Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1896-12-23
BILLS RACE FOR HIS LIFE
GSSSSSSSSSSSSS2S SsSs


TOR over a week 1t had been
n threatening great things. For
L week nobody on the Lazy H."
.anch had caught more than a mOmen-
.ary glimpse of the sun. Chill winds
whistled and roared over the bleak and
iesolate prairies on the range and mt
'ul whirls of rain made it all the more
iisagreeable to the weary boys who
we're at work night and day to keep the
Ireasy herd from rushing away to the
iesert of the south. Although 1t was
,arly for wintry manifestations. yet
hat a serious storm was imminent was
realized by all the men employed on the
.nnch. Great punches of cattle miiled
1t various points on the range, but little
effort was made to break the mills, for
.ear they would be followed by the
more serious danger of a general stam-
,ede. Riders constantly watched the
.retful animals when they became
weary from hunger as they rushed
around in that ceaseless grind. Moth
ng but a wall of horns was to be seen,
IS the steers presented an unbroken
| front to all comers. With the mutter
ng Of the thunder came lowings and
.ossings of the horns with added en-
srgy in the tramp, tramp Of the fright.
lned animals.
1t was hard and weary work to keep
the herd from starving as we'll as rush
Ing wildly towards the gulf. All over
the Panhandle country the same con-
I ditions existed, and that gloomy week
in November was probably the most
exciting tour of duty the ranchmen
ever put in in region where hard work
abounds and the rewards are small.
Ten thousands pairs Of horns were
enough to keep a small army Of Lazy
H." cowboys fairly busy when every
! thing was pleasant. Now there was
| need for double their number They
were scattered In groups under sub
bosses, SO that every man was doing
two mems work and that, too. without
an opportunity for rest, excepting such
as could be snatched when the milling
punches were quiet for few minutes.
III this thing keeps up much longer
said "Curley" Brock, as the week was
almost gone, 81 allow I'll jump the
game. I'm almost all cashed in now
and kaint stand 1t much longer. JUST
look at them bulls, a-millin' and a-mill-
In there. Ever see anything 30 mean
Why, they amt done nothin' fer q
whole week but tramp about and go of
their feed. allow there amt no use
sf trying to break 'em, whatever"
They'll break pretty soon, or I lose
my guess" said the boss, Bill Martin
II figure that them clouds'n bust some
where hereabouts, and then look out
wisht had some more ponies, or least.
ways some that were fresh. We got to
ride considerable hard to keep up eff they
stampede, which 1 allow they will"
As he spoke a long tongue Of brillian'
light left the clouds and, winding de
vious and uncertain way across the
black skies, plunged into the earth al
no great distance from where the ranch
men stood. Instantly 1t was followed
BY a roar and rumble Of thunder as i!
a park of artillery had suddenly gone
into action. The sound was deafening
the thunder in that country often being
sufficiently severe to shake the nerve:
Of the strongest man. Following thi:
came a roar as Of some mighty catar
act, as the wind took sudden volume
and that huge bank Of clouds bore rap
idly down upon the milling beasts
Just as suddenly the animals halted il
their march and turned frightened eye'
in the direction of the advancin.
storm. Then they moved uneasily
tossed their horns and dug up the tur
as the first spattering raindrops fell al
about and upon them.
Here, yen fellers,' yelled Martin
Get busy there an head OFF then
blamed steers. Don't We see they ar
goin' to stampede? Hurry, and pin
IN at that gulch over ther. Ride, yoI
devils, as you never rid before"
Suiting the action to the word tn
boss put his pony into q violent gallo]
and raced off toward the bunch, shou,
Ing out his orders as he rode. He wa
mounted on a strong broncho, and
was well for him that the pony wa
comparatively fresh, for he soon foun
himself in a position Of serious danger
and there he stuck for a long time. Fl
was caught in that stampede and hun
ried of toward the gulf at a terrifi
speed, his pony straining every nerv
to keep ahead and the steers rac.n
furiously behind In their efforts to &c
away from the storm.
As Bill dashed off to turn the flank @
the bunch. just as the animals con
menced to change their revolving me
ton for straight-away run, "Curley
lifted up his voice and Quirt and mad
4 furious onslaught on the nearest stee
He swung his deadly Quirt an
:hwacked that bull with great vigo
communicating sudden impetus to th
-.Anais movements. This had tn
effect of starting many others in til
same direction, and a couple Of hur
dred bore rapidly down on Martin, Gu
ting him of and putting him In the d
rect pathway Of the stampede.
whatever are ye doin', ye blame
fool" roared Bill as he saw what ha
happened. Come around on the othe
side, ye cayote, an head them bull
often me. Durn yer sltn, think II
cart Of this bunehr