The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1907-11-28

sands on its way to the Republican.
Brad's heart was In his eyes as he
watched 1t come creeping, creeping.
Now 1t rolled and swelled, and now,
coming on with whirlwind speed, 1t
took shape on either side in rounded
puffs that rose and broke and We're
ever renewed. Noting this, the brOncho
breaker threw both hands exultingly
above his head and cried, 'The cabal-
ladav' for the herd was coming straight
for the corral.
Brad Strengthened up for one last
assuring look. Then, instead of IA
miliar figure in tapping hat and
flannel shirt, his amazed eyes caught
sight Of a black crown with a feather.
He saw braided long lock, a scarlet
blanket blown backward from a wild
rider, and then the figure vanished In
the dust.
At this sight Brad dropped down on
the stack. Along the center line Of Its
top heavy pole had been laid to hold
down the hay in the wind. In the de-
preston made by the pole In the yield
ing hay Brad now flattened himself
out.
He had no time in his disabled condi-
ton to seek other hiding place, for al
ready the head Of the horse herd thun-
dered in the open corral, and he heard
the blowing and trampling of the ex-
cited beasts circling about.
Then came the bang Of the gates,
closed violently, and the rattle Of the
chain that held them. Then voices,
harsh, discordant, speaking Indian
words, arose from the side Of the cor
raj. Brad blessed his leanness as he
shrunk close to the pole. He blessed
the wind that had ruffled the hay all
along the top Of the stack.
The height of the stacks top, howev-
er, as we'll as it's wind rufl1ed edges and
the depression in it's center In which
he lay, effectually hid him from the In
dians standing almost directly below
him, and he could not see them him
self without lifting his head. But from
his high place he could overlook the
buildings beyond, and as shout came
from that direction he cautiously peer
ed out through the spears of hay.
At the corner of the cook house a
Cheyenne, dismounted, stood calling
and waving his hand toward the cor
raj. At first glance Brad was sure the
Indian saw him, and he instinctively
reached for the six shooter in his belt.
His apprehension, however, quickly
changed to indignation as he noticed
that the fellow was fourishing in his
hand fat roast goose which Brad had
taken particular pains to brown to a
shade. The Indian called vociferously
to his companions.
A shout in response came from be-
low Brad, and he heard the sounds Of
moving horsemen. AS they came across
cook house he counted five other Chey-
enneS.
From the stack Brad could see the
grin on the face of the Indian as he
pointed within when the others rode
up. Then there were laughs, cries of
pleased surprise and distinctly audible
shifting of the gratifying odor from the
open door. Five savage riders dis
mounted and vanished in the cook
house, leaving the man Of the goose to
guard their ponies.
The sight and, above all, the sounds
Of their feast made Brad's soul rage
within him. Nor was it at all quieted
when, now that the Indians about the
corral were gone, he looked over in it
and saw that they had rounded up ev-
cry Circle Dot horse on the range.
For an instant only in looking in the
corral he had taken his eyes from the
Indian watching over the ponies, but
the man had vanished in that moment.
Brad surmised that, seeing no sign of
life about the place, he had Joined his
fellows at the feast within.
After stuffing themselves they would,
he well knew, search for the maker of
that feast with other intent than