Horse Thieves.
Springtime in Kentucky. One wants a new language to express its charms.
Winter's shadows fly away. Clouds that looked dark, heavy, and
threatening are followed by rosy sunsets and luminous peaks in the sky
which appear like mountains standing round about the New Jerusalem. A
warm breath of nature starts from the spicy islands south of the great
Gulf, crosses it, then sweeps along Mississippi's mighty valley to the
"happy hunting ground," bearing in its soft embrace birds of many
wing--robin, bluebird, thrush, and sparrow. This breath melts the icy
fetters of the streams, and they sing a sweet song of welcome. It
enfolds the trees, and they put forth millions of little green ears to
hear what the streams are saying. It fondly caresses the flower bushes,
and they swell almost to bursting with reviving beauty. Like the green
bush which Moses saw aflame with holy fire, every branch and twig shows
the mystic presence of nature's God.
While birds with brightened plumage sing as though their lives would
escape through their throats; while lambs, calves, and colts gambol in
the pasture, filled with the happiness of young life; while fish rush
upstream like flashes of silver light and the very trees clap their
hands in praise, it is not conceivable that man, God's masterpiece,
should be insensible to this season of the year. A sudden thrill like
an electric current passes through his being; a subtle exhilaration, as
when a man is filled with wine, possesses him, and he is in touch with
the new life, whether he goes afield with team or plow or hunts the
forest for the increasing game.
It was a day in early April. All the planters were busy in their
fields, either laboring with their own hands or superintending the toil
of their slaves. The negroes--those jocund children of nature--with
happy faces and plantation melodies on their lips, were preparing the
ground for its grain and tobacco seed. Judge LeMonde himself was in a
rich field between his house and the river giving directions to his
chief overseer. In the front garden, between the house and pine trees,
could be seen Madam and Viola LeMonde and Mose and Nora all busy
putting flower beds in order. Mose was digging the ground, Nora was
using a light rake, and the white women were putting in some flower
seeds.
While such peaceful work was being done in the river bottom, another
scene was taking place at Simon Wiles' hillside farm. Though the season
and weather called to earnest effort, we see Sam Wiles and Zibe Turner,
the monster dwarf, seated on a big log behind the barn. Let us listen
to what they are saying:
_Wiles_: "De ol' Jedge guv us a term in de jug (jail), an' I'm sure
goin' to git even wuth him an' dat preacher too."
_Turner_: "I'll be wuth you in ary scrape you want to git up, but
we uns must be keerful not to be ketched ag'in."
_Wiles_: "Cordin' to my thinkin', each month we'uns war in de jug
is wurth de price of a hoss."
_Turner_: "That's yer game, is it? Well, 'tain't de fust time
we'uns hev borrowed a hoss an' fergot to return 'im, but we'uns
never struck so high up as de Jedge's stock. What hosses air you
thinkin' on?"
_Wiles_: "What ones do you suppose? De best ones, o' course. We'uns
must take Velox for de money he will bring in Paducky, an' I want
to bring down de pride o' dat young upstart, George LeMonde. We'uns
both owed 'im a grudge sence he beat you in de race an' won what
leetle money we'uns had. De nex' best hoss in de barn is Dolly, an'
we'll take her 'long to keep de bay compney."
_Turner_: "Dat suits me all right; but I want to ride Velox, 'cause
he went past me in de race. Won't I make 'im trabble, do, down de
ribber road! Dat's my holt."
_Wiles_: "We'uns must wait till we git a good night. De moon is
full now, an' de light is too bright. Four nights from now it will
rise purty late, an' den we'll proceed to bizness. We'uns want a
leetle light to show us how to git in de bawn an' move 'round. I
hear dad callin' me to go plowin', so we'uns must be goin'. Dis is
Friday. Come to de house tomorrer evenin', an' we'uns'll settle de
partic'lars."
The two men parted, Sam Wiles to help his father to prepare to plant
their small crop of corn, wheat and tobacco, and Zibe Turner, with the
cunning of a fox and the look of a savage bear, to slink through the
backwoods to his mother's little cabin some miles distant.
Monday night was a time just suited to their designs. They had to act
very cautiously for horse stealing at that time in Kentucky was
considered almost the greatest crime in the catalogue, and woe betide
any horse thief who was caught and found guilty! There was little
danger of the "law's delay" in his case, for a rope and a limb of a
tree prevented all court expenses.
By a small bridge near Franklin Schoolhouse Sam Wiles met by
appointment Zibe Turner and the two walked along the road, having
little fear of being seen as it was near midnight. They soon reached
Judge LeMonde's barn lot and now had to use the utmost caution not to
arouse the great dog Sport or any of his satellites. By degrees they
pushed open the heavy gate. Then they went to the barn door through
which the horses were led to their stalls. It was fastened, but with a
common lock. Wiles had brought a bunch of keys for just such an
emergency, and after trying two or three found one which fitted the
lock. In a moment they were inside the great barn. A long row of stalls
was just before them. They carefully closed the door and Wiles, taking
a flint and steel and some tinder from his pocket, struck out a spark
which ignited the tinder. He then applied a long brimstone match to the
tinder, and at once the match was ablaze. They soon found in which
stalls were the horses they wanted, Velox being in the first stall and
Dolly in the third. Back of the horses were pegs upon which hung
harnesses. Wiles quickly unbuckled Dolly's halter and put a riding
bridle on her. He then selected a fine saddle and placed it upon her
back. Turner did the same for Velox. They then reopened the barn door,
and Turner led Velox into the yard. Wiles at once followed with Dolly.
To prevent all suspicion they closed the barn door but left it
unlocked. It seemed as though they would get away without arousing man
or dog; but just as they were leading the horses through the barn gate
Velox, perhaps incensed at being taken from his stall at that unseemly
hour and leaving his mates, gave a loud neigh.
This sound was heard by Sport who was sleeping in a coach house at the
rear of the mansion six hundred feet away. At once the faithful animal,
suspecting something was wrong, set up a great barking, and was
instantly joined by a group of dogs which were with him. The thieves,
being afraid that the barking would arouse the plantation, jumped into
their saddles and rode quietly along the county road till they reached
the river road a quarter of a mile beyond. Here they stopped to observe
if anything would happen at the house.
Now the acute ears of the dogs had heard the hoofbeats of the horses in
the still night, and they continued to emit a chorus of barks. At last
their noise awoke Judge LeMonde, who was dreaming that twenty lawyers
were all pleading a case at once. Thinking something unusual was the
matter, he arose and dressed and called up George, his son. Together
they went out to the carriage house and tried to quiet the dogs, but
they continued barking. The men could find nothing out of place. But
the judge, being somewhat uneasy, said to his son: "Let us go down to
the barn and see whether or not the horses are all right."
So they started down the road, past the negro cabins (all the slaves
being sound asleep), and on to the barn. They went into the barn, and
soon discovered the absence of the horses. The judge was a man of
decision and courage. He said: "George, thieves have broken into the
barn and stolen our two best horses. I do not believe they have been
gone long. Run instantly and arouse Mose and some of the other slaves.
Tell your mother what has happened, and say that we are going at once
to follow the thieves. While you are gone I will get out Prince, Clay
and Bess, and we will go after the villains."
George ran to do his father's bidding, and soon most of the whites and
slaves on the place were informed of the theft, and were wild with
excitement as a result.
In the meantime Wiles and Turner saw the lights in the house and were
sure their deed was discovered. It was too late to return the horses to
the barn, and they decided to carry out their first intention and ride
them as rapidly as possible twenty-five miles down the river road, and
there deliver them to a confederate, who would smuggle them to a horse
dealer in Paducah. They put spurs to their horses and the noble brutes
started down the river road at a fast gait. At the beginning the
thieves had every advantage. They were mounted upon Judge LeMonde's
fastest horses, and they had several minutes' start of their pursuers.
So that they were more than a mile down the river road when the chase
began.
"Ha! Ha!" laughed Zibe Turner, "I 'spects I'm ahead in dis race. De
time befo' Velox passed me; but now I'm ridin' him, an' I'd like to see
de debil hisself overtake me."
"We'uns air safe," said Wiles, "but we'uns must hold back our hosses
sum, for we uns hev a good jaunt to take, an' it won't do to tire 'em
out at fust."
Both acted at once on this sensible advice, and they brought the ready
animals down to a moderate trot. It was now a little past midnight, and
not a soul was to be seen on the road. A light breeze blew softly from
the south, shaking the tiny forest leaves and blowing across the fields
to welcome the coming footsteps of another day.
Though these bad men boasted to each other that they had the winning
hand, there was some uneasiness in their hearts. They knew that this
was the highest stake they had ever played; they were striking at the
chief man of the county, and had stolen the best horses on his
plantation. Should the heavy hand of justice smite them, it would be a
stunning blow. The voice of conscience was not utterly dead, and it
aroused fears in their hearts that they were not willing to acknowledge
even to themselves; but, like many other desperate men, their very
alarm occasioned a fiercer determination to show a bold front.
About two o'clock that morning honest David Hester, who lived about
fifteen miles distant from Judge LeMonde, was awakened from his deep
sleep by a pounding in his barn, which stood not far from his house.
Honest David knew at once what was the matter,--his horse Jim was
kicking in his stall. This valuable beast had a habit at irregular
intervals of kicking and pawing in the barn. Once or twice his restless
feeling had made him use his legs so vigorously that he was thrown in
his stall; and if his owner had not come to his help, he might have
been fatally hurt. This night Jim's knocking was specially violent.
Farmer Hester at last arose and went to the barn to quiet the restless
creature. Speaking kindly to him, he turned him into a box stall and
returned to the house.
Just as he was entering the rear door he heard the sound of horses'
hoofs some distance up the river road. His curiosity aroused, he
decided to see who the early travelers were. He walked to the front
yard and stood under a large lilac bush which was already covered
thickly with leaves.
The horsemen came on quickly. The moonlight was not sufficiently clear
for David to see distinctly; but he noticed that the rider nearer him
was a short man mounted on a dark horse, and that the other was a
larger man riding a lighter-colored horse having a white spot in its
forehead. David did not recognize either the men or horses, but the
suspicion flashed across his mind that the lighter-colored horse was
Judge LeMonde's Dolly. However, he was not sure, and in a moment the
men had ridden by.
Honest David returned to his house and bed. It proved, however, to be a
night of interruptions, for he had hardly gotten between the sheets and
fallen into a sound slumber before there came a loud knocking at the
front door. David--and in fact his whole household--was aroused
thereby, and hastening to the window, he tried to learn what was the
matter. He saw in the yard below three men standing by three horses and
heard the quick and eager words of Judge LeMonde: "Hurry, Friend David,
and come to our help. My barn was broken into about midnight and my
horses Velox and Dolly stolen from it. We are almost sure the thieves
headed this way down the river, for where the county road meets the
river road we examined the hoofprints as best we could, and decided the
horses turned this way."
"Yes, Judge, I'll help you all I can, and will be down in a hurry."
Honest Hester left the window and was soon down in the yard, followed
presently by his sons, wife and daughter Henrietta, all greatly excited
by the news.
Judge LeMonde continued: "We three have ridden our horses very hard,
and cannot hope to overtake the thieves without fresh animals. They
were careful to take my best blooded stock, and had considerable start
of us. Will you kindly favor us with the loan of some of your horses?
With them I think we may overtake the rascals."
"That I will, Judge," said Hester, "and my boys and I will go along to
help capture the rogues. I am sure you are on the right track, for half
an hour ago I saw two men riding past on horseback, and I suspicioned
one horse was your Dolly, for it had a white star in its forehead, but
I was not dead sure."
The men now hurried to the barn, and Jim was taken out to do something
besides pawing in his stall. Other horses were brought out and soon
seven men vaulted into saddles,--Judge LeMonde, his son George, his
servant Mose, David Hester and three of his stalwart sons. One son
remained behind to care for the three horses, which were covered with
mud, foam, sweat, and were badly winded.
Though in such haste, Judge LeMonde could not forget his duty to the
ladies. He apologized for so rudely disturbing their slumbers, and
thanked them for their interest and sympathy in his undertaking. They
lifted their hats and were away down the road. Madam Hester and her
daughter waved them adieu, watching the riders as far as they could in
the dim light.
As they were passing through the hamlet of Bridgewater Mose saluted his
master by lifting his hand to his wooly head (in the hurry of starting
he had not thought of his hat), and said: "Mas'r LeMonde. I 'spect we
mus' ride like de win' in dis stretch ob de race; fer I had hearn der
is a byroad ten miles furder on which leads inter a mighty wild place
wid many windin' paths; an' ef de tiefs gets dar, dey'll sho' give us
de slip."
David Hester, having traveled this road before, corroborated the
negro's words.
Judge LeMonde replied: "The advice Mose gives is very good, so we must
travel with utmost speed, for we must make every effort to capture the
scoundrels."
With this they all gave rein to their horses and made rapid progress
down the road. The men were so intent on watching the road and guiding
their horses that few words were spoken as they went along.
Those who are acquainted with the river road below Bridgewater will
remember that the knobs come very near to the river and the road runs
close to the foot of the hills. Hence there is not much chance for a
horseman to escape from his pursuers except by outriding them.
Sam Wiles and Zibe Turner had come within three miles of the place of
which Mose had spoken. They were congratulating themselves on their
good fortune, when the quick ears of Turner heard the sounds of horses'
hoofs some distance in the rear. "Pard," he said, "hear dat? Da air on
our track, sure as shootin', an' by de sound I know der is sev'ral on
'em."
"What can we do?" asked Wiles. "De knobs air too steep to climb, for
der ain't no roads about here, an' de ribber is near us on de left. Our
only chance is to reach de forks of de road 'fore dey can overtake us.
But Dolly is purty well played out. Der ain't much go in her. How is
Velox standin' it?"
"My hoss shows his blood an' trainin'," said Turner. "He's all in a
sweat an' lather an' he breathes fast, but I tink he's good for de
distance. You'uns must gib Dolly mo' whip and spur. Better to kill her
dan to be tuk."
Wiles thought the monster dwarf's words sensible, and he drove the
cruel spurs into poor Dolly's sides without mercy and lashed her with
the whip. The gallant mare responded with increased speed. But it was
like the flicker of a candle almost consumed.
Just at this time, the morning now beginning to break, the thieves were
discovered by their pursuers, who, thus encouraged, sent up a shout
together and urged their horses to greater speed. The animals, still
comparatively fresh, increased their gait and gained rapidly upon those
ahead. It was now a desperate race. Horseflesh was not considered by
either party,--only a wild desire to escape by one and a determination
to bring the outlaws to justice by the other.
Strange to say, the dwarf became the leader in this terrible emergency,
perhaps because he felt there was yet considerable reserve power in his
mount, Velox. "Hang to her a leetle longer, Sam," he cried. "One
quarter mile mo', an' we can shake 'em off. Speak to Dolly, gib her her
head, an' spur her in a fresh place."
This Wiles did. "Go it, Dolly! Good girl! Show 'em your heels! A few
rods mo'."
But it was no use. The limit of her strength was reached. Her breath
came in gasps, her flanks trembled, she began staggering as she ran,
and when within a hundred feet of the turn she fell head foremost,
throwing her rider to the ground and falling heavily on her side.
Even in this predicament the monster dwarf did not lose his nerve; he
halted Velox a second and said to his chief: "I'll git away on Velox
an' cum to yer help ef I can. Keep a stiff upper lip. Nevah say die.
Dat's my holt. Good-by."
With this he again drove the spurs into Velox's side, and was off. It
was time, for his pursuers were shouting, "Halt! Halt!" and then the
sharp crack of rifles was heard, and balls went whizzing by Turner's
head. But he was soon at the turn, and with one wild yell of mingled
triumph and hate he turned to the right, plunged into the thick woods,
and was lost to sight. He had escaped.
In the meantime Sam Wiles, half dazed by his fall, was still lying on
the ground when the Judge and his men rode up. Quickly the Judge said
to Hester: "You hold Wiles and I will attend to Dolly."
They all dismounted and Hester did as requested. The Judge, George, and
Mose drew near to faithful Dolly, and the Judge knelt down and took her
head in his lap and spoke to her in soothing tones. He asked for water
for her and George ran for some, but it was too late. Her eyes were
already becoming glazed in death; but she gazed up into her owner's
face with a look of recognition. Then a shiver went through her frame,
she closed her eyes, and ceased to breathe.
The Judge and George wept, and were not ashamed to show their tears;
while Mose, who had always cared for the horse, sobbed aloud in his
grief, and on a sudden impulse of anger administered a kick to
prostrate Wiles, the "po' white trash," who had killed Mas'r's hoss.
Judge LeMonde gave directions for Mose to bury Dolly's body in a decent
manner, and then the rest prepared to return to their homes.