Red Plume — page 46: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

46 _ . RED PLUME. discovered that they had lost the trail, and he was, consequently, willing to wait and consider before hunting it up. Their stock of dried buffalo-meat and hard bread was produced, and hoth ate heartily, washing down their repast with the clear water of the stream, When the Yankee had finished, he felt much braver, as well as stronger, and declared his intention of in- continently slaying a large number of Blackfeet, and bearing his bright-eyed cousin home in triumph. For such a deed of valor, he was sure that she could do no less than reward him with om fair hand. ‘“Wa-al, Beaver,” said he, “ this job is finished, and all we've got.to do is jist to git ahead.” “Ugh! Mighty well to say git head ; but where go?” ‘I calkilate the pesky critters have crossed the creek.” ‘““ Maybe so, but where cross? Maybesonct cross. Black Beaver lost trail.” “ Lost the trail! Wa-al, it seems tarnation queer to me, that you could foller ’em this far, with no compass or stars, no course or bearin’s; and then be stopped by such a leetle creek as this, It jist throw my mind into this subjick, and see what I can make of it.” So saying, the Yankee, followed by the Delaware, walked slowly down the edge of the stream, looking carefully and anxiously at the clear water. Soon he stopped, and pointed to a round stone in the middle of the brook. “ Look-a-there, Mister Beaver. There’s been mud onto that rock once, but some of it has been scraped off.” ““Injun foot never did that,” answered the Delaware. “ Wa-al, I calkilate there ain’t any fish in these parts that would be likely to do it. Look yonder, further down-stream, and you'll see a stick standin’ up out of the bottom, It don’t stand to reason that stick got there by accident. The Injuns have been tryin’ to fool us, but that young upstart of a white man has left us a sign or two. Now, Beaver, if you'll jist look over on ‘other side, I calkilate you'll conclude they’ve gqne across.” The Delaware looked at the spot that was pointed out to him, and saw a cleft stick lying on the shore, with the-end pointing up the bank, “ Black Beaver sees,” said he. “Cap'n Frank did that.” commiclooks.con J