The morning times., 1896-07-26
CAST OF A LONG RIATTA
Stout Young Rancher's Skill of
Good Account.
tcopyrlgat, 1850

empty corral OF wide-reaching cattle
ranch in Western Nevada. striving time
after time to throw the moose OF twisting,
snariIng iasso over a very smooth and role-
scoFched post that stood dozen PAGES
away. Effort after effort was futile; the
manila would kink or the throw would be
wild. or the moose would close as it flew
through the air. Yet the post was an easy
mark.
The young fellow. rather aried, now
sat on top of heavy, brown-painted gate
TO rest. and watched horseman galloping
around. u mile or SO away, where horses ana
cattle were feeding. And. speaking of the
lad again reminds Inc that have not yet
told that his name was Dudley Thorn, and
that he was recently come into Bear Val
ley from California. He was an active.
sinewy fellow. with a freckled nose and
reddish hair. He could ride like Pah
Ute and wresue with both hands tied be-
him: but he had never seen range" be-
fore, and he couldn't lasso n post to save
him. His uncle. Dudley Hobart, for whom
he was named. and who was all alone in
the world. except for Ellie, his little Dres-
den china-looking daughter. had brought
the boy here within the week. and had
promised him the use of the fleetest pony
in the band. said pony to be complete under
saddle and bride.
Presently dudley discovered that a small
herd OF horses was ahead of the far-away
rider, being driven up "home." His heart
then bounded ga yly, for the thought thatper-
haps the broncho which he was to ride
might be there in the band. On came the
ponies, their names and tails adrift on the
breeze of their own creating. Whistlng
Bill, the smile wreathed cowboy, followed
at bound. and brought up his horse with
a stop delightfully."- abrupt. Then. while his
mare rubbed her diiating nostrils against
the rough sleeve OF his shirt. Bill shouted:
"Hoi, Dudley, fetched yer bronchoi''
did you, thought" said Dudley, hasten
ing forward; which one is hep Oh, but
I'm glad!''
That tough little buckskin that leads
the band, and he's a rattliD' good mus
tang-don't you forgit,' Bill replied.
Just little bit skeery now, but he's
well busted and ought to suit you first
rate.''
We'll busted?''
Yep. 1 said busted. Busted's broke,
you know
"Oh, OF course. I might have known.
Who broke-busted him?"
Il did," said Bill, land he can run away
from anything on the ranch 'cept coyotes
and 1ackrabbits.'
I'm glad 10 hear it," said Dudley en-
Enthusiastically.
Yep, he's n cracker Jack. And I tell
you, Dudley, I'd treat him sort of decent
give him IA hunk of sugar now and then, and
pet him some. 1t don't do no harm and
does make EN- like to have feller round"
Dudley gazed on rough and tumble Bill
In amaZement.
'1'll do it sure he said. after moment.
Bill now unlashed his riatta, shook out
the ionp, and gave it, app arenuIy. e.. care
less Toss, hut it SHOT out and up and dropped
over the buckskin's head as lightly as If it
had been made OF feathers.
oh, Bill, said poor Dudley, thinking
of his miserable failure as a roper"
I'D give anything to do that. Can't
you show fellow how iittle?'
Put your pony andmy mare in the barn
first, SOS they'll he out OF the way" BiIl
aus wered.
Now" said he, when the lad came run
ming back, lets see you make Il noose.',
Dudley went at it awkwardly.
Won't do calculated the cowboy,
TRY like this"-and be formed lot of
loose circles of the thing in his left hand
and grasped wide-open loop in the other.
NOW, you see, when you swing it, the
moose don't twist OF taDgle OF shut up
The lad tried again.
That's better. Not bad at all Now
don't swing her 50 hard; take it easy and
remember to throw bigh.'
Out went the snake-like lengths, and the
loop dropped over the post at last.
Good boy!' said Bill "Ill soon show
you a heap of tricks and have you catch
ing horses and steers and cbickens-and
maybe the mumps.'
Dudley grinned.
Taking the lasso, Bill then proceeded
to give pointers to his pupil for half
an hour, practicing on the huddling horses.
At the end OF the lesson Dudley could
rope moving horse with considerable skill,
and was, in consequence, amazingly tickled.
That's about enough on them poor,
scared bronchos," said the cowboy, and
he carried the smooth ra Wilde into the
barn to replace it on his saddle.
Dudley looked wistfully after the lariat
BILL said he. 'how much would one
OF those cost me?'
Well said Bill, slowly, "you might
get new one for five or ten dollars, hut
she'd be awful stff at first. Why don't
you borrow yoHr uncles? He's got an
Old rattler tucked away somewhere.
She's terribly long, most too long: but your
arms are big, and once you learned with
her she'd be plum immense
That night Uncle Dudley listened quietly
to the lads enthusiastic plea for the long
rata, and at last brought 1T forth from
closet in his private apartments.
This larat,'' said he, .is one of my
youthful treasures. The Mexican who
braided it cut the rawhide from the skin
of famous bull, killed at a big fight
many years ago. He was a good friend
TO me Poor fellow, he was stabbed at
Ell Paso year after he gave me the rope
You'll have TO be very careful Of it, Dud-
ley, for money wouldn't buy it,"
"Oh, you can trust me for that" said
the over.oyed boy: and in earnest of his
good irteptions he cil"d and rubbed the
whole length OF the thing until 1t coiled
as kimberly as soaked angle worm
Now began happy time for the lively
young rider. Mounted on the fleet, keen.
spirited mustang, with whom he was soon
on the most brotherly Of terms, the lariat
swinging in monster circles above his head.
he raced hther and yon fgom da wn to twj-
light All the while his stout arms grew
1touter, his eye keener, his throwing more
sure. Like pieIe or the very horse he
Eat in his saddle; and proud was the af-
Iectionate, inte Iii gent pony to feel the
lads legs hugging his sides A low, chirp-
Ing word would start him into an air split
ting speed, a touch on the neck would guide
him-though fire and flood loomed ahead
and whisper would stop him as il he
we're suddenly retrified Great was the
aomradeship OF Dudley and Sancho.
AT last came the time of the yearly
"rodeo." or 'rouDd up,'' at which cow
boys gathered from far and farther to col
iect all the cattle together, in order that
each raDcher's portion might be "cut
out,' or separated from the vast aggrega-
lion, long enough to let Iiders brand the
young ones and inspect the whole. Some
times for week the terrified cattle are
held at bay by the alert and active COW
'punchers,' and all the while, with as.
founding rapidity, the calves are "cut
out roped, thrown down, tied, and
branded with the sizzling irons. At these.
times the greatest vigilance must be exer-
rfsed 10 keep the collected animals from
stampeding, for they are always ripe for
1t, and once started on their mad and head