The sun. (Jacksonville, Fla.) 1905-1908, 1906-05-26
THE SUN

tree "White Horse" was anchored to. l
Law still on the bank for while trying
to detect the slightest stir in camp, but
that seemed to be wrapped in deep sleep.
l didn't think they even had sentinel
out.
As I worked my way between the
sleeping horses l looked to see If any
were tied, but only two were, and they
were evidently chiefs horses.
II takes very few words to tell my
actions after l left the river brink, but
let me say l went as still as a snake
and very slow, painfully slow!
AS 1 said, I went to the sleeping
horses and found two tied After cut
ting these, l was crawling along
toward "White Horse" when rustling
noise near him startled me. fattened
myself to the ground and listened. 1t
was not a horse. heard the noise
again, so decided it must be an "Injun"
sleeping under the tree-perhaps Black
Snake himself.
Here was difficulty | had not thought
of. How get rid of him? l lay there
on the ground for few minutes, but
not hearing anything else began crawl.
ing up toward the body of the tree. AS
soon as my eyes got accustomed to the
intense darkness under the tree l saw
the outlines of dusky form very near
"White Horse" My suppositions were
true. It was Black Snake. He was
asleep, thanks to his being tired.
| had to discard several plans before
| hit upon one that considered safe and
that would not rouse him or the camp
or both.
The first thing I did was to cut the
buckskin holding "White Horse" to the
tree. This being done, / crawled under
white Horse" and up to the Indians
feet, then | commenced cautiously to dig
the earth away from under his right leg
just above the ankle, and it took some
time to dig it large enough for me to
pass the thong under his foot. As soon
as it was, though, I slipped the buckskin
under and brought it around, making a
running moose around the ankle. then
attached the other end of the thong to
the tree. If he attempted to rise ne
would be brought to earth. After these
preparations were completed I crawled
up to "White Horse" and perfected nv
plans. A large oak limb extended almost
over him, and | could drop on his bacl,
from it. With this thought in mind I
commenced to climb slowly and carefully.
| believe | never did any harder work
than climbing that oak, although the
limbs were not more than eight feet
above ground. As soon as | reached the
limbs | selected the lowest that hung
over "White Horse" and crawled SLOWLY
out over him.
1t must have been about half past two
and so | had to hurry for it would be
light in an hour. As soon rs cot di.
rectly over "White Horse" I gently
slipped over the limb till l hung in the
air just above his back.
! said to myself. "now it's win O,
fall" l slowly but surely dropped
lower, until l touched the brute's bacl,
He gave a jump and the Indian n veil
l guided white Horse" by a short piece
OF lariat for the river, and the othe,
horses, having awakened, seeing Their
leader being ridden toward the river, fol
lowed.
In a few minutes we were in IN.
water, with the Indians yelling and trv
ing to shoot me and catch their horses
Instead, they made swimming" STAN
pede, for nearly all the horses were
swimming. They dashed the water sc
the Indians dared not venture to save
one.
Several times arrows came near mo
and one l did get in the arm. but nc
great harm was done. 1t just panied me
You could have heard those Indians
yelling for miles! II sounded worse thar
some bands have heard.
swan the hOrses-that is, thew fol.
lowed white Horse" and l guided him
across, and as they came out on the
bank my comrades caught them. Can't
NJ had brought them for that p,,r.
pose, So all the horace xvo,o -. r.