Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1888-06-20
THE COWBOYS STORY.
How He and His Friend Were
Saved by a Mule.

One hot evening in the summer of
1877 the writer, with three other young
men, was camped on the bank of the
South Platte river some seventy miles
above the little station of Julesburg.
We had embarrassed the horses from
our big wagon, and picketed them out
to feed near the high stockado of SOL
itary ranch station. Over tho top of
the stockade posts the grass-grown
roofs of several adobe cabins were
visible. On the roof of one of these q
half-grown antelope kid was industri-
ously cropping the heritage, and by its
side lay another, screnely asleep, its
head thrown back over its shoulder.
Beyond the stockadc, and adjoining
it, was another Enclosure of several
acres, surrounded by II high board
fence; II large stock corral, in fact, in
which several ponies were standing,
lazily whisking away the flies, evil
IDENTIFY too much overcome by the heat
to make any further cXcrtion. These
and the antelopes were the only signs
of life about the place.
'Guess this ranch takes care of it
self, remarked one of the party. who,
ut that moment, was attending to q
skillet of vcnison steak over fire of
dry drift-sticks, which we had picked
up on the bank of the river Guess
old Cliff would stir up these fellows, if
he knew they all went of N left the
houses with couple of tame antelopcs
for guards.
On first hating for the night, we
had ratified at the gate of the stockade,
in hope that we might be let i'm and
given chance for fresh water at the
well; but the gate was barred inside,
and the premises were apparently de-
serted. We rather wondered ut that,
for we had heard of this ranch, and
knew it to be one of the "Cattle-King"
Clih's out-posts-a Ground up" point
for the east half of the great range
over which his thousands of cattle fed,
winter and summer.
But rs we sat down to our supper of
biscuits, steak, canned tomatoes and
coffee, we heard the big grtc of the
stockadc squeak on its hinges, and q
moment later there sauntcred out to us
tall strapping young fellow, in n
WOODEN shirt and buckskin leggings.
He had on his head -brimmed,
white wool hat, with red leather band,
and on his feet high-topped, high
heeled boots, at the counters of which
jingled pair of Spanish spurs.
There was also pair of big Colts"
In his belt. His wooden shirt was open
in front, the sleeves were rolled up to
the elbows, and the deep tan-color OF
his arms matched well the bronze OF
breast, neck and face. lie had the
biggest and licrcest of lNack mus
taches, and pair of sharp black eyes
to match il.
A remarkable figure, perhaps the
reader may think, but one that, with
some modification of form or feature,
will soon grow familiar to the camper
in the seattle country"
'1Iullo, fellows" said the specimen
cowboy, as he came up and leaned
his elbow upon the hind wheel of our
wagon.
"Hullo," said we; and then, i'm the
short, suggestive parlancc of the coun-
try, we asked: "EatP"
"You bet!" was the cheerful rejoin-
der, and the stockman flung himself
down into the circle about our oil
cloth, was helped to pint cup OF
coffee and some tomatoes, and helped
himself literally TO biscuit and fried
antelope.
Got nothin' but cold grub i'm the
ranch" he explained between mouth
fuls, "an' it's too mighty hot to make
fires now. Nobody here but me; boys
gone up on Lodge Pole to run in
strays. Ben asleep all the afternoon.
Ratified the gate, did ye? Wal, now.
j must he n snoozcr! Curis what risks
man'll take in this country. Now,
here's you fellows trailin' about all
alone, the four of we, an me here a
sleepin' alone in 'dobc, an six hun
drsd Cheyenncs turned loose on the
country abovel
'Fact," he said, coolly, noticing our
looks of surprise, not unmixed with
alarm. eyes, sir; runner come down
from the ranch above m warned me
Yesterday. They've Quilted one ranch
up there, killed cowman, m run off q
lot o. stock expect ON down here any