Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1880-11-13
ONE NIGHT RIDE.

l anu p"lhiuH ouuiy OVho0AuiuR WIZ WIN
ing geon-shooting of the following day
The prize to be awarded } the victor in
the match was to be no less than 81 ,O0O
sufficient payment for days work, in
the opinion of everyone. Much did
wish that | was skilled shot; 81 would
| have been prize for me. | was, in the
phrase current in that country, strapped
fat on my back--dead broke" ! was
even hungry, aud knew not where to
turn for meal. AS | was gle )mi ly
meditating upon my future, remark Of
a new comer--a miner apparently
struck my ear. 80. 59a ts.
.Td give $40 if had my rife here that
I'm used to-! can't do much with
this .a't gIr,6.
Isprang to my feet in an 10 slant. Z
"Ten dollars, did you ssyPsI OK.
claimed. sPll bring it, Where is it !
You can't doit. | shall want II early
tomorrow morning. ksa,l4i.5& b.. i
Where is its' ~et, ,ts4,. .a5 e.r.
Down in the camp, at Silver Gulch
thirty miles from here te.i9
Thirty miles! Give me full meal, a
good horse, and you shall have your grnnn
at the time you wish @1~ " = "a
A hearty laugh greeted my proposal
The miner good-naturedly surveyed ME
from head to foot. Famished as was,
looked young healthy and strong.
| Wei, you shall have square IN cal at
any rate ... u.t-a..a
I insisted that l could accomplish
the feat, although the sun was then
setting, and soon after was given full
directions and o horse which | selected
myself, a wiry aud fiery mustang. Sixty
miles to be Travelled before o'clock on
the following morning. had set my
self o painful task but the $40 l was
to receive would enable me to look
about me for ten days, and something
might then, or before, turn up.
1 had come to Denver in hope of en-
ployment, which my education as q civil
engineer might grant me. l had found
FIVE surveyors ready TO offer their servi-
ces where one was wanted. had
gradually run out of funds. had chosen
my mustang we'll, as regarded his
endurance. trusted to my horsemsn-
ship to conquer bis wildness. His
wicked eye was proved not to belle his
spirit. Assoon as l mounted, disregard
ing any attempt of mine to guide him.,
he galloped OH as though possessed by q
Demon. He was proceeding in Dire
ton but little divergent from that which
| wished. Twas half content, and soon,
npon reaching an open plain, 1 forced
him to acknowledge his master. We
were now alone in an ocean Of prairie
grass. The moon shone cut bright and
full, and l guided myself by the stars.
Although | was in rather lawless
district, entertained no fears of bodily
harm from any passer might encounter.
indians and other marauding bands had
well nigh disappeared from the neigh
borhood. There had been talk Of a gang
of Mexican bandits month before, but
nothing had been heard of them since
I felt even ecstatic as we logged onward
at the easy trot into which my pony had
fallen after his first trial of speed. The
atmosphere was delightful; q gentle
breeze famed my cheek. / experienced
sense of freedom, of independence, or
loneliness, as looked about me over tho
vast plain. My pony showed no sign of
WEAKNESS, when We must have advanced
full twenty miles, maintaining an easy
pace. 1t was not until lights cleaned
in the distance that he dropped into q
walk, aud as we drew nearer them he
again voluntarily broke into gallop.
We reached our destination about
II o'clock, having travelled thirtyfye
rather than thirty miles, in Eve hours.
l soon found my employers partner,
although he had to be vigorously shaken
before he could be awakeued-I fancy
whisky had something to do with bis
profound slumbers; I stated my business,
and presented a written missive. !
obtained the rifle, breech loader OF
magnificent construction, valued at $500.
I secured, as we'll, some refreshment fol
myself and horse, and after an hours
delay started On my return trip.
My mustang appeared to think he had
done his duty for the night, and I found
it difficult to urge him from the camp.
At the expiration of two miles-indeed,
when my hand relaxed its pull on the
rein-his head would slowly return to
the camp, and but for wstchfulness on
my part l would have found myself
| thara again I was now in nnitf