The Valentine Democrat. [volume] (Valentine, Cherry Co., Neb.) 1896-1898, 1896-12-31
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TOR over a week it had been
threatening great things. For a
L week nobody on the Lazy H."
ranch had caught more than Il momen-
tary glimpse of the SUM-. Chill winds
whiStled and roared over the bleak and
desolate prairies on the range and fit
full whirlS of rain made it all the more
diSagreeable to the weary boys who
were at work night and day to keep the
uneasy herd from rushing away to the
desert of the south. Although it was
early for wintry manifestations, yet
that a serious storm was imminent was
realized by all the men employed on the
ranch. Great punches of cattle milled
at various points on the range, but little
effort was made to break the mills, for
fear they would be followed by the
more serious danger of a general STAN
pede. Riders constantly watched the
fretful animals when they became
weary from hunger as they rushed
around in that c~easeless grind. Moth
ing but a wall of horns was to be seen,
as the steers presented an unbroken
front to all corners. With the mutter-
Ing of the thunder came lowings and
tossingS of the horns with added IN
ergy in the tramp, tramp of the fright
ened animals.
It was hard and weary work to keep
the herd from starving as well as rush
ing wildly towards the gulf. All over
the Panhandle country the same con-
ditions existed, and that gloomy week
in November was probably the most
exciting tour of duty the ranchmen
eve put in in q region where hard work
abounds and the rewards are small.
Ten thousands pairs of horns We're
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 a few minutes.
IF this thing keeps up much longer"
said "Curley'' Brock, as the week was
almost gone. Il allow I'll jump the
game. I'm almost ali cashed in now
and KANT stand it much longer. just
look at them bulls, a-millin' and a-mill-
in there. Ever see anything sc mean?
Why, they amt done nothin' fer a
whole week but tramp about and go off
their feed. / allow there amt no use
af +,.ri,r 70 1,.oo l. ,o,po urhatarar:
They'll break pretty soon, or l lose
my guess said the boss, Bill Martin.
Il figure that them clouds'l bust some
where hereaboutS, and then look out.
Wisht 1 had some more ponies. or least
ways some that were fresh. We got to
ride considerable hard to keep up eff they
stampede, which I allow they will"
AS he spoke a long tongue of brilliant
light left the clouds and, winding a de-
vious and uncertain way across the
black skies, plunged into the earth at
no great distance from where the ranch
men stood. Instantly it was followed
by a roar and rumble of thunder as if
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 nerves
of the strongest man. Following this
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 in
their march and turned frightened eyes
in the direction of. the advancing
storm. Then they moved uneasily,
tossed their horns and dug up the turf
as the first scattering raindrops fell all
about and upon them.
Here, you ~fellerS,' yelled Martin.
"Get busy there an head off them
blamed steers. Don't We see they are
goin' to stampede? Hurry, and pint
IN at that gulch over ther. Ride, you
devils, as you rid before"
Suiting the action to the word the
boss put his pony into a violent gallon
and raced off toward the bunch, shout
ing out his orders as he rode. He was
mounted on a strong brOncho, and il
was well for him that the pony was
comparatively fresh, for he soon found
himself in a position Of serious danger
and there he stuck for a long time. He
was caught in that stampede and hur
ried off toward the gulf at a terrific
speed, his pony %straining every nerve
to keep ahead and the steers racing
furiously behind in their efforts to get
away from the storm.
AS Bill dashed off to turn the flank OF
the bunch. just as the animals com
menced to change their revolving mo
ton for a straight-away run, "Curley'
lifted up his voice and quirt and made
a furious onslaught on the nearest steer
He swung his deadly Quirt ant
thwacked hat bull with great vigor
communicating a sudden impetus to TIL