Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1896-02-21

CLEAN and the uarkness e"alo"e"
him up.
AT Saunders big Texas ranch,
in the early morn of a scorching
October day, all was hustle and
stir and commotion. On all the
parching prairies not a blade of
grass was left for the hungry herd:
tanks were empty, streams were
dry aud the men were making
ready to drive the cattle out of the
land of drought to the flush OF
waters and green pastures Of the
Indian Territory.
In the dusty yard, around the
cabin spurs ratified, saddles creak-
Cd, ponies nelghed, men shouted
and hallooed, and beyond, in the
great corrals, the cattle bleated
and beloved with their thousands
OF thirsty throats.
you'll have to 60 and hep
Mason git up bunch of cattle in
the north pasture, Little Partner,
said s lunders to a boy who stood
near the cabin door fastening his
spur strap, with his arm through
his pony bride.
"All right, sir said the boy,
Sprlnging into the saddle.
Tell Mason to fetch a thOusan
an ffty.two head, an meet US at
the river to morrer night, or-bust.
We wanter start fur the Nation in
the mornin'. y thousand an nifty
two head, don't furglt.'
Il shall not forget SAID the boy
firmly, but a shadow crossed over
his face as he spoke-a shadow
that did not leave it as he gallop
ed off over the prairie.
The sun streamed down, blister
| ing his back through bis
flannel shirt, and the fiery alkall
dust burned into every pore OF his
body. Heat and dust were every
where, with now and then the
gleam of a white, shaly river bed,
dry and gllstening like silver
thread winding across the brown
prairies which the dead and dying
cattle bad turned into vast char
mel houses, where the buzzards
held full sway.
STORY Two.
By daybreak the next morning
the cattle IN the north pasture
were punched and ready for driV'
ing.
You'd better lead with me, little
'uu,' Mason said kindly, when the
boy galloped up for orders before
march began. 'There'll be less
ridln, IN 'front.' the man added to
himself as the boy swung through
the gate, 'an' the chap Is sore TO
the touch now
Mason had watched the boy
narrowly with his kind, wowanIy
brown eyes, ever since the day o.
> his coming to the ranch, and be
knew. no one better, how the lad''
bones acEed from the constant
fatigue which the short snatche'
of rest we're not long enough to re
, move: he knew how his temples
r tlrobbed when the hot, d y air al
most boiled the blood in his veins
aud stuffed his nostriPs.
The young 'ua's got grit III
told Saunders IN his lazy way atte
the boys first round up, aud b.
kept his eye upon him.
sWe must make the river to
5 night or bust, Mason yelled as tn
herd swept out OF the pen.
: The men answered with a shout
Z. aud the bov, galioplng along a
r the head Of the mighty procession
, felt like a warrior going into battle
p and heard Mason's musical halo
p az a clarion cry. Behind him cam
I the heavy tramp of hoof beats, tn
q below of thirsty throats, the cracI
. of Whips and the shouts of th'
D men.
: The sun was almost down whe
q the distant smircb of trees agains
the horizon showed whereth rive
a lay. Mason's horse had gone Ian
q to gard the middle Of the Afternoon
aud now logged along, stlff an
= painful, but a short distance ahea
= Of the herd.
4 Poor nag, maybe | can spell 20
a blt,' he said preparing to dl
= mount.
a AS he slipped his foot from Il
I stirrup a noise IN the rear startle
II him, and he cast quick eye ov'
q bis shoulder for a moment.
It MY God, the cows have SINE
o waterp he said, breathlessly. IF
w fnr v0ur life. little NM ne wei