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“What’s the matter with ye?” “De fac’ is, Mr. Shagbark, I doan’ feel very well dis ebening: I hain’t felt well all day,――sorter ob a big pain in my innards.” He leaned over, pressing his hand against his side and groaning. “I observed that ye eat as much as me and young Payne together; don’t seem to affect yer appetite...
“Dat’s de way it allers takes me; sometimes I kin stop de pain――Oh! oh!――by swallering all de food I kin git hold of.” “Ye won’t think anything about yer pain, when ye see a big Ingin stealing up out of the grass and making ready to skulp ye; come on.” Jethro dared not refuse to obey the terrible fellow, and kept at hi...
“A good plan, Shagbark; I never knew a fellow with better eyesight and ears than Jeth; between him and me, the red man will find it hard to steal upon us unawares.” “Whar――whar am I to stand?” faltered the negro. “Ye will stay right whar I place ye,――alongside of the left hand wheel of the wagon; the younker will hold ...
“And nobody asks you to do any better; wal, I reckon I’ve said ’nough.” And the guide moved away with his noiseless tread melting from sight in the gloom. It must be said of Jethro that although scared almost out of his senses, he was resolved to do his duty so far as it lay within him to do it. Even in his panic, he s...
“Say, Al, am you dar?” asked Jethro in a husky, half-whisper, as he peeped round the rim of the wheel at the figure dimly visible in the shadow, and almost within arm’s reach. “I couldn’t well be anywhere else,” replied his master. “What do you think ob things?” “I think you and I have got to keep our eyes and ears ope...
“Dat’s what I’m doing; do you think de Injins will come?” “You heard what Shagbark said; he knows a hundred times more about such matters than we do; he and I certainly saw a party of them a few miles away on the prairie, and I haven’t any doubt that they are a good deal nearer to us now and coming nearer every minute....
“Blame it all. I didn’t b’lebe dat stuff.” “I guess you believe it now, but, Jeth, I don’t think Shagbark wishes us to talk while we are on post.” “Nobody can’t hear us.” “It distracts our attention from our work; better give your whole mind to the business we have in hand; if you see anything that doesn’t look right, ...
“Berry well.” Now, you do not need to be told that one of the hardest things to do, is to stand still for an hour or two at a stretch. Even though you shift the weight from one foot to the other, the strain soon becomes unbearable, whereas a rugged man can find pleasure in pacing regularly to and fro after the manner o...
“Big idee,” he muttered to himself; “bime by when I git tired, I’ll swing round agin.” It certainly was a strange pose for a sentinel, deliberately to turn his back away from the field from which danger threatened. Yet that is precisely what Jethro Mix did and his self explanation was not without some force: “If any ob...
By and by, Jethro swung back and resumed his first position, shifting his feet again as before. He stood so well toward the front that he could not see his friend, except by leaning forward and peering round the tail of the wagon. He took care to keep a position that shut him from Alden’s sight. “It’ll be jes’ like him...
CHAPTER VI ABORIGINAL CUNNING Suddenly through the tomblike stillness brooding over camp and plain, came the dull sounds of rifle firing. Two shots were in quick succession, a third followed, then two more, after which all was as silent as before. The reports were apparently a half-mile to the northwest. Every one of t...
Jethro Mix snatched up his gun with a gasp and held his breath. Then he moved on tiptoe around the rear of the wagon to where Alden Payne stood tense and motionless as a statue. “Did you hear dat?” asked the negro in a husky whisper. “Of course.” “What do it mean?”
“I can’t tell; we shall soon learn.” “Listen, Al!” The two did so for a few seconds, and then Alden said in an undertone: “I didn’t hear anything more; did you?”
“Yas.” “What did it sound like?” “A hoss’s hoofs; wait a minute.” Jethro dropped on his knees and pressed an ear to the ground. He had done the same thing in different circumstances, and knew what help it was to the hearing.
The next instant he sprang up. “De Injins am coming! I hear dar hosses!” Alden imitated the action of his companion and then quickly rose. “It is a single horse, and he is coming this way on a run; I don’t think the Indians are near or we should hear more hoofs; I wish Shagbark would show up.”
But the guide did not appear for some minutes. Still standing the two noted the sounds made by the hoofs of a pony traveling at the highest speed. The sounds rapidly grew more distinct, and the two were quickly able to locate the horseman. It was toward the point whence came the rifle reports, and the fugitive must hav...
Just as the rider flashed opposite the group of silent canvas covered wagons, he seemed to catch sight of them. Without drawing rein or checking the desperate speed of his horse he shouted: “Look out for Injins! they’re close onto you!” And then man and animal plunged into the night and disappeared, though the fast dim...
“Ye’re right, younker,” remarked Shagbark, who appeared at the side of the two with no more noise than that of the flitting shadows on the plain. “Did he fire any of those shots?” asked Alden. “He couldn’t; he don’t carry a rifle.” “He has his revolver.”
“It’s easy to tell the difference atween the barking of a revolver and a big gun; there warn’t any pistol used. He run right into the hornet’s nest afore he seed it, and the varmints opened on him; he must have throwed himself forrard on his hoss and the animal scratched gravel as them ponies know how to do. Every shot...
“Thar’s a heap of sense in what ye say, younker; that would have been the way of it, if the rider hadn’t dashed into ’em afore he knowed it, and afore they could slip out of his way; so they tried to shoot him from his saddle; beats all natur’ what poor shooters most of the varmints are.” Shagbark glanced at the two. “...
Jethro Mix stole back to his place on the other side of the wagon. A big scheme had flashed upon him, and he wished to turn it over in his mind. “Wish I war dat Pony Expressman,” he muttered; “he’s gwine so fast dat de Injins won’t get de fust glimpse agin ob him. I’d like to be one ob dem riders, if I could allers kee...
A few minutes’ reflection, however, showed the young colored man that his plan was impossible. He could not withdraw his pony from the group within the circle without being seen by the sentinels who would permit nothing of that nature. Moreover, Shagbark was likely to return at any moment from his reconnaissance and it...
For most of the time the stillness was profound. The oxen had lain down within the enclosure and were either chewing their cuds or sleeping. Two or three of the horses kept their feet, but most of them were also lying down. Occasionally the stamp of a hoof sounded dully, but nothing else disturbed the watchers. In all ...
If a serpent had been disturbed and was zig-zagging through the grass, he had nothing to fear, for it would not molest him. The occasion was one in which Jethro might be able to give help. Alden called cautiously to him, but there was no answer. He stepped softly around the rear of the wagon, but before he discovered t...
“It must have been a mistake but I don’t understand――helloa!” A ragged cloud again swept past the moon, whose full rays descended upon the earth. Could Alden Payne believe his eyes? Barely a hundred yards away stood an Indian warrior. He seemed to be looking at the youth himself, though that was impossible because Alde...
The next moment, while Alden was staring at the strange sight, he recalled the orders of Shagbark. “The minute ye’re sure it’s a redskin, _shoot_!” Nothing could be easier than for the youth to bring his rifle to a level where he was screened by the darkness, and bring down the Indian as he would bring down any other g...
How long the Indian would have held his pose is doubtful, had not an unlooked for interruption occurred. Alden was trying to discern the countenance more clearly. He thought it was striped and daubed with paint, but the view was not distinct enough to make sure. Without intending to venture into the moonlight, the yout...
“Look over the plain and tell me what you think of _that_,” said Alden impressively. Startled by his words and manner, the African rubbed his eyes and did as directed, but failed to discover anything. “I doan’ see nuffin,” he growled. Nor did Alden. Everything was as when Jethro lay down. The sound of his voice must ha...
It was necessary to give some explanation to Jethro, but his young master had no purpose of telling everything. “I saw an Indian out there a few minutes ago and stepped across to tell you about it, but you were asleep and didn’t know any more than you do when you are awake. The best thing for you to do, Jeth, is to lie...
“All right; if you finds you have to do any trampin’ bout I’ll be obleeged if you doan’ step into my mouth agin. If you do I’ll bite your foot in two.” Alden without noticing the fellow walked back to his first position. He did not give Jethro a second thought. Despite the self-evident cause of the disappearance of the...
All that Alden could do was use his eyes and hearing. No fear of his falling asleep, even if he did lean against the thick spokes of the wagon wheel. He knew better than to confine his attention to the spot where the warrior had appeared and vanished. The fact of his having done so would prevent his repeating the trick...
With the suddenness of lightning the truth flashed upon him. The second disturbance in the grass was for the purpose of drawing him away from his post, so as to leave that particular wagon and its precious load unguarded! Not only was such the purpose of the Indian but the daring plan succeeded! CHAPTER VII JUST IN TIM...
At the instant of turning, Alden saw a form rise from the grass, less than two rods from the wagon, and glide with incredible swiftness toward it. The Indian was crouching, a rifle in his left hand and a knife in his right. Through an unexplainable instinct he knew where some of the women and children were sleeping, an...
It was a proof of the excellent training of the sentinels by Shagbark that, startling as was the episode, not one of them abandoned his station. Each knew that to do so would be to invite an attack from the undefended quarter. All held their ground, alert and ready to fire the instant the chance offered. The crack of t...
The face vanished, for the woman was sensible even in her fright. Her two small children had not awakened, and she lay down between them, an arm over each, while a prayer went up to the only sure refuge in time of peril. Alden was sure that the report of his gun and the outcry of the victim would bring Shagbark to the ...
“Have ye loaded yer gun?” “Not yet; I didn’t think of it, and have hardly had time.” “When ye shoot off yer piece, the next thing is to load up ag’in, for ye’re likely to need it mighty sudden; ’tend to that while I take a look round.” The rifle used in those days was not the modern breech-loader, though they were begi...
Mr. Fleming was stationed at the Conestoga which stood opposite and the farthest from the one in which his wife and others lay. “I don’t like it,” he said curtly to Shagbark; “I ought to guard my own family.” “Could ye do any better than that younker done?” asked the guide. “I don’t believe I could; none the less, I fe...
“I tell ye that younker is a hummer; not yerself nor any man in the crowd is better than him at a time like this; if his father and mother don’t want him I’m going to adopt him. In two or three years among the Rockies he’ll make the best kind of a hunter or trapper, instid of wasting his time larning larning which ain’...
“Somehow or other,” he mused, “I suspect that the next move will be against this point; the redskins have learned that Fleming’s wagon is well guarded and they won’t try it there a second time. I shan’t be caught asleep again.” He shuddered, as he recalled that it was his own desertion of post which caused the warrior ...
It will be recalled that a short while before the incident related, Shagbark had started off on a reconnaissance of his own. Assured as he was that the Indians of whom he had caught glimpses during the afternoon, and the reports of whose guns he had heard not far away, were drawing near the camp with the most sinister ...
The situation was one which called for all the woodcraft of which he was master. Naturally gifted in this respect, he had been educated in the best of all schools――experience. Those who had trapped and hunted with him agreed that he had no superior, and never was he more anxious to succeed than now. Leaving the wagon o...
An Indian warrior having swum the stream, stood for a moment on the shore. He was afoot, a fact which surprised the watcher, who knew that none of his race wandered far in that country without a pony to carry him. Standing thus, the redskin emitted a soft bird-like call which the listening ear could hardly detect. The ...
The sagacity of Shagbark told him that the incident was the best thing that could have occurred for the emigrants. Beyond a doubt the surrounding warriors were forming their plans of attack, counting much upon a surprise, when the death of the most daring of their number told them their mistake. In order to rush the ca...
“Can’t we get rid of that, Shagbark?” “Nothing is easier; obsarve.” Leaning his rifle against the tailboard, the hunter stooped, seized each ankle, and raising his hands so that they were at his own hips, and with a moccasin on either side, he ran fifty yards out on the plains. Then dropping the feet, he turned about a...
“Shagbark, that was risky on your part; even where it lies it is much closer than I like, for we shall all have to see it in the morning.” “No, you won’t; it’ll be gone afore sunup.” “Will they dare come near enough to take it away?” “Keep yer eyes peeled.”
Leaving Fleming to himself, the guide made another cautious visitation of the sentinels. It was now not far from midnight and the change of guard must soon be made. Alden Payne was left for the last before returning again to Fleming. Shagbark had formed a strong liking for the youth, and this feeling was deepened by th...
“The same way; ye obsarve the Injins knows that one of the sentinels keeps his eyes open all the time and they ain’t taking any chances they don’t have to take.” “But I have been shifted to this side,” replied his young friend, as if he accepted the compliment in all seriousness; “some of them, therefore, ought to show...
“P’raps,” grunted the guide, and that was the utmost he would admit. “Well, I declare!” exclaimed Alden excitedly, turning to his companion; “that beats all creation!” “What do ye now mean?” inquired the veteran. “What’s become of Jethro?”
Strange that during all this time no one had noticed the absence of the colored lad, but he had been missing for more than an hour. “What do you think has become of him?” asked Alden. “Dunno, and can’t say I keer; the best use we kin put him to is to slip a yoke over his neck and let one of the oxen take a rest.” There...
Noticing the distress of the youth, Shagbark, with more consideration in his voice, asked: “When did ye see him last?” “A few minutes before I fired; I think I left him asleep near the other wheel of the wagon where I had been standing. Fact is, I know he was asleep.” “And he warn’t thar when ye come back, which was po...
“I didn’t think of Jethro, but I must have seen him if he had stayed where he was.” “What do _ye_ think become of him?” “He must have run away; I never saw a person so scared as he when he learned we were likely to be attacked by Indians. I am afraid he has scampered off over the prairie.” “Couldn’t have done that very...
From the interior of the wagon near which they were standing sounded the heavy snoring of some person. “I’ll bet ye that’s him,” chuckled Shagbark. “He isn’t the only one that puts on the loud pedal when he sleeps.” Shagbark stepped on the tongue of the vehicle and peered inside. It was too dark to see anything. In fac...
CHAPTER VIII THE ATTACK It looked to Alden Payne as if Jethro was eight feet long, when the guide was dragging him out of the front of the wagon by the nape of the neck. Like many persons, he was slow to regain consciousness, and was not fully awake until he was stood upon his feet. Even then he staggered uncertainly a...
“Whar’s your gun?” demanded Shagbark. “In de wagon; I didn’t feel wery well and went in dere to lay down.” “Get your gun and help shoot Injins,” was the startling order. The flurry awoke the women in the Conestoga, and the excitement roused the whole camp. Dark forms appeared from the interior of the wagons, and hearin...
Shagbark quickly explained the situation. The emigrants were about to be attacked, for there could be no doubt that their enemies were near at hand. Every man was needed, for much depended upon the vigor of the defense. Dividing the force so as to guard every point, the hunter cautioned the defenders to shield themselv...
Matters were “humming” thus, when the last person in the world that would have been believed capable of anything of the kind, did something so clever that it brought a compliment from Shagbark himself. That person was Jethro Mix. When he recovered his gun, he leaped out of the wagon. The rear of the latter faced outwar...
It is hard to explain the mood of the African. He had earned the contempt of his friends by his timidity, but now none showed more intrepidity than he. Possibly he was so scared as to be unable to distinguish between danger and safety. That may be the right theory, but it cannot make clear what he did within the follow...
And he got his man, too. A cry from the grass left no doubt on that point. He had hit the redskin as fairly as Shagbark could have done had the foe been standing on his feet with the sun shining overhead. And then like a veteran, Jethro, without stirring in his tracks, began reloading his gun. Shagbark hurried forward....
“Younker, was it ye who plugged that redskin?” asked the guide. “No; it was Jeth.” “How’d ye do it?” demanded the hunter. “Ef you wants to larn how to tumble over one ob dem sarpents, Mr. Shagbark, I’ll tole you and you can try it yourself. I knowed dat de minute he pulled trigger he’d roll ober so dat when my bullet a...
“B’ars and beavers!” exclaimed the guide, “ye’re the only one in the party that knowed ’nough to do that. Whar did ye larn it?” “I heerd you tell how you done it once.” “Wal, wal, it gits me; ye ain’t such a big fool as ye looks to be; keep on doing that thing, but don’t let ’em cotch sight of ye, if ye can help it.” S...
The grim irony of the situation was increased by what followed. Alden Payne did not forget the object lesson of a few minutes before. He knew that another shot would soon come from the grass in front, for the reports were heard on the other sides of the camp. He stood behind the wheel of the wagon, with gun leveled and...
“We’ll git our man sure, for the minute he blazes away, I’ll shoot a little to his right and ye do the same to his left: that’ll settle him.” Hardly were the words spoken, when a flash appeared directly in front. The bullet went wide, but Shagbark had his weapon leveled in a twinkling. “Now let him have it!” The two re...
“Which side did ye fire, Abner?” asked the puzzled guide. “To the left――that is, to the Indian’s left.” “Thunder! that’s what _I_ done; I meant to the left as we’re standing.” “You ought to have explained clearly.”
“It’s too late now; be ready for the next show.” But it did not come. The assailants were so discouraged by the vigilance of the emigrants that they abandoned the plan of rushing the camp. The desultory shots ceased and when a half hour passed without a sound, it looked as if the Indians had withdrawn altogether. Shagb...
The long hours dragged past without bringing any alarm. Shagbark kept moving around the camp, pausing at different points to talk with the sentinels, and twice he crept out from the wagon circle and pressed an ear to the ground. He was almost certain the Indians had withdrawn and nothing more would be heard from them. ...
The women busied themselves in preparing the morning meal, a fire having been rekindled, and all ate with appetites such as come only to those who live in the open. A feeling of profound gratitude filled the hearts of all, for their deliverance was markedly providential. “We’ve been a good deal luckier than I expected,...
“That warn’t what I war most afeard of,” continued the guide; “we all had such good kiver that there never was much danger of being hit, but there’s one thing I don’t yet understand.” In answer to the inquiring looks, Shagbark explained: “With all them bullets whistling round us some of ’em oughter reached the hosses a...
“That had a good deal to do with it, but some of the hosses kept gitting on their feet and I had to watch ’em close and make ’em lay down agin; there warn’t any such trouble with the oxen, fur they was glad ’nough to lay down and chaw their cuds.” “If we had lost a pony or two,” suggested Alden, “it would not have been...
The most complacent member of the company was Jethro Mix. Shagbark and Alden had taken pains to tell of his exploit, and if the fellow had been capable of blushing, he would have turned crimson, but that being beyond his power, he affected to make light of it all. “Pshaw! dat ain’t nuffin,” he said when the wife of Abn...
“I’m glad to have so clear an explanation,” gravely replied the gentleman; “but it seems to me there must have been a good deal of guesswork, for there was no way by which you could know of a certainty which way――the right or the left――he had moved.” “No guesswork ’bout it,” loftily remarked Jethro. “Could you see him ...
“You certainly couldn’t _hear_ him.” “Ob course I couldn’t; who said I could?” “Then how could you know where he really was?” “I’m ’sprised at your discomfuseness, Mr. Marvin; de way I knowed whar he was, was dat I knowed it; I _felt_ he had flopped ober to de left, so I knowed jes’ de p’int to aim at; dat’s de skience...
“I haven’t anything more to say, Jethro; you’re a wonder; I see Shagbark is getting ready to move on again and needs us.” CHAPTER IX OLD ACQUAINTANCES The next look we take of the train under the guidance of Shagbark, the veteran of the plains, is several weeks after the incidents just described. The route which they i...
You must bear several facts in mind. Colorado at the time of which I am writing had not yet been formed into a Territory, nor had Wyoming. The oldest white settlement in the latter section was Fort Laramie――since abandoned――which was made a trading post in 1834, rebuilt by the American Fur Company two years later, and ...
“Thar’s no use of throwing away powder and ball,” he said; “we’re likely to need all we’ve got afore we see Salt Lake, and them insults don’t hurt.” Several times our friends had seen the Pony Express riders as they skimmed across the country with the speed of the wind. A wave of the hand from the flying horseman, with...
Despite this service and the remarkable exploit on the night attack by the Indians, Shagbark never showed any special liking for the African. It may have been because of his race, but, although he could not have been induced to harm the dusky youth, he preferred to have as little to do with him as possible. Alden Payne...
“It strikes me, Shagbark,” said Alden, “that that train two or three miles ahead of us have kept almost the same distance for the last few days.” “Ye’re right, younker.” “What do you make of it?” “That we both happen to be tramping at the same rate. If they went a little faster they’d draw away from us, or if we went a...
“How large do you make out the party to be?” “’Bout the same as ours; they’ve got an extra wagon and a few mules, but I don’t think thar’s more men and women.” “Wouldn’t it be well for us to unite and travel together? It would be much safer in case of attack by Indians.” Shagbark shook his head.
“’Twon’t work; they’ve got thar guide and we’ve got ourn; which one would be the boss in them sarcumstances?” “You, of course.” “The other chap, whoever he might be, would have something to say ’bout that, and like ’nough him and me would have a fout to settle the question. Our folks are all good friends and git along ...
That night the train went into camp on the western bank of a stream fifty yards wide, but comparatively shallow. There was no difficulty in fording it, the women and children riding in the wagons without getting wet. The current was clear and so icy that it was evident it had its source in the mountains. The wagons wer...
Night had hardly shut in, when a mile or so to the westward the lights of another camp twinkled through the darkness. All knew it came from the party that had been traveling near them for several days past. Shagbark had spoken of riding forward with Alden and making a call upon the emigrants, but decided to wait a whil...
“Helloa, Al, am you dere?” “Of course I am; what do you want?” “Dere’s somebody out dere, and not fur off, too!” was the startling explanation of the hail. “Haben’t you seed him?” “No. Is it an Indian?”
“Dunno; he’s on de back ob a hoss; come ober here and take a look fur yourself.” Alden knew the objection to leaving his post, but he thought the circumstances justified him in joining his friend for a few minutes. He hastily crossed the intervening space. “Where did he show himself, Jeth?” “Right in front ob us; wait ...
The surprise came the next moment, when the clearing sky disclosed not one, but two horsemen, a few rods away. They had halted their ponies and were sitting side by side, evidently studying the camp as if in doubt whether to venture nearer. The first sight showed they were not Indians, but white men. Two equestrian sta...
“Good evening, friends,” he said. “We meant to call earlier, and it has grown so late that we shall defer it to-night. I presume all except the guards have turned in?” “They did so some time ago; it will not do for us to leave our stations, but we shall be glad to welcome you at any other time. You belong to the compan...
“None whatever, though we have seen many parties at a distance.” “We were attacked one night some weeks ago along the Platte, but drove them off without harm to us.” “How was it with _them_?” asked the man significantly. “We got several who were too venturesome.”
Jethro could not restrain himself any longer. “Yas, and de fust warmint dat got soaked, _he_ done it――suah as you’s born!” “I congratulate you on your success; doubtless it had much to do with repulsing your enemies.” “Jethro told you the incident so as to force me to say that he picked off another of the redskins. Inc...
The man in the saddle looked down with renewed interest upon the burly African, who had set the stock of his rifle on the ground, folded his arms over the muzzle, and assumed a lolling attitude, as if the matter was of no concern to any of them. “Dat ain’t nuffin,” he said airily; “de sarpint furgot dat I was on de loo...
“Jethro, as you call him; of course he’s the most valuable.” “Dunno ’bout dat,” said the African with dignity; “de wimmin folks and de children will blubber so hard when dey find I think ob leabin’ dem dat Shagbark won’t be likely to allow it; howsumeber, I’ll think it ober.” “Thank you; you are very kind.” During the ...
“Well,” said the man, “we shall ride back to camp now and doubtless shall soon see you again. I need not assure you that you and your friends will be welcome at all times. My name is Garret Chadwick, and I have charge of the other company. My friend here is my nephew, Ross Brandley.” “Very glad to have met you. I am Al...
“Jeth, there was something familiar in that man’s voice.” “Ob course dere was; doan’ you remember him?” “No; do you?” “You hain’t forgot dat splendid fout you begun wid dat chap in St. Joe when he butted into you?”
“Certainly not.” “Wal, dat’s de gemman dat pulled you apart.” “And that fellow with him is the one who struck me?” “Suah’s you’s born; he knowed you, if you didn’t know him; I seed him watching you mighty sharp, as if he was achin’ to get another chance at you; he’d done it, too, if his uncle hadn’t been wid him.”
“If the chance ever does come, he’ll find me ready,” said Alden, compressing his lips, for the memory of the insult rankled. “I remember he called him ‘Ross’ in St. Joe, but forgot it a minute ago.” “Why doan’ you ask him to come alone and wisit us?” “If he called here it would be as my guest, and that would never do: ...
“That would place him in my position as it is now. No; we shall have to meet on common ground. He must have thought I recognized him,” added Alden with a thrill of disgust, “and wanted to make friends with him. I hope we shall come together pretty soon, where nothing can prevent a settlement of our quarrel.” “And dat ’...
CHAPTER X A HUNT Since there was no call for haste, the progress of the emigrant train sometimes ceased altogether. This was the case on the morning following the incident just related. The cause of the stoppage was to permit Shagbark to go a-hunting. They had entered a region some time before where game abounded, and ...
Shagbark, however, was not partial to buffalo meat, which many of his friends found coarse and tough. They preferred venison, which was not always tender, and they were able to obtain considerable quantities of it. He regarded the antelope with more favor than either. So it came about on the morning referred to, that h...
The American antelope or pronghorn is a native of the plains near the Rocky Mountains. Nearly always the upper parts of its body are yellowish brown in color, while the under parts, the sides and the head and throat and the buttocks are white. It sheds the bony sheath of its horns every year. It may be worth noting tha...
“Don’t stir from hyar,” he said, “till I give ye the word.” Dismounting, he walked briskly up the slope until near the top. There he slackened his pace, stooped low, and reaching a favorable point, removed his hat and peeped cautiously over. Alden and Jethro, who were watching him, saw him remain stationary for a minut...
“Which de same am likewise de fac’ as regards myself,” added Jethro. The guide explained his plan, which, it may be said, caused Alden mild surprise, inasmuch as it gave the African the post of honor. Shagbark had described so often the method employed in hunting the antelope that the youths understood it theoretically...
Then the old performance would follow. One or more of the animals would begin a timid, hesitating approach, frequently bounding or circling away for some distance, halting and advancing again, hypnotized by the singular sight whose nature they could not fathom without a closer view. “All ye’ve got to do is to lay still...
“Am de antelope a wery savage critter, Mr. Shagbark?” asked Jethro, with so much misgiving as to rouse the waggery of the trapper. “He stands next to the grizzly b’ar: he kin use them horns and sharp hoofs and chaw up a wolf while ye’re winking an eye.” “Yas, sir,” said Jethro, swallowing a lump in his throat, as he se...