Griggs courier., 1897-12-24

OF one head and foot he did not re.
member q single instance.
Now, Zeb not only carried the COM
mon ''throw rope" which is generally
used for catching cattle. but, slung to
n ring in the saddle. he also had one
of the best Mexican lariats of rawhide.
such as are used for catching the mus
tang and wild horses of the llanos.
Fired with this sudden desire of cap
turing the largest bull in the herd,
he unslung the lariat. chucked the Win
chester back into it's scabbard, gave
q wild whoop. and whirling the long,
running moose rapidly above his head,
charged down upon the old bull.
The pony understood his business
thoroughly. and the moment that
wh:rling .rawhide began singing its
sharp wlifrr-r-r above his head, he
knew what was coming. and, once as
sured of the object at which it was to
be aimed, he needed neither rein nor
spur to bring him quickly alongside the
intended victim.
Then Zeb, leaning we'll forward in the
saddle. and still spinnig the moose with
a lightning-like movement above his
head, poised himself for an instant,
and then, darting the flying loop for
ward with a quick swoop of his arm,
sent the long, snaky thing whistling
away in front of the lunging buffalo.
Even before the moose fell the rider
had taken several quick twists of the
other end of the lariat about his saddle
horn with his left hand, while, as it
dropped directly under the animals
nose, he gave it a sudden twitch with
his right.
At the same instant the keen-witted
pony shot out to one side and drew
| rapidly away and set back upon his
launches and stopped.
The throw had been a sure one, and
the big bull came floundering to the
earth, giving horse and rider a shock
that nearly upset them both
In trice the lariat was made fast
to the saddlehorn, and, "throw-rope" in
hand, Zeb dismounted, to try his luck
at tying the fallen animal.
The lariat had securely fastened upon
one foreleg of the beast. and as he shook
his fierce head, after recovering from
the first shock of surprise, and sprang
to his feet with a snort of defiance, the
knowing horse gave q backward lurch
| that again brought him tumbling to the
| earth.
"Good for you, Dandy!" shouted Zeb.
in delight. "Was afraid you couldn't
fetch him; but you brought the ole
feller down sure enough"
| Meantime, even US he spoke, the skill
full youth had flung his "throw-rope"
over one paving, struggling hindleg,
and, running round on the opposite
side, he pulled one way while the pony
pulled the other.
Then there was sharp, hard strug.
gle which lasted some minutes-a fight
in which ut one instant the chances
were in favor of the buffalo, and at an.
other that he would soon be conquered
and compelled to yield to the superior
tactics of his enemies.
A score of times the huge beast gath.
cred his limbs for bound that would
have brought him to his feet, nerved
to withstand the dextcrous jerks of the
lariat, and ready for q headlong charge,
when sudden twist, given at just the
right time upon the leverage of his
unstable legs, would roll him over
again upon his back.
If once he gained his feet and faced
the horse, the pony's efforts at throwing
him would be of no more effect than
a like strain upon a solid ledge of rock,
and in fleeing from the charge SO GER
tain to follow, the horse would lose all
hold upon him, as half-dozen jumps
of the bull would suffice to throw off
| the slackened moose of the lariat, and
then the rope throwcr might as well
try to hold back the wind.
Thus, success depended upon the con-
stant and concerted action of both
the roper and his horse-and well did
both in this instance do their part.
The horse kept the lariat drawn taut.
lurching backward at every sharp COM
mand of his master, while Zeb himself
tugged and jerked and Unanswered un-
| til the perspiration rolled off him like
great raindrops.
At last. though, he succeeded, by
throwing twisting half-hitch, in tang
ling the other hindleg of the bull, and
then drawing the old fellows kicking
hoofs together, he hung on till the buff
falo grew sulky and gave the fight up
in despair.
After that he could depend on the
horse in case of another struggle, and
he now boldly approached his huge
victim, hauling i'll the rope as he did so.
| In almost less time than it takes to
tell it the sulky old bull was hopeless
prisoner, tied head and foot, and in
such manner that he could not even
make the attempt to rise, much less
get up and walk.
Then Zeb went to camp and told the
boys, but was compelled to wait until
| they had followed him back to the spot
before he could gain credit for his story.
Even then they hunted the anima; all
over to find bullet wound. When that
failed Zeb's fame was established
Golden Days.
Black Skirt with Fancy Waist.
| The question: 'What is the fashion