The Pioneer Boys of the Yellowstone; or, Lost in the Land of Wonders Read online

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  THE PIONEER BOYS OF THE YELLOWSTONE

  OR: LOST IN THE LAND OF WONDERS

  THE YOUNG PIONEER SERIES

  BY HARRISON ADAMS

  ILLUSTRATED

  THE PIONEER BOYS OF THE OHIO, Or: Clearing the Wilderness $1.25

  THE PIONEER BOYS ON THE GREAT LAKES, Or: On the Trail of the Iroquois 1.25

  THE PIONEER BOYS OF THE MISSISSIPPI, Or: The Homestead in the Wilderness 1.25

  THE PIONEER BOYS OF THE MISSOURI, Or: In the Country of the Sioux 1.25

  THE PIONEER BOYS OF THE YELLOWSTONE, Or: Lost in the Land of Wonders 1.25

  _Other Volumes in Preparation_

  THE PAGE COMPANY 53 Beacon Street Boston, Mass.

  "SOME OF THE BRAVES STARTED TO FASTEN THE PRISONERS TOTWO TREES" (_See page 219_)]

  The Young Pioneer Series

  THE PIONEER BOYS OF THE YELLOWSTONE

  OR: LOST IN THE LAND OF WONDERS

  By HARRISON ADAMS Author of "The Pioneer Boys of the Ohio," "The Pioneer Boys on the Great Lakes," "The Pioneer Boys of the Mississippi," "The Pioneer Boys of the Missouri," etc.

  Illustrated by WALTER S. ROGERS

  THE PAGE COMPANY BOSTON MDCCCCXV

  _Copyright, 1915, by_ THE PAGE COMPANY

  _All rights reserved_

  First Impression, June, 1915

  PRINTED BY THE COLONIAL PRESS C. H. SIMONDS CO., BOSTON, U. S. A.

  PREFACE

  DEAR BOYS:--

  In my last story, the title of which was "The Pioneer Boys ofMissouri," I half-promised that later on I might continue the recitalof Dick and Roger Armstrong's fortunes, and carry them further alongtheir pathway toward the far-distant Pacific. The opportunity to redeemthat promise having been given to me, I gladly meet you once more inthese pages; and I trust this story will afford you quite as muchpleasure in the reading as I have taken in the writing.

  It will be remembered that we left the two pioneer lads in the wintercamp of the Lewis and Clark exploring party. This company had beensent out, chiefly through the personal influence of the President atWashington, to find a way across the newly-acquired country, and blazea path to the Pacific. They had gone into camp close to the quaintMandan Indian village, far up on the Yellowstone River, which streamthey had been following since leaving the Missouri.

  Apparently their troubles and difficulties had all been smoothedaway, and there seemed to be clear sailing ahead for Dick and hiscousin. They anticipated spending the long winter months in variousways--studying Indian character and habits, doing more or less huntingand trapping, and possibly learning if there could be any real truth inthe strange stories they had heard from numerous sources concerning aLand of Enchantment that existed near the "Big Water" at the source ofthe river of the yellow rocks and the troubled current.

  Unexpected developments, it chanced, caused the boys to venture intothis unknown and mysterious region, where they met with many adventureswhich I have endeavored to narrate in this volume. It will be seenthat, although the various tribes of Indians inhabiting the GreatNorthwest country at that time undoubtedly knew of the marvels embracedin what is now Yellowstone Park, a superstitious feeling of awe for theEvil Spirit's workings made their visits to that region few and farbetween, though their love for the chase did take them there at times.

  I trust that if any of you ever get a chance to visit this NationalReservation you will do so. And if you read the history of YellowstonePark you will find that perhaps the first authentic account of itsastonishing wonders was given to the world by a member of the Lewis andClark expedition.

  HARRISON ADAMS.

  _April 1, 1915._