Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1903-05-23

,afionS, ana drove Off q bunch o. fifty
odd ponies which AL Indian boy was
herding Oh Short Pine Creek
They wouldn't have dared attc!np:
so bold n theft IL aither | o. the mis-
sionary. Mr.. Williams. had been on the
reservation. But fs it was. they only
had to drive these ponies to the near
est railroad town and sch them NJ $40
or SO each. and tie complaints CT TIE
Indians would avail nothing. Such
ro1beries of the Sioux were frequent in
those days. and kept even the friend
liest OF them IL Il stale of hostile feel
ing.
Il don't suppose that Martin even
would have dared 10 follow Tie ras-
Gals il they In dn't run off four CT my
ponies in lie bunch they stampeded.
But / had lef. him in charge of my
property. and when runner came in
with news of the less he again locked
tho store. and Learning some Indians CT
guard. noun ted his pony and followed
The rustiers. He was careful. after
striking their trail. not 10 come in sight
OF them until after dari:.
About TWO hours after sunset he
came up with them in the coulce CT
Ch2pcau Creek. They had just made
camp. having run the stock more than
forty miles over al unsettled district.
Martin saw them without BEN. seen.
he picketed his pony beyond ear-sho..
and then crept close TO their camp.
hiding in some bushes where Inc could
Keen an eye on every movement.
The three men Were sitting about .
small fire. eating their supper. Their
ponies were picieted close by. and
their guns. two Winchesters BELONGING:
10 the cow!ncl and an old shotgun
which Koslly carried. lay agains: their
saddles within their reach.
The moon was shining brightly into
the coulee. and just below the rustle-s
Martin saw the pony herd in Il close
bunch. most of them lying ut rest.
The Indian settled himself TO wait.
and presently Big Kcsky sot up.
saddled his horse took his gun and
went to look after the herd. while the
others unrollcd their blankets. laid
their Winchesters beside them. and
sire; ched themselves at their fire.
They had been talking together and
laughing. and weTn evidently pretty
well contentcd with their catch: they
seemed 70 feel pretty sure :bout .c:-
ing oil with the herd. Martin watched
/ tHe fellows Ike lynx. and when they
were sound asleep and koslly WIS ont
/ ~ igl
crawled into their camp and get ho,h
their guns. Then lie c9.y...ad away
again
The g:ns he carried mp tao cree;
ara strapped TO his rony's saddle. Then
ne came back Jus: IS s!yiy 10 loci, after
Big Kosky and thr ponies. 50 far
/ everything had gore 10 his liking. and
Row to ger rid OF chat rascaily her,lei.
"kosky kept the horses in n close
/ b1ach. riding about thcm with his KUN
across his saddle. ana Martins pres
! meet for running of any OF them Looked
/ pretty poor. Whatever be ,id mus: ;c
done hefOre tse fellows in camp were
awakened. for the discovery of the loss
of their guns would alarm them a:
once
The ponies. however,. themselves
settled Martins plan OF action. They'd
been watered NJ Lame Mans Creek.
some miles back. AID toward midnight
they began to want drink. and 10 drop
nio the bed Of the ChaDeau to look for
il. The creek was dry. with ONLY n
pool here and there in dips OF the chan
mel: ana kosky. 10 quiet their uncas:-
moss. worked the bunch along Up to one
% the snnk2n ponds some two hundred
yards above his rustlers' camn.
Martin followed closely. kcapir.
ont Of sight in the dry chaarcl. Very
soon he heard the ponies slipping down
4 steep bank into the pond: and peer
ing out of the corcr o: tall s,raSs. he
saw kosky ride his own horse down to
drink. Martin could just sec the
horses rumD as the animal stood. hall
on cEd. and the mans head ana shorl-
ders. as he sat hraced in his saddle.
There was the boys opportunity.
and he took 1t rs Gu!c., rs lightning.
He crawled slyiy ont of the grass and
got directly behind the rrs;lcr. Then.
using the stocl; of his carhine rs a bat
iering-ram. he made y running jump.
striking the man squarciy between TIE
shoulders.
"kosl:y WAS hurled rs If kicked by 4
mule. He struck Tie water with n
splash and sank like sack OF sand.
Martin landed behind his saddle. ard
IN" rustler'S horse slid into The water.
where he flounGercd over his breath.
less master.
he ponies were startled into sno-t
ih% little. but they were too thirst.
70 run. and Martin kept his scat ana
rode our upon the bank. He lied his
captured horse 20 some willows and
then waded in AMI dragged Koskv orr
into the dry bed of ihe creek. rhn-e
ne turned tn" man upon his face :rd
slapped his back Until he began IA
show signs of life: then he tied him
hands and feet. and left him there 10
come TO and reflect upon the uncertain.
ties OF ruStling.
The ponies were now grain. Guia.
~. and Martin moved them up-strc. y,
To where his horse was lied. and tie;
drove them rapidly home.
THAT experience settled the accounts
OF Big Kosky in these parts. reckon
the whole business was rather n.ys
teri0us to him. He never came on th1