Orange County observer., 1896-11-12

Qim into the town by midnight. \
But the saddle he rode had broken
horn. which was mended with soft
iron. As Biddy rode along, he lit
match from time to time, and con-
suited the coapsss. The night was
windy, and to protect the light he held
1t and the compass close down along
side OF the saddle morn, where the
iron defected~the needle six to ten
degrees. An error Of that extent
amounts to one mile in eight. When
be had been riding an hour, he was
we'll OF the true course and already in
trouble III the ge-brush.
BY morning he was in thicket. in
atrackless canon, bis horse PLAYED ont.
himself exhausted. He climbed hill
and found water on the other side;
then he could not find his way back
to his horse. He spent hours looking
for the horse, gave it up, and fortu-
nately lost the compass. It then oc-
Cured to him to follow down the
canon, which soon opened out into a
little valley with settlers cabin.
Here he learned that he was about
the same distance from town as when
he started upon his ride. Getting a
fresh mount and this time folio wing
travelled road, he reached town inst
twenty -four hours late.
More delay ensued here, the doctor
being out. Finally, with DR.. Cutler
in tow, he started back for the ranch.
During the long hours of waiting
the injured man was. by his com
rales, made as comfortable as might
be; and, US time passed beyond when
Biddy should have returned, they
sought to shorten it by anecdotes Of
other accidents.
Smithy said it reminded him Of
man down In Arizona got bit by
snake They sont me down to the
nearest station for whiskey. On the
way up intended only to take one
sip. but | took two, and | never re-
membered exactly what happened after
that, until got back with the empty
| jug. And the joke of it was, the man
was dead"
| Another said Roberts hurt was just
| like case he had known, where the
doctor cut off mans leg in two
| places.
"Say, boys, said Robert, put my
gun where / can reach it before that
| doctor comes
The next morning Ed Reese came
running up. Ed was what the cow
boys call natural doctor. He had
| pulled teeth and cut hair on that range
for years.
Ed" said Robert. I'm powerful
| glad to see you; | didn't know YOU
was this side the mountains. You got
to stay and fix my leg.
'WelI," said Ed, Il shaved you lots
of times; guess can mend your leg y
Ed at once set about reducing the
Inflammation by application of fresh
meat, preferably newly killed rabbits,
split up the back and renewed every
five minutes. and hv other eXpcdleuts
we'll known to cowboy doctors. Afte,
some hours he announced that the leg
wouid come ont all right.
| NAV say here that it did, and
eventually became better and longer
one than Its mate.
Robert was com 10 rtably asleep. an,
the boys we're taking an after -dinnc1
smoke outside. when Bildy came IL
sight with DIR. Cutler. 1t was agree,
that}the doctor was not to be ulluwe,
to see Robert, but Smith said he ough
TO have some kind of job after com
ing SO far and how would it do I,
| OfGah ICY aua iSt uilu Be
that?
When they rode up. Ed Rees
stepped forward and informed tn
doctor that it had all been little joke
on Burke, that Robert was onl,
slightly bruised, had recovered an,
had gone away.
Was he mad? Well. he dldn', sa
much. and only grunted when E,
handed up a twenty. saying the
wished to pay for the joke.
When the doctor had turned hi
horses head toward them, Biddv toll
the story of his delay. 1t was doubt
, fnl what his standing was to be unit
! Robert settled It