The Red River Half-Breed

ed, the more restless trappers w

the hollows, rattled the loose stones,

d remained in a fireless camp in a gulch eastward, living on "cold bites," so as not t

n swarming, and thus it was pointed out. The two crept as near as they dared. They could distinguish the

the way, is much the same thing. Ahnemekee made a speech to his troop, rather at length, and with a confident bearing. The two beholders conjectured, from the gestures, that he was planning an attack on a grand scale. The sub

e upon, they soon judged whither they all converged; and running on in advance, by a wide circuit t

hundred in number. There were many women, about the same age, but few or no children; and, coming to examine closely, while the men were all of an age, also, their dark tint was quite contrary to the complexion of the

Yager; "for here is the target of 'the Thu

Rulies, sure as a gun. The Crows will have a

heir realm of retirement, called the Red River Territory, or Manitoba, is geographically in the British Dominion; but they flourished there in freedom till the development of Canada, and the project of a North Pacific Railway compelled the Canadian Government to enforce their submission. At this time, it was supposed that the Bois Brulés would maintain their independe

many northwestern tribes; and, being good trappers, and gay and

s there! Either they have been robbing, or they are consignees of plunder. If it were not f

nothing of killing women and babes-a bad Indi

,'" continued the Old Man of the

h they scanned every square yard of the scene, they perceived that a small party had come to a halt in the rocks. These were not Blackfeet; and they thought at the first that they might be the Crows, of whose presence Filditch's moccasin had given an intim

dly. Two more were collecting wood for a

f Sir Archie Maclan'

not been taken by the English gentleman's heterogenous company. Still, by some natural law prevailing in the wilderness, the few who escaped the savages had come together. Lame, weaponless, imperfectly clothed,

rdiality towards free trappers in actual practice, they usually hobnob when they meet. Here, as Jim Ridge at once promised them supplies if they would accompany him to a cache, the fraternisation was speedily perfect, and when Cherokee

ed and crammed to repletion. Whilst these lost ones "found in every comfort," as they said, were still recompensing themselves for

Bill judged that the "old hoss knew best;" Ranald, freely appointed leader of the Scotc

heir unknown fate. We are not numerous enough to match either band now, but when they thin one another out with a general shoot, one vigorous charge might place the captives in our hands. When we so charge Bill will look to the horses; and once

will

, whet your knives, and

es at the airholes. Like so many schoolboys, the men, with a start down the bank, shot themselves across this expanse to the wood of tender trees among the stumps cut by the industrious natural engineer. Here Cherokee Bill took the head of the Indian file. For twenty minutes the string of men advanced in absolute quiet, forbearing to snap a dry twig, dislodge a stone, or crush

ut western wagoners would deem insurmountable. The hunters were shielded on all sides, and invisible. On the white patches of snow they descried the unsuspecting red men leisurely nearing the palisades of the Canadians to t

wolves called to one another, and seemed, in their language, to exchange information on the m

e Scotch-American becomes, they luxuriated under the blankets and furs which Jim Ridge had generously offered, and mocked at the glacial chill of the morning frost. A few showers of fine ice, rather than snow, fell on the lookou

None but a snow owl saluted it, and that was a sneering, melancho

ir layer, while the ground air cleared up and allowed a tolerably

plain. A war drum thundered, and the

tle piped his band o