Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1890-02-08
THE COW BOYS LAST RIDE
AN INCIDENT OF LIFE IN THE WILD
DAYS OF THE GREAT WEST.

AN tNCIO6Nl oF IffC Nv i'G WIZ
DAYS OF THE GREAT WEST.
ys0 Da.on saved the Horses-DasAing
Bare Back and Almost Naked Thrsagh
the Ranks Of Murneroas Apaches asd
bringing His Herd safe to the Ranch.
If in those days any Of the boys had
been asked to pick out the coolest and
bravest member Of our wild, wooliy
gang. almost any one would have been
selected before jeff Dason. Gentle,
smooth voiced, freckle faced and red
headed. our horse wrangler was chiefly
remarkable for his love of the cahaiiada
1ior~e herb over which he had charge.
Every morning sunrise saw jeff swing
to his saddle and drive the band TO Calou
canyon. and sunset saw them rolling the
dust back TO the big corrals. Ii was only
five miles to Cajou, but the Apaches had
raided the ranch itself, and Jeff's posi-
ton 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 ground.
In among the mesquites few daunt-
less songsters were protesting against
another dav of Arizona sun, and the
earth was trying to smile in spite Of the
fact that another fourteen hours Of sti-
fling gasping hea twas at hand. Across
the broad. white. alkali fiat swung the
band. raising great lazy clouds OF the
pungcnt dust. and finally rounded the
canyon point, out Of sight. 1t was cool in
Cajou. fer the cedar-crowned rock walls
were Untouched by the sun kiss vet. and
the fraerant breath Of restful night
still fingered lovingly over the green
grass carpet and along the redrock walls.
The forenoon passed like other fore
Moons with jeff. the horses drank. graz
ed or lay down, while their watcher
played munbletypcs. or gambled with
four pebbles against an imaginary OPP
pouent for fabulous Sims. or iu2ed with
his Land on his horses picket rope.
\bont } O'Clock JeE discovered some
pinion trees on top OF the canyon walls.
GitN " III piu W a.
Proceeded to investigate the condition Of
the nuts II WAS hard climb, but after
he had reached the top and found the
pnions wolld be sticky for "a month to
come. he lay down to gaze on the long,
level stretch of plain below.
APACHEs ON THE TRAIL
Perhaps he lay thus fifteen or twenty
minutes. when he saw something that
OFF 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 .-snw them come in sight
again at the broad mouth of the canyon
watched them as they stopped and ex-
amined 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 clinging
un'i' nc ''d'''ei III" nie''''" '"'"m
VI VS. On" p''".'o. ~ 'e''
thought Of The Apaches stationed be
low will finish the stampede that the
two creeping up viii attempt. Bat they
SHOULDN'T have his beauties. his pets
"'
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,na';na ~
THE RACE foh The RANCH.
kight behind them are Jei1 and Bony
part. the old war horse, with nose hlgi
IN the air. chaiing under the close REIN
Has he not won many close race, anc
why should his young rider strip and ride