The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1906-07-20


rying, men, women, and children, to
the cover of the breaks just above
their teepees. From the broken cou-,
lees thoy could command tho horse
corral with their rifles.
The Crows had relied upon their
numbers and the justice of their claim
to gain the return of their ponies.
They had not expected they would
have to fight.
But now they wheeled, scattered,
and rode, with guns at ready,
straight toward the corral. On they
went till volley from the eros Ven
tres halted them.
They wheeled about, retreated
out OF range, and opened fire on the
agency. Luckily, everybody who was
looking out of an opening had time
to dodge. They fired only single
shot or so to the man, but every door
and window on that face of the bar
racks was riddled. Only my store was
untouched.
When their firing was checked, the
Crow chiefs rode back and forth in
front of their men, fiourishing their
guns and whooping threats.
1T was plain that they held the
agency responsible for the taking of
their horses, and in a measure uuey
were right.
What was to be done? Mccall
came hastily into my store to seek
advice. But the matter had already
gone beyond my wisdom in Indian af-
fairs.
Then a 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
white cavalry horse, with his rifle
swung across the saddle in front.
HE was trim and soldierly, not so
fat as now, and he made a fine show,
at which we looked for a second in
establishment.
:" What can he be thinking Off
said Mccall. The only fighting SOL
der I've got!'
The Crows wondered, too, at first,
for Much Chuck rode straight toward
he halted, raised his right hand, and
spoke some words in their own tongue.
Many of our eros Ventres had smat-
tering of Crow.
I'VE could hear nothing of what was
said until, at the close of the con-
ference. number of the Grow 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 a 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 a half-minuteH'
firing they had killed dozen ponies;
but Much Chuck was unhart, and at
the tail of the herd he jumped a
pony and came on, lying fiat upon its
back.
Under a hail of shots he pushed
the big bunch out of range, and then,
with a whOop, the Crows swung in be-
hind and took charge. They had re-
covered all their own animals, except
the few killed, and some thirty or
forty Gros Ventre horses besides.
The capture satisfied them, and they
rode off. yelling.
Then that brave policeman came
walking slowly toward the agency.
The last of Much Chuck, said l.,
and I could hardly keep from crying.
Mccall looked at me, winking hard.
He's saved u.s. he said, and the
eros Ventres will skin him alive.
can do nothing
Much Chuck walked by without
so much as looking at us. He went
round the barracks and disappeared.
Mccall left me to go to him, but
never heard what the agent said to
his policeman.
Some two hours afterward eros
Ventres began stringing up from their
village, and in little while the group
of police cabins back of the fort was
surrounded by Indians on foot.
while / stood looking out Of my
rear door, l saw Much Chuck come
out of his shack and walk toward a
bunch Of Indians gathered at corner
of the stockade. He had painted his
face and body in yellow and green,
and wore only the breech-eloth and
bonnet Of eagle feathers. The chiefs
and others that he came toward were
within few rods OF my rear yard,
and l could hear the click of hreech-
bolts as they uncovered the earbines
concealed beneath their blankets.