The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-01-07

of the company secuted the country there
abouts. There was a piercing norther
blowing, and l built a small fire. After
warming myself | decided to go into a
gully near by and get an armful of wood
20 be used in keeping up the fire was
armed with my pistol and a dirk knife
both of which dangled from my belt. |
had hardly reached the bottom of the gull
ly when / came upon a lair of coyotes.
There were five In the bunch, ana | did
not pay much attention to them until one
OF them ran up to my side and took nip
with his teeth at my riding boots
That's "a pretty bold coyote /
thought.
II had seen thousands of the varmints
on the plains and never had any respect
for their courage up to that time. I start
ed 60 pick up pieces of irewood, not caring
TO fire my pistol at the animals for fear
or attracting The attention of Rassett If
ne should happen to be thereabouts But
the boldness of the coyotes increased. and
the five surrounded me and soon were
bowling and snarling In the most threat
ening manner.
Il backed away from them In an effort
20 reach my camp. The animals followed.
and as ! turned 10 climb up the cliff the
foremost made a spring for my throat.
MS own throat with my right hand and
before he could bite or claw me had oit
my knife and cut his windpipe In two.
Before ] could draw my pistol the other
coyotes We're piing at me and taking n
piece of flesh out of my body az every
grab of their sharp teeth. | had nv back
against the side of the rocky wall of the
Cliff, and this was all that saved me.
had given up all hope of coming out of the
for a 49,.
ping OF a rifle bullet. Then came thraa
more reports in quick succession and an
TOUR OF the coyotes were writhing at nv
Ieet. without looking around TO see
whence came the shots / drew NV DistoI
ana fired bullet into the head of each
animal l then turned and looked IN tba
arroyo and | saw standing about aftv
yards from me the figure of Four-Finger
Rasset
Well, pardner You had a narrow es
cape from the varmints. didn't you?. 1
hope didn't hit you, he said.
Win this greeting Four Finger walked
up to me and gave me a critical inspection.
| thought certain that | was out of tho
trying pan and in the fire; that Four
Finger would put a bullet into my own
mead upon discovering that was a mem.
Der OF the Texas Ranger company on bis
trail. ''''
" Your names Tovey, amt it?' he said
extending his hand My name Is Rasset-.
usually called Four-Finger Rasset-an.1 4
nope you are glad TO see me. You've been
LOOKING Tor me right peart for several
days.
Il was pretty nervy man In those
days, and 1t took a heap of close shaves
to get me upset but was. knocked off INV
pins by this unexpected meeting with the
outlaw and his remarks to me- thougbt
he was sorter playing with me. like a car
does with a mouse, and that when he had
had his fun he would stand me up against
the stone wall of the guich and take a lot
shot at me. / never did remember what
answer l made 10 his remarks, but have
a distinct recollection of what he next said
to me.
" Tovey, / never killed a man in my life
without just cause. I'll make YOU this
kind Of proposition. You go back to camp
the best way you can, and don't say a
word>to anybody about having seen me-,
II nodded my head In assent and after
thanking him for saving my life.
made my way, bleeding and weak. back
20 camp. / was unconscious from loss Of
blood when my companions returned from
heir scout. They trailed by bloody path
% the bottom of the gully where they
ound the lifeless bodies of the Ave coy
)tes. One of the Rangers who examined
he wound of coyote found a Winches-
er bullet. which he brought back to
amp and showed to me. had told them
hat | had killed the animals with my
,istol
" How do you account for them having
'een shot with a Winchester ball? / was
sked.
=" II Is a mystery TO me- l replied. Il
must have gone back while deirious from
ny wounds and shot them with my own
That was the best explanation I could
i've them, and they did not learn the true
acts of the case until years afterward.
We moved our camp onward twenty miles
he day following, and never did rediscov-
r the trail Of Four Finger Rasset"