Shatto (Perry County, Pennsylvania Frontier Series)

by Roy F. Chandler

  "Wow!"

  "Hunting Elbedritches is cold, quiet work boys. You'd have the hard part. They only travel on cold winter nights that are extra dark. They like holes in fences where other varmints have snuck through. Happens we've got such a place out along the front pasture.

  "Way we'd work it, Cad and I would be out in the fields moving quiet as mice but driving any Elbedritches out there toward the fence hole. You boys would be holding the bag at the hole. When an Elbedritch goes in, you clamp it shut and bring it home."

  They were all for it. After much ado about getting just the right bag, Amy bundled them extra warm and off they went.

  In the deepening dusk Rob stationed them at the fence hole with cautions to be perfectly silent and unmoving. Then he and Cad disappeared into the dark.

  Rob and Cad returned to the house by the back door. They slipped onto the porch and stood in the dark with Amy and the widow. It was very quiet, although the boys were only yards across the road. Rob took a stone from his pocket and tossed it well out into the field. There was scuffling and Ted said, "I heard something, Chip." Chip "Shhd" him quiet and it was still again.

  After a while, Rob threw another stone and then another. Chip whispered, "Get ready, I think they're coming."

  The grownups retreated to the house warmth and enjoyed their joke. Later the widow said, 'It's been long enough, Rob."

  "Oh, it isn't much over an hour."

  "More nearly two, and they're just little boys."

  Rob circled around and noisily approached the chilled and stiffened bag holders. "Any luck, men?"

  "Whew, sure is cold, Pap. Nope, didn't catch a one."

  Ted said, "I think I saw a couple, Pap."

  "Well, they're tricky. Guess that's why they're worth so much. Maybe we'll try again some time."

  They trooped in and got warm chocolate. Everybody was sorry they hadn't gotten any Elbedritches, but Chip began asking a lot of questions about how come they hadn't ever seen any tracks and where Elbedritches stayed during daylight.

  Fortunately, Ted began to fall asleep and Amy hustled them both off to bed.

  +++++

  Chapter 24: 1845

  They'd worked hard at clearing stumps from the thaw-loosened soil. Early spring was especially good for that. Winter-heaved dirt was further softened by hard rains, and if you could keep the horses and equipment from bogging down the stubborn roots loosened easier.

  Rob and Amy went to bed almost as soon as the boys did. Thick walls shut out disturbing noises, and they slept soundly until wakened by Chip's urgent calling.

  "Pap, wake up, Pap! The horses' are gone. The fence is down. Sure as shootin', somebody stole our horses, Pap!"

  Stealing a horse was uncommon in these parts. Stealing two Shatto-branded horses was mighty dangerous, but he had to believe his eyes. The gate poles had been dropped and the two young horses they had been working were gone. Rob slapped at the porch railing in exasperation and said, "A fat man's father!"

  Amy asked, "Do you want Abel to go with you? I'll send one of the boys.

  Still exasperated Rob said, "Abel's gone to Carlisle. Can't expect him before noon. No Amy. I'll run them down myself. It might be only one man. He could be trailing the other horse."

  Chip came up with Rob's Shuler and Ted followed carrying the pistol and holster. Rob buckled it on, hardly noticing. Chip was back by then with his pouch and horn and Teddy handed him his old tomahawk. With his mind on the horse thieves, Rob started to shove it under his belt. Then stopped, looking at it in wonderment. He hadn't carried a tomahawk in a dozen years. Chip said, "Better take it, Pap. There might be a gang of them moving through the county picking up horses as they go along." Rob doubted that, but the tomahawk felt familiar and welcome in his hand, so he shoved it under his belt.

  The boys saddled and Amy packed the saddlebags while he scouted around. He couldn't see a strange track so the thieves must have come afoot and kept on the fence until they were mounted. They had walked the horses slow, keeping the sound down, and headed west on the road. Out a'ways, they had started running, and judging the tracks as being made before midnight, the thieves had a long, long lead.

  Rob mounted and took the lead rope on an extra horse. As a ridden horse tired, he would switch to the fresh animal. He could close the distance rapidly—he estimated. The boys wished him good luck, saying, "Bring back their scalps, Pap!" Amy kissed him and gave him a worried pat, adding her cautions, and he loped out.

  As he expected, the stolen horses began their own lope a half-mile up the road. He was thankful for the soft ground that made tracking easy. There were no signs of rain that might wash out tracks, and he got down to serious traveling. Both of the stolen animals were ridden, so two thieves would need handling.

  The trail led over into Pleasant Valley and kept westward. Rob figured the thieves planned on going over Round Top and out of the county. Catching them would take some time.

  The trail stayed plain, so he had time to think while riding. He wouldn't lose a day's work as this was a holiday and he had planned an easy day. He was glad the boys hadn't clamored to go along. Unless the thieves ran off and left the horses, he expected he would have to shoot somebody.

  The stolen horses went into Big Buffalo Creek and turned back east. Surprised, Rob followed losing little time. They kept going all the way back to Markleville, then crossed over Middle Ridge and struck the Little Buffalo not a mile above where they had started out. The thieves had gained little by their doubling around. They could have been well beyond the county by now. Instead, they were still close and within reach.

  On a rocky ledge the tracks changed and he saw where the thieves had tied bags over their horse's hooves to disguise and hide their tracks. He followed them with little more trouble, and cussed when his own route passed over them in the Clark's Run narrows.

  Behind Limestone Ridge the fleeing thieves turned north and Rob thought they must be crazy. The tracks were fresher. He guessed they were made only a little before daylight. At this rate, he would catch up by mid-afternoon.

  He topped Buffalo Ridge not a half mile above his house. He followed into the woods behind the barn and saw where his "stolen" horses had stood for an hour or more. The thieves had left not a track and the horses were gone again. He moved to the road guessing what he would see. The "stolen" horses stood in their pasture with the gate up, as though they had never been gone.

  He got off his horse and walked over to them. Each wore a dunce cap with holes cut in for their ears.

  Getting madder by the second, he looked up at his porch where the two boys sat innocent as owls, although Teddy appeared just a mite nervous about things. Amy stood behind them struggling to hold back her laughter.

  Chip said, "Hey Pap? Did you know today was April first? That's April Fool's Day, Pap! You don't suppose them Elbedritches we hunted one time took to riding our horses around do you, Pap?"

  Rob ground his teeth, but he couldn't complain. He guessed he had asked for it. Still. . . Making a man ride all over creation carrying a rifle—and a tomahawk, for Lord's sake. He wasn't sure he wasn't real mad.

  The humor of it began to reach him. He laid the rifle aside, drew the tomahawk and let out his best war whoop. He headed for the porch and muscled himself up. Amy peeked laughing from the doorway while the two boys leaped to safety and scampered beyond reach.

  "Elbedritches, is it? Unsaddle that horse, you Elbedritches! Then, rub them down good. Then, take the rifle and pistol and fire them both. You can do a little shooting if you want to. Then clean the guns real good. He dropped the pistol and his pouch to Chip and heard them whooping away.

  He hugged Amy, slapping her bottom lightly. "Were you in on this, Ami-ta-chena?"

  She answered in Delaware. ''Would the faithful squaw hide thieves from her warrior?" Then, in English, "No Rob. I thought it sort of funny they didn't even ask to go along, but I never suspected until they brought the horses from the woods. Those poor dears, they were up all
night for this joke."

  Rob heard the rifle crack and excited voices came from the creek. He cocked an ear. "Maybe they got one of those damned Elbedritches with that shot." Amy joined his rueful laughter.

  +++++

  Chapter 25: 1846

  Chip Shatto encountered the soldiers near the Bark Tavern. Their uniform buttons glinted a long distance off and he rode down Mahonoy Ridge to see what it was that flashed in the hot July sun.

  There were two soldiers, a young Officer, who rode ramrod-straight, and a middle-aged Sergeant, weather-beaten and travel-stained until his texture blended uniformly with that of his horse.

  Chip found the Lieutenant a remarkable sight. Bright metal shined all over him and even his long saber scabbard was polished to parade glitter.

  Chip straightened a little as the soldiers neared, and hearing Teddy clattering down the ridge to catch up he wished he had ridden alone, so for once he wouldn't be disgraced by a little brother tagging along.

  The soldiers pulled up and the young Officer's teeth flashed in a smile as bright as his buttons. He said, "Good morning, young man. I trust Bloomfield is just through this gap?'

  Used to being called, "Boy," Chip became instantly fond of the sparkling young soldier. Still, he didn't miss the thorough scrutiny of the Lieutenant's eyes. He guessed both the soldiers had figured him out pretty good, and he could see the old sergeant was listening to Ted coming through the brush.

  The Sergeant said something too soft for Chip to hear and the Lieutenant's eyes shifted for just a second. Chip figured he was taking in the Shatto arrowhead brand on his horse's flank.

  Ted clumped into view holding his reins up in the air like a Sunday rider instead of letting his arms rest easy the way Pap had showed him a hundred times. If they had been alone, Chip would have told him real quick, but they had learned from Pap that no Shatto put another down in front of outsiders. He would remember to tell Ted later on.

  The Officer greeted Ted solemnly, calling him, "Son," which Chip figured was a lot less than "Young Man." He saw the Lieutenant sidle his horse to get a look at Ted's brand and began expecting that the soldiers had more than a casual interest in Shatto horses.

  With his bright smile the Lieutenant said, "I see that you ride Shatto horses. Are you Shattos and could you direct us to the Shatto place?"

  Chip identified both he and Ted. The Lieutenant took the time to shake both their hands, which Chip found quite elegant, and which made Ted squirm and look down.

  Yes, they could in fact take them to their home because it was time to head back anyway. They were working their horses, so they hoped the soldiers wouldn't mind moving a little fast. The soldiers were willing.

  The Shatto boys rode hard. The Lieutenant guessed their ages as only about eleven and maybe eight or nine years old, but they sat their saddles as though grown to them and rode without flourish, as certain in their movements as the best he had seen.

  The boys pulled up on Limestone Ridge because the cavalry mounts were lagging and blowing hard. The Shatto horses seemed little affected. The Lieutenant was impressed and said so. The older boy nodded acceptance and said, "Yep, we raise good horses. These are not quite ready yet. They're tough enough, but they haven't learned all their lessons." The Lieutenant thought that remarkable, but Chip led off again and he had to wait to learn more.

  Rob welcomed the soldiers to their home. The Lieutenant, accustomed to social graces, fell into easy conversation with Amy and Widow Oakes. The Sergeant was uncomfortable and quickly made excuses to go with Chip to look at horses.

  Lieutenant George McClellan was fresh from West Point with his first assignment to the Corps of Engineers. He considered himself exceptional in nearly every way and intended to go far in life. He had seen a Shatto horse, and where others merely looked, George McClellan investigated. A proper horse was as essential to a soldier as a gun, and West Point Cadet McClellan had filed the Shatto name and place in his mind for later attention.

  In May, war had been declared with Mexico. Newly commissioned Lieutenant McClellan expected the war to be a first step on his rise in the military service. As an Officer, he could provide his own mount. The prancing show horses of the peacetime service were not for him. He expected to fight and ride for his life. He anticipated short rations and exploding shells. He needed the right horse.

  After a time Rob excused himself to attend to other matters and the soldiers came together near the barns. Finding themselves alone. McClellan said, "Well Sergeant, what do you think?"

  The Non-com whistled softly through his teeth. "Whewy, Lieutenant, that Shatto's a hard one. Big as he is, with that peg-leg and all, he'd make a grizzly turn tail. I seen others like him out on the plains and in the mountains. They're square shooters as long as you play the game. Cross 'em and they will put you under in a wink."

  The Sergeant rubbed his chin reflectively, "Fine talkin' gentleman for all that. Been to school somewhere and that ain't common even in these parts, much less out in them Rocky Mountains. Special sort'o man, Sir. I'd put stock in what he has to say,"

  "Agreed, Sergeant! What about the horses?'

  "Well now, they're somethin' special, too. Most wouldn't look outstandin' on parade. They're about like what them boys was riding.

  "On the other hand, they got the look o'never wearin' down. Young Chip claims they'll live on grass and grow strong. They ain't flighty. I made a few noises to shake 'em up but they just looked interested. They'll bear lookin' at, I'm figuring."

  It was Rob's pleasure to show their horses, but buyers needed to know what they were looking at. A man who just wanted a horse to ride around didn't need a Shatto horse, and Rob would not sell him one. He explained his ideas over Amy's lunch, where they could relax and think about what he said.

  "I had a horse run off on me at a bad time along the Arkansas." Knowing the river, the Sergeant nodded. "I learned then that a horse should stand ground hitched and come to his owner's whistle or call. Our horses are trained to do that.

  "I will add here and now that if we let you have one of our mounts, you will have to stay three days while you and your horse become acquainted.

  He waited for McClellan's acceptance before continuing. "We are breeding and training horses for the western mountains and plains, but I expect they would make exceptional cavalry mounts as well. Frankly, with lives depending on horses, I can't figure why the Army hasn't trained their animals better. Maybe they will come to it in time.

  "Now, our horses can be mounted from either side or vaulted onto from the rear. You can roll up bareback or mount straight up like a soldier. They will carry double and pull a travois. They will answer to bit and bridle, to a hackamore, or just to knee pressure. We've taught them to lie down and stay there. You can ride backwards and shoot over their rumps. Drop a rein and they will stay until they have to have water."

  He paused to sip his own water glass and enjoy the gleam in the soldiers' eyes.

  "Our horses won't panic over snakes, snapped blankets, or gun shots. Unfortunately, we haven't found a way to teach them to ignore grizzlies, but I've never seen any horse that could stand to grizzly scent.

  "While all these things are good, and might come in real handy, our breeding and endurance training are most important. We've spent about fifteen years developing horses that are quick, but that can travel without rest or special grain long after most would have laid down and died. These horses are sure-footed as mountain goats. They're cross-country horses. They don't need roads and they can thrive on a grass diet."

  George McClellan held up his hands in mock surrender, "Mr. Shatto, I'm sold! I've been sold since I saw a Shatto horse two or more years ago."

  Rob chuckled, "All right, George, let's go look at horses."

  There were six geldings that Rob felt were ready. They brought them together in a corral for looking over.

  "You'll note they are all geldings, Lieutenant. A mare can be just as good but her smell can attract stallions just when you mig
ht prefer not being noticed. A stallion is no good at all. They get heated up for fighting or loving, when those things aren't on your schedule. If you've got a gelding, a stallion won't even bother sniffing at him and mares like being around them. Geldings don't whinny at every horse going by either.

  McClellan picked two horses, but could not choose between them, so they all mounted up with Chip riding McClellan's second choice. Rob led them through rough country at a wild pace. Chip and the old Sergeant got into the spirit of things and went smashing along, picking their own paths and trying to get ahead of the other. McClellan stuck to Rob like a burr and Rob recognized another real horseman.

  They rode home at a slower pace, the Lieutenant riding his final choice. They talked horses and equipment. Rob thought the time might come when horse soldiers would use pistols more than sabers. McClellan agreed, speaking of the multi-shot cylinder guns Samuel Colt was now making.

  McClellan had an idea about saddles that Rob liked. In the Army, a soldier might change horses often and saddles quite regularly. That made a need for a simple, lightweight saddle that would fit any horse and any rider. McClellan's scheme called for a model all cut away where a horse's backbone fit. He hadn't worked it all out yet, but Rob thought the young Officer was thinking good.

  They worked some with the new horse. The animal ignored the Lieutenant's slashing and glittering saber. Rob understood that a cavalryman's reins had to be knotted together lest one fall and the horse stop in the heat of battle. He mentioned that the mountain men, and most Indians who used two reins, just stuck the reins in their teeth and rode with their knees, but he expected that wouldn't work for the military.

  The soldiers stayed four days. McClellan left riding his Shatto horse. The Sergeant trailed the extra Army horse and looked longingly at Rob's geldings, but a Non-com did not provide his own mount.

  Rob and Amy rode a few miles past Bloomfield with the soldiers. McClellan had business at the Carlisle garrison, but Rob would not see him again.