Woodville Republican. (Woodville, Miss.) 185?-current, 1889-01-05
THE COWBOYS DUEL.
Novel Way in Which Two Dispu-
tants Settled Their Differences.
rhey Ride Two Wild. Fiery Steers for the
Championship with UnsatisfactOry
and Damaging Results
Declared "a Draw.

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 cowboys,
near which we had camped at the
Sierra La Sal, no exception to the rule.
Between two Of them-"B "Broncho Bob"
and Charley" as they were familiarly
called-there had long been both ri
valry and jealousy as to which was the
better rider. True, Bob had for years
worn with pride the nickname
"Broncho," bestowed on account of a
grand exploit in breaking wild horse,
but Charley was a great horse-tamer,
too, and contemptuously disputed BOb's
claim to the camp championship.
One day, when we were all riding
together, the two fell to bantering each
other, as usual, on this old question Of
skill. The herd boss, after listening to
them awhile, broke in with:
"Why don't you fellers settle this
thing some way or 'nuther, m quit this
everlastin' jaw? Fact is, they can't
neither Of you ride wuth shucks fur all
you make sech blow about it."
The 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; Il5now l can't ride 18th
you fellers, but I've got an idea"
"Know an idee when you see itP"
Hold tight to it, fur fear you'll
never git another" they chaffed him.
"Well, / was always too ginerous
fur my own good, an I'm goin' to split
this idee up, an divide it among you
fellers, SOS to let you see fur wunst in
your lives, wat kind of lookin' thing
an idee is.
"All right; trot 'er out!"
"Better rope it, SOS 'twon't git
away from YER
Handle it keerful! It might kickw
mo danger; faint big enoughl"
Don't totch'er out too sudden;
might skeer the hosses!"
That idee must be mighty lonely,
rottlin' round there in your skull all
by itselfw
We'll" said Little, when this storm
of rude wit had died away, ''my idee
is, fur you fellers to ride dOoeI."
Ride dooelP' What dye meanP'
"Why, let each of you ketch the
widest, fieriest steer he kin git his
lass on te-morrer, N then nex' day let
Bob take the one Charley ketches, m
Charley take Bob's m ride 'em, N
whichever sticks on longest, he's the
champion, N 'tother un keeps his lip
buttoned for the rest of the season.
What dye say?"
"BuenO! Good enoughr' cried both,
in breath.
"Ye kin each. choose a ref'ree, m
them two kin choose a jedge."
"All rightr' cried Charley. "I'll
take the parson for my referee"
Little Billie,n referring to me,
nickname Of Little's. "'s good enough
for mep chanted Bob
So the match was made to be ridden
the next day but one, and Little and /
were to arrange all details.
. "But," / objected, "Idon't know any
thing about the duties OF a referee.
What am I supposed to doPn
why, ef we git inter a row, you're
to decide in favor of your man. N I'm
to decide in favor o. mine, an then the
jedge, he's to settle It, Little OK
planned.
''Why not let the Judge settle it at
once. thenP"
"Wall, it don't look ez ef there was
much use fur refrees, but that's the
way they do at the races at Sanity Fee,
SO | reckon it's all right. Who'll we
have fer iedgePn
Don't care; name him yourself"
How'll the Cap'n"--meaning my
brother John-ssdoPn
He'll suit me well enough. Is the