The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1909-07-29

h'leYe, Sdlu Iuy Olu lIleuu, DUN
Rayner, who had trapped for fifty
nine years, and who at seventy-eight
would have scorned the title of "old,"
"vasn't in chasing game or hunting
Indians, but in chasing steamer,
though Indians enough were mixed
In.
81 was wintering out those days
with Bonhomme, who had trading
station on the Yellowstone, and an
other, in charge of Pierre lie Beau,
across on the Missouri. Bonhomme
owned little steamer, La Belle Julie,
which we called The Belle. One
spring, just after she'd pulled out of
the Yellowstone landing, bound for
St. Louis, a big string of Blackfeet,
who'd got disgruntled with the Bay
traders, came down from cross the
line
these fellows had a heap of robes
and pelts to trade, and Bonhomme
wanted his steamer brought back.
He picked me to go after her. with
two smart horses. He expected me
to head The Belle off at LIE Beau's,
where she was to stop day for more
lading and to wood up.
Il knew l had some pretty hard
work cut out for me, and was off in
an hour, riding my best cayuse and
leading one of Bonhomme's. Across
country was only, about one-third the
way around by the river; but the
steamer would make ten miles an
hour day and night, and she had a
halliday the start
Il would have made it all right but
for streak of fearfully hot weather.
AS 1t was, / melted down my own
horse and got to the Missouri, which
| struck about two miles below LIE
Beau's, with Bonhomme's best about
pegged out.
And as | reached the bluffs, there
was that little steamboat coming
down river full tilt, on her way to st.
Louis again! larruped my horse
down to the river bank and swung
my coat over my head as the boat
went by. Nobody paid the least at
tention, and felt disappointed
enough. was to have had hundred
dollars If brought The Belle back.
We'll, | started to ride up to LIE
beau's, crossed creek in a timber
belt, and ran plump into a camp of
friendly Rees. Instanter l made up
my mind tc get fresh horse and
make dash after The Belle.
u knew the river was crooked be-
low, and there was chance for a
good horse to overhaul the boat, when
determined they should take me
ABOARD, even If / had to swim out in
her front.
i hustled into the village. found
us head man, old Many Bulls, and
made my wants known in a jiffy.
Ihe chief scowled in thought for a
minute or two; then he sent one of
ms boys into willow thicket not far
on The boy was gone two or three
minutes. and came back leading a
piaeK-and-white calico that looked
right to me.
Him trade said old Many
Bulls. You give knife, swap.
pointing to a horn-handled bowie In
my sheath.
10 get the feathers off my lath-
ereu mount and onto that sleek calico
was the work OF another minute, and
was on again. When got up onto
'ne nigh lands and felt the good, firm
swing of the Rec pony, carrying me
a'Ung at rockingham gait and ten
miles an hour. wanted to yell fol-
Ihree or four miles away on my
.isnt l could see The Belle crawling
ons the arm of a long sweep to
eastward. After a half-hour OF hard
Snnihs, my calico had proved his
"iuu' and had settled down to q
s.erh chase with the certainty of sue.
cess at the end.
ihen unlooked-for things hap.
peaeu' l was riding along the leve
snts' ans heading draws and ravines
ah % win low butte twenty miles
Sns nead as the goal in my eye, when {
on. en OF 30 OF blanket Indians popped
,h Vi gully on my left and two o.
N,ee hundred yards ahead.
hey were wild fellows OF the be
,eathered sort that lone trapper
n eu TO steer clear OF. The buncl
,' Was IN position to cut me on ON m,
hn' e OF travel. So l lifted from IL
s'er r'a short-barreled, big-bor,
da" ne, my only shooting-iron in thos,
s, tos and swung the muzzle aroun,
toward them.
Co., Inc fellows paid no attention ex
Th 70 go into kind of commotion
in ney logged on toward me. jabber
,ls and seemingly a little excite,
,ou. 1 something among themselves
matted them at a respectful distanc
Ts u sisn-talked what did they want ?
s ae result was surprising or not jus
man was seasoned to the tsfe.
rheir head man came ON fe,
.es toward me. Their he vpene
"p ms wigwag. and told me this
sus OF his cheyennes had lost non,
nu tnaf ! was riding the animal !
at minute. Then he politely -
a@Ied me to get on ana give up In
Dsast. ievslsd my ride Al him an 4.
spurred the calico. - -
For nnn,A