Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1899-06-15

under their arms. They followed the
creek channel, hugging the bank, half
| creeping on the shore or wading in
the water with great caution where
there was no foothold on land.
Just then what the lads had cal.
culated upon had happened. Their
own ponies had come on and joined
the herd. There had been momentary
alarm as the animals had passed In
dian guards and camps. In the dark.
ness there was little danger that the
incident would excite suspicion. The
savages would simply conclude that
ponies had strayed and returned OF
been left behind in some shelter OF
| brush or trees.
In the meantime the lads had dis
covered the Sioux's camp and their
first outpost. Fortunately, horse
stealers do not allow dogs to follow
them, and Antoine and Pierre were in
no danger of discovery from these SEN
tinel pests of an ordinary Indian camp.
| Thanks to the shelter of the creek
bank and its fringe of willows, they
| passed this camp in safety. The
horses were farther on. Presently the
brothers ascended the creek bank
| upon the grass land and were in the
midst of the grazing herd. They
walked carelessly among the animals,
talking in low tones and in the Sioux
tongue, which they spoke with per-
| feet accent.
They were some time in finding rid
ing ponies among the herd. At last,
by cautious and friendly advance, each
secured pony, bridled the animal,
strapped his blanket upon its back and
mounted. They rode together boldly
along the creek bank AS they passed
the limits of the herd Sioux arose
from the grass few yards distant and
hailed them. Antoine replied.
"We go to the hills" he said, gruffly,
''to look for pursuers when light
comes"
The Indian grunted approval, and
the riders passed leisurely on. This
simple, bold proceeding, and the noise
and confusion of the stamping, snort
ing herd. saved an alarm. It's success,
and the knowledge that the Indians
were herding their booty unmounted,
filled Pierre and Antoine with elation.
The Sioux, as they had hoped, were
giving all of their ponies complete rest
for the night.
The daring riders passed on down
the valley until they were we'll out OF
sight and hea ing of the herd. Then
they hobbled their ponies and flung
themselves upon the grass. Here they
waited, resting and talking in sub
dued voices until that darkest hour
which comes before the dawn. Then
they remounted, uncoiled their grass
ropes aud ode back toward the herd.
They approached, riding cautiously,
until warned by coughing snorts that
the horses were near at hand.
There was no longer the rustic of
trampling feet-the herd were lying
at rest. So much the better for the
plan the boys had adopted,a plan sim
pie and bold, requiring dash and cour-
age beyond ordinary conception. They
were to stampede this herd of 500
horses and ride at its heels directly
through and over an Indian camp.
Truly, it was to be neck or nothing
with them They rode a dozen rods
apart aud halted. They scratched
matches under the cover of their
horses tanks and lighted the frayed
ends of their grass ropes.
In the next instant Antoine fred
his revolver in air, and with shrill,
terrifying whoops the daring fellows
rode at top speed directly at the sleep
ing herd. They whirled their lighted
rope ends, famed to flame us their
animals ran, and rushed in upon
startled crowd OF horses, encircled in
kissing, writhing coils of fire.
Pierre rode like one possessed and
yelled like veritable war tiend. AS
the herd broke away in his front he
ran plump upon an Indian guard.
The Sioux was directly il advance
and running, but turned to shoot. AS
he did so Pierre, whirling his fire rope,
swept tho blazing end directly into the
| savage's face, thrust out a foot and
left him, sprawling and blinded, in
the grass.
Then there was wild and most ex.
citing rout. The whole herd of horses
fed like mad things before those cir
cling, shrieking snakes of fire.
| Despite moo OF yelling Indians,
aroused from their blankets and rush
ing franticallv hither and thither, the
horses, gathered in flying mass,
swept resistlessly on, taking their
own back trail instinctively.
Antoine and Pierre galloped into
the Sioux camp ground, riding at the
heels of the herd and in smotherine
cloud of dust. They were fired upon
by several Sioux, whom they nearly
ran down as they came together at the
tail of the ierd; but bullets aimed
chiefly at whirliny streaks of fire and
in dust and darkness, went amiss, and
the daring stampeders came off with
out scratch.
They yelled and whirled their fire
ropes until those effective torches had
burned nearly to their finger ends, and
when that happened they were beyond
| II