Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1903-06-17

or SIS each, and the complaints of the
Indians would avail nothing. Such
robberies of the Sioux were frequent In
| those days, and kept even the fricnd-
liest of them in a state OF hostile feel
Ing.
II don't suppose that Martin even
would have dared to follow tie ras-
calls II they hadn't run off four Of my
ponies IN the bunch they stampcdSd.
But 1 had left him IN charge Of my
property. and when runner came in
with news of the loss he again locked
the store, and leaving some Indians G:
guard, mounted his pony and followed
the rustlers. lie was careful. after
striking their trail. no. to come in sight
Of them until after dark.
"About two hours after sunset he
came up with them in the coulcc of
Chapeau Creek Thew had Just made
camp, having run the sock more than
forty miles over an unsettled district.
Martin saw them without heiil:: seen.
He picketed his pony beyond car-s.lot,
and then crcpt close to their car:p,
hiding in some bushes where lie could
keep an eye on every mOvemen".
"The three men were sitting about 4
small fire, eating their supnc". Thr:r
ponies were pickctcl close By. ana
their guns two Wlrchcstcrs belonging
to the cow-mcn an;l ~ old shotgun
which Kosky carried, lay against their
saddles within their reach.
'The moon was shining brightly into
the coulcc, and just below the ruStlers
Martin saw tie pony Ecrd in Il c'ssc
bunch, most Of them lying ii: rest.
THE Indian settled himself To wait.
and presently Big KcsIy got Gp.
saddled his horse. took his gun and
vent to look after the herd. while ;lic
others unrolled their blankets, laid
their WiuchesterS beside them, and
stretched themselves at their fire.
"They had been talking together and
laughing. and were evidently pretty
we'll contcnted With their catch; they
seemed to feel pretty sure about GO.
|
the fellows like lynx. and whcl :hay
were sound asleep and Kosly WAS out
of sight looking after the herd. h.
crawled into their camp and got both
their guns. Then he crawled away
again.
"The guns he carried up tho creek
and strapped TO his pony's saddle Thau
he came back just rs slyly to look after
Big Koslly and the ponies. So far
everything had so. to his liking. and
now to get rid of that rascally herdc:.
'Kosky kept the horses in a close
bunch. riding about them witt! his gun
across his saddle, md Martins pres.
pect for running off any OF them looked
pretty poor. Whatever he did must lo
done before the fellows in camp were
awakened, for the discovery Of the loss
of their guns would alarm them at
once.
'"rhe ponies, however, themselves
settled Martins plan Of action. They'd
been watcrcI 1t Lame Mans Creek.
some miles back. and toward midnight
they began to want drink. and to droI
into the bed of the Chapeau to look fol
1t. The creek was dry. with only Il
pool here and there In dips OF tho cha:,.
mel: and I(Osky, TO quiet thcir uneasi.
ness. worked the bunch along Zip to. Ole
of the suIlllen ponds some two hundred
yards above his rustlers' camp.
Martin followed closely. keeping
out of sight i'll the dry channel. Very
soon he heard the ponies Slipping down
steep bank into the pond; and peer.
ing out Of the cover of tall grass, he
saw Kosly ride his own horse down tc
drink. Martin could just see the
horses rump rs the animal stood. halt
on end. and the mans head and shoul.
ders, as lie sat braced in his saddle.
There was the boys opportunity
and lie took it rs quick as lightning
He crawled slyly out Of the grass and
got directly behind the rustler Then
using the stock of his carbne as ba.
tering-ram, he: made running jump
striking the man sQuarely between the
shoulders.
"Kosky was hurled as if kicked by q
mule. He struck the water with q
splash and sank like sack of sand
Martin landed behind his saddle. ard
, the rustler's horse Slid into the water
where he floundered over his breath
less master.
"The ponies were startled into snort
ing little. but they were too thirsty
to run. and Martin kept his seat and
rode out upon the bank. lie tied hi:
captured horse to some willows. ant
then waded in and dragged kOSliy ou
into the dry bed Of the creek. There
he turned the man upon his face ant
slapped his back until he began Il
, show signs Of life; then he tied him
hands and feet, and left him there t.
come to and reflect upon the uncertain
; ties of rustling.
"The ponies were now grazing quiet
, ly, and Martin moved them upstream
to where his horse was tied, and thel
drove them rapidly home.
z "That experience settled the accounts
Of Big Kosky in these parts. l reckon
the whole business was rather mys
terious to him. He never came on th'
! reservation again, to our knowledge
, and soon after abandoned his claim
! Martins handling Of him gave the III
dians here some heart to protect thei
t property, and there was less stealin:
Of their stock. They gaye Martin
!. long name-they called him Strikes-thc
Big Medicine White Man." = Youth
, Companion.