The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-12-25


the strapping fellow in an even handed
contest and held his throat with grip of
iron.
The struggle was short and fierce. Ted
managed to keep on his feet and, tighten
ing his grasp on the Indians windpipe az
he felt him begin to weaken, soon had the
thief at his mercy.
His long arms suddenly relaxed their
hold around Teds waist and dropped to
his sides, his tongue hung out and his eyes
began to roll upward.
Then, just as he was about to fall, Ted
gave him tremendous push, which sent
him headlong into the deep snow, and
snatchIng up the ham, hurried back to the
sled with it upon his shoulder.
Now, an Indians sense Of right and JUS
tice is often as keen as that of his white
brother, and he can appreciate plucky
act as well. Perhaps these Winnebagos
would have been just as well pleased if the
young man had been able to escape with
the stolen ham; but as it was they could
not help admiring the white boys daring,
and yelled with delight at the discomfit-
ure of the young brave as he picked him
self up out of the snow and skulked off to
his wigwam.
white papoose heap braveP' they shout
ed as Ted came back to the sled. "ketchum
bad In Jun stealum hamp
We thought that would put a stop to the
stealing from our load, but my uncle told
US to be on our guard, for the young brave
whom Ted had so disgraced in the eyes OF
his brothers would be sure to take revenge
upon us some way if he could.
On the next trip up we traded with the
Winneba goes, as usual, and | was certain
that nothing was stolen while we stopped
at their village, for had George keep strict
watch of everything on the lead while
did the trading. But when we unloaded
that night in camp fifty pound sack OF
flour was missing. What had become Gift
was more than we could tell.
| studied the matter over for several days
and | came to the conclusion that some
thieving Bago had been hidden behind a
tree close to the road, just beyond the In
dian village and that after we had finished
trading and had seated ourselves on the
front end of the load and started on he had
sprung out, snatched the sack of -four from
the rear of our sleigh and lodged back be-
hind the tree until we were out of sight.
/ told Ted about it when we reached
home.
81 am perfectly sure that's just the way
it was DONE" said he, "but just let them
try that game again. Well be ready for
them next trip"
And so we were. 1t was Georges turn
to stay at home; and after Ted and / had
arranged our load we took four heavy,
double spring otter traps and set them
around the rear end of our sleigh among
the sacks of -four, bacon, hams and other
supplies, fastening the chain of each Sc
curely to the sleigh box, while over the top
of everything we spread, as usual, piece
of limp canvas.
George and l, on the trip we had just
made, noticed that the young fellow who
had tried to steal the ham was not in the
crowd which surrounded our sled the
week before. Neither was he to be seen
when Ted and l stopped at the village this
time.
This was very much what we had ex-
pected.
Ny customers kept me busy dishing out
cups of sugar and coffee and Ted was try
ing to cut a plug of tobacco in two with
his jackknife for an Indian who wanted
half plug, when he slyly nudged me and
pointed up the road with his thumb.
Without stopping my work glanced in
the direction Ted indicated, and saw about
half black head peering out from behind
a big pine which stood within three feet of
the sled track and about forty rods up the
road.
We traded as long as the Indians had
anything to barter, and then Strengthened
up the load, mounted our seat in front and
drove leisurely on, looking neither to the
right nor the left.
We had barely passed the big pine when
we heard swift movement behind US; and
then, in an instant, we heard one of our
traps close with a "click" and kind Of
humping noise.
Knowing that we must have the thief in
tow, Ted carelessly cracked his whip at the
team and away we went at brisk trot.
The road for several miles ahead ran
along the stream, and was so level and
smooth that the horses scarcely felt the
load behind them, while we chatted and
laughed as though nothing had happened,
though of course we were really much ex-
cited and felt an intense curiosity to look
around.
We could hear the regular pat, pat, pat
of the captive's moccasined feet upon the
well packed snow as he kept pace with the
team, but were careful not to turn our
heads in his direction.
We must have driven on this way nearly
a mile when the fatigue and pain, together
with the hopelessness of trying to get his
hand out of the trap, made it impossible for
the thief to control his rage longer.
He uttered yell that seemed almost to
lift the caps from our heads, and when we
turned around he shouted:
white boy, stop um horse White
boy, stop um horse'
But Ted only cracked his whip and made
the team go faster. Then the Bago's
black eyes sparkled with rage and fury as
he yelled at the top of his voice, at the
same time making leap as if to jump on
the sled
white boy, stop UNI horsel Let Injun
GO Injun killum white boyi"
"Oh, you will, will you'" said Ted as he
grasped one of the newly purchased AK
helves and sprang to the rear of the load.
Drive faster, Ben" he shouted to me,
''and We will make him sing different
tune before he gets his hand out of that
trap"
l touched up the team while Ted stood
ready to strike the man if he attempted to
board the sleigh.
have heard it said that an Indian never
sheds tears, but before we had gone half a
mile farther this young brave stopped his
raving and threatening, and began TO
blubber like little child.
suppose he thought we meant to take
him clear to camp with Us, but when Ted
thought he had punished him enough he
called me TO bring the team down to
slower pace.
Now" said ne, ''you bad Injun, you
stealUm white mans meat, steaIum -four,
stealum everything. You 90 stealum any