Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1898-01-07
by the ghostly light he looked into

by the ghostly light he looked into q
little hollow and saw that the thieves.
quite unsuspicious of being followed,
were stretched ON the ground, fast
asleep-after the superciliously conf
dent manner of too clever people-whilc
a picket rope was stretched between
two iron pins driven in the ground and
to this the horses, six side, were fas-
tened by their halters.
Slowly. slowly the black boy crept
among them, and they knew his IA
miliar smell and touch---had he not
used to sleep i'm each ones stall in turn?
He united them, and they fell placidly
to grazing without Il whinny, and tho
two rogues snored and slept through
it all. July hesitated over the two
horses the property of the robbers, if
Il robber may be said to have any prop
erty ut all. But he would not take
them. He wanted only his own. While
he hesitatcd, however, ono horse play
fully bit another, and the bitten one
kicked and ncighed. Up sprang Roser
and up the second thief, awake at once.
They ran to their horses, but July was
quick. He smotc the nearest of the
herd with his hands and yelled, and the
herd stampeded. July rushed to his
hidden horse, mounted him in a twink
ling, and went after the horses, skill
fully rounding them up, even in the
darkness. and heading them for the
trek. But the yell and the noise of the
horses scamper were sufficient guide
for the thieves.
cts that burned little black imp that
I ought to have knitted. He's been a
follerin' us. the vile heathen," shouted
Roscr, and in second they threw them
selves on the saddled horses and gave
chase. 1t was Il desperate, headlong.
reckless ride, where every step and
every second might send horse and rider
smashing to the ground, but July was
worked up to desperation and his pur-
suers to fury.
July had a good start, but his horse
was no match for the younger beasts of
the thieves. So after five minutes of the
chase. when the black boy found him
self losing, he almost gave up. The herd
were keeping together, and, unbur-
dened by riders, were gaining, but July
dropped rapidly behind. He heard the
crack of Il pistol, and bullet whistled
past, and it may be that new danger
quickcned his wits, for he suddenly con-
ceived a scheme of vengeance. He let
the herd go and kept edging off to the
right, and as he galloped he began to
scream out, as if guiding the stamped
ing horses. In the darkness the thieves
followed the voice, firing once or twice
in that direction.
Away over July vecred, until he was
leading the men in 4 different direction
altogether, and he kept shouting all the
time. Suddenly he was silent, but
pressed his horse forward eagerly. His
eyes. the eyes of 4 savage, could sec
better than a white mans in the night.
and he knew the country well. At last
he gave voice to a loud shout and then
the men were close upon him, and
doubtless they thought the boy was still
storm of curses and cmptied their re-
volvers at the sound. July shouted
again only so yards ahead Of them. and
then was grimly silent as he pulled his
wearied horse hard away and sheered
suddenly off at right angles.
On came the thieves. too fast to draw
rein, all ignorant of a trap. Raging
and swearing and triumphing in the
thought that they had caught up with
the stolen herd, they galloped past.
Ten, 20, 40 yards. There was a horrible
scream, followed by another, Il crash, a
torrent of cries of agony and howls for
help, and all was still. July had led
them to 4 line of deserted shafts dug by
gold prospectors in the days of rush
the land was dotted with such holes
and there was an end of them, and the
little Hottentot boy was revenged.
The stolen horses, not so fresh as
usual, were all back in their stable when
the genuine station master arrived. He
was decent man, and reported July's
feat to the company, rs, of course, did
the enthusiastic drivers, SO that the
little heather boy was thanked and we'll
taken care of by his employers. But
the bleaching bones of the robbers and
their horses lie to this day where they
fell in July's trar.--N. Y. Sun.
She Had Lost 1t.
in bed sent for the doctor, who came
and saw the old lady.
| II will send him some medicine" he
said on leaving, (which must be taken