Activate Javascript or update your browser for the full Digital Library experience.
Previous Page
–
Next Page
OCR
40
been absent from the -reservation | he bad never once
been forgotten by the men who were interested in bim
and his fortunes; but ho had been so long away that
they began to fear. they should ‘not hear from him
ain. e :
*8eince Grizzly Pete took Captain Barton into his confi-
dence, the trader bad been impatient for the wander
er’s return; but the knowledge, 50 _unexpectedly col-
veyod to him, that Gilbert was within a short distance
of the post and making his way toward it, almost took
his breath away. His old fear that Gilbert might
‘spring something’? on the man who claimed to be his
father, came back to him with redoubled force.
There was another thing that caused Captain Barton
no little uneasiness—a question that forced itself upon
him and demanded an immediate. answer: how should
he advise Grizzly Pete to conduct himself in the boy’s
presence? Ought he to keep silent, or would it be bet-
ter for him to walk boldly up and claim relationship?
This question bothered Pete and Bob also; but there
was another that they considered to be of infinitely
more importauce to them: who was the new partuer
that Gilbert had picked up to fill Arizona Charley’s
place, and who was unknown to the express rider?
Whon Grizzly Pete told the trader that the Utes had ©
made an end of every one of the miners whe belonged
to Mr. Nevin’s party, he came nearer to the truta than
he usually did in telling a story; but he did not _know
how to deseribe anything just as if happened. He had
to keep back something 1n one place and add something
in another in order to make his narrative suit him.
The party were not all killed, and Pete’ and Bob
knew it well enough. ‘lheir guide, a noted scout and
trapper, was shot down whilo in the act of riding away
with Mr. Nevins’ little boy in his arms; but, severely
wounded as he was, he managed to get into his saddle
again and continue his “flight; but he left his burden
behind him... — : .
“That was the way that Gilbert the trapper came to
fall into the power of the two squaw men. There was
not a member of tho Cheyenne tribe within a hundred »
miles of the battle field. —
Pete and Gob were net likely to forget how hard they
bad tried to kill or capturé that man, who was well
known to both of them. They felt the greatest uneasi-
ness every time they thought of him. It is true that
they bad ‘neither seen nor heard of him since the day
on which the fight took place, but that was no proof
that he had not got safely away with a secret in his
possession which, if noised abroad, would put a rope
around Pete’s neck and Bob’s in short order, :
_On the afternoon of the second day after the express
rider’s visit, Gilbert and his train came within sight
of the post. :
The news of his coming had been noised abroad, and.
the store was packed with squaw men, Tudians, sol-
diers and scouts, who were waiting for him. The arri-
val of a party of strangers, or even of ene stranger, was
regarded as an event of some. consequence. It was
nothing new or novel, but, unless the Indians were
troublesome, the life the agency people were compelled .
to lead was so very monotonous, that anything out of
the usual line, no matter how trivial it might bo, that
weuld furnish them fresh topics for an hour’s conversa-
tion, was gladly welcomed. : :
Gilbert the trapper, who was riding alone at the head
of his train, dismounted in front of the trader’s .door
and the latter pressed forward to take a look at him,
Grizzly Pete and his partner keeping in the back- -
ere trader did not |
The trader did not know Gilbert as long as the
kept his back toward him, but the moment he Manet
his face to the door he recognized him. He drew back
and whispered to Pete: :
‘“‘That’s your boy, if I ever saw him,’? said he; ‘but
don’t you go to raising a fuss with him, for he’s as
big as you are. He’ has come back rich, He doesn’t need
any of the fortune that is hidden in Sweetwater Can-
on. ts rou
-“Thea I wish he would give. it to them that does
need it,’? said the squaw man, in the samo suppressed
whisper. ‘‘See anything of his partner? That’s the fel-
lor nie an? Bob want to see most.’? .
efore the trader could) answer, the crowd. it
doorway patted right and left and. Gilbert camie in
The squaw men sullenly stood their ground, while the
trader could scarcely have been more obsequious if: he
had been receiving one of the Commissioners of Indian
’ Affairs, He was angry at himself for exhibiting so
~ me the way up here
. not take a cent’s worth in barter.’”’
sale, at figures that would yield him a big profit.
ARMY AND NAVY WEEKLY.
much nervousvess in the presence of this sixtocn-year.
old boy, but he could not help it. However, Gilbert's
first words put him quito at his ease. © a
“Is it-possible that L have changed so much in’ threy
years that you do not recognize me, Captain Barton? -
said he. Then, to the great amazement of everybody
including the express rider who had brought the news
of his coming, Gilbert turned and extended his bands
to tho squaw men. ‘*You are Grizzly Pote, and you are
Buckskin Bob, the men who saved iy life years ago,"
he went on. ‘*L should have thanked you for itlong be-
fore this tine, but I didn’t know anything about it un-
til I had been absent from the agency more than a
year, and then 4 rizona Charley told me"? ~ -
This speech struck every ono dumb, The trader
opened his mouth and eyes, and looked first at the
squaw men’ and then at Gilbert. ‘The former were al-
most overwhelmed with surprise and terror, while the
expression on the boy’s face was a curious. mixture of
triumph, satisfaction and anger. : ~
‘Didn't Ls vy that if he didn’t spring something on
those two men when he came back I should miss my
guess??? thought Captain Barton, turning to his counter
and pretending to arrange something there, so that the
expression of bis own face night not be seen. ‘I tell
ou our game is blocked; the boy has got the thing in
his own hands, Ie?ll pocket the treasure to which bs is
heir, and Peto and Bob are as good as hanged this min-
ute.”’
‘Why, how—where—did Arizona Charley find out
anything about it?’ stammered Grizzly Pete, looking
very unlike tho desperate fellow he was. anxious: to
have every one think he was, ‘‘Charley wasn’t thar or
tharabouts, was he??? . . :
“No; but Josh Sanders was there, and he told Char-
ley all about it.” to . :
Grizzly Pete’s face was a sight to behold while Buck-
skin Bob was almost ready to drop. Josh Saunders was
the very man they were afraid of.
“Was he still alive, and did he know where Pete and
Bob were? These were the questions they wanted to
ask Gilbert, but their lips refused to frame. the words,”
_ Y¥es3 Josh Saunders told Arizona Charley all about
it,’? continued the young trapper; and out of the corner
of his eye tho trader could sce that he kept bis search-
ing gaze fastened upon the two squaw men, and thathe
was closely watching the effect of his words, ‘You see
Josh was guide to. the party to which my father be
longed, aud. after the Indians, killed. all the miners.
Josh jumped on his pony and tried to carry.me away
to a place of safety; but a bullet knocked him out of
his saddle, and he had to let me drop.” . .
‘ Whar—what’s Josh now??? Buckskin Bob managed
O ASK. . .
“JT don’t know where ho is,’? was the reply, aud it
made Bob and his partner breathe a great deal easier.
‘Who's your new comrade??? was Bob’s next ques-
tion. . 7
‘(He calls himself Texas Jim,’? answered Gilbert. "I
aid him off about twenty miles back and let him ge.
Io wouldu’t cume to the agency. He said. there wert
people here whom he didn’t care to see."”
“Ho's been a doin? of something back in the sottle-
ments, most likely,’’ observed Grizzly Pete. Le
“T didn’t ask himabont that. T engaged him to sow.
me) a and ho performed his work to MY
entire satisfaction, Well, Captain Barton, what do you
say??? exclaimed Gilbert, stepping up to the trader an
tapping him on the shoulder, ‘Tam after money; I'l
“Oh, shucks!?? replied the captain. ‘I can’t give
you money. I haven’t. got it. Besides, what do you
want with money in this country? You couldn't keep
it, for somebody would hold you up and take it away
from you,”? toe ot oe
“Twill risk that,’? said Gilbert, with a laugh, “Of
courso if you haven’t got any money, we can't trade;
and as the law will not permit mo to sell my goods. to
anybody but you on this reservation, I shall have to g?
elsowhere.’? 8
‘Where are you going?”? exclaimed Captain Rarton,
when tho boy moved toward the door, /
“JT don't know, aud I don’t much care. L’ve_ plenty
of timo at my disposal. I shall keep going until [find
acash customer, if I have to go clear to St. Louis.”
This did not by any means suit Captain Darton, who
knew that most of the goods that camo from the Nat-
ajo nation, especially the blankets, commanded a ready
The | 5