The Portland daily press., 1892-10-12

loAs NCWSs
Two days later the "boss" rode into camp,
consulted with his foreman, and eight
men, including the writer, were chose INTO
drive the snorting, believing herd to
Springer, N. M, distance OF two hun
dred and fifty miles.
The evening of the sixth day was
cloudy and cool, and indications OF an
approaching storm were visible.
Have ter watch 'em putty close to.
night, boys said our foreman. Looks
like we're goin' ter have some rain"
The writer was on first guard. The
cattle were restless, showing decided
disposition to rim, and instead of walk
ing our horses around the herd we were
compelled to travel at sharp trot.
Daylight faded out and pitchy darkness
succeeded. The cattle we're indistin'
guishable at dozen PAGES, and fire..
auently we were compelled to pull uE
short to avoid colliding with steer OF
with each other This continued until
the arrival of the second guard, when
the increased forces succeeded in quiet
ing them somewhat, and the writer and
nis mate started for camp, guided by
the light Of the campfire, which shone
rike star on little elevation about
.naif-mile away.
We had scarcely turned into our
blankets, fully dressed as usual, with
the exception of our boots, when the
rain commenced to fall, in drops at first,
bat steadily increasing to downpour.
Blankets were drawn over heads and
grunts OF displeasure were heard on
every side, when rumble and shaking
OF the ground was heard, mingled with
hoarse shouts.
"They're running!" yelled the fore
man, jumping from his blankets.
mount! mount! every one OF you"
running to his horse as he spoke, which
was picketed short distance away.
Not waiting to don boots, the writer
sprang to his horse, vaulted into the
saddle, and tore of after the foreman,
the Pickering light OF tho campfire,
fast being extinguished by the rain, re-
vealing the remaining men hurriedly
preparing to follow.
Guided by the thunder of hoofs the
herd was soon overtaken. and, in obedi-
ence to the foreman's yells, I strove to
get in front of EN-" could family
discern in the darkness line Of below
ing, snorting beasts. and urging mig
ger Baby" to his utmost reached the
end Of the line and there found two of
the boys galloping in the lead. shouting
and waving their oil-coats- or slick
ers> and trying to stop the headlons
fight
The confusion Of the scene was indie
scribable. The terrified snorts OF the
cattle were almost drowned by thu
clashinp OF horns, thunder of the hoofs
and shouts of the men. My oil-coat wal
strapped to my saddle, not having hac
timo to unfasten it. ! tore at thu
leather. straps, succeeded in loosenlna
them, and turning in my saddle shoot
it before the leaders, adding my shouts
to the din around me.
AS we'll try to stop the torrent O.
Niagara. The wild race was unslack
ened, and, from traditions, knew tina
a misstep of my horse sufficient te
throw me, or his fall, meant that !,
would be cut to pieces by the sharl
boots of the cattle.
Then an unexpected event occurred
The nerd divided in two sections, one
of which was the sole leader OF, while
the other portion galloped off at right
angles, led by my two companions For
a few minutes could hear their shouts,
then they grew fainter and fainter, and
were finally lost in the gallop of hoofs
around me.
On we Numbered. My throat was raw
and swollen from shouting and my
''slicker" had fallen from my hand
The rain had ceased, but was wet to
the skin and numled by the cool air. J
thought the sound of hoofs was not so
deafening, and as the clouds blew away
SO that could see q few yards in front
of me found that was lefding about
dozen steers that had become sepa
rated from the herd. lhad just made
this discovery when they slackeneG