Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 186?-1872, 1871-06-24

10 Hc uiI IiSut, uuu uucs lie Deion
to you?"
"Ob! yes, have just returned from
the frontier, where / traded for this
horse. He is all right"
Seeing Wilkins was about to make
tthe trade, warned him not to buy
the horse, as expected II was a stolen
one. This Muggins laughed at, say
ing he would I've responsible II the
horse was claimed. Knowing the
man lived near, and that he cocld
bring him to justice II anthing was
wrong, and needing horse badly,
wilkins bought 1t.
Three weeks had not passed before
an Indian came sneaking up to my
house, looking as wild rs buck, and
1t was with some trouble that could
keep my hounds of of him. He
could not speak single word of Eng
lish, and would not enter the house,
but made signs that lie was looking
for q stolen horse. remembered see
ing him ride into Sherman OH the
very horse Wilkins had bought, but
I did not recognize him at first. The
Indian, who had been directed to me,
marked out In the dust picture Of q
horse, aud smoOthed the dust down
on the jaw and made a cross, then
took white rag from his pocket and
showed that one foot was white. ]
knew this Indian was the owner OF
his horse. On seeing the horse, the
Indian ran to him, patted and rubbed
him and even kissed him, SO great
was his joy. wilkins offered him
money for the horse, which he would
not notice, hut wanted to take the
horse then. I.made him understand
that I wanted the horse for Muggins
to ride, and that we would meet him
Mt Jackson Keith's early In the morn
ing, and that he must cross the river
SONS distance above Muggins' place,
for If Muggins should see him on this
side Of the river he would kill him
I told Wilkins we would have to he
early to catch Muggins. Daylight
next morning found us at Muggin's
hog pen, where he fed his hogs regu.
larly. Very soon Muggins made his
appearance with basketof corn call.
ing loudly for his hogs. 1 stepped Out
and took hold of his arm, saying
"You are my prisoner, sir, set you
corn down there; it Is likely to be tn.
last you will take from your Grill
soOn.n
Why, what have / done: VIVA
do you mean 2"
"Attempt to draw pistol, andyot
are a dead man. Didn't we tell yo,
IL the horse was claimed, we woult
catch you? Now come with u.s."
He said he did not care where w,
took him, II we would let him go by
the house for some things, which W,
did, but of course did not let him e,
into the house. The only thing b,
called for was bottle of whisky
wilkins told him he thought h,
would need something else before III
did whisky, but he said he had pu
that up purposely to drink that day
We crossed the river and were soOr
at Jackson Keith's Lodge. wilkins
wanted to give Muggins n chance t.
escape as soon as the Indians hat
seen us-he did not. want to see til,
poor man punished. ] told him 1 die
not care what the Indians did will
the thief. They had kept their prom
Use with us, and l was going to try L
keep mine with them.
We were met by several Indians a
the lodge, who uttered their war
whoop as we approached. Wedeliv
cred Muggins and the horse to Keith
and received his thanks and grunts
Muggins was not moved in the least
He said he only wanted to get hi
witness and prove himself innocent
aud asked for an escort of four In
dians to go to Frenchman's on tn,
river. He pretended to have gotten
the horse from the Frenchman, whom
the Indians suspected, aud thought i
they could make Muggins appear
against him they would have two Il
sing and dance around. When til,
escort left, told wilkins we had bet
ter get over the river before dark, fol
some Of the renegades might know
our business and it would not be SAT,
for US.
When we had been at wilkins
house about an hour, where tn,
ncighbors had collected to hear thu
result of our days work, saw SONS
one riding across the prairie toward
US, and remarked that l believed II
was Muggins.
"No, sir" said our host, "you will
never see Muggins again."
All eyes were gov observing the
approaching horseman, who had got
ten near enough to he recognized.
"Why, halo, man, Is this your"
How did you get away from the In.
dians?"
"Evcnln', gentlemen. knew !
was safe as soon rs you let me out OF
your hands. Did you suppose ! want
ed that whisky to drink this morn
ing: No, sir; them four red skins
drank it, and when l left they were
asleep in the woods"
n,,f ha iii NOT live Ionu rrba II,