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

thanks giving It was useless for him
to lie there. Where should he conceal
himself securely? Somewhere he must
go, and that quickly.
Brad slipped to the ladder. clasped
either long side piece with knee and
arm and besan to slide down. But as
he started his eyes swept over the cor.
raj and saw every horse in 1t looking
up to him Their eyes, staring anu
CLASSY seemed to appeal to him for
succor palmer than any speech.
Swiftly down he slid, and the corral
wall, rising up, hid the horses from his
sight But IS he struck the ground Oil
his sound leg he had no further thought
of seeking hiding place for himself
He stepped to one side Of the stack
and boldly surveyed the cook house
Not an indian was in sight The six
ponies, with heads down and reatas
trailing, stood motionless before the
door
81 reckon I'll jes' mosey up to that
door, seeln's they're all so busy with
that grub inside," Brad's thought ran
on. "l'll jerk the door to an hitch the
chain over the steeple. an I've got 'em
cOrralledr'
His quick movement gave no indica-
tion of the pain 1t cost him. Indeed
be hardly felt the pain as he stole t.
the back Of the building, slipped alon
the wall and gained the corner nea
the door.
All his senses were Oh strain, all
he felt rather than heard a moccasineG
foot inside sep for the door Fore!
ting then all about his lame leg, Bra
made a rush for it. his six siloot,,
cooked in his hand.
On the threshold he encountered the
guardian of the ponies coming out So
close were the two that Brad act,all,
thrust the muzzle of his six shooter.
against the buckskin clad breast OF the
Indian, who with yell of surprise
and terror darted nimbly back and il
stinctively swung the door shut against
Brad's extended weapon.
Brad snatched the chain and cooke !!
it over the staple. Hardly hal Il"
stepped to one side when there caisc &
yolley, muffled, from Within Half i
dozen bullets splintered the doo!. a:l !
whistled harmlessly over the prairie,
beyond.
''BlaIe awayw Brad chGekted. ..E.
you can stan the s,no.sa il thar. t:s.
STAN to hear them bullets sing out
hera.''
A chorus Of coughs came from Hish
in. Then, half strangled by the pow
der smoke pent up in the tight struc-
ture, the prisoners made rush against
the door.
"say, thar, let up on that!' said
Brad cooliy. AS the rush was repeat
ed he stepped directly in front Of the
door and in turn sent shot through it.
The report Of his big six shooter was
answered by yell from within, ac-
companied by the sound Of scufling
feet as the Cheyennes sought the cor
ners at each side Of the door for safe
ty. Then all was silence, broken only
by an occasional cough.
II reckon I'd better light out" said
Brad, to whom the very stiffness Of that
cage Of tigers was ominous. "'Twon't
take 'em long to claw outer that, an !
reckon when they do I'll jes' leave 'em
to hoof IT.
He had no difficulty in catching the
ponies by their trailing ropes. Tying
them securely nose to tail, he led them
thus to the corral. There he threw
| open the double gates and with q
whoop and whirl of his lariat sent
the glad herd scurrying in safety out
on the plain. Then he climbed on ono
of the captured ponies, led the others
in string behind him and took his
slow way down the Rickaree with
many backward glance at the silent
cook house.
Brad's faith in the coming Of the
boys, after all, was not Ill founded
Late in the afternoon he met them re
| turning. And. though his lame leg