Evening capital., 1891-12-11
LIFE on THE PLAINS.
TYPICAL INCIDENT IN THE LIFE or
A COWBOY.

TerrOrs of a Stampsas--Rush Of Herd
OF steers tn sThundsr stoTm-A Ride
Tor Life -PIssy Bred ny Desperate
Pern.
We had been In the saddle all day and
We're Just turning in when the word was
given 10 Get up and dust 1t was no
use kicking, So up we got. harnessed fresh
horses. who also appreciated the danger
and were loath 10 be disturbed. and after
being harnessed, threw every obstacle in
the way Of progress.
Arriving upon the scene the boys sep
arated in the darkness and slowly rode
around IA circle OF mile or more in di.
ameter. trying TO surround the herd.
There being only six of us, combating
with howling wind, ii was no easy job
20 make progress, excepting, perhaps,
when a vivid flash of lightning disclosed
for moment an ocean of long, slim
horns above q mass of black, moving
bodies. liable at any moment TO become
frantic with fear and rush over you. and
perhaps trample both rider and pony to a
horrible death Hour after hour we
drifted with the wind trying to locate the
end of the herd; perhaps not seeing our
ponies heads for that length of time, the
only way TO guide ourselves in the dense
darkness being by the lowing aud the
believing of the now thoroughly fright
oned herd. We heard the trample of
feet and the rattle of horns knocking
against each other, and frequently the
shout, or rather veil, of another herder
for the dual purpose of keeping the steers
quiet and of letting his companions know
his whereabouts. What a terrible ex-
perience it vast Picture it!
Suddenly violent clap of thunder is
heard, and a ragged flash of lightning
seen, and during that instant one Of the
boys throws up his hands as he recog-
nizes a second rider. But that motion,
quick as it is, attracts the attention of
some Of the leaders OF the frantic herd,
and the steers stampedei In an instant
the ground trembles, the cattle make a
sudden rush, your pony takes a plunge
forward, and you imagine yourself in a
stormy sea with neither rudder nor COM
pass toguide you. Only the agility Of your
pony saves you from instant death, for
you have drifted before the herd, and, as
the TANKS have taken fresh fight, they
are closing in upon you, and when you
remember that Texan steer Is nearly,
If not quite, as feet and long winded as
a COW pony, you can in slight seense
appreciate the danger.
And how dark it isl You lean forward
in the saddle. strain your eyes, dig your
spurs into the side of your now over
anxious but nearly played out steed. all
the tinegalloping at fearful rate of speed
over strange country. Another fash
Of lightning and you see the ground
ahead of you and note that your horse
has narrowly escaped tripping in prairie
dog hole and that the herd is still roaring
aud believing only length behind you !;
you know your horse can not last much
longer, but day is now nearly breaking
and you place your trust iii Providence
How many simple but earnest prayers
have been offered up on these desolate
plains under similar circumstances by
men who know no religioni
The steers are also becoming winded,
aud gradually check their speed under
the reassuring effects OF the approach Of
day and the abatement of the storm, and
as the sun slowly emerges from the hor-
izon you find yourself perhaps 20 miles
from the point where you started and
lots Of work yet before you, for you have
still to gather the stray cattle or those
who have fingered behind in this mad
race for life; and when this is at last
completed il is, perhaps, near II o'clock,
and you yet have a ride of 20 miles in the
broiling sun before you can get food OF
change your tired poney for fresh ons.
---rexis Correspondence.