Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1898-06-22

dressed and bandaged; tEen at Lis
urgent request, we left the man to
care for himself.
With two days ration in our sad
dlebags and an extra pony for each
of us we gallopei away in pursuit OF
the indians, and 50 on found the wreck
of the wagon beside the trail some two
miles from the ranch.
After thorough earch f.r some
distance on every side, we became fatis-
fed that Mrs. Rosamond had been
taken captive. Then we took the trail
Of the ponies + the Indians and Of the
two shod horses they had captured.
As this trail led us across the sandy
valley to the north we judged the
party to be Cheyennes or Sioux, for
Arapahoes or Comanches would most
likely have taken the opposite direc-
ton.
Bow Legs, our expert iracker, for
merly "pony express" rider rode in
advance at jog trot over hard ground
and at gallop across thefrequent sand
tracts, all the time leaning forward,
with his face beside his pony's neck
and his eyes following the prints OF tho
SD oes of the shod horses. And so
about noon he led US 10 the high land
which formed the divide between the
Platte and Crow creek. The day was
clear, hot and fortunately devoid OF
that haze or mirage which so often
prevails in that region.
"Now, boss" said Bow Legs, "get
out your glass and take a squint down
across bout Is or 20 miles ahead. The
Indians ave only been riding at a jog,
md they ought 10 be in sight"
As I was superintendent Of a large
round up, always carried inmy saddle
holsters signal service glass OF first
rate power. Now, after a moments
scrutiny, my bipccular happened to
Qtch the savages just as they were
going over riuge. l had time to count
l6 horsemen and a number Of led AMI
mails before they disappeared.
Only 16 of 'em said Bow Legs.
'Good enough! Well make things
warm for them"
He had, in fact, "stood off, ID alone
on one occasion. On another he had
whipped nine Utes single handed and
rad chased the four survivors several
miles, so much did his new breecbload-
er overmatch their bows and arrows
and inferior guns
As cur Indians were going north we
were confident they would camp on
Crow creek, and we logged easily after
them. They evidently had no fear OF
pursuit, as they were travelling in a
60 uad and going leisurely. In fact
such isolated outrages as the one they
bad Just committed usually went un-
punished in those days, and they
probably thought their crime would
not socn be discovered, as they had
assa''ed the Rosamonds on an old trail
that was little used.
At four o'clock that afternoon We
were cautiously trailing within a can
yon which led through the breaks or
bluffs south of Crow creek valley.
After we had ridden for some two
hours down the arroyo, which deepen
ed and became quite rough as we ad-
yanced, Bow Legs pronounced the trail
very fresh. At last he halted Just as
be was on the turn of shaip corner
and motioned for us to gallop up.
As we joined him he gave wild yell
and dashed the spurs into his horses
aanks. Following close in bis wake, l
ad The valley OF Crow creek burst
suddenly upon my Jew, and l saw
hat the Indians had picketed their
ponies and pitched a couple OF teepees
IN he bank of the stream, some 3OO
va. DIS away. Straight at their camp |
we charged.
When frs. saw them they were
catering IN dash for their ponies.
We dug spurs into cur animals and
few at ITEM Ike rockets. Each OF Us
,arlied revolver and q Winchester
,arbine tn fifteen shots in it's maya
re.
The evidt mt CONSERVATION OF the
Indians and their rush for their horses
-