The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1891-06-27

sich way. hut ! reckon wei haft 10 do
IL. Orders is orders an we've got 70
obey or else hunt her job"
Yep" agreed Ike. That's tho
size an shape OF II. But. by gum. It
mayn't be no easy matter 10 trot that
chap of. He pears sortcr game. an
like %enoush he'll pump some OF us full
OF lead.m
"Yo' shorely amt skcered OF him.
KEEP Jabe remarked. why. blame
II. / low ! kin swipe him. an his
whole layout onTn the yavth at n
clattcr.n
IL amt skcered.n old Ike re-
piled. ''but ut the same time | amt
nowise keerin' bout gittin' musssd up
with the feller's bullets"
The boys" were still discussing the
matter. when before we were hardly
aware OF IL the whole herd broke into
a stampede and wcnt crashing away,
making tho very earth tremble beneath
their feet. Directly toward the squat
ter's wagon they went.
Merrill raw the stampede aud came
riding down toward us. but AL M once
he stopped as II rooted TO the ground.
He was near me. and | saw a deathly
Wilderness come Il his face while he
stared fixedly In the direction OF the
wagon. ! looked. too. and at a glance
/ comprchonded IL all. Merrill's little
boy had evidently started away from
the wagon. and having Como a dozen
yards or SO. had stopped directly in
the track OF the cattle. He stood
gazing al the advancing herd, making
no effort TO escape and IL seemed in
evitable that he must be trampled 60
death in another minute.
TO attempt the child'a rescue was
useless. for we were oar a half n mile
away from him while the cattle were
but II few yards, ard long before we
could have reached him tho mad herd
would have swept by.
My God. men. " Merrill cried. cant
something be done 10 save my childP
It's awful. awful!h
On and on swept the herd. Less
than twenty steps lay between the child
and destruction. We held u breath
and waited in terrible suspense. Mer-
till covered his eyes and groanei In
the deepest anguish. A moment passed.
Then a murmur Of applause ran through
our circle-a murmur scarcely more
than a whisper. Another moment OF
suspense. her "A shout. long loud and
hearty. The child was safe.
The squatter had come around the
wagon. and nj the risk OF his " life
had saved the child.
He had rushed forward and snatched
the boy from under the feet OF the cat
tie, and running back u few steps. had
taken shelter behind "A tree. pushing
the boy up among the boughs beyond
danger.
Another minute and the herd had
passed. and we were on the spot. Tho
child wac unhurt, but the squatter was
less fortunate. He was bruised and
torn by the horns and hoofs Of the
cattle that passed neal him. The tree
was small and afforded him but plrtiGl
protection. and once or twice he was
knocked down. His injuries. however,
were not serious, as We were all glad
20 know. and none OF us morc glad
han Merrill.
When the squatter's eyes wandered
10 TIC nlpl NHtft MS NtHhl idu b'fHs
and he saw the complete wreck OF all
his possessions. he groaned and u dim
ness came 10 his eyes.
''It's all right my friend, said Mer-
rill, laying his hand gently ON the
mans shoulder. you shall lose MOTH
ing. You shall nave "A claim here and
| will make up 10 you ten times oycr
all you have lost. You shall make the
ranch your home"
Merrill kept his promises. and after
the squattcr had selected a claim he
helped him 10 build u house and furnish
IL. and besides loaned him money 20
SEND back east TO pay passage for his
wife aud children.
The employees OF the ranch made up
II purse 20 present the squatter, and
when the donations were all in II was
found that we had the nca' little sum
OF $3.50. Enough as lka said. ITO
sorter bridge over In case o. sickness
or somethin'.n Old Ike pat the money
In a purse. and labeled IL with a ard
on which he had scrawled with a
pencil these words.
"A presen. from the -cowpunchers OF
Merrill's ranch TO the man who. though
n squatter. IL a better man than any OF
u.s.