Arizona weekly enterprise., 1890-12-20
4 Stampede.

"tellers. they air gOin ter run to- night" As he uttered this prophecy the old tailsman eyed big dun brute that walked out alone for few steps, threw his muzzle towards the north, and after a few preliminary sniffs gave that long. low, peculiar half moan. half below, that old COW hands have learned means foul weather ahead. Having thus sounded the warning, as 1t were, the animal turned back and was soon lost ill the mighty herd that was nervously cropping the rich grass that grew fetlock high.
 Old Joe, the speaker, turned in his sad dle and began to scan the horizon. As he caught sight of cloud no larger than your hand that was just beginning to show itself away to the northwest, he repeated the prophecy, and added; An l don't think we'll have any kick acomln' about the dust termorrer, either"
 The time was in the '70s, tine locality, No Mans Land, and we were on the old Dodge trail, with 1890 beeves bound for Ogalalla. The herd had been put UP some six weeks before on the BraZos. At Red river crossing we had picked up a bunch that had been lost Oqt of a prevl- ous drive belonging to the same com pany, These steers were placed in our herd against the advice of old Joe. "They air ole stampeders, an they'll spile the whole herd. Let 'eIn wait for one of them dogie outfits behind us."
 When 1t came to cattle. and especially trail cattle, the old man was an authority. Among the kids his word on any sub ject pertaining to stock was accepted as
 gospel.
 However, the foreman determined to
 risk it, and in they went The addition
 had been made only few days when a change began to be noticed. The variest tenderfoot could see that the herd was growing uneasy and. restless. Instead of grazing from the bed ground, Or when
 we threw them off the trail, they would
 ramble in punches; if a herder attempted | to hold them up they would either stop
 and stare at him or else turn and travel | to the further side. Where we formerly
 watered in any creek or fair-sized pond, 1t
 now required a river or lake.
 Most of us looked for trouble any night
 while the few doGhters were silenced by
 the colored horse wrangler, who expressed Lis views as follows.
 "Uv oOse dey is gwine ter run, fur ole
 Joe done sed it. and he's rep is at stake
 an dey is gwine ter run ef de ole mar
 haster git down ermong 'em some night
 wid de slicker."
 At supper that evening but little was
 said; even the cooks yarns. told in his
 inimitable style, fell flat. Every few
 minutes our foreman would cast uneasy
 glanees at the great black clouds that
 were slowly rising in the northwest. In
 stead of picketing the horses as was th,
 custom, the animals were saddled anC
 tied to the wagon, or to bushes close by,
 The first guard had scarcely more than
 taken charge when the rest of the outti
 prepared to roll in. The cook, after tyin!
 lantern to the tongue, climbed in tn !, wagon. tied the sheet down and thanked
 the Lord he was a cook. The wranglel . found place under the coupling g-pol' that suited his complexion. while thu
 riders unstrapped their little "hot roll' Ql the ground and piled ID without FemoV ing even boots and spurs,
 l For some reason l was restless and un . able to sleep. All the slumber producin receipts were tried in vain. I lay on m l back and watched the clouds obscure sta l after star until the whole heavens wer 9 hid. 1 counted the number of rounds tn guards were making, then fell to wal c 3 ing the lightning and trying to judge ho' 2 far it was off by seeing how many I coul t count before 1 heard the thunder the g followed every Bash,
 5 After awhile, growing weary of this. e turned towards the fire; by 1t sat one ( e the guards slipping strong coffee betwee e whifis at his cigarette. The rattle of il e chains on his spurs and bit as his horse jog . ged along told the whereabouts ofanothe ] while the wild Spanish song that foate 0 from the far side of the bed ground il : dicated that Little Jank,' in though y it least, was with his hlack-e eyed swee O heart on the distant Rio Grande. y l closed my eyes for few minutes, ar Ii when looked again the guard had le e the fire, Little Jacks song was fnishe f and the only sound from the bed grour Q was the deep breathing of some anim > that had just laid down. The thund' n had ceased for few minutes and u d boot of an owl in the distant cottonwoc ,r made the darkness still darker and u B. night more dreary,
 e As dozed of Old Joe's words ke l. ringing in my head: There ain't l d danger es long e5 any of 'em air up a d a a-grazin', but when they air all down, 8 re it's that quiet you kin hear your own hea ?. beat then you wanter git ready ter ride ID I was still semi-consciou5 when l hea 2, a roar like mighty tornado, and spra l. up as some one shouted.
 g. They are gone, felersl They a ot gonep
 In less than a minute every man " III in the saddle and rushing after the heei h. herd No need to ask which way; he trained night horses know their duty, a if are straining every nerve. The ligl ,r nings play is grand; electricity is eve he where; flames dance along the mana. of hall of fire glean;s on each ear tip. II. the flashes the riders locate the lay of is land in front.
 es. Soon we begin passing the drags. p, need to look after them; they'll follC ly and the real work Is on head. Far aW h. in front, above the roar of cattle 9 il- thunder, the guards can be heard silgl ,es and shouting to the maddened herd. lte we dash on the sounds appear to be co 1n. ing more and more from the left; or- leaders are being pressed around s ln- soon by flash We see them coming; Ii! Sir in front of the crazed animals, look its like a ghost, in his long white slieker, he fiery little night horse lunging and fig 1te ing for his head, rode Little Jack, si he ing, calling and swearing by turns. Ike By @ concerted action, in which % If luck, stout lungs and heavy quirts all p we important parts, the herd is thrown his gether and the milling begins. Arog he and around they gG, each animal with
 head over the rump of the one just ,ri- front-no beginning, no end, just SC
 is mass, staring. moaning, as only stamp 0n- ed cattle can. Balls of fire leap if the horn to horn. The cowboys are sea ,b- on their horses still as statues. all fol yr- ing picture that can't be duplicated. 'ie- order is passed along to Give m ear roomr' the riders fall back, the I'm us, ceases and soon Is heard series of coue the ''Jess clearin' their pipes fur anQt pri dash" some one says.
 ted Now the rain begins, first slow, t fig increasing, til finally 1t is coming in the driving sheet. With the first drops ,an cattle turn and begin drifting with ,m- storm; all the riders getting in front { ave endeavoring to hold them back. sin "If we kin only hold em till their hi uld git wet b'lieve we've got 'em." Old ian says.
 ing But it wasn't to be- Something gi ing them a scare and away they go. No so tho CT are the leaders checked than otl ms turn leaders, and the whole herd 2 nee laundering after them. Another mill
 formed and the same performance g ,ne. over again. Once a buffalo trail fl
 I II