The Washington weekly post. (Washington, D.C.) 1878-1916, 1899-02-07
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in an Oilskin package and strapped it on
my shoulders. II the horse did not get
through | would. and the men would still
have their sugar, coffee, and other neces-
saries.
We waded out into the stream. The
] horse pulled mp his feet strongly and
! steadily until the water became deep
enough To swim in the first channel. Then
the ice-cakes began to bother Us. / slip
ped over the side of my horse and tried
TO keep them off with my hands. Once a
big foe that had been tossed OF in col
lision with another one, struck us and
carried US Doth under. When We came up
again the whole garrison, that stood out
on the river bank. gave a tremendous
cheer.
we soon got out OF the first channel
and came 10 a little island in the middle
OF the stream. There We stopped a mo-
ment and rested. | waved my hand back
at the soldiers on the opposite shore
They gave a last cheer and we plunged In
again. / 70, TO St. johns Island. rested
d while, All then crossed the last and
smallest of'the channels.
II rode down to where the cattle and
the herders ere. / told the men of their
danger. gave them their provisions and
advised them as TO the best course 10
take They were sitting by a fire play
ing seven-up, but they stopped the game
long enough TO ask me TO take drink
of whisky u was a raw day and my
wet clothing Rad frozen stiff.
L don't want your whisky L said.
My name ir Cold Water John The
Mexican booked up ami said: You look
as If your name ought 10 be Cold Ice
John
How He Saved the Cattle.
I'VE decided that it would be best 10
drive the cattle over % St Johns ISL
and, as IL was not hard TO cross the small
channel Besides the Indians would hard
ly dare to attack the island as they
would know that warning had been Civ
en-, and would suspect that there was a
strong force protecting the cattle. ! ask
ed the men if they could do the job alone
and they said they could. 1 then decided
TO go back again. My horse was shiy
ering so that ne almost shook the sad
die of. l bade the boys good-by, and
rode of to the river ! made the return
trip safely, ard the soldiers almost tore
Inc to pieces in their efforts To thank
me.
Night soon came on and we waited
for developments. The Bldckfoot was
still under guard. but he was +. ven the
best bed in the barracks. he walked
back and forth all night with d kind OF
pdnther-like tread. Every once In while
hr would stop and listen with his ear 10
the ground, and then ne would resume hi9
stralthy pacing. The garrison was all
under arms, and If there had been an at
tack OF the south side Of the river that
BlackfoOt would have died Ia a second
Along about O'Clock in the morning
he stopped mis- ceasfless march and gave
triumphant Gghr Then We heard =
bealam Of shouts and cries from the
other side OF the river. A. IL grew lfht
W saw about three hundred BlackfOot
warriors riding up and down the north
ern bank. shouting defiance By the aid
OF glass we saw our men and cattle
safely stoUei away III the woods on s.
Johns Island. After an hour or 50 the
Indians rode off. Then We released the
BlaekfOot who had given us the warnIse
lie Was loaded down with money and
presents. In fact. / don't know what Ia.
didn't get.
In day or % the herders came oyer
10 the fort They said they owed me-
their lives. and wanted 10 know wber
they could DO for me- told them
wanted nothing. Then they Insisted on
giving me son ething. / told them 10 give
me a book. That was easier said IA,
done. Finally they found one. q Bible
They gave Il 10 me- after having the Cole
mel write On the fiy-leLf. To Cold Wafer
John. In token Of having saved our lives
r. kearny March 3 1851 / sim read
that Bible. II reminds ne OF the PIES
ATTEST days Of my life"