say. Besides, we don’t
promise not to take the trail after we git
the boys back.”

“ You are welcome,” was the laughin
re 1y. “Give me six hours’ start, and
vi 1 trouble you to find me.”

There was nothing else to be done, and
the arty drew 0 toward the other
island and at once Jean turned back to
the lace where the two boys lay,
guarded by his brothers, and bound hand
and foot. .

“Zat is all right,” he said, quietly.

“Stick your knives in zero, and let us i

Marius La Bart bounded to his feet,~and

threw himself between his brother and“!

- .l
y “Y

Red River Rovers.

13

 

 

Basil Le Fevre, toward whom Jean was
advancing with drawn knife. It was
plain that the ruflian had not intended to
spare the lives of his captives, but had
only used this ruse to draw the guards
awa from the swamp.

“ at would you do, Jean?” cried
Marius, angrily. “You must keep your
word. I Will not let you break it. ’

“Nevare! Did you not hear him say
zat Jacques had died wizout revenge?
Out of ze vay, or I vill put a ball in you,
Marius.”

But the other brother started up, and
the two opposed themselves to Jean, and
he saw that they would not permit him
to kill the boys. It was not that they
were any less cruel than he, but they
feared the’vengeance of Walt Wilson and
Stern Heart if they allowed the captives
to be murdered. An angry discussmn
took place, and for a time it seemed as if
the brothers would come to blows, but
after awhile the shrill vituperation closed,
and Jean gave up.

“You are two cowards ” he declared,
in conclusion. “You  find not ve
shall be chased,.all ze same. Now, you

go to sleep and take an hour’s rest. I vill
to prisoners.”
“ No,” answered Marius. “I am not

tired; you are hurt and I am not.
Besides, you might forget yourself if we
were not here to watch."

And the fellow grinned knowingly.

Jean growled out a. 8 reply. and
scraping to ther a pile 0 leaves, lay
down to a rest, which he really
needed, after the loss of blood which he
had sustained. Marius sat on a log close
to the prisoners, his resting across
his knees, and feeling very sleepy.
Neither of the .boys thought of sleep, and
blamed themselves deep y for the tra
into which they had fallen. As Ed
rolled over to change his fiosition he felt
that the cords on his him were slightly
loose, and began to work his wrists about
until he“ was almost sure that he could
get his  free but after re ted
efforts, he failed. Then he roll over
again, with  to Basil, in such a
position that his fingers touched the
cords upon his brother’s wrists, and he
began to work on the knots. To his
de i ht they 0 ned quite easily, and the
hands of Bus were free. He in turn set
to work at Ed’s bonds, and the cords
quickly dropped off.

When the two young hunters were
thrown to the earth their weapons had
not been taken from them, and after
glancing at Marius La Bart through his

alf closed e es, and satisfying himself
that he was ozmg, Basil took his laiife
from his belt, and reaching down, severed
the bonds upon Ed’s feet by a single
stroke on the under side, where Marius
could not see it. Then he cut his own
feet loose, replaced the knife in his belt,
and put his hands behind him in the
same pQSition the were in when bound.
and waited.  the boys knew well
that after lying bound so long, they
would hardly be able to move their
limbs and a sudden move might only
result in failure. The two lay_ uiet, and

retended to be asleep, but watched
lllarius with the eye of a hawk, and
waited for the r0 I‘moment to make
the attempt. e ead 0f Marius 811111:
a ' upon his breastnand afterahasty

ance at the slumbenng fOrms of Jean

a Bart and his brother, B23811 touched

Ed, and the two rose cauteously, and

 

grasp their weapons, bounded sudden-
y intxdlsie bushes, upsetting Mari who
sprung up with a Wild _ .of  ,
while J can and the other Were on
their feet as quickly to find the nest
warm and the birds own. Even while
they azed about them in Wild dismay,

they card, breaking on the. air with
startlin distinctness, the night—hawk
call of Le Fevre.

For a moment it seemed that Jean

would stab his brother to 'the heart, so

t was his re. s, and Marius was near-

y beside himse with fear. What should
now be done?

Walt Wilson had retired to the other
island and sat there in sullen silence,
brooding over the unhappy changein
affairs, when he heard the call of Ed Le
Fevre. .

“By my life i” he screamed, bounding
to his feet, “ I believe that the boys hev
got away from the p’isen skunks.”

Stern Heart sprung up and listened.
Again the clear call came, and they knew
thlzt it vsvas befiween them and the 1(lither
is n. tern eart veasignalw oo ,
and followed by “gait and Iron Bovlii,
bounded away in the direction of the
sound. Some one was heard crashing
throu h the swamp and Walt shouted:

“ his wa , lads; here we are!”

A cheerfu shout from the lips of Basil
Le Fevre was the reply, and the forest
rung with joyous shouts, and in five min-
utes the two boys were surrounded by
their friends.

' “ Oh, let me bug you, my sons,” cried
Walt. “ How did you git away; howin
thunder did you do it?”

“Never mind that now, Walt,” an—
swered Basil. “If you are going to chase
those” villains, you’d better be on the
way.

“ That’s so. Away you go, Stern Heart
and get your braves over to the north
side as quick as you can. You can bet

they are started by this time. Were you
chased, Ed?”
“ Can’t. say. I was hootin it as hard

as I could, and didn’t think w ether the
were on the track or not. I reckon
knocked down half a dozen trees in get-
ting through the swamp; didn’t turn out
for anything.” '

“ Come on,” cried Walt. “The quicker
we are on the track the better.”

The part at once bounded away in the
direction 0 the island, which they quickly
reached, but as had been expected, not a
trace of the scoundrels was to be found.
Jean La Bart was too’ old in villainy to
hesitate for a moment when he found that
the boys had escaped, but at once hurried
away. It is no wonder, then that they
were well out of the swamp when the In—
dians dashed through it and came out
on the north side. ,

“Let’s camp here ” said Walt. “Jean
La Bart has a go start, just what he
asked for, but we won’t 've up for that.
What do you say, Iron fidw?”

‘ ‘ When my son lay hurt almostto death
Isworeto kill Jean La Bart andeill
do it ” replied Iron Bow. “ But we can
not ollow the trail in the night, and must
have rest.” .

Very little preparation was made for
camping, nor many precautions taken,
for they had no doubt that the Villains
would continue their flight 'dl . Half
:tdEen rbueiétners were schiit oul to .‘on

811' speed un ' ear y mo
and thentotake position upoan
m8 Whom which they might beable

I \

 

to see the flying Frenchmen. As soon as
the light began to show in the east Walt
was on his feet, and the search for the
trail was commenced. So many of the
Indians had passed through the swamp

on the previous eve ' that it was diffi-
cult to take u the ‘ , and the Weasel
began to m e half-circles about the

northern end at some distance from
it, until he finally struck the trail. It
was plain that no effort had been made
to hide it, and that the 11 ' _men had
gone on at an Indian lope, eading direct-
y north.

“Iwas ingtosayyoutwo be had
betterstay ere,” explainedWalt “ ut+—”

“You tried that game last ni ht, Walt,
and it didn’t work at all,” rep 'ed Basil.
“Just trot alon , and we won’t be very
far behind you.’

The party “struck a lope,” and Edwas
surprised, after he had gone in this way
for five miles, to find that this gait was
not nearly as trying as a swift walk, and
that he could keep up with the Indians
readily. As far as Basil was concerned,
he was a fine Redestrian, and thepacewas
just sport for im. On they went, until
they struck a rocky i’idfllpearl a mile
across, which the scoun ha crossed
to bafiie them, the La Bartsknowing well
that their moccasined feet would leave no
trail upon the bare rocks. Walt fairly
stamged with rage.

“ h, let me get In hands on that
Jean La Bart and won’t 'make him hop,”
he roared. “We’ll have to search for
the trail on the other side of the ridge,
and lose an hour or two.”

“ Let us see,” responded Stern Heart,
settin up a si whoop.

Tot edelig tofall, hewasanswered,
and one of the runners, whohad been sent
out in advance, appeared on the summit
of the ridge and beckoned them on.
Stern Heart bounded on and reached the
side of the man. . .

.“ Have you taken pip the trail,‘ Bound-
ing'Elk?” he demand . .

he scout nodded gravely, and descend
ing the rid e showed them where the
fugitives h left the rocks, and without
losing a moment’s time, the part con—
tinued the pursuit. For an hour nger
the rapid race continued and again they
found themselves at fault as they reach-
ed a broad swamp, covered by a low
growth of bushes. A party desirous of
covering their trail coul easily pass
through this in such a way as to render
it almost impossible to take up the trail.

“ Strai ht through,” cried Walt.
“These ogs know all the tricks of their
trade, but we will run them down.”

The swamp was nearly three miles
across, and t ey had almost passed over
it, when as they crossed a dry hum- ’
moc , a ow groan sounded in their ears,
and a form came crawling out fromvbe-
neath the bushes. It was one of the
swiftest of their runners and he was
bleedin from a wound in the breast. . I

“WED did this, Deerfoot?” demanded '
Stern Heart. '

“Jean La Bart shot Deerfoot,” was the
feeble reply. “I am badliahturt, but I
havesuength to tell you w Ilmow.” ‘

“Speak, commanded Stern Heart, as
his quick fin tore away the huntin
shirt from c breast of the wool}
Wand he begantostanehtheflowuf
b

and dressthe Wound, whileDeer
foottoldhhnthattheIaBm'tshadcome
u nhimwhile scouting, and Jeanshot
him downandlefthimfordeatandhe

i
14 I
had heard them as the were in to
“ Shadow Luke. y y g0 g

The wounded man was carried to firm

ground and left in char of two of his
riends, after his wound ad been dressed,
and Stern Heart pointed forward.

“ Lose no time,” he said. “Let us go
to Shadow Lake, and when we find these
villains, vengeance belongs to the Cree.”

And the party set forward with ac.
celerated speed.

CHAPTER XIII.

SHADOW, LAKE—THE CAPTURE or THE
mamas—THE HOMEWARD TRAIL.
EARLY in the afternoon, the trailers

reached the banks of a small lake, with

here and there scattered islands, and on
the shore the trail abruptly ended.

_ “ I reckon we’verun ’em to the’rhole,”

said Walt, “ an’ now the next thing is to

find ’em.”
«The lake was a gloomy one, the water

' having a somber appearance from being

com letely surrounded by tall pines

Whic cast dark shadows on the surface,

and the Indians called it Shadow Lake.

The sharp e es of the Weasel roamed
over the low s ores of the islands, but he
' could seenothing, and they had no canoes.
' “Get logs," said Iron Bow. “We
must cross to the big island and searc .”

In such a count as this, where trees
are continually f ling, it was easy to
find floating timber, and in a wonder-
fully short space of time the greater por-
tion of the warriors Were in the water
with their wea he laid upon the logs
- before them, an swimming toward the
‘ island. Walt also secured a log, and
stripping himself to the waist was about
to go into the water, when he saw that
Basil and Ed were similarly equipped.

, ‘nyar,” he cried, “this won’t do.
You two citizens stay {est whar ye air.
Likely that! I’m oin’ to et ye b’ile into a

scrimmage like t is.”

“We are goi over, just the same,”
replied Basil. “ you think we came
uphere to look on? Go ahead and we
' won’t be very far behind you.”

i » “I wish had come,” groaned

W Walt. 1“Waal, come: along, y(1)u twlo

* young unatics, an e ye git pugge ,

" don‘t say I didn’t warn ye.” ’
The party equipped for battle, soon

stood under the trees on the southern side

ofthe main island. There was not a sign;
as far as human eye could see, that the
foot of man had ever pressed this island,

.and the Indian scouts, who quickly made

the circuit of the place could find no

spot Where a landing had been made.

“ Reckon the must be on another isl—
and,” declared alt. “It’s dumed sin-
gular how they got thar, though.

on’t see even a 10 on the beach hyar.”

“Come here, alt,” cried Basil, “ and
tell me what this means.” ,

The guide hurried to the lace where
[they stood, on the point w ich looked
tow the second island. Here the
water was shallow and in it, tending
toward the second island, they could
seeth’e tracks of feet. The island itself
was little more than a huge rock, risi
fifteen feet from the water and cove
\ _ bylow growths of tangled underbrush,

but the rock itself was a perfect fortress.
0n allsides it rose-almost in a perpen-
dicular line from the water, and only in

one ‘ did it seem at all broken. .

. “ dinamanand  the

momma the islands, 1’,”

Walt, “I’ll bet they’re over thar."

 

 

Red River Rovers.

J

 

One of the Indianstook a poleinhis

hand and stepped into the water. It rose

nail to his waist, then to his shoul-

ers, an then he began-to rise from the

water, and they knew that the place could
be forded.

“ Hurrah for us, thet’s the place, bet
yer life,” assured Walt.

He had scarcely spoken when a puff of
smoke shot out from the bluff, and the
man in the water was seen to stagger,
supporting himself by the pole.
second shot followed, and he sunk.

“ Another gone,” wailcd Iron Bow.
“Forward, sons of the Cree, and let noth—
ing sto you.”

The dians dashed into the water,
holdino‘ their weapons above their heads,
while the bullets whistled about them
and several wounds were received. But
it did not stop them and they were soon
seen climbing the broken place in the
rocks, and with triumphant yells appear-
ed u n the summit. Walt, shouting to
Bas‘ and Ed to sta where they were,
followed the rest. he b0 5 were about
to follow, when Ed steppe suddenly.

“ I don’t know but Walt was right, old
man,” he said. “Somebody ought to
stay here, in case the villains try to es-
cape from that island to this. Get covar
and watch them.”

The first Indian who climbed the rocks

expected a shot and was prepared for it,

but when he gained the top, not an enemy
was in sight. The bare rocks were plain—
ly visible, and the low bushes would
scarce] have given refu to a rabbit.
Arapi search commenc in all parts of
the Island, and they were about to give
u in despair when the eyes of the

easel lig ted on a blood-stain on the

edge of the rocks, above a sort of shelf.

which ran along six feet below. Swing-
ing himself over, the Indian ran alon
the shelf, followed by a dozen others, an i
came to a. sort of open cave in the face of
the rocks, where sat Jean La Bart alone,
with his rifle on his knees, ready for a
shot and another rifle beside him.

“I vish Valt Veelson come ” he hissed,
as he shot the Weasel through‘the brain,
and caught up the second rifle; “but I
send on home; zat is certain.”

Be ore he could the again he was borne
down by half a dozen Crees, hurled to
the earth and securely bound, and the
whoo of the triumphant Indians called
the ot iers to the place, when the murder—
ous villain was drag ed out upon the
upper part of the island. '

“ N 0w, ou dog,” exclaimed Old Walt,
“ whar’s t em cussed'brothers of yours ?”

“ Gone l" replied Jean, sullenly. “You
nevare find them. Ah-h—lrh! If my

I hands vere only free one second!”

“ He's a liar,” replied Old Walt.
“Them cusses was here filve minutes a ‘0,
but where they’ve one I can’t tell. ‘6.
you have a canoe, ean?”

“ S’pose I tell you?" hissed the French-
man. “Jean La Bart know how to die
witthis fpetllli shut.” 1 ’ ded

‘ ou’ ' ev a c-iance,’ respon .
Walt.

At this moment the sound of rifles
came from the island they had lately
left, and the Indians bounded away,
Walt keeping pace with the best of them.
As they sprung down the slope to the
water they could see figures runnin
along'the shore of the otheraisland,
in one of them they recognized Marius La.
% The two in pursuitwexeli‘d and

 

“Hooray fer the boys,” yelled Walt, as
he plunge into the water. “That chap
ain t dangerous; they’ll run him down.”

As the old hunter came out on the
beach he saw a man crawlin into the
bushes, dragging a wounded ’ b after
him. At a glance he recognized Jules
La Bart and ran after him and dragged
him bac . ’

“You an’ Marius ain’t quite so bad ez
the other two,” he said, “ but you desarve

A punishment. Take keer of him, Injuns; I

want my two boys.”

He darted across the island at a quick
place, but soon met Basil and Ed, dragging

arius La Bart between them, his face
distorted b terror. By this time the
Indians 11 crossed from the other island
and brought Jean with them. He only
spoke once and that was to ask Walt
what would be done with him.

“Ask Iron Bow,” replied Walt. “ You
have killed three of his men an’ wounded
his son, an’ I leave you in his hands."

‘ ‘ Say somet'ing for us, Jean,” screamed
Marius. “Tell zat Jules and me kill no
one.” ‘

“Sacrel” hissed Jean, “zat is true;
Jacques and I did ze work. From zis
hourI s k no more. You a coward,
Marius Bart.”

The boys told how the ca ture of the
last two had been effected. hile search
was being made for them on Stone Isl-
and they had slipped across, hoping to get
to the mainland and escape. When met
by the boys Jules raised his rifle, and
Basil shot him through the leg, while
Marius ran. The party s cut the night
on the island, and at earl) morning set
out on their return, and t e chief, with
his prisoners, left at once for the Cree
village. No white man knows the fate
of' the three villains, for even Stern Heart
never spoke of it, but they were never
a 'n seen in their old haunts. Stern

eart was gone two days, when he came
quietly into camp and resumed his duties
with the hunters, and for two months
they tramped these wilds, slaying noble
game and adding largely to the collection
of beasts and birds w ich Gaspard sought
to obtain. ' ,

At« last their sport was over and they

prepared to depart. Stern Heart, with

is father and a number of the Indians,
followed them to their old camp, where
the found everything had been faith-
f y taken care of by the guards. An—

other canoe was bou ht, and a crew of ‘

Indians secured to p dle it, one of whom
was Stern Heart, and one bright autumn
morning the turned their prows south-
ward, until t ey reached the point where
wagons had been ordered to meet them

' on a certain day, and which they found

on the spot.

The boys had all learned to love Stern
Heart, and the parting was a sad one on
both sides. They gave him all their. am-
munition, as he now knew how to load
shells, and he went home loaded down‘
with gifts amon others Basil’s Win-
chester rifle, to w ich the filing chief
had taken a fancy. But fore they
went south a promise was passed that
they would return, and with tern Heart
for their guide, pursue the perilous chase
in the snowy land further north. Then
the oung chief entered ,his. canoe, the
pad es dipped, and Basil and Edstood
igm'rowfufly onthebanktoseethelastof

err
turn theirfacestothesouth‘,

oung Indian friend, before/they ’

 

 

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