The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1903-05-28

had to drive these ponies to the near
est railroad town and sell them at $40
or S15 each, and the complaints Of the
Indians would avail nothing. Such
robberies Of the Sioux were frequent III
those days, and kept even the friend
liest Of them in state Of hostile feel
ing.
II don't suppose that Martin even
would have dared to follow the ras-
Gals if they hadn't run off four OF my
ponies in the bunch they stampcGed.
But I had left him in charge o. Ely
property, and when runner came in
with news of the loss he again locked
the store. and leaving some Indians Cn
guard, mounted his pony and followed
the rustlers. He was careful. after
striking their trail. nos to come in sight
of them until after dark.
"About two hours after sunset he
came up with them in the coulee CT
Chapeau Greek. Thev had just made
camp, having run the stock more than
forty miles over an unsettled district.
Martin saw them without being seen.
He picketed his pony beyond ear-shot,
and then crept close to their camp.
hiding in some bushes where he could
keep an eye on every movement.
''The three men were sitting about
small fire, eating their supper. Their
ponies were picketed close by. and
their guns, two Winchesters belonging
to the cow-men and an old shotgun
which Kosky carried, lay against their
saddles within their reach.
''The moon was shining brightly into
the coulee, and just below the rustlers
Martin saw the pony herd in close
bunch, most Of them lying at rest.
''The Indian settled himself to wait.
and presently Big Kosky got up.
saddled his horse. took his gun and
vent to look after the herd. while the
others unrolled their blankets, laid
their Winchesters beside them, and
stretched themselves at their fire.
'They had been talking together and
laughing. and We're evidently pretty
we'll contented with their catch: they
seemed to feel pretty sure about get-
ting off with the herd. Martin watched
the fellows like lynx, and when they
We're sound asleep and kosky was out
OF sight looking after the herd. lie
crawled into their camp and got both
their guns. Then he crawled away
again.
'The guns he carried up the creek
and strapped to his pony's saddle. Then
he came back just as slyly to look after
Big Kosky and the ponies. So far
everything had gone to his liking, and
now to get rid Of that rascally herder.
"kosky Kept the horses in close
bunch, riding about them with his gun
across his saddle, and Martins pres.
pect for running off any of them looked
pretty poor. Whatever he did must be
done Before the fellows in camp We're
awakened, for the discovery Of the loss
of their guns would alarm them at
once.
The ponies, however, themselves
settled Martins plan Of action. They'd
been watered at Lame Mans Creek,
some miles back. and toward midnight
they began to want drink. and to dror
into the bed of the Chapcau to look fol-
it. The creek was dry, with only
pool here and there in dips of the chan.
mel; and Kosky, to quiet their uneasi
ness. worked the bunch along up to one
of the sunken ponds some two hundred
yards above his rustlers' camp.
Martin followed closely, keeping
out of sight in the dry channel. Very
soon he heard the ponies slipping down
a steep bank into the pond; and peer
ing out of the cover of tall grass, he
saw Kosky ride his own horse down to
drink. Martin could just see the
horses rump as the animal stood, halt
on end, and the mans head and shoul-
ders. as he sat braced in his saddle.
''There was the boys opportunity,
and he took it as quick as lightning.
He crawled slyly out of the grass and
got directly behind the rustler. Then,
using the stock Of his carbine as bat.
tering-ram, he made a running jump.
striking the man squarely between the
shoulders.
"Kosky was hurled as if kicked by
mule. He struck the water with
splash and sank like a sack Of sand.
Martin landed behind his saddle, and
the rustler's horse slid into the water.
where he foundered over his breath
less master.
''The ponies were startled into snort.
ing a little, but they were too thirsty
to run, and Martin kept his seat and
rode out upon the bank. He tied his
captured horse to some willows. and
then waded in and dragged Kosky out
into the dry bed of the creek. There
he turned the man upon his face and
slapped his back until he began to
show signs of life; then he tied him,
hands and feet, and left him there to
come to and reflect upon the uncertain.
ties of rustling.
\'The ponies We're now grazing quiet
ly,\ ,\snd Martin moved them upstream
to whsre his horse was tied, and then
drove them rapidly home.
"That experience settled the accounts
of Big Kiosk in these parts. 1 reckon
the whole business was rather mys.
terious to him. He never came on the
reservation again. t. our knowledge.
and soon after abands9ed his claim.
Martins handling of him m>ggave the In
dians here some heart to protect their
property, and there was less stealing
of their stock. They gave Martin
long name-they called him Strikes-Ne'
Big-Medicine-Whit Man." YouthS
Companion.
Accidents on Canadian Railways.