Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1896-10-01

A hopeful man is better than a
prophet # evil Let me clasp thy hand,
my friend. for good words are next 10
inspired words, said the Prophet, and
he took John Clyde's hand and shook il
heartily.
The captain then told him what they
had planned about Clara before he came
up or they had thought cf seeing him.
And you planned right, but now it
r--t he changed somewhat, said the
PrCp.4, '--"lf and the doctor Will
20 ON with t44u 49, to my retreat
and when we have H., a.r ry-i-h friends
we will return with food, ana I...J hap
we may have more aid. l have callo d
for 1t. and it may be forthcoming in
time. Follow me on the trail Of the foe
and strike whenever he comes within
reach Of your arms.
The Prophet drew the herders to one
side and talked to them for some time
i'll low tones, and, though they made no
audible reply, it was evident from the
way in which they nodded their heads
that they were agreeing with him. He
came back, leaped on his horse, ard,
motioning to the doctor to take a posi-
tion on the other side Of Clara, they
rode off without leave taking save a
wave Of the Prophets long arms.
THAT is his habit" said the captain
to Howard. THE Prophet is strong in
welcoming, but his feelings will not
permit him to say farewell "
The men cheerfully obeyed the cap.
tain's order, and, leaping into the sad
die, started off to find Bouton's trail.
There was no trouble i'll getting on the
track Of the outlaws. The hoofs Of the
cattle stolen from Kyle's valley were
visible i'll every stretch of earth, and
they had cut into the moss covered
rocks like hieroglyphics.
1t soon became evident that Bouton's S
PITY had gone to their Old camp, fact
that gave the captain not little en-
couragement About noon they reached
the encircling hills that command n
view of the whole valley. They saw the
herds grazing by the river, the horses
staked near the fires, and could mai
out the line that separated the Indians
from their allies.
When Bouton reached his camp.
which he did before daylight, he was
delighted to find large accession TO his
force. More than score of white men
had come in from the south and as
many runaway Indians from the r,ser-
vations to the north and east. In aGjii-
ton to robhing stages and killing min
eys, Bouton's gang "did large business
in horses The organization ut one
time numbered many hundreds Of men,
and its field extended from the MiSsis-
sippi to the Pacific and from the plains
of British Columbia to the plateaus of
old Mexico.
The horse thieves were held together
by awful oaths of fidelity and still more
awful penalties for treason. Their
camps were lodges, and one Of their
members could recognize a ''pard" or
make himself known wherever he went.
But the great bond that held them to-
gether was mutual protection for indi-
vidual gain. So perfect was this organ
ization-and, no doubt, some Of its
branches still exist-that horses could
be run through from Texas and sold i'll
Colorado or be tcken from Montana to
Missouri without detection and with
the certainty Of finding market.
Bouton gave the prisoners into Font
Robb's charge, enjoining him to guard
them as he valued his life, and then
turned to talk to the new arrivals His