The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1874-07-23

1t was about shutdown when the mel
reached Cherokee Flat and drove to tn,
door of the Buckeye Company's cabin.
Their partners had quit work and com,
up from the bar. They were getting sup
per, but for time discontinued tn,
work of frying bacon and baking slap
jacks to come out and ask 81. p" ant
companion how they came by the bi,
donkey.
In as few words as possible Jones
made them acquainted with the charac
ter of the beast. When he had finished
his account of the scene at the livery
stable, every man of the Buckeye Com
pany was firmly convinced that the biz
jack could "walk the log of Old Nicl
himself but mum was the word. No him
of the fighting qualities of the ANNA
was to go out of the cabin.
Presently Joggles, whose boarding
house was just across the street, espiet
| the Jack and came over to where he was
being unpacked.
A smile struggled about the corners Of
his mouth as he came.
| Walking up to the beast and eyine
him from stem to stern for time, Jog
giles said:
Purity good chunk of jack. Bin
"Wen,' said Jones, II don't know
We have him on trial. We may buy
him. He is big and strong, and seems
nice and quiet-may be trifie lazy"
Joggles, who seemed to be calculating
about how many mouthfuls he would
| make for Old PiZen, at last said:
"Well, yes, he seems rather quiet"
Having unpacked the jack, one of the
boys gave him slap with strap, as
much as to say: You are now at liberty,
old fellow; go off and enjoy yourself as
you please"
"Whatw cried Joggles, opening his
eyes in amazement, you amt going to
turn that jack loose here? The first thing
you know he'll poke of up to the flal
where Old Pizen is. Then he'll he a
dead jack as sure as you live! Why, he
wouldn't make mouthful for Plzen!'
"Well, don't KNOW" said Jones; " the
jack is very quiet old fellow, and
guess Old Pizen won't think him worth
bothering with. Besides, the chances
are that he will stay and pick about
camp-won't find his way up the flat al
all"
well, just as you please" said jog
giles, pretending some concern; but you
know what Old Pizen is!'
| "Yes, l know" said Jones; "but Pizen
is getting old. 1 guess he don't thirst fol
the fray as in his younger days.
| shouldn't wonder, now, if the old jack
were to whip HMM case they should
get together" added Jones, laughing.
"What!" cried Joggles, turning red
THAT blamed old jack whip Pizen! No,
much! I'll bet you $10O-yes, I'll bet
you $2O0-he can't whip one side of him
Come, now!"
1.-THE trouble u.s." said Jones, that the
jack is in strange place. He might not
fight. However, he looks as though there
might be some fight in him. If the two
ever do get together think he'll make it
warm for the broncho."
"You do, chg" said Joggles. well,
don't! Here-here, now-back up your
opinion or take water. Here's $500! I'm
willin' to jist let the animals alone-let
them find their way to each Other-and
I bet this $500 that when they do meet
Old Pizen whips-that he eats your jack
up alive! Come, now! Pixley, here, shall
hold the stakes. See me, see me! come
down! Two hundred goes that Pizen
whips!"
Thus urged, 81. p" covered the coin
in Pixley's hand, and once it was done a
better pleased man than Joggles was
never seen on the Stanislaus. He thought
he had the deadest thing in the world.
The bet made, away ran Joggles to tell
all the "boys" in the camp what dead
thing he had on Jones; always winding
up with: "Old Pizen'll chaw him up
chaw him up alive!" The last thing he
said to his dodgers that night before he
went to bed was: "Knowin' Pizen as he
does, Jones must be goin' crazy. That
iack'll be chawed up-chawed up alive!'
All the evening the jack remained
browsing about the camp, and the next
morning was still Understanding with
head down and eyes closed, dreamily
moving his ears and lazily switching his
scanty tail.
JOsgles smiled CONTEMPORARY every
time he looked at the old jack. Standing
on his porch, as the miners of the camp
passed ON their way down to their claims
on the river, Joggles facetiously inquired
whether any of them would like to back
THAT thar ferocious beast against Old
Pizen for another $2OO!"
At last all the men of the camp were
down on the river at work. About
o'clock in the morning one of the men of
the Buckeye Company. happened to 80
from the bar up to the bank OF the river
for something. A moment after, grinning
gleefully, he called out to those below
The impatient Joggles is going to bring
on the game. There'll be some fun be.
fore long; see him startin' the old jack
along up the valley toward the fiat. He's
on the sly, and is getting rather keen to
see that fightw
Watching Joggles, he was seen in the
edge of the timber throwing rocks to
urge the jack to move up streak OF
open ground that led to the fiat between
two groves of pines. Presently he came
back and seated himself on his porch,
getting up once in while and stretching
his neck to see if the jack was going in
the right direction. He was dying to
have the animals get together.
At last man who had climbed upon
the bank reported that the jack was not
to he seen, and that he had no doubt gone
over the ridge into the fiat.
All was now excitement among the
men, and two or three of them were con
stantly on the river-bank listening fol
sounds of the fray. Presently they cried
out that the battle had begun. All hands
fastened to the top of the high, steep
bank, whence was to be had fair view
of the open ground leading up to the
ridge, beyond which lay the fiat where
roamed the fighting horse. Although
half a mile distant q terrible squealins
and braying could be distinctly heard
cries of rage and pain from the contend
ing animals. A great cloud Of red dust
could be seen rising from the ridge. This
cloud, that told of the battle, moved t.
and fro; sometimes appearing to ap
proach quite near to the crest OF the
ridge, then again to recede. All thi.
time there was heard the most fearful
squealing and braying imaginable-some
times very distinctly, again more family
as the varying breeze waited the sounds
or as the scene of the battle shifted.
Looking toward the camp Joggles was
seen jumping up and down and running
frantically about, evidently intensely ex
cited. Soon he was observed to get {
ladder and mount upon the roof of hi.
porch, and thence to climb to the top o
/ IL Al 4 fr