, 1897-09-27
A PREPOSTEROUs A c
Showing What the American Grit Of the
Cowboy Can Accomplish.

Cowboy Can Accomplish.
Where's Nedward?" some n ask
ed the foreman, one August night when
the boys were gathered around the sl!p-
per table after a hard day in the brand
ing pens.
Sent him over to the river with the
horses for Mack" replied the foreman;
h won't be back for four days"
"Oh, a picnic" said the first speaker.
Mot quite; it's a long stretch without
water"
"Beats branding calves" insisted the
other.
yes, if you're built that way"
Ten miles or SO from the ranch the
circling buZzards looked down upon a
PROSTATE man. When the sun set. a
cool breeze sprang up and the man STIR
red and groaned. He lay upon an ele-
waited mesa. far from any house, or tree,
or water-course. Here and there a
stunted soap-weed showed above the
level OF the plain. \. mile to the east
ward a band Of horses were quietly
grazing, and a keen eye might have de-
tected that one was saddled. The crisp
buffalo-grass about the man was crush
ed down and broken off. Twenty feet
away a dog-hole showed a fresh hoof-
mark, and in the earth beside the man
was a broad mark made by the camille
OF the saddle as the horse rolled over.
1t was nearly dark, and the stars were
shining when the man finally opened his
eyes intell.gently.
Boys, give MI a drink" he said.
Water, water" he repeated.
Low in the north fitful lightnings
played about a pillar Of cloud. II the
cloud drifted this way he might get wa
ter, If not, he would go dry. Certainly
no mans hand would minister to him
that night. Soon he realized the situa-
ton.
Il was ~stunned-my leg is broken,'
said he. '1ll lie here until | rot before
they will find me. 0 God, water"
The cloud drew nearer, grew larger,
and put out the stars. AS it slid down
from the mountain and advanced across
the plain, rumbling thunder gave prom
Use Of imminent rain. Painfully the man
stripped off his coat and spread it be-
side him to catch the water. His hat
had fallen and lay several feet beyond
his reach.
Quickly the cloud spread overhead.
Following q jarring roll OF thunder, a
few big drops fell-one on the face OF
the thirsty man. And that was all. A
brisk west wind wiped the sky clean in
a moment, while the man yet waited
expectant. The stars shone out bright
and cold. The man shivered and ours
ed. and drew the coat about him.
Toward morning he slept and dream
ed he heard the foreman's CHEEKY sum-
mons 'Roll out, fellows" but when he
sat up suddenly a twinge in his leg
brought him back to facts-thirst, day
light. helplessness. He had been awak-
ened by the cilattering OF the little mar
mot into whose hole the horse had
stumbled. now come forth to view the
damage done his home. The man drew
his pistol and fired twice at the prairie
dog.
Missed at 10 feet ne muttered, ly-
ing down again. "Ill never tell that
All night he had lain upon his back.
Now, very slowly and with both hands
claspiEg the injured leg. which was
broken below the knee. he turned upon
his face and reached cut toward the
hat. 1t was still several feet beyond
him.
i've got to get out OF this" was his
thought; and it's going to hurt like
he'll. I'd better begin by going after
my hat" And he went. 1t required
time and fortitude to crawl 10 feet on
hands and knees. dragging the broken
leg. hut it was done at last. He reach
ed the hat and lay down to take account
OF himself and his chances.
Leu leel III all NUuT IS StU Ill d uaS.
l would get to the ranch in about six
months at that rate, il | could keep it up
day and night. I've got to stay right
here until the buzzards get me. II l had
water, I wouldn't care il the devil got
me. II l aver get water, I've got to get
it today. BY tomorrow I'll be too stiff
and too silly. l know"-and sitting up
and looking around-"there's no water
or this fiat, for there isn't a hoof OF
stock in sight. Over toward the noun
tain there are water-ho.es every spring.
but they have been dry since June. By
God" he said aloud, that cloud last
night emptied out somewhere tefore it
got to me. and those holes may be full
Of water now and only three miles away.
l could crawl three miles II I knew there
was a drink at the finish-but they may
be dry. Then I'll be three miles fur
Their from the creek. and three miles
further of the trail When the boys come
out to look mi up. l suppose they will
look me up-in about a week-when
Mack comes over to see why the horses