The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-12-31


The interpreter had reached the herd
where he was taking the rope hobbies
1 from the fore legs of several horses
This done he climbed into a herder's
/ saddle and headed the band SLOWLY III
/ the bottom land. Nearly all the ami
mails had seen long service, so they
went tamely enough. Where the road
along the bank turned west 10 cross
the bluffs through a break they took
1t and were soon over the ridge and
out upon the prairie There Matthews
started them south. Finally a mile or
more below the line of the stockade he
! completed his wide detour by driving
them due east. Beside the Missouri he
rounded them up and brought them to
a stand.
He tied the horse he had ridden to
some willows. Next having unwound
several rope lengths from about his
waist, he began to catch and tie 9TH
ers Of the bunch. He had rope for
only ten. The hobbies fastened three
more. The remaining horses were gen
tie, all but the one belonging to Fra
ser Matthews, swearing in English
and Uncapapa, tried every device he
knew, but failed to catch her.
He dared not waste another minute
Quickly he wound some grass into
twist, lit It ard waved it back and
forth above his head three times, after
which, as a precaution, he took flask
from his hind pocket and going from
horse 70 horse Of the string. to the
hobbled three and to the half dozen
that We're standing loose, rubbed their
muzzles with the liquor. But again
he was unable to touch the "She
Devil" In fury he threw the empty
flask at her.
From his hiding place beside the bar
racks the Indian in squaws dress saw
the signal torch Of the interpreter. At
once he sneaked from side to side TO
listen Then he took a wisp of grass,
bound round it a strip Of oily cloth
and kneeling beside the bundle farthest
from the river set a match to 1t. In
Stantly flames leaped up. He ran to
other grass piles, lighting them one by
one
The next moment an amazed sentry
who was pacing his beat by the scouts
huts saw the growing bonfires and
called out in alarm to another. Before
the latter could reply the end of the
barracks was burning Both sentries /
fired their guns. The sergeant Of the
guard answered with revolver shots.
The Cuttings spoke from the lookouts.
A trumpet shrilled the fire alarm.
From the suffers sounded the clano Of |
the mess gong.
In the midst Of the tumult one spot /
the stockade-kept strangely quiet. It's /
guards were collected at the sliding I
panel, from where not daring to leave.
they watched the growing blaze SO
intent were they upon the sight that
they took no heed of their prisoners.
Therefore no one knew or hindered
when the Indian braves, led by Stand
ing Buffalo and noiseless as shad-
ows, filed into Brown Mink's wickiup.
'rawled through the breach In the log
wall and sped away into the shielding
lark.
Behind the squaws and children
we're gathered, with the Indian girl
boldly among them. Of a
sudden they parted From under the
single roof there was q sound of
thump as body hit the
ground. an old woman's squeal of
age. Then into the faint glare reflect
d from the fire came a STOPPING fig
ire in squaw's dress that sped through
he scattering crowd, shot into Brown
links tent and was gone.
Across the prairie Matthews was fol
owing after the flighty cayuse. not
rying to catch her. only striving to
et her out of the way Buckskin was
vllltul, however, and as often as the
ngry interpreter drove her off came
lrcling saucily back to halt in the
attn or the coming braves. The string
y the willows. the hobbled horses Z
nd the gentle free ones. were fright
ned by her into stamping about. But
he whisky biting their noses killed |
he hated scent that was nearing. Not {
0 with the cayuse. She caught it. For s
moment she waited, head high. ears
-quiver, nostrils spread. Matthews
armed the Indians. They did not I
ear. AS they raced on the mare gave
snort of terror, wheeled and launch I
/ herself full against the end animal /
the string /
The tethered horses set back upon i
leir ropes. trampling each other and
llling themselves free. The gentle I
1es, thoroughly scared. went dinging O
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