Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1873-01-22
DUEL TO THE DEATH,


DUEL TO THE DEATH.
1t was early in the month of May, 1856
that I was standing in the shade Of a
monster oak tree. in tie nobleet of Cali.
fOrnia noble valleys, the great San Joa-
quin, enjoying It's refreshing shade after a
toilsome Journey Of some thirty miles, over
all arid PLAN, and under broiIing sun. |
had turned my horse loose, to crop some
| of the luxuriant dlagree which covered the
| plain for miles around. and caused 1t tC
look like well kept lawn. The plain
was covered with animated beings. There
| were lowing herds of half wild cattle, and
droves of wild horses, antelope and elk, in
the hazy distance. There was a eabatiada
of wild horses, and u herd Of stately elk
at a short distance from me, feeding by
/ the side Of placid lake, in fancied secur-
| ity The lake was characteristic of Cali
| fornia, which is so rich In all that is
novel and beautiful and over lis broad
bosom myriads Of wild water fowl were
scattered IN the greatest profusion There
was flock of stately swans, sailing to and
fro like a miniature fleet, and there were
geese, and ducks of many species and va
rious gaudy hues, naingli,lg together in
seeming peaee and friendship and on the
banks there were herons, cranes and other
water fowl, supporting themselves en- one
leg, while the other was drawn up, quite
out of sight, under their long grey plum-
| age, and their necks were drawn in, until
only their beatae tftFefe visible. 1 They had
gorged themselves on the fish which
swarmed IN the lake, and were now do8ing
until next meal time.
And there are focks of large grey
birds, nearly as tall as aaningoes5 stalking
along the margin Of the lake, ike sentries
on picket, There are the gruya, the wild
turkey of the Hispano American, and they
abound in North Mexico and California
| And high up III the air. the ea1I8 SCARED
and screamed, ant occasionally darted
down to the snrface of the lake after a
duck, or mayhap one of the fnny tribe,
and If successful, bore it off to his home in
yonder blasted eak tree in whose lop-
most branches you observe great mass
of dead wood
| stood gazing around tie for lew mo-
ments ON this lonely scene, and then at
the surrounding country. | remained
leaning against tree, lost III dreamy
reVerie. when all at once | vas aroused
by the deep baying of a hound, faint and
far of, yet clear and distinct. I started up,
and looked around to see whence came
the sound, I could see nothing but the
the horseE and elk were bounding away
over the prarie, my horse came whining
up to me in alarm, the gruyas had taken
10 wing, the eagle had ceased his scream
ing, and even the l!stiess storks had arous-
ed Themselves to listening attitude.
hear the bay again, it comes from the
north, lc ast my eyes ever the plain a
second time. | see moving figures there,
dImly outlined againss the distant horizon;
there are hor8emen-three of them.-in
pursuit OF something about as large as az
OK, and 1t Is running this way. The bay,
ing OF the hounds. grew louder as they
approached, until they themselves came
INTO view, | hurrledIy nlUunted my horse,
which is standing at my side, and then
wait so see the issue of the chase. The
animal approaches-a large elk-and
close behind the three horsemen ride in
eager pursuit. Two Of them are armed
with revolvers, while the third carries
colled up in hisshand long riata. They
are all admirably mounted, the Hrst Two
on large bas, while he of the riata be-
strides aAl large iron gray Arab. of sup erb
carriage, with long full tail, pointed at
the end and carried like the brush of a rum
nlng fox. A splendid animal to look upon
whose every movement was graceful, and
plainly showed a vast amount OF reserved
power.
Even while in gallop, his neck slightly
curved, and his proud figure displayed
against the smooth sward, his extreme
beauty called forth from me involuntary
expressions of admiration. 1t was obvious
this rider could overtake the elk whenever
he chose to do SO. His horse was still in
a gentle gallop, and although the others
were doing their utmost, be easily kept
abreast of them. His rider was tall
young man, of a peculiar athletic build,
and very handsome. He was dressed
after the Mexican fashion. That he was
true hunter was obvious, and his blue
eyes flashed, and his whole bearing was
that of one who keenly enjoys the chase.
The other two were middle-sized men, in
the prime of vigorous manhood; and
their dress, manners and appearance be-
spoke them men of the west.
The elk was heading almost directly to-
wards me, and in a few minutes he passed
me at lightning speed, with head erect,
and his wide spreading antlers laying back
almost against his h&unches At this
Juneture L sprang to saddle and joined in
the chase. As soon as | was within
speaking distance, I was accosted with
the following words: "IIulIo, Cap want
to help catch that buck ?" /" "Yes,2 [ an
swered, would hike to be in at the
death "Al right, follow on. We
want to drive him down to the river, SO
II would be handler to get to the hacien-
ia Tor we expect the Gbristiana up the
river II to-day with load Of supplies for
the ranch. And we could put him right
ABOARD" My attention was now drawn to
1he other horeeman, who had been riding
some t?w PAGES off TO the right. lie loos2
eheo hls. grasp on the briole rein, and
commenced getting his riata ready for n
cast. As soon as the horse felt the rein
slack, he sprang forward at douhIe his
former pace; A few of those gigantic
bounds and he had left the dogs in the