The Jennings daily record. [volume] (Jennings, La.) 1900-1903, 1902-07-21

between Big Springs and
OFallons stations. on the
the common hunting ground OF the sioux
Cheyennes, Pawnees. Arapahoes and sew
eral other hostile tribes.
One Afternoon in the late fall his trail
was obliteratsd by the tramptng and DUST
Of north-moving herds OF bison. He passed
several hunting parties of Indians IN the
distance, but they were not strong enough
or were too busy with their hunting 20
attack and Carl escaped the usual peril
Gus chase to be expected whenever In
dams were encountered.
The messenger was making his way
by his sense OF direction through befog-
8ing dust clouds. when his pony SHE'D at
. limp and battered Indian attempting
TO get to his feet In front of 1t. The
wounded hunter was a young Sioux. with
a broken shoulder and other injuries got
IN . recent mishap Of the chase.
For a moment the express rider hest
tated HIS duty to his company and the
knowledge that the injured mans tribes.
men would. sooner or later. return to look
for him, were balanced against the posi-
pility OF his death or further injury under
che hoofs OF the trampltng herds.
But seeing that the wounded hunter
could not rise to his feet. Carl's decision
was quickly made. and the deadly enemy
was picked up and siven-much to his as
Constituent, doubtless-a seat behind the
messengers saddle.
scheduled time at O'FaIIon's. where the
Indian was grumbingly taken in and fed
and cared for until he recovered. Little
was learned from the taciturn Sioux ex-
cept that his Dakota name was, trans
lated, Bear Bonnet.
Some months later, long after the hunt
er had returned to his people. Carl was
swinging forward toward O'Fannon
when an Indian rider appeared. coming
out Of blun coulee to meet him on the
pony trail.
The messenger eyed the Indians ad-
vance with suspicion. and hitched Il pistol
holster forward. Then as the red man
drew near. with a sign of friendliness,
Carl recognized Bear Bonnet.
..How-how'" shouted the messenger
Snotioning the Sioux to wheel and RIDE
alongside. But Bear Bonnet halted and
waved his arms up and down with an
emphatic motion. signifying, in the sign
language: Halt there, Trouble ahead.
The messenger drew rein and there
raised a rapid colloquy, mostly IN inc
sign manual. between the riders. carr
Learned that his situation was one OF ex-
ereme peril. Bands of Sioux. coming on
to cross the river. were strencneo ou'
for mile or two parallel with his tran,
and some of them Were just beyond the
river bluffs. Already he was halt-sur-
rounded upon his left. and the river iuLl
in the spring flood, was roaring upon his
right.
to the river not to attempt crossing. but
TO sink saddle and blankets. and zen to
go in.o hiding upon one OF the Willow
fringed nlands not far from shore.
The Indian said he would swim the mes
sensers pony across the river himself,
and would ltturn the animal to It's owner
when the danger had passed
Heap OsalaIlas. said Bear Bonnet.
Come st--come so-come 50: no. cola
git
ut cd
faint veil of dust above the high lands
in front His danger was imminent A0uf
his duty 10 his company and to the Rn
service was above the considerationS@o OF
personal Hafety. He must. as heret ofore'
ride it OUT at all hazards.
The yong messenger felt grateful to
the Sioux for having ridden ahead of his
fellows to, warn him of danger. But TO
Bear Bonnet's urgent counsel ne shook
his head in smiling negative ara shpplns
to the ground. frightened sis saddle clnch-
es The Indian followed suit. Then. to
Carls surprise. the Sioux. mounted upon
a swift pony. rode at his side and be-
tween himself and the bluffs.
Soon tn we were other Sioux 10 engage
tCarl's attention. The swarm coming to-
ard the river where ogslaiias' 'lerce
fighters and the most implacable hostiles.
The messenger rode swiftly, but at first
held his horse IN careful reserve, nothing
with shre~d eyes. as he scanned the
bluffs. the approach of the trailing dust
clouds III the speed. cIcverness and en-
durance of his trained racer lay all mis-
hope to reach O'Fallons with the mall
bags.
Some minutes before the first big party
of Sioux rode into the valley the express
rider saw that he had the race Of his
life before him. Presently. as lust over
hung the near bluffs in front of him, he
let his pony go at top speed. Yet he was
hardly abreast of the swarm of wild
riders who m the bluff coulees emptied i'll
long ant-like files upon the river-fats.
The Indians seemed not to notice hin
at first; they must have thought that two
of their own riders were scurrying along
before them. Carl now noted that Bear
Bonnet WIS no longer riding with him
neck and Ieck. The Sioux had dropped a
hundred yards or 80 70 the rear.
The messenger gave his pony an APP
proving slap on the neck. If Bear Bon
nets buck. kin, with the legs Of coyote.
couldn't keep the pace. he thought. his
own more heavily weighted animal must
be superior to the Indian stock.
He made the most OF the precious mo-
ment when the Oyalal!as seemed to be
considering his identity. Then the In
dams recognized him as white rider,
probably fleeing from the courageous Da-
l1ota in his rear. and with tremendous en-
thusiasIn-tudgins by the noise they made
Launched their ponies in pursuit.
The washout canons Of Pony creek were
six miles away. He knew the intricate
winnings of those cauon-cuts. and IL ne
could reach them far enough in advance.
there was some chance to dodge his pur
suers there. He leaned we'll forward. and
his Spanish ticklers" sought his ponys
hanks
The response was running which resem-
oied the Swimming rush of d frightened
antelope. Across two miles Of space. in
that clear atmosphere. he heard the
whoops of the Sioux. A procession of
sage bushes fitted by as If blown by the
wind Presently the flying rider looked
behind to see what had become OF Bear
Bonnet With some surprise he noted
that his first and casual Judgment Of the
Indians cfean-iimbed buckskfn had been.
after all. correct. Bear Bonnet was not