The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1880-11-11

cattle's hOots as they are gOaued onward.
Our animals begin to show signs Of
failing strength as we glide over the
country, and a more moderate pace Is
taken. After a short time another stripe
of green IS seen winding over the
prairies IN front Of US, and is lost to our
view at either end by distance. We
know that another half hour will bring
us to another one of those beautiful
prairie streams. When this creek Is
reached, the newness Of the trail Is moro
apparent, and the iaded condition Of the
animals Is plainly indicated by the
trampled grass and innumerable heavy
hOof marks on the streams brink.
They had been compelled to leave the
place by considerable force. As we once
more reach the level we can see directly
In front Of US a blurred spot in the dis
tanCe, which our accustomed eyes tell
US IS the game We are after. Even the
laded ponies seem to be infused with
new life, and away we speed as though
the race had just begun. We are gain
ing upon them quite perceptibly, and
can now see the thieves using their
cruel whips numerically. If there is
anything that will excite animals to
greater speed, or madness even, It is one
Of those long Texas cOw-whips, used by
a Texan droyer. When we are perhaps
a mile away from the cattle, and nog
near enough so that we can distinguish
the ponies from them, we note that we
are discOYered-fOr there they 90, those
two horsemen, off to the LETT Of the
e,A1 ,v,l e =
trying to reach the timber belt. The
cattle stop &C once, but no attention Is
paid to thom, for our party leaves the
trail h5re, and then commences one Of
the most exciting races that humans can
indulge in-One party racing for de-
stTUctive vengeance, the other running
for their lives, as they are aware that
only distance can save them. As we
have business to the northeast, perhaps
it will suit us better to turn off to the
right, and let those parties settle their
difficulties among themselves. But, as
We are moving away from the principals
OF this narrative, We cannot help but
watch the proceedings, for there Is
something strangely fascinating In the
tragedy being enacted near us.
The race is becoming more and more
exciting, and now, from where we are. Il
looks ike they were all together, but
they are not more than pistol shot away,
as we can tell by the little puffs of blue
smoke that shoot out fitfully from the
hOrsemen in pursuit, and which are also
returned in Ike by the pursued. Oc-
casiOnally we can hear the sharp report
of Ahn -,TgA0I1 s1s-L---E
seems now to Us that they are in one Un-
distnguishable mass Of horsehesh and
humanity. Before we get entirely from
view, we cast one last glance in the d.
rectlOn Of our late company, and We
know by their deliberate action, and
almost sOlemness Of their slow gait, as
they continue toward the timber, that
they have been successful
Two DAYS later our route lay in the
direction from which we had Travelled
with others In the lively pursuit Of
thieves as recorded above. When We
arrive at one Of those streams that are
so heartily welcomedby the prairie trav-
eler, we recognize the spot as the one
we had crossed last in our interesting
ride two days before. The place has its
same quietness that it had when we first
saw 1t, and the landscape, with the e1-
ceptlOn Of two ghastly cOrpses dangling
from the lower branch Of a cottonwood
tree (Which tell the tale that Texas JUS
tice had once more been dealt out), is
still the same lovely spot. Crows are
now cawing" " in the surrounding tree
tops, and the buzzards are beginning to
come. Shortly the putrid flesh Will all
disappear, and only the whitening bones
be left to tell the story Of a tragedy en-
acted Then some tender-hearted hu-
man viii pass by and gently bury the
bones from the sight.