Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1884-12-26
A COW CHASE.

W
long and five miles in width at its lower
end, lies between two outlying spurs of
the Sierra La Sal. Near the upper end
of it, where the concave of lofty bluffs
walls it round, our little party had made
q permanent camp, intending to remain
for several weeks, since the locality fur
nished in abundance those four requisites
OF camping-ou out excursion, namely,
grass for the horses, game, wood and
good water.
Three miles below US party of cow
boys were in quarters at . dug !"
and another squad of the same " outfit, y
had their camp at the lower end of the
valley; while between them ranged
their cattle, some thousands in number.
We had been living on purely veni-
son diet so long that it had quite lost its
relish, and had become distasteful. in
fact; such at least was the condition of
the writer's palate. So one morning.
after we were fairly settled here, de-
termined to ride Gown to the camp of
the cattle men, and see whether they
could he induced to sell US a bit of fresh
beef. Their dug-out was in the side of
the bluff, and few yards away were the
corrals and branding pens. Riding up
to the door of the dug out, I shouted:
"Hullop'
"Hullo yourself" came promptly
from the interior; and Immediately the
doorway was filed by STOPPING figure,
which, as it Strengthened itself to its full
height, proved to be one of the finest
looking men | ever saw. He was six
feet four inches in stature, powerfully
built, with q frank, manly face and clear
blue eye. This was William Little. or
Little Billy as he was sportiyely
called, "boss of the outfit" and part
owner of the cattle.
"MOrnin', stranger!" he said, cheerily
as he came into the light.
"Good- morning, replied. 81 rode
over to see if you could sell us some
beef"
''Sell you some beef2 No, sir! you
can't buy no beef of this outfit.n
The reply took me aback: but though
the refusal seemed abrupt and ungra-
ciors, yet the tone in which it was de-
livered was 50 hearty that ! ventured to
ask:
why not2"
"Well, we amt in the habit of sellin'
beef to strangers. Thar's two-vear-
old hangin' up down thar at the corral.
Cut off what you want and take it along.
but don't never offer to pay scow-man'
for beefl'
But | would much rather pay you for
1t. There arc half-a-dozen of us at the
camp up there
Don't care if there's two dozen Of
YOU"
And wen be here a month or
more''-
Don't care if you stay six months. "
'And we'd like to make regular ar
rangements"-
Regular tiddlcsticksl Here, you wait
minute. " and striding of toward the
corral, he returned with quarter of
tender young beef on his shoulder.
There, tie that onto your horse, an
when it's gone, come an git sfl.9 more.
We allus keep critter hanglh up; an
II we amt here, just help yourself"
There was no resisting his blunt kind
ness, so rode off with the beef. but. to
be even with him, came back the next
day with deer that Ihad shot.
ssTankeep' said he. as tu1nbled II
from the saddle. ssVen'zun's nifty good
eatin', an we don't git much Of chance
to hunt. IF you kin spare little of
that now and then, I'd like to buy some
from you. .
well, we amt in the habit of sellin'
venison TO strangers. When that's gone.
come an git some more. We allus keen
: critter hangin' up, an ef we amt
there, just help yourself. But don't offer
to pay hunter for deer-meat.
He laughed IS quoted his own words
Il the day before, and from that moment
VIE were friends.
Little sid ], one DAY. q ~ vera