The daily Cairo bulletin., 1882-01-07
A SWIM FOR LIF Ell
A Western Episode.

ly the remark addressed To him, but
replied, "Horses STOLE" and proceeded
on his way, his long spurs jingling al
every step.
The miner looked after him anxious
ly, and when he had disappeared down
the hill, turned towards the saloon, NUT
tering something about horse-thieves
and hanging, aud strolled, or as he
would have himself said, 'loafed' into
the bar, where an excited assembly was
gathered.
"Wa'all, they're gone clean away"
cried the owner of the missing ami
mails; "and my hosses nor donkeys
don't stray by nature. There's bin
some thieves around, you betp'
Like enough; but whose the mani
Howsomever, if we ketch him, gentle
men, we'll shoot him fair"
Give him a trial, and rope him.
that's the cure" said the owner. "And
now tew business. My treat, gentle
men. Drinks round, and then I'll fol-
low the tracks bit, and let you
Know.
Such an offer was not to be slighted.
The drinks" having been fully appre-
ciated by all present, at the expense of
their health and brains, the owner OF
the missing beasts departed to follow
the trail, which led towards the canon
up the river.
Ogden Smith, or "Soft'' Smith, as he
was not unusually called, had that very
morning taken his horses to water
downstream, and left them in a safe
place pending their disposal. Ogden
had been unfortunate in his prospect
ing. He was neither quick-witted nor
quiek-tempeyed, though ready enough
with his siX-shooter when circumstances
seemed to warrant its use. But for this
trait, Soft Smith would have been
stamped with strong variation OF the
term ''idot."
He followed the tracks mechanically,
and after about half a mile, finding
they still led up towards the hills, he
returned; and as he strobe back, breath
ing vengeance against his spoilers, he
noticed human footprints on the far
ther side of the trail-heavy boot and
spur marks. He felt inclined to track
these again, but knowing the trail
would lead to the river, then flooded
with melting SHOWS, he decided 10 re-
turn TO the camp and enlist the vigil
ants in his cause.
1t has never been correctly ascer-
tained why horse-stealing was then, and
may be still, regarded as a worse crime
than the taking of human life; but that
this was the case in the West is un-
doubted. Many rough digger was
permitted TO add 10 the notches already
cut in tue pistol-butt, but a horse-thief
was hunted down and executed sum-
mariy.
Notwithstanding a gathering storm,
the men in the saloon, as soon as they
heard Ogden Smiths report, deter
mined to do vengeance on the criminal.
The sufferer, meantime, met with much
sympathy, and dust (gold-dust,
which passed for currency was freely
shaken into Ogden's hat in the bar
room. The discussion as to who the
thief might be was waxing warm when
q voice cried:
''Reckon some Mexican's had hand
in this game
This suggestion was at once adopted,
and Bill, the miner, said:
"Aye, then | can show him. saw
him on the hill this morning. Did ye
notice any tracks?"
81 did" replied Smith, eagerly.
"Large boots, and spur marks, too.
That's the maur'
"We'll 90 for him, Who knows his
place?'
Several present did, and one man ad-
ded:
Hes mighty quick shot, you may
depend"
''We're more of us than him." was
the answer of the leader. ale can't
fix us all. Now, gentlemen, we must
proceed reg lar. Panel a jury, if you
please; but there is no use in wasting
time
The jury was quickly chosen, and in
order to avoid unnecessary delay, hors-
es we're brought out, aud the whole
party rode through the driving rain and
tempest TO the Mexicau's hut
The door was burst open, and before
the surprised occupant could use his
weapon he was seized and bound, and
thrown helpless on the floor. Before
he was disabled, however, he managed
TO seize and retain small knife, which
he thrust into his sleeve.
To his questions he got but scant re-
plies. The jury were ushered into q
small shed, aud told to deliberate upon
their verdict, after few questions had
been put to the criminal, who protested
his innocence.
One bystander, more humane than
the rest, volunteered TO act AS prisoner s
advocate, and addressed the jury as q
matter of form, for he knew the strang-
er's doom was sealed.
After n pause the jury again retired,
and in few minutes tho self-appointed
judge, knocking at the door, asked for
the verdict TO tho astonishment OF
the bystanders, the answer was "Nol
| guiitg."
A cry Of Joy escaped the Mexican; III
exclamation of disappointment was
vented by Ogden Smith. But the judge
drew his revolver, and beckoning tc
the committee, replied calmly;
"Gentlemen, You'll have TO do better