The Lure of the Mississippi

ka tied some small poplar twigs to his hea

emies have left. Even if the men were hiding in the g

ely and New Ulm," declared the trapper. "Sh

t a thousand of them could easily rush both of these places. We could surely not get into either place on h

lake and timber north of here. We can water our horses there and the patch of timber is large enough so that a small

ill found little Tim hunting ab

re we sat down to eat our cornbread, but now he has c

Bill they began to beat the brush

e gone back to the woods near the river. His kind does not love the prairi

e searching Bi

's your fool coon. He's w

Meetcha had not only wash

s, "the Sioux will cut off your tail and boil you in the pot i

paws, but Tim placed his pet in front of him on the sa

horses in an isolated thicket and Tatanka alone crept

gone a few rods. "I can't even see the gra

"Tatanka would not be a good scout if

or that he had been killed. But the trapper only smiled and said: "You boys don't know what pat

rom the other side and was standing before them wi

lue eyes showing his surprise, but the trapper

her in the timber nor on the lake shore had he seen any fresh sign of Indians or horses. "But

the four friends rode into the woods to find a suitable

, so that they might not be seen from the other side of the lake. Both the trapper and Tatanka agree

rker gave as his opinion. "But it would not surprise me if toward evening s

and catching frogs for Meetcha occupied them. Then they picked a few choke-cherries, but these did not allay

wishes to carry his scalp out of an Indian war must not take chances. I'm also afraid that

were tired and sleepy from the excitement of the day, but there could be no thoug

timber to watch for unbidden guests, while the boys we

med to the lads that it was several days since Mr. Barke

m his watch and gave the call of Bob-White. The boy

whispered. "We must get away. I

g into the saddle like a young man, when his three

uld hide the lake from their view, Tatan

he pointed eastward

olen farm-wagon, were just stopping to make camp at t

asked Bill. "They migh

with plain contempt. "S

mething out of a jug and each

of whiskey. They won't see any trail. If they we

white captives?

nd with those words, he led

a loud whirr close by the heads of the horses and uttering their harsh "Paint, paint," followed the riders. In the scattered groves which they passed, some litt

ere was a thud and a sprawl on the grass. Little Tim's

the night," said the trapper.

he picked up Meetcha and climbed back in the

ed had been burnt and the

or wounded or hidden fugitives, but there w

hey came to a cabin in

anions. "He has a fine field of corn and his wife i

st of the windows in the t

the thieves have been here.

hollow; perhaps the robbers didn't find it. Here, boys," he laughed,

They must have been in the woods when the Sioux raided the place. Tatanka may listen

nd started a fire in the kitchen stove. Soon the corn was boiling and slices of bacon sizzled in

k kept putting slices of bacon in the pan, while his hungry guests

n the floor, tied Meetcha in the small woodsh

pond, tied them in the straw-shed, and provided them w

as he filled his pipe a second time wit

can't understand that man Hicks. I declare if I don't almost believe he

. "He hides some evil plan in his h

s he struck the ground with his fist. "I reckon he wil

will not come alone, he will bring other b

shall do, but Hicks will not get these lads unles

erted a friend," t

apper after a long silence. "We

Indian, as he bade his friend good-night. "The Dak

t a strong pole against the door an