Eagle River Democrat. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1893-1896, 1895-12-16
Lance. and Lasso.

He is as treaCher0uSs as a puma, LeoH,'
and advise you to keep your eyes open.
Mark my words, he intends to harm you
at the first opportunity"
what can be his reason for wishing
to harm me, Arlo? have never harmed
him.
Jealousy. Leon; jealousy. saw his
eye kindle with the venomous light of a
snakes yesterday, when you beat him
in throwing the bolas. You did do won
derfully well after so little practice
ut was an accident, Arlo. / could not
do it again if / should try thousand
times"
''Well accident or not. it came in at
the right time, and it is no wonder Tippo
enyies you your victory. But beware of
him as you would of a puma"
The youthful speakers, neither being
over Is. were cantering leisurely across
that remarkable pampa region lying be-
tween the Parana and Paraguay rivers,
IRENE southern border belonging to the
vast estate of Manuel Strain, who lay
claim the ownership of more than
1000 horses, 10000 head of cattle and
nearly 100000 sheep, feeding at will on
his domain Of pampas.
Arlo Strain was this wealthy estan-
ciero's only son, and his companion,
Leon Lyons, was an American boy,
whom Arlo had met and formed strong
attachment for while he was in this
country getting his education. The
grandfather of Arlo had gone from the
United States to settle in the country
north of Buenos Ayres.
Leon had been glad to accept an invi-
tatiOn to visit his South American friend
and never had he enjoyed himself better
than on his wild rides over the pampas.
How he slept at night! And he often
declared that he had never known what
it was to have an appetite before!
1t was then the season for rounding
up" the cattle. At first he had to! con-
tent himself with seeing the gauchos, or
herdSmen, as they rode down and laSSOed
the animals, but finally he had ventured
to join his companion in the eXhilarating
work.
1t was wonderful how these sons of
the pampas performed their feats OF
lance and lasso, but when Arlo ex
planned that they had been trained to it
from infancy; that long lines were given
them to practice throwing, and that by
the time they were 4 years old they
were put on the back of spirited horse,
with a genuine laSSO to use. he did not
marvel so much at their skill.
Arlo had acquired a good deal OF that
skill and Leon was fain to believe that
few of the gauchoS could Guido him,
but when he said as much the other
laughed, saying:
wait till you see what Tippo can do.
He can throw a lance farther and q
lasso surer than anyone on the estan-
CAS-"
The gaucho Guiesippo, whose name
had been corrupted into Tippo, was Il
tall, swarthy, ferce-looking native,
whom few liked, but many feared. He
was known to be a desperate fellow
when aroused, and his passionate ma
ture would brook little or no opposition
1t was he that Arlo meant in his warn
ing to Leon, for it had been the latter's
misfortune to incur the enmity of Tippo
at a game of bolas the day before, when,
quite accidentally, the American lad had
won the laurels from the boastful gau-
cho
Little dreaming of what was likely to
follow the simple affair, however Leon
joined enthusiastically in the wild work
of cattle-hunting on the pampas. He
had never known such sport before,
and feeling his blood tingle under the
excitement of the mad races, he dashed
hithef and thither, with more pluck
than prudence.
1t was the agreement that he and
Arlo should keep together, but it is
not always easy to carry out the plans
on such occasions. Thus, toward mid
day, as the latter dashed through a
clump of date palms to head off bunch
panion.
Knowing the Importance of quick ac-
ton then, he wheeled his horse and
glanced hurrledly over the scene. He
did not look In vain, for away to his
right he saw Leon standing over the
dead body of his horse.
What had happened to bring about
this calamity he did not have time to
consider, for at the very moment more
startling aspect was lent to the scene.
From Icons left, concealed from him
no doubt by the tall grass, was one of
the old bulls that were the terror of
the herds sweeping furiously towards
the dismounted boy. 1t was doubtful if
the enraged animal had seen the helpless
victim in his pathway yet. but that fact
could not change the inevitable result,
for he was sure to catch sight of him
soon.
Arlo was about to shout to Leon of
his peril ard dash to his rescue, when
the cry froze on his lips at the sight
he beheld on the other hand. The sec
ond peril was nothing less than Tippo,
riding like the wind down upon the boy,
with his lance poised to be hurled at
his head the moment he should get near
enough to be sure of his aim. A dense
clump of mimosa concealed the APP
proa ching bull from the sight of the
gaucho.
If Arlo failed to give his warning cry
to his friend, he did not remain inactive.
but urged his horse ahead at the top
of its speed, and so evenly were these
onsets made that it seemed certain that
a triple meeting would take place at the
converging point.
But Arlo realized that this must prove
fatal to his friend if not eto@hinself,' and
he suddenly raised his lasso, and with
that quick, sdexterous movement peculiar
to the master of this plant weapon, he
sent the long line whirring through the
air, the moose at it's end settling over
Leon's shoulders, just as the loud below
from the bull announced that it had seen
him. Attic same moment Tippo threw his
lance. Arlo turned his horse sharply to
the right. and as the taut lasso jerked
Leon forward upon the ground. Typos
lance whizzed harm!essly .oTar him.
Ind then, before the would-be murder
er was aware of his peril, the maddened
bull was upon him, goring and trampling
him to death.
Having wreaked his vengeance upon
the enemy that he had found in his
path, the brute dashed on across the