The Red River Half-Breed

with bark fibre and rawhide had even rendered more lamentable. A horsehair lasso, of remarkable fineness and strength, was wound round and round him with a care which a Chinese would have envied. A handful of

dry rushes, and, laying aside his gun and the str

scornfully. "But the Cherokee di

discovering this country, but we don't want any raw Eastern fellows, with Boston dressing, discovering us!" Bill made no comment. He had pulled the soused bears' paws o

had a brandy flask, and their supplies included spirits, but neither drank anything but the sweet, pure water of the snow torrent.

ely tune. Neither gave heed to the prisoner, who had ample leisure to ga

ackages of fancy goods used in Indian trading, harness, simple cooking utensils, these encumbered the place; but one could guess that they would form a barric

ough composed of Chinnook, Scotch, English, and Canadian-French, as well as hunters' English, to which confusing medley these two friends impar

e is alone or the spy of a band. At all events, it doesn't look as if he had been in to the

e'll try him. By the way, that's

ing the captive was composed of selected h

d Injun!' Me? It looked as if we were going to make our bullets kiss in midair, but I reckon I was a leetle the quicker, and while his ball whistled upon the top storeys of the sierra, mine cut his barrel in half, right there at the stock, which remained in his hand. So, as he staggered in surprise, I spran

he tattered sleeve of his old army overcoat, shook himself, and reeled r

here," said Ridge, sitting up like a

: he was cold, calm, save for his lips curling in a mocking smile, though he very well saw th

Ridge himself. He was the more gaunt from recent privations. His "weather skin" seemed newly assumed, and, see

ter a couple of minutes. "You are not a hunter or trapper, a gentleman

of his forefathers, I will pay him tribute as far as in my power. As for you, why stop my wandering? Have I sought to run against you? Have I done anything more than es

though there was no doubt that Cherokee Bill felt the first sentiment; "but

'Spose I d

I guess," rejoined t

serve me right, as I took it at the cost of a life from the redskin who hurled me off my hor

he rope?" said Ridge, turning

latter, examining t

in man, severely frowning again. "And I'll swear yo

boast no knowledge of these gentry. That's one of his sho

ith a glance at the moccasin. "

n, though you are so stingy. Come, as your news leads off so good, continue it. Who are

rapp

take us for?-robbers and murderer

kee Bill, whose savage eyes were not reassuring like the other's. "My name is no value

hearing of it; the Yager of the Yellowstone. When I handled that first in '42, I bent a trifle under the weight. Them was the grand, good old times! The sort of men we get now don't grade up with the brand that passed up to 1850. They don't hunt now-they butcher. They do

unately, the ghost of a smile on his wa

I don't want none of your blood on my knife

r bloodthirsty, Mr. Ridge. One ques

gustedly at this polite ad

w if you know Mr. B

ever so long. Those bales are for him,"

ou, Mr. Ridge," went on the

let

ese rags. Luckily, they thought it was a talisman, and that to cook me and eat me with that medicine paper in my gullet w

, more and more thawed

proof I am not

ng an unknown to one person in this world.

s slid out of town with tools, stores, and firearms galore, and I want the Old Man of the Mountain to know that they are bound for

our'n. Resarve your own secret, and meanwhile there's sage ile and snake grease for your bruises, and fire and

he two eyed the captive inquisitorially while he devoured the su

ear nothing now. One who has shared the trapper's hospital

mperance man, I need it as medicine, I can tell you. But the way the trapper introduces guests to his hospitality by shooting a welcome at him, trussing him u

tions you were making yourself a neighbour. You may think yourself lucky that his shot did not pierce your brain or heart, and that he did not use the slipknot of your lariat to decorate the nearest larch with you. It is necessary that our mountain fort should be kept hid from everybody. Gentlemen like Mr.

fidence, and the promise to place him on a f

"A good rifle instead of that broken musket, food

the Cherokee, for the first time relenting in h

r gift will put me under a great obligation. Besides, you have the experience w

nd the night is only begun. We so seldom have company, eh, Bill? that a couple of hours for a storyt

ow, I can't compliment you on your vigilance and prudence when you squat here in the broa

e la

e that-but not so near the brink-the crust is shaky. See, how readily

in the deep indigo black, where, beneath, the deep-rooted pines could

e not

es, no

hing but

t stars if you were to st

ve; but not the faintest sound or echo be

lated the guest, recoiling.

precipice sheer down, but a peak hollowed out-a cut-off, we say; the Injins say a devil's jump. St

dark and horrid