River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1873-01-24

almost against his launches At this
juncture sprang TO saddle and joined in
the chase. As soon as | was within
speaking distance, was accosted with
the following words: IIullo, Cap want
to help catch that buck ?" "Yes,n | an
swered, al would like to be in at the
death.D "All right, follow on. We
want 10 drive him down TO the river, so
it would lie handler to get to the hacien-
da for we expect the Christiana up the
river to-day with load of supplies for
the ranch. And we could PIT him right
aboard My attention was now drawn to
the other horeeman, who had been riding
some fow PAGES off TO the right. He loos-
ened his grasp on the brole rein, and
commenced getting his rata ready for a
cast. As soon as the horse felt the rein
slack, he spraDg forward at double his
former pace. A few of those gigantic
bounds and he had left the dogs in the
dogs in the rear, and was close upon the
now doubly frightened buck, which was
striking in vain to hold its own. He Of
the RATA, whose name, as | was told by
one Of the other horsemen, was Jim Cru
well, now dropped the rein, and it hung
loose on Charities shoulder. lie whirled
the RATA around his head preparatory to
launching il upon the horns of the quarry
for a moment the rope left his hand, and
lowering over the mead of the buck set
lied down upon his horus. As soon as the
horse saw the success of the cast, he turn.
ed suddenly to the left, stopped short, and
braced himself for the coming jerk. The
elk, more terrified than ever at feeling the
rope on his horns, was bounding down a
slight deeliyity at terrible pace, but as
he was in the midst of one Of his gigantic
leaps, :he rope frightened, and he was
thrown complete somersault and was
left sprawling on the sward, while the
horse never stirred from his tracks. Be.
fore the animal could regain his feet the
dogs were upon him, but they were COM
manded to keep of, and the PROSTATE buck
was allowed to get up, and with pecu-
liar snort, and with stamp that made all
the joints Of his ponderous leg crack, the
elk lowered his bristling antlers and went
for " Jim. This was just what was want
ed of him. Gruwell spurred his horse to.
ward the river, and the elk followed in
hot pursuit, thinking, no doubt, that Jim
was trying to escape his wrath, and as
determined he should not On they went
toward the river we followed close behind,
When Jim arrived at the river bank, he
sweryed suddenly from his course, and
tumbled the elk on the very edge of the
water, where he was dispatched by one of
the men, whom Jim called Colonel Casey.
| now received cordial greeting and
an invitation to dine with them. We
turned our horses loose 10 feed, and made
each others acquaintance over elk steaks,
in true "49' style. My new acquaint-
auce' names were James Gruwell, Colonel
Casey, and - Blair. They had gone out
from Homocelly Bannho for some sport,
and this was the result. They were socia-
BILE, coed hearted fellows. but Casey and
Blair seemed to have mutual ill-will;
they were surly and cross in all they had
TO say to each other, and ! noticed that
each eyed the other with a look Of distrust
and hatred. At length, when the elk
steaks and all the small talk, as well as
we'll as sporting had been discussed, Blair
got up and strobe out toward the horses,
and presently saw him stoop down and
pick up something from the ground that
glittered in the sunlight. had noticed i
before, but though it was broken wills.
ky bottle, of which there were many
scattered over the plain, having been left
there by miners and others, who, constant
ly passed that way, lie examined it
carefully, and then turned back toward us,
bearing it in his hand
Il wonder what Blair has found ?n
queried Gruwell.
" An abalone she'll, reckon he is al.
ways gathering and examining such
things would be satisfied if he would
confne his attentions to geological re-
searches and let me and my affairs alone,'
answered Casey.
"What injury has he done you 2" asked
Orwell
4" lie has injured me in a way that
nothing but his foul life can cancel. BE.
fore he came into this valley with his pol.
ished manners and pretty lace had the
undivided attention of F. C.. but things
are different now, as you know By this
time Blair had reached us, bearing in his
hand areyolver, heavily gold ana silver
mounted, and ornamented; but it bore
traces ofhaving long been exposed TO the
elements its barrel and cylinder were
furnished and filed with sand, which
would have taken long time to accumu-
late there. As soon as Casey saw it, he
arose to his feet and exclaimed, "ilallo,
Blair where did ysu come across my PTS
tol 2 | lost it the day before yesterday
while in the chase of an antelope, and had
intended to 60 and look for il to-day, but
as you have saved me the trouble, | will
just thank you and take possession"
"Not quite so fast, Colonel. This is
not your pistol, for you say you lost yours
the day before yesterday, and this has