Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-08-01
front of their men, Furnishing their

cdue hastily lntO my store TO seek
advice. But the matter had already
gone beyond my wisdom in Indian af-
fairs.
Then single figure appeared on
our right-a policeman who had rid
den round from the stables in the
rear. 1t was young Much Chuck,
dressed in his blue uniform, riding a
white cavalry horse, with his ride
swung across the saddle in front.
HE was trim and soldierly, not so
fat as now, and he made fine show,
at which we looked for a second In
establishment.
!" What can he be thinking of
said Mccall. The only fighting sol
der I've got!'
The Crows wondered, too, at first,
for Much Chuck rode straight toward
them. When close to group of chiefs
he halted, raised his right hand, and
spoke come words in their own tongue.
Many of our eros Ventres had smat-
tering of Grow.
1--WE could hear nothing of what was
said until, at the close of the con.
ference, number of the Crow chiefs
shouted, 'Ho-ho-ho' That was en-.
couraging.
"Then We saw Much Chuck ride on
down the line of the hostiles, pass
them, and go straight on toward the
eros Ventres.
ITO his fellows in the breaks he
made signs as if to approach them for
talk. This he kept on doing until
he was opposite the horse corral,
when he turned suddenly and made a
dash to the gate, which was on the
side facing the fort. Then he jumped
quickly from his horse, threw the gate
wide open, and rushed in among the
ponies. In second or two he had
the whole herd going at the open
ing like flock of sheep.
Then the Gros Ventres cut loose
with their rifles. In half-minute's
firing they had killed dozen ponies
but Much Chuck was unhIrt, and al
the tail of the herd he jumped 8
pony and came on, lying fiat upon its
back
Under hail of shots he pushed
the big bunch out of range, and then
with whoop, the Crows swung in be
hind and took charge. They had re
covered all their own animals, excep
the few killed, and some thirty O.
forty eros Ventre horses besides
The capture satisfied them, and the.
rode off, yelling.
Then that brave policeman came
walking slowly toward the agency.
The last of Much Chuck said l
and could hardly keep from crying
Mccall looked at me, winking hard
He's saved u.s. he said, and thu
Gros Ventres will skin him alive.
can do nothing
Much Chuck walked by withou
so much as looking at us. He wen
round the barracks and disappeared
| Mccall left me to go to him, bu
/ never heard what the agent said tc
his policeman
Some two hours afterward Gro!
Ventres began stringing up from theil
village, and in little while the groll
of police cabins back of the fort was
surrounded by Indians on foot.
while l stood looking out of m!
rear door, saw Much Chuck COM
out of his shack and walk toward ;
bunch of Indians gathered at corne
of the stockade. He had painted hi
face and body in yellow and green
and wore only the breech-cloth ant
bonnet of eagle feathers. The chief.
and others that he came toward were
within few rods of my rear yard
and could hear the click of breech
/ bolts as they uncovered the carbine!
concealed beneath their blankets.
It's all up with Much Chuck,
thought 1.
He had come to surrender in tim,
to save an attack on his cabin, wher,
he had wife and baby. i wake,
out to the stockade fence, and stoo'
leaning against the timbers as Mucl
Chuck came up to the chief. TIL
young fellow looked the chief in tn
eye for moment; then he spoke.
{" You have SEEM he said, what
have done. i did it to save my pee
pie and because l was soldier o
the Great Father. Your father here
the agent, knew nothing of my inten
tion--he is in no way to blame TO
my acts. am an Indiana Gro
4 f>t pf 4 -
when he had finished, his owl
brother, Blue Face, leaped at him
struck him on the mouth, snatched hi.
war-bonnet off, threw it on the groan,
and stamped on it.
You say you are eros Ventres.
he shouted, and say you are liar!
and he stepped back and cooked hi
gun. He would have shot Mucl
Chuck then and there, but jumpe
at Blue Face, flung him in heap
and wrenched his gun from his hands
Then stepped in front of Mucl
Chuck, and the words came hot an,
fast. l suppose never was SO furi
| Gus.
| w hAoSioOlC SoWoihos Saiu
will shoot the first one who lays I
hand on this brave soldier. How man,
of you, this morning, expected to SCI
another sun? This man has turne,
aside the vengeance of the Crows ant
the anger also of your Great Father
You are fools. You could not hav'
saved horse of the stolen herd. Som
of your own are driven away. Yer.
well, will pay yoa for them mysel
ten dollars in goods for each Gros
Ventre pony killed or TAKEN
We'll it happened l jumped in a
the right moment, and the promis,
of pay for their ponies saved Much
Chuck. Very likely that's the reason
since the police force was reduced
that he sits round in my store ST
much. Youths Companion.
Only Hint.
MI