The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1899-06-14

ears, its neck arching gracefully as ii
pranced about restlessly at the end of
the rawhide rope. II was tho perfect
embodiment of swift and finely bred
animal. II surely was of no Indian
breed. The Snakes, from whom the
Blackfeet had taken it, had, undoubt-
edly, got it in turn from some of the
white settlements far to the south and
east, or, perhaps, captured it from
some luckless emigrant on the over.
land trail. The major, however, only
glanced at the animal, for he did not
wish to show the Indian how pleased
he was. Ordering a passing employe
to take the horse to the stables, he
told Owls Head to accompany him
to the trade room, where he gave him
various articles of merchandise far ex-
ceeding in value any price which had
ever been paid for horse in that
country
The corrals and stables had been
built just outside of the fort and were
commanded by the cannon in two of
the great bastions. Here the horses
owned by the company were shut up
every night. During the day time
they were sent out on the prairie to
Craze in charge of a herder, who at
this time was n boy of IA years named
Joseph Kipp, now one of the promi-
nent citizens and cattlemen Of Mon
tana. When Joe came in with the
herd that evening the major sent for
him and said:
well, my boy, I've finally bought
that Snake horse. Well call him
Snake. Now. want you to take him
out with the herd daily and watch him
closely until he has made friends with
the other horses. Ride him occasion
ally, enough to keep him in good trim,
for I'm going to have buffalo hunt
before long. Be careful, now, and
see that you don't lose him, for with
out question he is the best bred ami
NAL this side of the Mississippi river,
and value him highly"
''Yes, SIR" said Joe. 'T'll watch
him as you say. No danger OF his
getting away from me-"
About two weeks after this CONVEX
sation took place the herder corralled
the horses one evening and then en-
tered the majors office with most
detected air.
''Snake's gone" he said shortly
and with suspicion of sob in his
voice.
why, Joei' exclaimed the major,
''how were you 30 careless rs to lose
him?"
II didn't lose him, and 1 wasn't
careless; he's been stolen" Then
the boy broke down; but the major
spoke to him kindly, and after little
he told how it had happened.
At noon he had driven the herd to
the Teton, small stream three miles
north of the fort and given them ample
time to drink while he ate his
luncheon; he had then driven them
back on the bench land to Craze. 1t
was warm day, and along in the af-
ternoon, becoming very thirsty, he
rode back to the Teton for another
drink OF water. He was gone from
the herd perhaps 90 minutes or half
an hour, and on his return he imme-
diately missed Snake Scanning the
country with his telescope he saw the
horse, ridden by an Indian, just as
they were disappearing in the breaks
of the Missouri several miles east of
the fort.
The major, of course, was greatly
disappointed at losing his valuable
horse, but he was kind and Just man,
and after comforting the boy the best
he knew how he sent him to his own
quarters for supper.
Nearly all the employees of the trad
ing company were married to Black
feet women, and hardly day passed
but some of the relatives OF their wives
visited the fort. Through some of
these visitors it was soon learned that
Owls Head himself had stolen Snake.
After the big trade the camp had
moved back south few miles to the
Shonkin, where wood and grass were
more abundant, and the buffalo horse
was running with the Indians herd.
But that didn't help matters much.
There was no such thing as law.
Within the walls of the fort the trad
ing company was supreme. Beyond
the range OF the cannon and howitzers
the Indians ruled the land; might was
traders never to quarrel with the In
dians. Perhaps the major soon forgot
his loss; he had great affairs to keep
his mind busy; but it was different
with tie boy Joe. During the short
time he had kept Snake in his charge
he had learned to love the beautiful
animal and longed to regain posses
sion OF it, Then again the taunts of
old Four Bears, great gossip, who
was always riding back and forth be-
tween the camp and the fort, fairly
set him wild. The old fellow brought
almost daily reports OF the number of
buffalo Owls Head was killing with
the aid of his swift horse.
'Such horsel Never was anything
seen to compare withit. What power
of endurance, what speed, what sagac-
ity that wonderful horse hasr' With
a malicious leer he would say TO Joe:
"Ah, boy, you ought to see that horse.
| If once you saw him know Won would