The People's vindicator., 1880-11-27
A Tale Told in a Texas Cow.Rov,.
Camp.

IA ANSV AVlN III lcA0S VOWsKOVSa
Camp.
IT was clear moonlight night when
alter hard days "driye," and tho
herd Of wild horses had been pennad
the cowboys stripped their tired popje,
OF saddles and brides, and staked them
out to Craze on the thick mes1uit era,,
which tringed the bank of the San Der.
nardo.
After this duty had been attended to-
the cooking utensils were brought forth.
and soon the coffee pot was singing =
musical little song, and . leg Of fresh
calf ribs spluttering before the 6rS
The repast, though rough, was made
enjoyable by an appetite which only VIC.
lent exercise and pure air can give, and
after the boys had eaten until it became
necessary to mbuckle their six.shooter
belts. blankets were spread under the
branches of u live oak, which seemed to
s,.nd guard over the broad expanse Of
prairie, and they settled down fora
quiet smoke.
III tell you what, boys" said Ned Cur.
It's. who was one of the hardest riders
and best poker players west of the
Erazos, as he lit a cigarette, 1--WE are
going to handle some pretty rough
mustangs tomorrow, and If any of you
fellows want to show your fancy riding
you had better be fixing your flank girts
and rolls, because there are some un.
branded four-year olds in that bunch,
who are going to make you hum like
churn.dasher, and you'll have TO fork
'cm deep to stay in the saddle. There
is one in the pen that is aperfect picture
Of the mustang mare that sent Bill Hall
to the angels"
"Wasn't he some galoot from the old
States?" inquired one of the boys, turn.
ing over on his blanket.
Yes" "replied Ned, che was q long
tow-headed chap, greener than an Au.
gust persimmon, with legs shaped like
Il pair of hames."
"How did he happen to get killed,
Ned? Did the mare ilirt him little too
strong?"
eyes, that was the way Of it. You
see, he had just come from Georgy, and
had never been on the back Of q wild
horse before in his life, but be was
spunky with all of that, and wasn't
scared of any thing. One day, while
driving out in Nueccs County, we made
round up of all the horses in the range,
and after 'cutting out all that were in
the diamond p brand, the boys began
throwing some down and riding 'em,
just to see the wild devils 'buck.'
"Well, Bill Hall took darn fool no.
ton to ride one himself, and he picked
out Il little Roman -nosed mustang mare,
pure Spanish, and wilder than q cayote,
and got some Of the boys to help throw
her down, because he didn't know any
more about handling a lariat than 10
did about running !. prayer meeting.
"When the saddle had been strapped
on her and Bill forked it, she was turned
aloose, and the crowd stood back to see
the fun. Well, sir, that plug raised her
head, looked back, beloved couple ol
times, and then she lit into the prettiest
bucking ever looked at. stick to her,
Billy / yelled, but the only thing ne
could say was, whoa! Stop her, boys;
darn her old hide
"While he had his knees grlpped 70
her sides like q wise. and his hair stana.
ing like brush heap, the mustang
stretched herself out like a step.laddet'
put her head between her front leg,
and then, bringing herself together IKE
o rat-trap, she slammed Bill Hall again"
the ground harder than ever heard =
fellow hit before. When we picked nm
up one ear was jammed around to INC
back of his hcck, and, from the LOOK on
his face, we knew that he wasn't IonE
for this world. He fingered for a dsy
Or two, and we did all we could to ease
his pain, but one morning he motionea
for us to come to him, and as l kneIt oe.
side his couch and took his hand IN mlue
he said: 'Bcys, I'm going to pass 10 ~. ID!
checks, but amt going to shiver sooa' ;'
it, even if do die away out on . Pl%
rie, with no one but few tr,enuSs
around me. III have a big. broad oea
to rest in, and if some day you rlae
my grave won't you get down and think
Of me awhile?' .-v
"Well, sir, the boys-the orn,'{
cusses-were crying like women, anu ~ \
felt terribly shaken myself, out .,ss We t Ls
promised that we would, and tnea .;.t ~
raised himself a little, and IN ..;.s 's;.s
voice said: Ned, want you TO wII'v ,t
to nv mother and tell her that WASH
very dutiful son, but loved her ''''
the same ,A
"Ned,' he muttered so faint cousa s1s.
hardly hear him. don't tell my l1,n, ;nt"
when you write that | was sl'9 @ and
Heaven by a cursed mustang 'r 'r
with that he fell back. his grasp y" .h;: h
hand relaxed, and Bill Hall was on t"w t",s
earth no more, and when | though, ~" Wv
his mother would grieve 1t msu0 ~
feel weak in the knees. ,.,.e.
1--WE buried him, and JACK 'ouv os"se
who is something of a scholar 1ev, 1ern IN
he had a chance to 60 to school, "o"| W n
Bay Prairie, wrote on the headoosFu "
the grave:
WILLIAM HALL
GOT FALL,
Killed Il. Dead asa slug
I;y Texas Plug:
EOj.N IN GEORGi.
"1t always makes me feel bad ,,"~ wnen to.
think Of that poor fellow, and i,nps Nov o Of