The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1921-04-14
CHAPTER Ill.
Some Indian I ore

CHAPTER Ill.
Some Indian Lore
Buddy knew Indians as he knew
cattle. horses. uattlcsnakes and
storms--hy having them mixed in
with his everyday life,
Once. when he had again straycd
too far from camp. some Indians rid
ing that way saw him. and ono
leaned and lifted him from the
ground and rode off with him. Buddy
did not struggle much. lie saved
his breath for the long. shriu yell
OF cow-country. Twice he yodicd hc.
fore the indian clapped a hand over
hts mouth.
Father and some OF the cowboys
heard and came after. riding hard
and shooting as they came. Buddy
pink apron fiuuerod signal flag In
the arms OF his captor. and so Il
happened that tho bullets whistled
close 10 that particular Indian. lie
gathered a handful OF calico between
Buddy's shoulders. held him aloft like
a puppy. leaned far over and de.
posted him on tn ground.
fsaddy rolled over twice and got
M. little dizzy and very indig.
nQnt
From that time Buddy added
hatred To his distrust OF Indians
From the time when he was 4
until he was 10. Buddy's III, con.
tainod enough thrills TO keep a
movie mad hoy OF today sitting on
the edge OF hia scat sasping onvious
ly thru many reel. but 90 Buddy
Il was. all rather humdrum and
monotofous. What he wanted 10 10
was to get out and hunt buffalo. Just
hersiing horses and watching out for
Indiana and killing rattlcanakcs was
what any boy In the country would
be doing. sim. Buddy himself
achieved now and then a thrill
There was one day. when he stood
on a ridge looking for a dozrn lost
horses In the draws below. Buddy
happened 10 miss old Rather with
the others
RATHER would drive cattle gu, OF
the brush without rider TO guide
him. II only you pat a saddle on him.
He had helped Buddy TO mount his
hack-whcn Buddy was much
smaller than row-by lowering hts
head until Buddy straddied II. and
then lifting IL 30 that Buddy slid
down his neck and over his withers
TO his hack. Many other lovahle
traits had Rather. and to lose him
would be tragedy.
So Buddy was scanning an the
deep little washes and draws when
a bullet plnrsg~d over HIS head.
Buddy caught the bride rcins and
pulled his horse into the shelter Of
rocks. united his rife from the sad-
die and crypt back To r-connoi'cr.
An Indian on a horns presently
appeared cautiously from cover. and
Buddy. trembling with excitement
shot Wild. but not so wild that the
Indian could afford to ride closer.
After another Intellectual shot a,
Buddy. he whipped his horse down
the ridge and made for Bannock
creek
Father had warned him never 10
chase an Indian into cover. where
others would probably BE- waiting for
him. So he stayed where b. was
and let the bullets follow the enemy
To the fringe OF bushes. His las,
shot knocked the Indian off his
horse. Buddy waited for n Ions
time. watching the brush. After
while he saw, the Indians horse
climbing the slope across tho creek
There was no rider.
Buddy rode home without the
missing horses and did nor tell any
one about tho Indian.
He wondered what mother would
think OF IT, Mothers interests seemed
mostly confined to teaching Buddy
and Duicie what they were deprived
Of learning in schools. and to play
the piano-a wonderful old square
piano that had come all the way
from Scotland to the Tornahawk
ranch. the very frontier OF the West
Mother was a wonderful woman.
with n soft voice and a siight Scotch
accent. and wit. and n knowletge OF
things which were little known In
the wilderness Buddy never
dreamed then how strangely culture
was mixed with pure savagery In
his life. To him the secret regret
that he had no. dared fide into the
bushes 20 scalp the Indian he be
lieved he had shot and the fact tina,
his hands were gtraining at the fun
chords OF the Anvil Chorus on that
very evening. was not even TO be
considered unusual
while he counted the time with a
conscientious regard for the rests. he
debated the wisdom OF telling moth
er. and decided that he had better
keep that matter TO himself. like a