JCaROH 15, 1888.] 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



14 3 



It seemed natural enough to the man that he should be 

 riding along so swiftly and so silently with these com- 

 panions, and yet as lie recognized them one after another 

 Wgfemembered that for years all of them but one or 

 two had been sleeping in unknown graves by the hurry- 

 jug waters of the turbid Loup. He saw now that it was 

 not among the mountains of Montana nor along a Koote- 

 nay trail that they were galloping. The rough sandhills, 

 the soft cushioning soil on which the horses' hoofs gave 

 no sound, the white poppies that gleamed in the moon- 

 beams, the sharp sheaves of the yucca stiffly stretching 

 their blades toward the sky, these all belonged to a 

 country far different and far distant from this, a 

 country far to the southeast; while the men with whom 

 he rode so steadily and so fast were his own people, the 

 Hkpedees, the Wolves. Fired by a race hate which lias 

 grown with ages, a hate made fierce by generations of 

 warfare, they were riding, as they had so often done, on 

 the fresh trail of their ancestral foes, the Sioux. There 

 came back to him as he pressed on a scene in which he 

 had taken part, in years gone by, which was like this. 

 He remembered the long ride, scarcely interrupted for a 

 day and two nights, the headlong charge, the scattering- 

 rifle shots, the recovery of the horses, the dead bodies of 

 the Sioux scattered on the prairie, how their naked skins 

 showed dark on the yellow sward, and their raw scalp- 

 iesa heads glistened in the moonlight; the easy relaxed 

 attitude of three of the dead, a nd the twisted limbs and 

 hideous distortion of the fourth, the triumph song of the 

 notorious Pawnees, the rough dressing of the wounds of 

 jwi> of them, and the slow return of the successful party 

 tvifch their booty and the scalps. Well, now they would 

 again conquer, for were they not led by that white 

 jfiief, whose presence commanded victory, who had 

 dever known defeat? So on and on they swept. No 

 words were spoken, but the swift silent ride continued, 

 and the trail grew more fresh. On a sudden, as old 

 luckee-tee lous rode over a little ridge, he half turned 

 and waved his arm over his head. The horses bounded 

 forward at full speed. There at their feet was the feed- 

 ing herd of the hostiles, while in the shadow of the brush 

 stood two rude teepees. The reins were thrown loose on 

 the horses necks, the rifles held In readiness, and like a 

 whirlwind they swept down the slope, while from every 

 throat burst the fierce Pawnee war cry ringing out shrilly 

 over the silent prairie. There was a vision of tossing 

 heads and flying heels, a rushing to and fro of dark 

 shapes, a sound of thundering hoofs, and they were close 

 on the stampeded herd. Yo's horse stumbled and almost 

 came to his knees, and — his rider found himself alone, 

 holding his gun in his hand and riding furiously across 

 (he flat, near the outlet of the lake, after his little herd, 

 which was scattered in rapid flight. 



He rubbed his eyes and looked about him half be- 

 wildered; then checked his horse, sighed softly, and as 

 he rode slowly on, wondered whether he had been dream- 

 ing or whether the spirits of those whom in other days 

 he had known so well and trusted so wholly had indeed 

 been riding by his side that night. 



Through the black shadows of the trees on the last 

 creek lie passed, and out on to the steeply sloping hillside 

 itxto the bright moonlight, then down by the brush where 

 the wagon was cached, and along the trail to where it 

 turns down to the river's brink. The horses hurried 

 down to the water's edge and were soon standing along 

 the gravel bar drinking deeply of the cool, pure water. 

 Then Avhen they had raised their heads they plunged in; 

 crossed the moonlit river, clambered up the bank on the 

 other side, and were soon loping briskly across the wide 

 flat. A short gallop brought them to the point where 

 camp was to be made, and their herder drove them into 

 a wide bay of meadow, surrounded on three sides by 

 willows, feeling sure that for an hour of two they would 

 be so occupied in filling their bellies that they would 

 have no time to think of straying off. His own horse he 

 tied in the brush near the spot which he had selected for 

 camp, and then stepping down to the beach began the 

 task of gathering drift wood for his fire. 



The wind had begun to blow, at first softly, but with a 

 constantly increasing violence, and every now and then 

 a gust would come which would scatter the brands of the 

 fire along the beach, and Yo began to consider that it 

 was quite .possible that the boat might not reach the 

 shore that evening, and that he would have to spend the 

 night sitting up by the fire. After a little, however, the 

 slow, regular stroke of the oars began to be heard, at 

 fast very far off and faint, but gradually nearer and 

 more distinct. A call from the shore brought a response, 

 and presently the boat came in sight, touched the shore, 

 and the mariners told the story of their voyage. How 

 W wind had blown and the sea risen and dashed into 

 rheir boat, and over their possessions piled up high above 

 the gunwales, and too how they had stopped to eat supper, 

 a relation which set Yo to rummaging in the cook box 

 fsi* some cold victuals with which to satisfy his own 

 appetite. 



It was late, and nothing could be done that night 

 toward unloading. The blankets were thrown on shore, 

 ttoe boats hauled up and secured, Yo's horse was picketed 

 ieeurel y near camp, and presently the men spread their 

 beits and laid down to rest under the cold moon. Yo. 



AN UNINVITED GUEST. 



QOME years ago when the Atchison, Topeka and Santa 



Fe Railroad Company were engaged in making pre- 

 liminary surveys for their present transcontinental line, 

 a party of civil engineers were seeking to locate a feasible 

 pathway for the road across the Mojavo desert in eastern 

 lower California. 



This desert, so called, is not a great plain of barren 

 saud, but is an immense extent of country lying west 

 from the Colorado River almost if not quite to the Sierra 

 Madro mountains, covered with sage bush, soap bush and 

 cactus of twenty or more varieties, from the "birdnest" or 

 "pin cushion" type which grows almost like a bunch of 

 moss, to the wonderful "yucca", a great hideous distorted 

 tree with limbs as large as its trunk and only thornes 

 for leaves. 



No other vegetation is seen, andfor a hundred and fifty 

 iniles in every direction the undulating plain stretches 

 away to the distant mountains without a drop of water 

 to be found anywhere on its arid surface, During the 

 summer months the heat there is intense and it is almost 

 impossible to cross the desert without a numerous train 

 of horses and wagons and many barrels of water to be 

 used en route. 



Should the water give out, suffering and perhaps death, 

 certainly for the animals, and it might even be for their 

 drivers, would ensue. 



The surveyors' party, however, were old Westerners and 

 entered this desolate land fully equipped to meet all its 

 terrors. There were nine men in the party with a train 

 of seven wagons, plenty of food and water," and tents to 

 protect them from the noonday beat and the night chill. 



One pest, however, the men had not counted upon. 

 This was the great number of rattlesnakes. Much to 

 their surprise they found these reptiles unusually plenti- 

 ful, so much so that care had to be constantly exercised 

 lest one should step upon them among the thick brush in 

 spots, and also to prevent their intruding upon the ramp 

 at night. 



Most of the party had been accustomed to sleeping upon 

 the ground, but shortly after entering the desert they all 

 constructed for their night use low cots standing some 

 18in. high, which they set under cover of the two tents 

 and occupied at night, feeling much safer when thus 

 raised above the level of the earth. Two or three of the 

 party had horse hair lariats or halter ropes, which were 

 also stretched in a circle about the tents each night, and 

 across which the snakes do not like to crawl; probably 

 because the sharp ends of the hair pricks them. 



After these arrangements had been completed the men 

 felt much more at ease, and when darkness fell they 

 usually retired early with a satisfactory conviction that 

 however much danger they ran in the day time from 

 Crotalus, they were assured of safe rest at night. 



In one of the tents four cots were usually set, in the 

 other five. Chief of the party Beardsley , his transit man 

 Collins and backflagman Harlan with axeman Cherry 

 occupied the four, while the remainder of the party filled 

 the other five. There was no need of a night guard in 

 this silent region, for Indians never crossed the desert, 

 and of wild beasts there were none except rabbits, prairie 

 dogs and an occasional coyote. 



One night as supper was eaten the general conversation 

 fell upon the subject of snakes, and all spoke of the 

 unusual number which had been seen that day even for 

 that reptile-haunted land. 



"I certainly killed two to-day," said Collins, "and I 

 saw half a dozen; I fear I shall dream of them to-night." 



"Better unload your revolvers then," laughed Cherry, 

 "for as you sleep in our tent I should not want you to 

 shoot in your dreams. We should suffer more than the 

 rattlers." 



"This must be rather a favorite spot for them," said 

 Chief Beardsley, "I think I saw two or three. I believe 



1 will try to collect some rattles. Our friends at home 

 would prize them; Donovan," he continued turning to one 

 of the train hands "be sure the lariats are carefully 

 stretched to-night, for I think it will be chill and if so the 

 snakes will be attracted toward our camp by its warmth 

 and try all the harder to join us." 



•Til see to that, sir," replied Donovan, "I've no taste 

 for their company." 



Shortly after the tired men rolled themselves in their 

 blankets and sought each his cot. In the Chief's tent 

 Collins lay next the door, Harlan second, Beardsley third 

 and Cherry in the fourth place. They pretty well filled 

 the small tent. 



For some hours, indeed until almost dawn nothing oc- 

 curred to mar the repose of the party, but at about five 

 o'clock in the morning and just as the east was begining 

 to purple with the final promise of a new day Beardsley 

 awoke. He was a quiet, man and observing from the 

 sounds about him that his tentmates were still sleeping 

 he did not rise, but lay thinking of the duties of the com- 

 ing day. Suddenly a whisper low but shrill struck his 

 ear. He turned his head quickly. 



At his side within easy reach of his hand was Harlan's 

 cot and on it lay Harlan his face colorless, his eyes star- 

 ing, his breath hardly passing his dry arid half opened 

 lips! Beardsley was shocked. 



"What is it, Mat, are you sick?" he exclaimed, partly 

 rising and stretching his hand toward his companion. 



"Hush!" said the other in an intense whisper, "don't 

 stir! There is a rattlesnake lying upon my breast coiled 

 up between my blankets! He has been there two hours 

 and I have hardly dared to breathe! How shall I get rid 

 of him?" 



"Great heavens!" cried Beardsley in a low tone, his own 

 bronzed face turning pale while he nervously glanced 

 down at his own rumpled blankets, "are you sure it's a 

 snake? How did he get there?" 



"I don't know how he got there," replied Harlan, "I 

 only know he's there! If by no other sign I can smell 

 him!" 



It is a well known scientific fact that this reptile gives 

 forth a most unpleasant odor. 



The others in the tent were now awake and with wide 

 open eyes and ears observed all that was going on but 

 without moving lest they should disturb their dangerous 

 visitor. 



"Can I not shoot him?" said Bearnsley, "I will fire 

 across you so as not to hit you but to kill him," 



•'But if you didn't kill him then he would surely kill 

 me!" moaned Harlan. "No, that will not do. Some other 

 plan must be tried." 



"I might cut him in two with a blow of my knife." 

 whispered Collins, "but if I struck too hard it would cut 

 you too." 



"No, tliat will not do either," said Cherry, "there is 

 only one thing to be done. You must fling blankets, 

 snake and all off on to the ground with a single motion, 

 not giving him time to strike, and we will fill Ms skin 

 with bullet holes," he added, drawing his revolver from 

 the holster where it hung at the head of his cot, "before 

 he can get free from the blankets." 



Harlan's face grew even more white than before if that 

 might be. 



"But suppose," he began, when Beardsley interrupted 

 him: 



"No use supposing, Mat; Cherry's plan is the only feas- 

 ible one. Brace up, man, the horrible odor is making 

 you faint and weak, but gather all your strength and will 

 power and spring upright with one motion. That will 

 throw the reptile on to the ground before he has time to 

 strike. Besides he is between the blankets and can't get 

 at you easily. We will all be ready with our pistols and 

 finish him quick enough. Now, cheer up," he continued, 

 cocking his weapon; "all ready, don't wait but act quick! y 

 — now!" 



The Chief fairly shouted the last word, and as if thrilled 

 with the electric current from a powerful battery poor 

 Harlan gave a terrified shriek and with a mighty effort 

 threw himself almost upright on his cot. a t the same in- 

 stant hurling blankets, intruder and all forcibly from him 

 to the ground. 



There was a half heard rattle, a sudden roar and crackle 

 of pistol shots half a dozen or more, a tent full of smoke 

 which as it cleared revealed a badly riddled bundle of 

 blankets lying motionless at our feet. One of the men 

 rushing in from the other tent stumbled over them and 

 disclosed a full sized bloody rattlesnake shot through and 

 through, dead as need be all but the wriggling tail. 



We never found how our uninvited guest gained ad- 

 mission nor was the frightful experience ever repeated, 

 but it was some days before Harlan recovered his usual 

 composure, and even to-day he may be made to start by 

 the sound of a metallic rattle which reminds him of his 

 Mojave bedfellow. , F. E. HAMILTON. 



SOME CANOEING. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



If somebody doesn't get drowned you will be apt to re- 

 ceive a call some time in May from yovu- correspondent 

 "Tarpon," who proposes to make a' canoe cruise from 

 Tarpon Springs down the Gulf coast, around the Florida 

 capes, up the Atlantic coast to New York, up the Hudson 

 to Lake George, and home to St. Johnsbury, Vt., from 

 which place he started some four years ago. He sends 

 me a letter dated March 1, from which I make the follow- 

 ing brief extracts: "I have been waiting until I could 

 w rite you something definite about the frip. Shall start 

 about the 15th in the 'rag canoe.' You know her, and 

 know whether I can handle her. As you say, it is a trifle 

 risky, but if anybody can do it I think I can, Will drop 

 you a postal as often as I strike a post office, that you may 

 know how I am getting along, and will also write to 

 Forisst and Stream. Should like to meet you in New 

 York if I get there." 



Yes, I know the "rag canoe," and have been in her 

 more than once. She is a decked canvas, 14x28, with an 

 apron, and very speedy. Her owner handles her to per- 

 fection. Her rig, when I last saw her on the Gulf coast, 

 was a balance lug and small dandy. If she escapes the 

 sharp-cutting coon oyster ba.rs and snags she may get 

 around the Florida capes; but if she works up the coast 

 to New York safely it will be a marvel. I have ventured 

 on a little fraternal advice to the old canoeist, thus: 

 "Take daily notes, making the most of any startling in- 

 cident; people like to be startled. If you happen on to a 

 very big serpent, don't let him shrink in measuring; and 

 the same remark will apply to 'gators, as well as fish and 

 game. Give the poor, dumb things credit for all there is 

 in them, and if you must err, let it be on the generous 

 side. If you get stranded on any of the 20,000 keys be - 

 tween Tarpon Springs and Bay Biscayne, and are forced 

 to live on palm cabbage for months like Capt. D. and his 

 crew, console yourself with the reflection that there are 

 hundreds of poor people in New York and Boston who 

 have no cabbage at all, and that Capt. D. and his men 

 came out fat and healthy at last." Nessmtjk. 



Mr. Charles Getshon, of 134 Fifty -fifth street. Brooklvn, 

 has inserted a notice in the papers offering a reward of '$20 

 for information "leading to the conviction of the brute who 

 knocked the eye out of a pug dog on Feb. 14, on Second 

 avenue, between Fifty-fourth and Fifty-fifth streets." The 

 injured dog, named Box, is an English pug, highly intelli- 

 gent, and with a famous pedigree. He belonged to a Ger- 

 man Count and was imported about eight months ago, and 

 finally, about Christmas, passed into the possession of 

 Miss Kittle Getshon, the organist of St. Andrew's 

 P. F. Church in Forty-seventh street. The dog was a 

 great pet in the neighborhood, and there was general 

 regret when Box returned home on Tuesday morning 

 after an hour's absence, with his face covered with 

 blood and the right eye hanging on the cheek. Box 

 received careful medical attention, but a sad change has 

 come over his appearance. "Until his eye was knocked out," 

 Miss Getshon said, "Box was beautiful and fat and his eyes 

 were large and full of expression. At present his face has 

 the appearance of a prize fighter's physiognomy. I would 

 not have felt, half as badly if the dog had been killed. I will 

 get a glass eye for Box if he can be induced to wear it." 

 Several valuable dogs belonging to residents of the neighbor- 

 hood have been poisoned of late, and bills offering rewards 

 for the apprehension of the murderer of the canines have 

 been posted extensively around.— New York Stin, Feb. 19. 



A Diking Car Like to the Pacific Coast.— The completion of the all rail 

 Hue between Portland, Ore., and San Francisco gHi» the Pacific coast trav 

 eler an opportunity to patronize the famous Dining Car and Yellowstone 

 Park Line, the Northern Pacific Railroad. The sportsman traveling in the 

 West, whether a lover of the rod or gun, naturally seeks this road, pene- 

 trating as it does the lake park region of Minnesota, and running tl>ro-.>«t> 

 tpe*aueys of such trout streams as the Yellowstone, Gallatin, Hell Gaiv 



1,500 miles, as well as lying immediately contiguous to the finest hunting 

 CTOunds in the United States, viz., The Big Horn, Snowy, Belt, Bitter Boot 

 • D'Alene and Cascade Mountains. Information in regard to this 

 hi can be obtained by addressing Charles S, Pee, General Passensrer 

 and Ticket Agent, N. P. R. R., Sc. Paul, Mlnu.-Adv, ' passenger 



