The Pioneer Boys on the Mississippi

e current is stronger than

place where we always land when we

andy, we can go ashore. The river is so high t

der the shelter of that tongue of land, while we're off 'tending our traps. Another week, and we must stop set

distance below the spot where, across the now unusually wide stream, their parents, together with ot

y had made the passage of the river with considerable hard labor, because of the vast volume of water wh

settlers, found garments made of buckskin, not unlike those worn by many of the Indians, to give them the best service when roaming

o, that, seen in the dull light of the overcast afternoon, flowed steadily toward the west. Truth to tell, that unknown western region was drawing the thoughts of the pioneer b

heard Mr. Harkness say," he remarked, with a long sigh that

the woods with young Simon

of pelts in for Mr. Harkness to dispose o

ain about the region of the Mississippi," remarked Bo

n washes down the sides of the slopes whenever a big rain comes. Out there it is mostly prairie, and the soil, he says, is black and

not able to hunt and trap, besides taking care of his crops. Nobody in the whole settlement brings in as much game as you do. Wait a few years, and then, when we are gro

sighed

f making a flatboat, and floating down the Ohio until they reach the father of all the waters. They do not like the idea of the rascally French taking possessi

etrated far into the western land in pursuit of the rich skins of otter, beaver, fox, mink and marten. When their crops failed to turn out as well as they had anticipated, a spirit of unrest beg

n the race, unwilling that others should get ahead, gave up their holdings, partly improved as they

e of the river, this afternoon?" Sandy asked, after they had walked a

r," replied Bob; "and, if the waters keep on rising to-night, as I think they are

take them along wi

s, I am figuring on the chance of our boat being upset in the flood; and, if that happened, we'd have all we could do to save ourselves

Because, if the water rises very much more, we, as well as some of the other settlers, stand to lose our cabin. Already the water has covered the land

round is carpeted with moss and dead leaves. This is like a great sponge, father says, that soaks up the water during rainy seasons, and lets it out again in time of drought. I heard him say only this morning that the Indians never

the next is only a short distance along the trail. I'll take

ike the looks of those clouds, and it may be that the rain will set in again. If that happens, we would fi

rked Sandy, with a suggestive movement of his gun. "They have been reported as being seen not far away from here of late, and you k

, which has served to keep the Indians who were on the war-path away from our little settlement. Those Frenchmen understand that, if either of u

ugh the connivance of a young buck for whom he had once performed some service, and was again free to w

brush was piled up against our cabin, that dark night, and fired, did we not find tracks that were never made by Indian feet? I seem to feel that we have not see

a great pity that, with a string of trading posts all the way from the big lakes down to the sea, these greedy French from the Nor

s mind the loveliest scene that could ever greet the eager eyes of a pioneer-game waiting to be shot and trapped; the earth so rich that it would grow bountiful crops upon being simply stirred; the

he pelt. Laying his gun aside, Sandy started to reset the trap, believing that, as it seemed to be

xperience, and probably never would again. In some manner, which he could not fully explain, in turning

ved him to a great extent from the cruel teeth of the trap, for at that time the smooth jaws now in universal us

that particular spot, it would prove a difficult task. He persisted in his efforts, however, and refrained

lease his foot, when he heard a sound close by that riveted his attention. Looking up, what

of the most dreaded animals of the forest, a gray panther, that had eviden

OF THE MOST DREADED ANIMALS O

and, sure enough, it still stood there; but, when he made a movement to reach the weapon, he found to his

oo secure, and Sandy realized that there was nothing he coul