The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1903-07-25
The Exploit OF
MARTIN bLUESCEIIDLD.
Dy Franklin Wc;lss Calkn;.

yoke of oxen after some -four. When
he entered the store he @larel at Mar
tin as usual and finding 1 was to he
gone for a week or two, he turned on
his heel and walked out.
"A little While afterWard an Indian
came in and told Martin that the big
medicine wasechun''-white man-"had
taken one of my ponies. which was
picketed in Il ravine beside the road.
The old scamp supposed it was an In
dams pony.
Martin said nothing, but locked tho
store. saddled his pony. and went after
Big Koshy. About two miles from the
store he overlook the fellow. with my
horse tied behind his cart. Then there
was q lively time. kosly got off his
cart with his axe ard charged Martin,
yelling like a wild man. The boy
lodged on his spry pony and watched
for an opening.
He circled swiftly around the cart
and oxen until Big Kosky was pretty
we'll blown trying to get at him. Then,
when Kosky was at the opposite side
Of the cart. Martin made sudden
dash at the oxen and belabored them
with a stocl1whip. 1t needed only a
cut or two to set them off at jump,
and kosky. puffed and tired, was left
to shout after the runaways.
Martin ran the oxen to q safe dis
tance, then cut the led pony's rope.
and drove the animal homeward, with
Big Kosky shouting after him all kinds
Of threats.
'.The old rascal didn't make vain
threats, either Two days later he came
Oh the reservation with couple Of
cowboys who hadn't any too good repu-
tations. and drove off a bunch Of fifty
odd ponies which an Indian boy was
herding on Short Pine Creek.
'They wouldn't have dared attempt
so bold a theft if either l or tie mis-
sionary, Mr.. Williams. had been on the
reservation. But as it was, they only
had to drive these ponies to the near
est railroad town and sell them at $40
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 friend
liest Of them in a state of hostile feel
ing.
Il don't suppose that Martin even
would have dared to follow the ras-
Gals il they hadn't run off four of my
ponies in the bunch they stampeded.
But l had left him in charge OF my
property, and when a runner came in
with news of the loss he again locked
the store. and leaving some Indians on
guard. mounted his pony and followed
the rustleTs. He was careful, after
striking their trail, not to come in sight
of them until after dark.
"About two hours after sunset he
came UP with them in the coulee OF
Chapeau Creek THEW had just made
camp, having run the stock more than
forty miles over an unsettled district
Martin saw them without being seem
He picketed his pony beyond ear-shot
and then crapt close to their camp
hiding in some bushes where he could
keep an eye on every movement.
"The three men were sitting about q
small fire. eating their supper Their
ponies were picketed close by, and
their guns. two Winchesters belonging
to the cow-mcn 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 a close
bunch. most of them lying at rest.
THE Indian settled himself to wait.
and presently Big Kosky got un.
saddled his horse, took his gun and
went 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
laugiing. and We're evidently pretty
well contented with their catch: they
seemed to feel pretty sure about get
ting off with the herd. Martin watched
the fellows like 4 lynx. and when they
were sound asleep and KoslSy was out
Of sight looking after the herd. he
crawled into their camp and got bntlI
their guns. Then he craWleI away
again.
;. "The guns he carried up the creel: