The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-01-17
JEFF DAsON's WILD RIDE.
Dashing Bareback and Almost Naked
Through the Ranks of the Redskins.

From the PHILADELPHIA Press
DENVER, Dec. 26.-If in those days any
of the boys had been asked to pick out the
coolest and bravest member of our wild,
woody gang, almost any one would have
been selected before JEFF Dason. Gentle.
smooth-voiced, freckle-faced, and red
headed, our horse wrangler was chiefly re-
markable for bis love of the caballada (horse
herd) over which he had charge. Every
morning sunrise saw JEFF swing to his sad
die and drive the band to Cajou Canon, and
sunset saw them rolling the dust back to the
big corrals. 1t was only five miles to Caiou,
but the Apaches had raided the ranch itself,
and Jeffs position was no sinecure. So it was
that one glorious August morning, just as
the sun came blinking lazily up over the
great eastern plains, jeff and the band
started for the grazing grounds.
In among the mosquitoes few dauntless
songsters were protesting against another
day Of Arizona sun, and the earth was
trying to smile in spite Of the fact that
another fourteen hours of sitting, gasping
heat was at hand. Across the broad, white
alkali fat swung the band raising great
lazy clouds Of the pungent dust, and finally
rounded tho canon point, out of sight 1t
was cool in Cajou, for the cedar crowned
rock walls were untouched by the sun-kiss
night still fingered lovingly over the green
grass carpet and along the redrock walls
The forenoon passed like other forenoons
with jeff the horses drank, grazed, or lay
down, while the watcher played mumblety-
peg or gambled with four pebbles against
an imaginary opponent for fabulous sums,
or dozed with his hand on his horses picket
rope. About O'Clock JEFF discovered some
pinon trees on top of the canon walls, and,
I'D MI -
ceeded to investigate the condition of the
nuts. 1t was a hard climb, but after he
had reached the top and found the pinons
would be sticky for month to come, he
lay down to gaze on the long, level stretch
of plain below.
Perhaps he lay thus fifteen or twenty
minutes, when he saw something that
brought him to his feet, wide awake. OF
to the southwest, about two miles away
from the mouth of Cajou, came five mounted
Apaches, riding slowly toward him. With
beating heart JEFF watched them until the
point hid them from view, saw them come in
sight again at the broad mouth Of toe canon,
watched them as they stopped and examined
his horses tracks, and noted two diSmount
and start up the rocky point afoot, and the
others start across to take station at the
mouth and turn the horses when they came
down, away from the ranch. Then he started
down the bluff slipping, sliding, jumping and
cinging, until he reached the meadow
below, bruised and painting, but resolute.
To escape without his ponies was not to be
thought Of. The Apaches stationed below
will finish the stampede that the two creep
ing up will attempt. But they shouldn't
have his beauties, his pets, every one Of
whom seemed doubly dear just then. Had
he not broken many of them, and did he
not know the faults and virtues of every
woody scamp among them, and was there
one in the lot that should be ridden, beaten,
starved, or saddle CALLED by those red
devils! No! No! Better death twice
over than that they be thus
abused. With quiveriug lip and sobbing
breath he draws old "Bony" close to the
wall, and with trembling hand loosens the
cinchs, throws the saddle into a rift of the
canon wall, and stripping off all clothing
save drawers, shirt and stockings, hurls
them after the saddle Slipping the bride
on ''Bony" aud throwing doubled blanket
over his back, he slides six or eight
cartridges from his belt, catches up the
revolver, and stands waiting. Presently
Broncho Duke raises his head from the
grass and snufs the air suspiciously, then
with wild snort and nervous stamp Of his
forefoot, he is of down the canon with the
band close following.
Right behind them are JEFF and Bony-
part, the old war morse, with nose nigh In
air. chatting under the close rein. Has he
not won many close race, and why should
his young rider strip and ride with only
blanket unless he meant to show these
young upstart colts that old Bony was
chief still So they race down the canon,
splashing through the ssepage pools, rat
Ting over the pebbly drifts, swishiDg
through the sage and mesquite bot
toms, and whirl from the can
on'S mouth like bounding boulders.
A startled yell from the waiting
Apaches, and Jef tightens his grip and digs
his bare heels in Bony's TANKS as the watch
ers sweep out toward the band. The horses
snort and shy but the old racer is stretch
ing his long legs along on the opposite side,
and Jeff's pistol is hurting a stream Of fire
that holds them steady. They race thus
perhaps seventy-five yards, but old Bony
crowds them 30 close that, bewildered and
confused, they break and sweep between
the bowling, astonished Indians and take
boe-line for the ranch.
As the victorious horse and rider whirl
past they recsive flight of arrows. Jeff
stopping two and the horse catching one,
which he notices by squeal and kick as
he thunders on after his mates. How old
Bony did enjoy that race with free rein
and the long, level plains before them
How he showed those conceited young
horses how horses ran In his dayi From
one side Of the band to the other he
q xxraavad u nth aarz laid FAT and avae