The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1880-11-11
Two TEXAS TALES,
BY ARvIDE o. BALDWIN.

L.
The scene Of the events that hap
pened in this part Of our story is in that
part Of Texas where Justice is dealt out
spasmodically, but when the people do
attempt to do Justice the scales arr. bal
anced at once, and any intermissiOn OF
ordinary business is resumed like the
tying Of a knot in a broken string. No
doubt but the reader will recognize the
locality at once. Stretching out before
our vision is a beautiful landscape, and
such another can only be found In Texas.
The prairie extends as far as the eye can
reach, and farther, and we see along the
water courses ribbOn-like belt Of tim
Der, which, in this spring morning, with
its lovely hght-green foliage, gives the
landscape before us a wonderful look of
beauty and freshness. This spot looks
to the behOlder as though it might be
the garden spot of the world, for the
soil is deep and rich, and, as a conse-
quence, the vegetation luxUriant.
The grass is waving gently by the
mild winds of the south, and everything
puts the lOOker-On IN ecstasy over the
beauties of this country. Near us, on
the right, is a large herd of those pecul-
lar Texas cattle that can be so easily
recognized by the people who are famil-
lar with their appearance wherever they
may see them. OFF to the left, and,
perhaps, a mile away, you can see o
herd Of almost wild, unbrOken ponies.
Some are scrubs of but little use to
mankind, while others are fne-lOOldng
animals, and if properly sUbdued would
make noble teams. Flowers are in
bloom, and here and there are patches Of
natures freaks Of floral beauty.
Directly in front Of us we see coming
at a brisk sailoP couple of horsemen.
They are SO far away that it Is impOssi-
ble to recognize the parties providing
we had known them before. As they
come nearer we are convinced that they
are strangers, and when we see their OBJ
ject we are thankful that they are such.
Without espying us they cut out about
100 head from the large herd of cattle,
and, driving them at a half trot, head
for the nearest point In the Indian Ter
ritory,
We are dumbfounded at the quick
ness Of action and audacity of the
thieves (fOr now we know them to be
such), and hardly know what to do Un-
der the circumstances, but believe that
it will be best for us to start toward the
ranch to which the cattle belong and
notify the owner Of the theft Of his prop
erty. As we move off we give another
glance at the retreating Cattle-thieves,
and see that they are now away perhaps
two miles, and we observe that they are
running the stock at a stampede rate,
and making astonishing speed. Ten
miles Of hard riding Is done by Us, and
the ranch Is reached, and the ranchman
informed Of his loss. In an almOst-in-
credIbly short time the larger number
Of the ranch's cowboys are in the sad
die and riding at break-neck speed
toward the Territory; and we viii ac-
company them and see with what sue
cess they meet,
They ride at a pace that no other class
of horses can stand, and we are surprised
to see that even these ponies stand such
severe work. When we arrive at the 10
cality mentioned as the place occupied
by the cattle. now stolen, and see the
trail Of the cattle run of, the excitement
is intense, and the ponies are reined
toward the head Of the trail, and a more
rapid ride than heretofore is made. Five
miles are gided over, and no sign, other
than the newness Of the trail, is seen.
We now come to a beautiful little creek,
whose waters are rippling along over a
pebbly bottom. We can see that the
cattle have been allowed to refresh them
selves here, but we are aware that they
were not permitted 3 to overload with
water. They must yet be a great dis
tance ahead, for the drippings of the
water, as the cattle ran up the bank, are
nearly dried up, and, knowing that we
have a hard ride before US, we let our
animals have a few swallows of the cool
water, and we are once more on the
track.
When we rise out of the water-course
and reach the level prairie again we look
for the objects we are in search of.
Away off In the distance, in northwest
erly direction, we can plainly discern a
yellowish cloud rising from the plains,
which We know is dust raised from thu