The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1891-08-01

PASSED.
stared fxedly in the direction of the
wagon. looked, too, and at a glance
/ comprehended it all. Merrill's little
boy had evidently started away from
the wagon and, having gone dozen
yards or so, had stopped directly in the
track of the cattle. He stood gazing at
the advancing herd, making no effort to
escape, and it seemed inevitable that he
must be trempled to death in another
minute.
To attempt the child's rescue was
useless, for we were near a half 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.
my God, men," Merrill cried, cant
something be done to save my child?
It's awful, awfulr'
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.
Merrill covered his eyes and groaned
in the deepest anguish. A moment
passed. Then q murmur of applause
ran through our circle-a murmur
scarcely more than whisper: Anoth-
err 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 few steps,
had taken shelter behind "a tree, push
ing the boy up among the boughs be-
yond 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 cat
| tie that passed near him. The tree was
small and afforded him but partial pro-
lection, 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.
"It's all right, my friend" said Mer-
rill, laying his hand gently on the mans
shoulder, you shall lose nothing. You
shall have 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 q 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 q
purse to present the squatter, and when
the donations were all in it was found
that we had the neat little sum of one
hundred and thirty dollars Enough, -
as Ike said, Ito sorter bridge over in
case o. sickness or somethin'." Old Ike
put the money in q purse, and labeled
it with card on which he scrawled
with a pencil these words:
"A present from the cowpunchers of
Merrill's ranch to the man who, though
q squatter, is a better man than any of
u.s."
The purse was duly presented to the
squatter, with q little presentation
speech from Ike which was as unique
as appropriate.
Every man on the ranch received
strict orders from Merrill not to modest
or interfere in any way with any home
seeker who happened to strike our part
OF the country, and we never did from
that day. -Thomas P. Montfort in De-
troit Free Press