Part 36 (1/2)
While the others gazed at him in surprise, he drew out a bundle from under the thwart of one of the canoes. Undoing it he took out a long feathery plume.
”Where did you get that?” exclaimed Charley in surprise.
”It's one of those we dug up on the chief's island,” explained Walter.
”You see I used to work in a store where they used to handle such things, and I got an idea when we first opened the package that those plumes were not in as bad shape as they appeared. I did not say anything about it, because I did not want to run the risk of possibly causing more disappointment, but I put the box in the canoe and the first chance I got on the island I took a weak solution of vinegar and water and went to work on them. I had only time to clean two or three, but I am sure that at least three-fourths of them can be made saleable.”
”Walter, you're a trump,” exclaimed Charley in delight, and the others were not much behind in expressing their admiration and joy.
Owing to Walter's thoughtfulness, it was a gay, happy party that took up the trail back for the coast.
The return trip was made without any uncommon incident and the little party arrived safely at the little seacoast town of Shelbourne. Here they sold their ponies and arms, and renting a little house, went busily to work cleaning and preparing the damaged plumes for market.
When the task was finished and the last plume sold, they found themselves the happy possessors of the not insignificant sum of $3,200, which divided between them gave each a capital of $800.
With the first money they received from their plumes, they purchased a handsome repeating rifle which they despatched to their friend, Little Tiger, by an Indian who had come into town to trade.
A couple of weeks after, the hunters received a visit from the Seminole who had acted as their guide. He was the bearer of a bundle of beautifully tanned deer-skins, a present from the chief.
”The Little Tiger mourns for his white brothers,” said the chief's messenger, ”the beautiful rifle speaks to him like a message from them.
He bids them when they will to return and end their days in the shelter of his wigwam. He says, if the gray-haired one desires, the offer of a squaw is still open.”
The joke on the captain was too good to keep, and the boys have told it to the widow lady whom the captain is interested in. She sometimes tasks him with having given the dusky ladies too great encouragement, and the old sailor gets very red and protests that such was not the case; that he couldn't help it; that he always was a great favorite with the ladies. At first, he used to call upon Walter and Charley to prove the truth of his statements, but they would only shake their heads ominously and remain gravely silent.
Upon their return the hunters had prepared a full statement of the death of the convicts and mailed it to the proper authorities, but, much to their indignation, their story was not believed but was regarded as an attempt to secure the reward money that had been offered.
Chris is just now greatly incensed over a song that every one seems to be humming. We believe the chorus runs, ”c.o.o.n, c.o.o.n, c.o.o.n, how I wish my color would fade.” He regards ”c.o.o.n” as a much more offensive t.i.tle even than n.i.g.g.e.r, and contends that it is no name to be applied to a free-born black English gentleman.
Just now all our hunters are resting up from their terrible experiences. One would think that they had pa.s.sed through enough to discourage them from undertaking another hazardous trip, but adventures breed a love for adventure, and the free, open air calls loudly to those who have followed stream and forest.
THE END.
THE BRONCHO RIDER BOYS SERIES
By FRANK FOWLER
A Series of Stirring Stories for Boys, that not only contain considerable information concerning cowboy life, but at the same time seem to breathe the adventurous spirit that lives in the clear air of the wide plains, and lofty mountain ranges of the Wild West. These tales are written in a vein calculated to delight the heart of every lad who loves to read of pleasing adventure in the open; yet at the same time the most careful parent need not hesitate to place them in the hands of his boy.
THE BRONCHO RIDER BOYS AT KEYSTONE RANCH; or,
Three Chums of the Saddle and Lariat.