Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1890-08-09

little. breakfast Is over and the rolls
of blankets which had before been
scattered about on the ground arc now
In the wagon. The cook is hitching on
his four mules preparatory to journey
TO bunch OF timber which conceals q
spring, distant about seven miles and
whore 1t is intended the next camp
shall be.
This cook, like all good roundup
cooks, is great man and his favor is
much sought after. His wages are
about twice as large rs o cowboys, and
in his way and business he is supreme.
His duties are arduous, and besides
cooking for the whole outfit, extend to
hitching up and driving the four mules
which impel the chuck wagon. This is
done twice day, to noon and night
camp, the selection Of which camps is
performed by the range boss
All through the blistering, sun-burned
day, the bunch Of cattle, guarded by the
men mentioned, crawl slowly to the
north. Occasionally, at intervals, away
over to the right or left, small herd Of
cattle is discerned, and presently comes
painting up to join the main herd. The
f, owboy who brought them seizes on the
chance, and after copious drink at the
water barrel in the wagon, saddles .
fresh horse and rides away. So the
work, hard and driving on horses and
men alike, goes patiently on.
At night gently sloping hillside is
picked to bed the cattle on. The range
boss, assisted by the riders, who are all
come in by now, rounds up and stops
the herd, the horned members Of which,
first standing or slowly moving about,
at last lie down to sleep. The nine
riders are marked of into three guards
Of three men each-the first to ride the
herd until eleven o'clock, the second go
ing on until three o'clock and the third
holding the herd until morning.
1T looks like it might be a bad
night" says the range boss, 80 you alls
better ketch up and saddle your night
ponies and be ready to go on herd any
minute"
Supper of bacon, biscuit and canned
sweet corn is over and every mans best
horse, brought up and saddled, is left
to wait any necessity which may arise.
BY eight o'clock each tired rider not on
herd is asleep in his blankets. Two
hours go by and the fire has burned out
and no longer shows red in the darkness.
Suddenly fash of lightning blazes in
the northwest and soon dull rumble of
thunder follows. In an instant every
horned idiot is on his feet and moving
uneasily about.
All hands are reused snt and, grum-
bling, cursing and disappearing, ride to
the herd. A stampede must be avoided
for with so many young cattle in herd
it would be doubly disastrous. The
ten in all-go circling
about the herd ct trot or gallop, turn
ing in any cattle which attempt to point
out or get away and accompanying their
efforts with whistle, song and shout
the rain begins and is pres
emily falling in torrents. The light
ming grows brighter andits flashes more
and at last as the storm reaches
Its climax, it seems to CULVER, leap and
lance on the very horns Of the cattle
sans intermission. The thunder itself
has grown into constant, never ending
,oar, and the frightened herd with heads
appraised and glaring eyes push about
'eady on the instant to stampede. This
would mean serious business, this
turning $1,000 worth of cattle loose in
bitch darkness, to break their scamper-
ng legs and frightened necks over prec-
pice and rock. So the boys crowd upon
he herd, still circling it, riding harder
md singing louder than ever
At last the morning breaks and the
torn, with the coming of the sun, dies
way. The herd again is composed and
he tired boys, leaving it to stretch out
% feed, come riding up to breakfast
Cor. Kansas City Star.