Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1896-01-23


which the dead and dying cattle had
turned into vast charnol houses, where
the buxxards held full sway.
STORY TWO.
BY daybreak the next morning the
cattle in the north pasture were bunch
ed aud ready for driving.
you'd better lead with me, little
'un." Mason said kindly. when the boy
galloped up for orders before the march
began. "rhere'll he less ridin' In
front" the man added to himself az
the boy swung through the gate, IAN
the chap is sore to the touch now" /.
Mason had watched the boy mar
rowly with his kind. womanly brown
eyes, ever since the day of his com
ing to the ranch. ana he knew, no one
better, how the lads bones ached from
the constant fatigue which the short
snatches Of rest were not long enough
to remove; lie knew how his temples
throbbed when the hot, dry air almost
boiled the blood in his veins and stified
his nostrils.
''The young 'un's got grit" he told
Saunders in his lazy way after the
boys first round up, and he kept his
eye upon him.
I'VE must make the river tonight OF
bust" Mason yelled, as the herd swept
out of the pen.
The men answered with shout,
and the boy, galloping along at the
head Of the mighty procession, felt
like a warrior going into battle, and
heard Mason's musical hallOO as n
clarion cry. Behind him came the
heavy tramp of hoof beats, the below
Of thirsty threats, the crack of whips
and the shouts of the men.
The sun was almost down when the
distant smirch of trees against the
horizon showed where the river lay.
Mason's horse had gone lame toward
the middle OF the afternoon, and now
logged along, stiff and painful, but a
short distance ahead of the herd.
Poor nag, maybe L can spell you a
bit" he said, preparing to dismount.
AS he slipped his foot from the stir
rup Il noise in the rear startled HIM,
and he cast quick eye over his shout
der for a moment.
err he said breathlessly. ely fur
your life, little 'un," he went on, al
most gently, as lie rose in his saddle,
and leaned forward. Bear to the
northward." he cried. Now ride
hard and God hep your
The boys hand tugged at the bride
and he felt the pony bound forward
stung by a blow from Mason's quirt.
Another moment and he would be
safe.
But Mason? In one quick, back
ward look the boy saw his spent pony
rear on his lame legs, and gave one
wild leap forward. He heard a heavy
thud as they went down, and man and
horse were lying in a heap together
on the dry grass in the path of the
stampeding herd.
'Oh, God! oh, mother! cried the
boy, and his voice was a prayer. The
pony wheeled in his tracks and bore
death.
There was one moment OF brea thlesS,
eager energy while he slipped the loose
end of his RATA under Mason's helpless
arms, and wound it round the limp
body another, and he was in the stirrup
again, with the lariats loop held hard
and fast on the saddles horn. He felt
his spurs cut deep into the pony's hips
as the poor beast sprang forward, he
felt the Juggling of Mason's impotent
body as it dragged behind; he heard
the swell and surge Of mad voices rs
the Infatuated beasts swept on in the
dust cloud, he felt their hot breath in
his face, and heard the wild neigh of
his pony when the hoofs struck him;
then fierce, sharp pain, and all was
over
Mother"