The Arkansaw traveler. (Little Rock, Ark.) 1882-1???, 1888-11-24
THE COWBOYS DUEL.
BY II. +. UFFORD.

Among the cowboys OF the western
cattle ranches, riding, shooting, and
casting the lariat are feats of skill on
which all pride themselves, and in
which it is an especial honor to excel
A cowboys reputation, in fact, among
his fellows depends very largely on
his adroitness in these essentials to his
business Hence there is often warm
rivalry, and many disputes take place
among them as to their relative per-
sonal skill in these arts.
We found the little party of cow
boys, near which we had our camp at
the Sierra La Sal, no exception to the
rule. Between two of them-"Bron-
cho Bob" and "Charley," as they were
familiarity called-there had long been
both rivalry and jealousy as to which
was the better rider True, Bob had
for years worn with pride the nick
name "Broncho," bestowed on account
of a grand exploit in breaking a wild
horse, but Charley was great horse
tanner, too, and CONTEMPORARY dis
puted Bob's claim to the camp cham
.pionship.
One day, when we were all riding
together, the two fell to bantering
each other, as usual, on this old ques-
ton of skill. The herd boss, after
listening to them a while, broke in
with:
"Why don't you fellers settle this
thing some way or 'nuther N quit this
everlastin' jaw2 Fact is, they can't
neither of you ride with shucks, fur
all you make sech blow about it."
This TRADE turned the wrath of both
of them upon him, and after they had
abused him for few minutes. he said,
winking aside to the others: Well,
never mind me / know can't ride
18th you fellers, but Tve got an idee-"
''Know an idee when you see it?"
"Hold tight to it, fur fear you'll
never git another" they chaffed him.
"Well, was always too ginerous
fur my own good, an Pm goin' to
split this idee up, an divide it among
you tellers, SOS to let you see, fur
wunst in your lives, wat kind of a
lookin' thing an idee is."
GAIL right; trot FER out"
"Better rope it, SOS 'twon't git
away frum yep
"Handle it keerfull it might kick p
"No danger; faint big enoughw
"Don't fotch FER out too sudden
might skeer the hosses"
"That idee must be mighty lonely,
rattlin' aroun' there in your skull all
by itselfl"
"Well," said Little, when this storm
of rude wit had died away, "my idee
is fur you fellers to ride dooel."
"Ride a dooel? Wat d. We mean?"
"Why, let each OF you ketch the
widest, fiercest steer he kin git his
lass on ter morrer, m then mex day
let Bob take the one Charley ketches,
m Charley take Bob's m ride i'm, N
whichever sticks on longest, he's the
champion, m t'other un keeps his lip
buttoned fur the rest o. the season.
What d. ye say?"
"BueaO! Good enough p cried both
in breath.
aye kin each choose q retire., m
them two kin choose jedge."
"All rightw cried Charley. sPll
take the parson for my referee"
Little Billie" referring to me, q
nickname Of Little's, "'s good enough
fur me p chanted Bob.
80 the match was made to be ridden
the next day but one, and Little and
were to arrange all details.
"But," objected, 81 don't know
anything about the duties of referee.
What am supposed to dor"
"Why, eff we git inter row, you're
to decide In favor of your man, m Pm
to decide in favor o. mine, an then
the jedge, he's to settle it," Little ex-
planned.
"Why not let the Judge settle 1t at
once, then2n
"Wall, 1t don't look en- Of there was
much use fur ref frees, but that's the
way they do at the races at Sanity Fee,
20 I reckon it's all right. Who'll we
have fur ledger"
"Don't care; name him yourself"
How'll the cap'n, my
brother John,-"dof"
"He'll suit me well enough. Is the
match to be ridden under saddle OF
bareback?',
SADDLE, reckon; amt no man liv-
IN cud sit steer two minutes bare
back; skin 3 too loose.n
aBridles?D
HWe-e-ll-ll, no; more fun fthout, ]
reckon. Might tie = piece q rope ia
the horns to hold on by.s
~sxSpursls
0f eoarss, want the thing lively,
] e s