The Cooperstown courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., N.D.) 1902-1913, 1903-10-08

They cleaned and oiled their rides
and two pairs Of pistols. They loaned
the Mexican one Of their Z mountain
NOnies. to which he transferred his
bride and saddle, and with four days
rations in their saddle-pockets. they
took UP the trail Of the Utes. E
Az the Indians were driving q large
''bunch" of stolen ponies, their trail
was plain one. and could b followed
by the light Of stars and Of snow
capped peaks, s se
The plains and mountain Indians
had long since learned the secret Of
successful raiding. They rode far and
secretly-500, 1000 miles, perhaps
and after the coup, scurried homeward
at q killing pace, which rendered or
ganized pursuit well-nigh impossible.
They did not try to conceal their trails
cunning scouts in their rear would
give notice Of chase in time to enable
them to scatter.
Tim and Henry knew that they were
upon the heels Of q strong war party,
hut they were plainsmen Of many
years experience, and their armament
fitted them to contend at long odds
with bow-and-arrow Indians.
The trail that night climbed high
among the San Juan mountains, seal
ing precipitous hogbacks and thread
ing passes where their ponies could
get through only in single file. But
tedious as was their progress, they
knew that the Utes, trailing their
strings Of stolen horses, must have
consumed double the time in crossing
this rough country.
At daylight the three men camped
for brief rest upon trail which they
judged to be ten or IL hours old. That
day they rode rapidly over mountains
not so rough, and at night the trail
of the Utes was warm" enough to
warn them of the necessity Of great
caution. IT,
So they camped for needed sleep and
rest At midnight they were up and
OF again, and at daylight they were
close upon the heels of the raiders. A
little later they came upon mountain
stream roaring with the flood Of re-
Gently melted SHOWS. Here the Utes
had turned aside to follow the narrow
valley to some known fording place.
Tim now cautiously led the advance
on foot, and the three picked their
way along the far slope Of the river.
In little time he, came within sight
of the Utes, who had camped upon the
bank at the foot of fringe Of timber.
The prospectors now placed their
ponies in charge of the ranchero and
stole forward to reconnoiter. They
crept from rock to rock and from tree
to tree, with keen eyes on the lookout
for a scout, whom they believed the
Utes would have posted upon the ridge.
This outlying picket they proposed,
If possible, to capture and thus to put
themselves in a position to effect an
exchange Of prisoners.
Such stroke would doubtless have
served their purpose in the end, but
the scout for whom they searched
was nowhere to be seen.
The raiders evidently felt them
selves secure from pursuit at last.
They had reached their own country,
and when the prospectors, from cover,
looked down upon them, the squad
were contentedly squatted about their
fires, cooking and eating meat. Their
horses, with but q single herder in at
tendance, were feeding below. along
the edge of the river. s
There were at least 80 Of the ras-
calls, but the distance, was too great
to discover whether the ranchero's
boy was of their number. Several
wore sombreros, which tapped about
their shoulders, but one of these was
least likely to be the young Mexican,
whose hat would have been promptly
appropriated.
A little study Of the situation con-
WINGED the watchers that their best
chance of a rescue lay in taking bold
and strategic risk. They had entered
hostile camps as big as this one, al
though never upon SO dangerous an
errand.
When they had determined upon
their line of action vesey returned
and brought the ranchero forward.
giving him instructions, in pantomime,
as they rode cautiously behind the
ridge. The excited and anxious father
was filled with admiration at the bold
ness of their plan, but he could only
mutter, 'Bueno, bueno, bueno!"
When the two had come up with Tim
the prospectors repeated the instruc-
tons infinitely.
Then, with revolvers cooked and
loosened in their holsters, Tim and
Henry boldly showed themselves upon
the blum. With. careless assurance,
they began toIdescend the steep scarp.
n When halfway down tho Indians
discovered them and began to scramble
to their feet. The white men imme-
sdiately made signs Of amitys and
| walked on, to all appearance as uncon-
cerned as If approaching their own
domicile.
| I The Indians could be seen keenly
scanning the crest Of the ridge, but
L ID