The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1897-02-20


perverted and distorted by the blasts of
circumstances to which 1t had been ex-
posed, but the actual result as represented
in Joe was neither gratifying nor edify-
ing save in one qualihcation-Joe was an
excellent cowboy says the New York
Evening Post. But the Vices of the young
rascal overshadowed and poisoned to a
great extent his attachments In even this
career, for so cruel was he that no owner
of horsehesh could see him vault into the
saddle and draw blood with a first stroke
of the spur without a thrill Of sympa-
thetic pain and an involuntary expression
Of disgust.
On the other hand, when, tempted to
distant straylng by the sweet upsprfng-
ing grasses Of early June, the horse band
scattered far and wide upon the bound
less prairie, and, grown canny through
long experience of cruel man, made use
Of every hillock and ravine to evade pur-
suit, there was none like Joe to find
and bring them in; and though his mount
on such occasions stood tottering with
bloody and heaving TANKS and rolling eye
balls that seemed 10 crave mercy, belly
full of water from the stream hard by
and a few hours cropping Of the grass
would bring him round again, and, even
If it didn't, what matter? only $40 worth
of horefesh,'' said Joe.
The Sow Sense"
Then the amount of ''cow sense pos
sessed by our hero was almost startling
Riding his watch around the herd on
never so black night, he seemed the
very incarnation Of precedence. No fat
bullock could rise from its lair in the
bunch-grass and steal away from its COM
rades, doomed to slaughter In the distant
stockyards, without hearing the rapid
CHATTER Of Joe's pony's hoofs, and seeing
itself confronted by the dark lad whose
eyes glittered with cruel menace, and
whose lips poured forth a fresh volley
OF tmprecation with each furious whirl of
his lariat When calves were to be brand
ed, no ptt4fuI bleating softened Joes
heart nor stayed his hand. Choked to the
point of dean by the tension OF his cruel
moose, these tender creatures we're
dragged merciessly through mud or dust
or stones or blazing embers, while their
moaning mothers gazed with lolling
tongues and bloOdshOt eyes upon their off
springs agonies, and Joe, sweeping With
savage grace from his saddle-bow,
scooped up handful of dirt and flung 1t
with derisive laughter into the poor dumb
faces. Yet no man of the whole outfit
could drag so many calves as he in a
given time to the branding fire, and zine
is valued even on the plains.
Now If Joe had come to his death by
trampling of cattle In midnight STAN
pede, or goring at the hands Of mad
dened COW, or If his pony, rendered des-
| 1arota hyy eI11T- f11sFS and Y,ovuays1aas ~
shake from its back so expert a rider,
had suddenly reared and flung itself back
ward, crushing him to the ground-the
end of this unpleasant youth would have
been in no wise singular. But that this
dunghin weed should experience a fate
such as Nelson OF Terry might have
gloried in was certainly an extraordinary
example of the vagaries of destiny.
Autumn was come and the herd CT
choicest beeves was gathered. Seated
tranquil in their saddles, the owners SON
templated with infinite satisfaction their
sleek sides and contented faces. Excite
ment of any kind meant shrinkage of flesh
and was to be strenuously avoided be-
cause of the corresponding shrinkage in
the pockets of the two gentlemen on
horseback who looked through those Iiv-
|
of a winter OF pleasure and luxury fol-
lowing upon the summer of toll and hard-
ship. There is usually thorn to the
rose somewhere. Here there was a river
to be crossed-a river which at this season
should have been little more than a
ripping rilI, but which recent and pne-
nomenal rains had swollen to an alarming
volume. Its turgid waters rushed eddy
I,,- .
startling force told of banks undermined
and still rising tide. Scarce more than
a stones throw away the opposite bank,
frtnged with timber and smiling in sun
light, offered an inviting camping ground.
Crossing the Swollen Stream.
The cattle, which had been purposely
kept from the water until the moment
for crossing arrived, entered willingly,
burrowtng with noses deep In the cool
flood and swishing their tails contentedly.
The boys knew their duty and led rather
than drove them along. All seemed go
ing well, and heading for the farther
shore, when big steer in the lead was
suddenly seized with panic, and, turning
upon his companions with a frightened
below. quickly threw the whole living
mass into riotous confusion. That portion
u JAAC lCIN WuAACA4 u4du d0NdAGOu AdA H-ACS
into the river, and was in swimming
depth, was swept down by the seething
tide, struggling and believing, and 6
couple Of boys spurred hotly after &c
gather and bring them back.
Alas! The very thing most undesirable
had come to pass. The madness OF fear
less resistible than that Of rage, was upor
the herd. In vain the shouts of encour
agement from a score Of hoarse threats
In vain the pressing hither and thlthel
of jaded ponies-now swimming in thu
angry torrent, now scrambling up or dowI
the unstable bank After an hour o.
hopeless "milling''-the resistless revolu
ton Of a huge milestone Of living bee
round and round, head to tail, packed
with rib-brealEing pressure one against tn
other, after an hour In which every pos
sible means Of extrication has been re
sorted to without avail, the herd straight
ems itself out as If by accident, and ono
more makes way toward the opposit
bank.