OLD BEAR-PAW,
THE TRAPPER KING;
OR,
THE LOVE OF A BLACKFOOT QUEEN.
BY MAJ. MAX MARTINE.
AUTHOR OF POCKET NOVEL No. 67. "SHARP-EYE."
NEW YORK:
BEADLE AND ADAMS, PUBLISHERS,
98 WILLIAM STREET.
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1873 by
BEADLE AND ADAMS,
In the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.
CHAPTER I.
THE BROKEN CHIEF.
"I wonder what has become of that everlasting Yankee? He promised tomeet me here at noon, yet I have stood here and seen the shadows ofthese old pines lengthen for the last hour. Surely something must havehappened to detain him, for he never deceived me yet, and I do not liketo believe he will commence now—"
"Yew are 'tarnal right; he won't!" interrupted the second speaker, whowas no other than the "everlasting Yankee" himself.
Thus soliloquized the celebrated scout, Lew Kelly, and thus repliedhis tried friend and companion, Jehiel Filkins, as they stood upon apeak of the Black Hills, west a five-day's ride from Fort Randall—thenearest place where white men could be found, for they were already inthe hunting-grounds of the Blackfeet.
The two scouts, well-mounted, and armed to the teeth, were spendinga sort of vacation in that dreaded vicinity to satisfy themselves asto the truth of certain rumors, rife at Fort Randall and Yankton,concerning the gold, which it was asserted was laying around loosein the ravines and damp, dark gulches of the Black Hills; and of theexistence, in the hills and valleys of the North-west, of bear, elk,antelope and beaver, which an adventurous scout had asserted made thatcountry a perfect paradise for the hunter and trapper.
They had gone far enough, and seen enough to convince them that therewas good foundation for these rumors. Gold they had found in the blacksand washed down from the hills, and in the quartz ledges underlying orjutting out from the very crag upon which they stood. As to game, theywondered they had not heard of it before, so abundant was it.
"What was you sayin', Lew?" asked Filkins. "Are you getting in a hurryto go home? Wal, I ain't, then. There ain't an Ingin within forty milesof here, and if there was I know you would not be afeared of them; butif you will wait just a week longer I will go anywhere with you, ifit's to Halifax."
"You said those same words, ten days ago, Jehiel, yet here we are, ahundred miles further west than we were then."
"Sartin!" replied Jehiel. "But what's the hurry, Lew? You're too old ascout to get homesick so soon; I wouldn't."
"Mighty good reason why you wouldn't, and why you never tire out or gethomesick. Your home is wherever you happen to find yourself, and youcare for nothing but that old coat of yours. Besides, you forget thataway over the hills there a dear little wife is waiting and watchingfor me, and no doubt alarmed at my protracted stay."
"Jes' so, Lew. A scout has no business gettin' married. It e'ena'mostmakes a coward outen him—"
"You lie, and you know it!" exclaimed the scout, angrily. "Have youforgotten our fight with the Blackfeet, two years ago? Where would yourold yellow scalp have gone to then, if it had not been for me? Andwasn't I married then, you old fool?"
"Cor-reck, Lew; I take it all back, and beg yer pardon. But, I neversee'd such a kentry fur game as this, and besides, I hev' jes' set myheart on goin' over to that round peak there where it looks so foggy.You see it is right on the home stretch, and I can