Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1905-03-03
1.-TWO was all seen. Why?"

"An' if them two was loose, they'd
be afOot. wouldn't they? Big JEFF went
on, ignoring the question.
"Why, yes, 1 guess they would. But
what if they was?"
I'll tell yuh." JEFF swung his horse
closer to the Freak, and lowered his
voice-though there was none within
three hundred yards to hear. At in
tervals, the Freak nodded, his head
and calculated 'Sure!" with much en-
phasis Then Big jeff resumed his
normal position in the saddle, and they
turned back to the Gros Ventre camp.
The white brothers Of the chief of
the Gros Ventres." the Freak Grated,
have little grub wherewith to face
the deep SHOWS, and their stomachs
would be as the stomach of the gray
wolf ere they reach the wooden tee
pees of the White Father at Snake
Butte. Can the great chief spare a
few pounds Of flour and a leg of deer
meat? His white brothers will give
many pieces Of fiat silver"
Yes, the great chief could-for fiat
silver.
The transfer accomplished, the
Freak reached the bundle I'D to Jeff,
who sat on his horse, a silent specta-
tor AS Jeff leaned to take it from
him, his horse snorted and lashed out
wlckedly behind. A dun cayuse, meek
of mien and small of stature. stood di
rectly 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
ue-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 and crookedly. At the next tee
pee pinto was tied to an ancient
sleigh. Between the sleigh and the
ponys head the Freaks horse plunged,
rearing, kicking, leaping high.
Presently the pinto also scurried I'D
the coulee, with the Freak in hot pur-
suit; and save for their own indolent
legs, the Gros Ventres were without
means of locOmotion.
Crowd 'em, old boyr' the Freak
yelled, as he turned the bend. Next
thing on the program is angry Injuns
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 l 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
fiOundering 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 whinged futilely
after them.
Big jeff waved IA 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, no.
tice. Now 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.
Thatll 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 good
scheme"
Don't yuh stay too long he warn
Ell over his shoulder. as he crowded
forward on the heels of the herd.
score of young bucks We're trot-
ting swiftly along in the beaten track
of the horses. At intervals 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
and pappooses were massed, mutely
witnessing. The yelping clamor Of
the mongrel dogs came indistinctly to
the ears of the Freak