The Pioneer Boys on the Mississippi

ar away; but, as he had just said, he did not like the looks of the cloudy sky, and began to fe

the swollen water would be worried about her boys, and Bob disli

ords to his brother might lead one to believe. He, too, had listened to those marvelous stories told by trappers and traders, and, when twice a flatboat had landed at their rude little float, giving the settlers a chance to talk with the bold souls who were bent on risking the unknown dangers that lay beyond, Bob

came the trapper, and forgot all else. He saw that success had

had trickled through this same gully in the preceding fall, was now a rushing torrent, and the trap had lately been set high up on the bank, just i

the whole winter's catch. Bob felt pleased to make this discovery, for ev

Bob started to dispose of him; but the young trapper would not

ing caught, the animals would jump into the water, and be drowned by the weight of the t

ere, he drew something out of an inner pocket of his hunting tunic, which he examined with

side of which were traced several rude drawings, such as a child might make.

, streams and trails were not intended to express the idle whim of

ed, and whose friendship the brothers prized very much, had shown them how to read these symbols, by means of which the red men comm

bin. No one knew whence they came; but, when the characters were deciphered, on each occasi

careful mother's first thought was of Kate, her only daughter, a pretty girl, who had already been once carried away by a young chief of t

strong and his little brood lived. Only through the most valiant labor was the fire conquered before it could do much harm. A

the ugly French trappers, because they wore hats, which no Indian ever was known to do; and their feet "toed-out," which was another

a strict watch kept that coming night. If Jacques Larue and his companion, Henri Lacroix, were discovered approach

ding that some one intended to warn them against the attacks of their old-time enemies. The question that gave bot

hey were slightly different from those now in front of him; even as one person's handwriting looks

ason it out, and discover the identity of this unknown and unseen frie

though once more compelled to abandon the solution of the puzzle; and, allowi

he line of traps. "But, anyway, it's nice to feel that we've got a good friend among the Indians, who takes delight in upsetting the plans of those two precious rascals. Some day he may see fit to make hi

ching figure of his younger brother. The afternoon was more than three-quarters

he again looked up towa

ther that I would not take any more chances than necessary, and she did not seem any too well satisfied about

emain at ease. He arose to his feet, took the mink in one

call. It was certainly his own name, and coupl

h! Bob!

of the value of the fine pelt. He started off at a swi

three at that time. A fine deer had fallen before the gun of one of the brothers, and, upon rushing forward to bleed the prize, they found themselve

nded seriously, but for the fortunate coming of Kenton and two companions, who proved the right of the

in case of necessity. Now he could see Sandy, and, when he discovered the

! My foot's fast in the trap, and I can't get free. Go slow, and be ready to shoot, for