The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1909-01-22

imam II llllie IuHEct.
After shooting bear and skilninG |
him started back, but the going was
bad BY sunset saw ! couldn't hope
TO get back 10 camp that night Sc
looked about for good. sheltered spot
TO camp. Just then my horse whin
MED. His call was answered from a
hollow just behind the creek bed along
which ! was riding. dismounted.
| fastened him and, rifle In hand. went
on TO investigate.
There. hidden in little gulch, were
about twenty horses. They weren't
guarded. Looking around in the dusk.
| saw a dugout about hundred yards
up the hill Lights appeared through
the cracks. I clambered up to learn
who was there.
knocked at the blanket door. The
voices had heard as climbed the
slope were hushed all at once. Then
heard a half dozen sharp clicks. That
meant the cooking Of rifles or revolv-
ers. l began to wonder what company
had stumbled into. Before could
move back some one called:
who's there?"
"A friend aud a white man." ] re-
piled.
The doc, opened. and big. ugly
looking fellow stepped forth and said:
Come In"
accepted the invitation with some
degree Of fear and hesitation. which l
endeayored to conceal. as ! thought II
was too late to back out and that II
world never do to weaken at that
point. whether they were friends or
3 foes. Upon entering the dugout my
eyes fell upon eight as rough and vii
famous looking men as | ever saw
In my life. Two Of them ! instantly
, recognized as teamsters who had been
j driving in Lew Simpsons train few
. months before and had been dis
J charged.
e They were charged with the murder
ing and robbirg OF ranchman, and.
having stolen his horses. It was sup
posed that they had left the country.
I gave them no signs OF recognition.
: however. deeming Il advisable 10 let
them remain In ignorance as 10 who
was. II was hard crowd. and !
! concluded the sooner could get away
n from them the better It would be for
:. me. ] felt confident that they were a
J band Of horse thieves.
4 where are you going. kid. and
n who's with you? asked one Of the
men. who appeared TO be the leader OF
the gang
: 4 am entirely alone. I left Horse
d shoe Station this morning FOR bear
! hunt, and. not finding any bears.
y had determined 20 camp out for the
y night and wait till morning" said i,
a "and Just as was going into camp a
few hundred yards down the creek
beard one Of your horses whlnnylng,
s and then 1 came TO your camp"
, where's your horseY' demanded the
: boss thief.
p Il left him down at the creek" an
d swered.
q They proposed going after the horse
but thought that would never Do. al
y It would leave the without any means
2, Of escape, and / accordingly said In
Il hopes 70 throw them of the track
! Captain. III leave my gun here and
u 60 down and get my horse and come
back and stay all night"
But my clever little game did MOI
= work at all, as one Of the desperadoes
:. spoke ~ and said:
= "Jim and I will go down with yor
u after your horse. and you can leave
n your gun here all the same, as you'll
4 not need H."
y "Ali right" replied. for coult
'e certainly have done nothing else.
A. "come along" said one Of them. ant
\. together we went down the creek AND
:. soon came to the spot where my hors'
of was tied One Of the men unhi;chet
I'd the animal and said. IN lead thu
horse
=, VERY well" said I. "Tve got cou
~ pie Of sage hens here. Lead on"
picked up the sage hens which
bad killed few hours before ant
al followed the man who was leading III,
horse. while his companion brough
e up the rear. The nearer we approach
sh Cd the dugout the more ! dreaded tb'
ia iiea Of going back among the villain
Gus cuttbroats My FIRST plan Of es
ID cape having failed. new determines
~ upon another. had both Of my r.
q solvers with me, the thieves not hav
Ing thought Il necessary 70 search me
" ft was now quite dark. and purpose
is y dropped one u the sage hens AM
asked the msn behind me 20 pick Il Or
While he was hunting for II on th
:. ground quickly pulled out one Of %,
:" Colts reviewers and struck him !
n trensndpus blow on the back ~ Oh
bead, knocking him senseIess 20 tn