Valentine Democrat. (Valentine, Neb.) 1900-1930, 1905-02-16

Tor. AS JeH leaned 10 take II lFOS1
him. his horse snorted and dashed out
wickedly behind. A dun cayuse, meek
of mien and small of stature, stood di
rcctly in his rear, tied to the wheel Of
a Red River cart; against his ribs the
hoofs of Jeff's horse whacked loudly.
Startled by the unexpected onslaught,
the pony jerked violently against the
tie-rope 1t parted, and he scurried for
the bunch like frightened rabbit,
Jeff giving chase.
Let not the chief be alarmed" the
Freak shouted. His pony Shall be
brought back to his teepee."
He mounted hastily, did the Freak,
not forgetting to keep tight hold of
the sack. Calling assurances to the
chief and to the bucks, who were
swarming out of the lodges, he started
after Jeff. But his horse WAS taken
with a sudden madness. and bucked
high ard crookedly. At the next tee
pee a pinto was tied to an ancient
sleigh. Between the sleigh and the
pOny's head the Freaks horse plunged,
rearing, kicking, leaping high.
Presently the pinto also scurried up
the cOulee with the Freak in hot pur-
suit; and save for their own indolent
legs, the eros Ventres were without
means Of locOmotion.
Crowd 'em. old boy" the Freak
yelled, as he turned the bend. Next
ho l., "
burnin' POWDER
Say" he cried, breathlessly. to Jeff
as he reached the bunch, 'yuh ought
to seen old Rock do the Wild West
act He sure did things to that pinto
when | thrOwed the hooks into him"
They fell upon the ponies with
swishing ropes and tempestuous pro-
family. Through the drifts that bar
red their way they urged the herd to
IL f1oundering gallop. Enveloped in a
cloud of snow-dust kicked up by the
flying heels, they swept up out of the
cOulee, and almost gained the knoll
from which they had spied the camp,
ere the first bullet winged fuhIely
after them.
Big JEFF waved a glOved hand. and
his deep laugh went believing across
the white waste.
Look at 'em. Freak he chortled.
THE whole tribe is after us. Them
dark-complected boys wouLl sure do
business with US if they was close
enough"
You bet.' the Freak responded.
And them brunette ladies would sure
love to wind their fingers in our hair"
Say" the Freak observed, as they
topped the little ridge, ''some o them
bucks is pretty good runners, l no.
tice. Now l don't banker t. have 'em
catch up with us after we start with
them cattle. | tell yuh, Jeff, you pike
for the corral an get the bed on one o.
these cayuses. I'll stay on this pima
Gle here an snap a few caps at 'em.
ThatIl hold 'em till YOU get ready t
start-an' then I'll come a-runnin."
Il hate t. leave yuh, Freak" Jeff
grumbled, but l guess it's a good
scheme"
Don't yuh stay too long" he warn
ed over his shoulder. as he crowded
forward on the heels Of the herd.
A score of young bucks Were trot-
ting swiftly along in the beaten track
of the horses. At intervals a rifle
would pop, like the breaking of frost
ed willow, but the distance was too
great for their guns to carry Back
on the bank Of the cOulee, the SquaWS
The yelping clamOr Of
the mongrel dogs came indistinctly to
the ears OF the Freak.
He drew his rife from the scabbam
and pumped a cartridge into the cham
Der. Dropping on one knee in the
powdery snow. he sent steel-jacket-
ed missile humming sinisterly along
the back trail. The pursuing Indians
dropped on their faces with a celebrity
that made the Freak smile 1t was a
close shot-very close, as he had
meant it to be.
1t was nearly an hour before the
Freak swung stiffly upon his horse and
Hoped away. Like bloOdhounds the In
dams struck the trail again, tramping
mile after mile. But Big
jeff and the Freak had q fyc-mile
start. and they held their own. The
long-horns, gaunt and hungry, travel
ed fast, stepping close up 10 the horses
that, perfOrce, broke trail.
This here's swell way o spending
Christmas Eve" the Freak yelled
across the backs Of the plodding cattle
to JEFF, who drove the horses ahead.
Never yuh mind, Freak-theres
good times comm. Just cast your eye
ahead
lie did, and the sight gladdened him.
For behind them the sun WAS down
and the wind was rising; but the
brown mass of the agency upheaved
its bulk before them. In half an hour
they had swung down Wild Horse,
under the shadow of Snake Butte. and
Big Jeff was bowling Justify at the
agents door.
\ befurred receiving clerk counted
the cattle into corral and handed Big