The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1891-07-18

nowiso k0orln' bout gftt1n' mussoo up
with the feller's bullets.
The '.boyss were still discussing thu
matter when before we were hardly
aware OF II the whole herd broke into
stampede and went crashing away.
making the very earth tremble beneath
their feet. Directly toward the squat
ter's wagon they went.
Merrill saw the stampede and came
riding down toward us but all at once
he stopped as II rooted to the ground.
He was near me. and saw a deathly
Wilderness come to his face while he
stared fxedly In the direction Of the
wagon. Hooked. too, and at q glance
comprehended 1t oil. Merrill's little
boy had evidently started away from
the wagon, and having gone q dozen
yards or 30. had stopped directly In
the track OF the cattle. He stood
gazing at the advancing herd, making
no effort to escape, and 1t seemed In
evitable that he must be trampled to
death in another minute.
To attempt the child's rescue was
useless, for we were near half q mile
away from him while the cattle were
but few yards, and long before we
could have reached him the mad herd
would have swept by.
s.My God, men. Merrill cried, cant
something be done to save my childP
It's awful. awful"
On and on swept the herd. Less
than twenty steps lay between the child
and destruction. We held our breath
and waited in terrible suspense. Mer-
till covered his eyes and grOaned in
the deepest anguish. A moment passed.
Then murmur OF applause ran through
our circle--a murmur scarcely more
than whisper. Another moment Of
suspense. then shout long. loud and
hearty. The child was safe.
The squatter had come around the
wagon. and at the risk OF his own life
had saved the child.
He had rushed forward and snatched
the boy from under the feet of the cat
tie. and running back a few steps, had
taken shelter behind q tree. pushing
the boy up among the boughs beyond
danger.
Another minute and the herd had
passed. and we were on the spot. The
child was unhurt, but the squatter was
less fortunate. He was bruised and
torn by the horns and hoofs Of the
cattle that passed near him. The tree
was small and afforded him but partial
protection. and once or twice he was
knocked down. His injuries, however,
were not serious, as we were all glad
to know. and none of us more glad
than Merrill.
When the squatter's eyes wandered
to the spot where his wagon had been.
and he saw the complete wreck OF all
his possessions. he groaned and dim
ness came to his eyes.
ats all right, my friend" said Mer-
rill, laying his hand gently on the
mans shoulder, 'you shall lose Moth
ing. You shall have a claim here and
/ will make up to you ten times over
all you have lost. You shall make the
ranch your home"
Merrill kept his promises, and after
the squatter had selected claim he
helped him to build a house and furnish
it, and besides loaned him money to
send back east TO pay passage for his
wife and children.
The employees of the ranch made up
purse to present the squatter, and
when the donations were all in it was
found that we had the neat little sum
of $3.50. Enough" as Ika said. Ito
sorter bridge over in case o. sickness
or somethin'." Old Ike put the money
in purse. and labeled it with card
on which he had scrawled with q
pencil these words.
"a preseno from the cowpunchers of
Merrill's ranch to the man who. though
squattor. is better man than any OF
U.s."