The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1913-08-30


N Yes, playing. l wasn't a real
one. you know. Wen. / s'pose,
It was sort OF queer game. Came
near being my last, too, and IL Black
Hawk hadn't been the best horse In
Texas the old colonel would we killed
me sure He chased me six miles as
1t was-me with one arm full or his
buckshot and anxious TO explain and
him straining 10 get in range again
and not wishing any further particu-
lars.
That was way back In the sixties,
when l was as wild lad as ever
straddled a pony.
You see, i've OF US had gone over
into the Crow Nation to race horses
with the Indians, and IL was on tho
way back that the old man and the
bullet holes iigger In the story.
At the beginning Il was Jim Barretts
plan. and it had jest enough risk and
devilment In 1t 60 suit "A harum scar
um young Teller like me. SO we got
five OF the boys who had good horses,
Jumped together all OF our money and
rode out to invade the reservation.
You know how an Indian loves to
run horses2 Well the Crows had a
good deal OF money then. and our
scheme was TO go over there, get up a
big race. back our horses with all we
had and take down the wealth.
Taking chances7 Don't you believe
t. That's where the beauty OF Jim's
plan commenced TO sort OF shine
through
You see, as soon as the money was
up and the horses started every In
dian would DO watching the race and
yelling at the nags; then I'm the con-
fusion our boys was to grab the whole
pot. Indians money and ours, too. and
we'd make our getaway across tho
river back into Texas.
We figured that we could get few
minutes start OF EN-, and, with tho
horses we had under US, there wasn't
much danger OF their getting I'm range
before we crossed back 10 where they
couldn't follow us
Well, sir. never see anything work
out like that scheme did Them Crows
was dead anxious 20 run their ponies
aud seemed skeered that we wouldn't
let EN- get all their money UP.
As we was eating supper the night
before the race Donnelly says: Boys,
I'm sore that we didn't have more
coin n we'd worked 'em right they'd
"a give Us odds We could "a got 3
20 3 anyhow aud maybe more"
THEY shore have got heap OF con-
fdence I'm them skates OF thelun,"
says "Nink" Marin Il never see
anybody SO anxious 10 play a raco in
nv ffN ~ y vacant ~ rlanrcd ont
the way 1t is I'd like TO stick and see
WHICH boss is the best. I'd back Black
Hawk agin any hunk OF meat In the
territory with the kid here In the sad
die"
They'd ribbed It up for me to ride
Martins mare. Black Hawk while
little Teller named Hollis rode his own
horse
Donnelly's part was 20 stay I'm the
saddle and keep the other horses close
TO Barrett and Martin They was TO
stick next 10 the money and one OF
'em do the bearin' OF or the booty
while the other made the protection
play
We hoped In the excitement TO get
off without harmng any OF Uncle
Sans pets. but all three OF the boys
had been with the rangers, and / knew
II IL came TO showdown they wouldn't
hesitate to pot" one or two I'm getting
away.
We rode out from camp the next
morning to where we'd stakcd out a
mile track on the prairie. and IL seem
cd rs II the whole Grow Nation was
there and nary a white but us five.
They'd entered two prettyagoo6 look
ing horses md had their jockeys strip
ped down 10 breechclouts. while Hol-
lis and me wore our whole outfits on
our backs, as we didn't exactly 6gger
on dressing after the race-leastways,
not on that side OF the river.
Just before we lined up Jim says:
Now. you-all ride like-and when
you git 10 the far turn we'll let tho
guns loose and stampede the crowd.
Then jest leave The track and make a
break fer the rivcr. everybody fer
himself Wen al meet az them cot
tonwoods ON the other side. so we can
stand 'em on n they try TO swim
across after us"
Tint would have been sure enough
hot race IL we had run II out. for we
all four got as pretty 4 start as + ever
see and went down the line all to-
gcther with a-bangiug N hoofs aud In
dian yeils ringing n our ears
! had begun % work Blnck Hawk
out OF the bunch % Get n clear starr
across the prairie az the turn when
heard the guns begin swapping lke
popcorn.
They've started a'readyr yelled
Hollis. and we turned the rairng
horses toward the river. three nAilea