The Arkansaw traveler., 1883-06-16
A RIDE FOR LIFE.
Exchange


 Did ever tell you aoou, ,ha, Cali fo,nia venture If mine A ride for life may well call Ii. asked old Ma,or Ran- sym, as he settled himself back into the depths of large easy char. situated al the head of the mess table.
 The long. breezy hall was well filled by officers of the regiment. mostly young riea, who had seen bu; li,;.e active ser vice. and the "reminiscences ei the older gentlemen of the corpse were always eagerly listened 10 with respectful con- sIGera;ion.
 Well. < llay serve n wki.e a~ay 1T idle hal.-ho2r, and if you arc Al. disposed w.ll relate the cirtGgnsi.si!5es. The de- tails are ladeiioiy s,amoea upon my memory. ! can assure yog.
 The time horored resinen,al can cir cul4;ed aroun4 the ;a5.e. cgars were lighted. ana the naajas. clearing his throat. commenced:
 When California was frs, admitted into the union |, was tiled with more than it's quota of desperate characters. adhered for. al paf;s of the globe. iernaps the wors, elefnen:. the mos, tEeacnerors. tricky arlS. COW ardly. was the Mexican element-ha.f-breed Mexicans. O.. as they are more commonly known m the vernacu.ar Q. the country. G-easers {: and II Is with tha, particular class of yell !ow-skinned rascals that the burden of my yarn will principally deal.
 had been ordered by the depart men; to proceed to southern California 10 pay of the troops stationed at Los Ange- los-a most delightful spot. by the way. favored alike by heaven and nature. 1 had discharged ,he duty to the entire satisfaction of all concerned. and with accounts balancing to cen, took leave of the jolly old commandant. and. mounted on a rather sorry looking speci- men of an army horse, turned my back on the town. having slowed in my saddle bags about soo 900. mostly in crisp. rust ling bank notes. mixed up with more or less gold-more than wished there was before l go, through with IL
 Through ;he kindness of the com- manding officer had been furnished with an escort n he shape of two troop CTS. who. fully armed and equipped. rode behind me 10 guard Uncle Sam treasure from the ravenous paws of wandering desperadoes and vagrants who received of late alarming reinforcements to their ranks. owing 10 the gold fever which had broken oc,. and was carving every thing before !, in boundless wave of ex- citement.
 My destination was a camp situated in the mountains some fifty miles distant from Los Angeles. and as my troopers were thoroughly conversant with the way. gave myself no concern abou, the route.
 Al the close of the first days ride we did rot hurry at all) we camped in a de lightful orange grove. close to a rancho where band of horses were quietly grazing. looked a, them with longing eyes as they fnsked about on the open plain, more especially as my old hack. n addition 70 being mos, confoundedly harS under the sacdle: was already lame, aa1- ii. :acs. sS5ia; ready ;is knock under.
 he soldiers told ne that for S,o 1 could make selection oi the entire ranch. 4 Spania-d. courtly gentleman. ne, me. and immediately cpon my e-ranc being made known he had the animals corraied.
 The co,ec- of ny choice WAS a coal black sieed. shrce-ecariers blood. who by TO means. had becorle mixed with ir- ierlor sock. The horse was gentle. br; lacked training. having never been sub Jeet ,o the saddle. Hoseyer. as 1 wss an accomplished horseman. cared little fer that fact. The price vas paid. and ,hz, nigh, slep: in he Soaniard's hospi,a5le mansion. ~hiie one of his racqueTors sad cied The horse. whom l dubbed Prince. and with Mexican Ii: he behaved with the sseac,ness of veteran. was de- lighted, and ;ha, nigh. retired 10 my icxurious couch happy and conten,ed in mind and a, peace with all the world. 'Ei;h my P-ec:ors saddle bags carefully deposited or :he back side of my old fashioned bed never lost sigh, of ;hem-uPon Una, you may depend.
 Early the next morning was in the saddle, with my escort tro,ting in the rear. and rav.ng last adieu to the