The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1894-03-08

" W Ouk olOuUS, AUJuL
neon ne and his miserable old horse
stood there lust opposite u shanty.
HALO, what do you want?' | called
out. No answer. A minute after
ward he was gone. In the evening
ne drew rein up there on the hill
again. AS lie wouldn't answer me ]
lost patience and got out my shooter,
b'lt before 1 could raise it, the fellow
again disappeared. But Pm not 60
ing to be fooled to-day. I'll send a
bullet through him or his horse"
Willingly accepted the trappers'
invitation to stay with them during
the DAY, Our conversation turned
almost exclusively on the mysterious
stranger. In the afternoon | ac.
companicd them to their traps, and
while they were setting them |
walked up and down with my gun in
my hand. We had resolved as soon
as the rider should reappear, to shoot
his horse, and in that way get this
singular creature into our hands.
Thcday was drawing to a close ana
the peaks of the mountains were
dyed in the sunlight.
"Thc fellow has a notion we're
going for him." said Jack. II
shouldn't be sorry if he slipped by us
now. for Pm anxious to see what sort
Of"
He stopped suddenly. and the words
seemed as if frozen TO his lips a. he
stood staring at the rocks opposite
the hut. There, on the top OF the
hills, clearly outlined against the req
sky, was the ghoStly rider. l also
stood staring, spell-bound, at the ap-
partition. Then a shot rang out. and
the horse fell forward.
"Come on, and don't let the fellow
crawl from under and get out" cried
Charley, with the smoking gun still
In his hand, and pulling n revOlvers
from our belts We all scurried oveI
the frozen creek that ran in front Of
the Shanty and up to the declivity.
Jack was the first to reach the top.
With one bound he stood next to the
rider, who lay motionleSs on the
Quivering horse, Of which he was still
astride.
Hold him." yelled Charley, with
whom l was close on Jacks heels.
tits not necessary" said Jack be-
wildered, ''for you've shot the beggar
dead"
Nonsense" said Charley angrily.
~ know exactly where my bullet hit.
/ aimed at the horses left eye" he
added. There 1t is"
Meanwhile Jack was examining
the rider closely.
"What is this?" he cried. aston
ished. ''The fellow is bound fast to
the horse-look here-even with a
chain" Horrited he sprang back.
Look. The mar has a mark around
his neck. Great God. he's been hang
ing-he's been dashed to the horse,
and the poor beast has been carrying
around a lifeless burden"
Filled with establishment and hor-
ror we saw that Jacks suspicious adj
mitted of no doubt. The rope had
sunk deep into the mans muscular
throat and the knot was still at
tatched tc it.
Charley then raised the dead mans
head.
''Why, it's Black Sam" he ex-
claimed. He was a wild fellow,
but he got his deserts. His gun was
always ready, and he has sent many
a good fellow to pass in his checks.
Who knows how long it is that he
has been astride this horse? Corpses
do not decompose up here in the
mountains, but dry up: I've often
noticed that in dead animals" Shud-
dering, he turned away. The dead
man., with his withered face and
staring eyes, had a truly horrifying
appearance.
'What'll we do with him?" asked
Jack, after a short pause.
Charley considered a moment, then
answered., while he unfastened the
bands which tied the dead man to
the dead horse.
Lend a hand here, boys. 1t is
our duty to give him a Christian
burial. Let's put him in the gully"
In a few moments the dead man
was released: Charley took him by
the shoulders, Jack and l by the legs,
and so we carried him to the place
indicated, and by our united efforts
soon had q grave dug, in which he
was laid. After this had been filed
in we rolled stones and small rocks
over it to prevent the wolves from
disturbing the dead.
1t was night before we had finished
our work. A solemn stiffness reigned
over all: no sound was TO he heard,
and with uncovered heads we uttered
a short prayer. God be merciful to
this poor sinner" added Charley.
Then we silently returned to the
hut
We retired that night earlier than
usual, and even in my dreams the
ghostly rider appeared TO me. l