Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1897-03-11

but as he pushed ahead in a frantic
hope OF being able to turn the leaders,
on whom he was rapidly gaining, it was
fully revealed.
Midway between house and school.
directly in the course Of the now in
furiated beasts, was group, the very
sight of which thrilled the hurrying
rider. In it's midst was woman car
rying yellow parasol, and around her
were some little folks-not many; but
to Paul's alarmed gaze it seemed null
titude
Aunt Serena and her tiny party of tea
guests had just become aware of what
was occurring half-mile away. They
could hear and almost feel the thou
sands of heavy hoofs beating on the
dry prairie. The shouting cowboys, the
believing steers, the dust-it was all
frightful menace. Uncertain which
way to turn, and deeming it impossible
to escape from the wide sweep on which
the cattle were coming, they simply
stood silent and terrified. But as they
waited they saw one rider leave the
group of half-dozen herders whose
ponies had carried them near the lead
ers of the herd
Paul is deserving us!" pass ID
through Aunt Serena's mind, and ner
heart sank as she spoke the words
more to herself than to the children.
It seemed so. Refining his pony aside
he was riding like mad toward the
ranch house, which was but a little out
of the herds course Theo saw it, AS
he stood helpless beside his famed pony,
and wondered. The other herders saw
it and yelled frantically to him to re-
turn But Paul needed them not. Like
flash into his mind had come the
words of an old cattleman who had
given him advice in the art of manag-
ing herd.
"Yeh kin do more with a bunch Of
cattle by their likes than their dis
likes, had been part of his philoso-
ply; "an I 'spect they're a good bit
like humans in that"
Already Paul was near the ranch
house, and the anxious watchers saw
him stop his horse with a severity
winch nearly brought the faithful crea-
ture to his knees, dismount, dash in
through the open door, reappear with
something in his arms, leap to the sad
die and race pellmell, fast as the pOny's
feec could carry him, toward the head
of the herd again.
The cattle were running no faster
than at the start, but neither had the
cowboys efforts been able to checF
them. Moreover, the angry eyes C
the leaders appeared to have been fas-
cinated by the yellow parasol, which
shOne brightly in the sunlight, and
were taking their way, followed by the
whole frantic mass, directly toward it.
In the air was an odor of bruised horns,
and in the track OF the herd was more
than one struggling beast which had
fallen in the race and been trampled
unto death by it's companions.
But Paul was we'll in advance Of
even the foremost, and gap of many
rods interveneu between even himself
and the school party.
"Git! Prince-Git!" he was saying,
as he leaned low on his pony's neck
and pressed the spurs harder and
harder on the steaming tanks.
Then suddenly the watchers saw Paul
turn sharply and ride directly in front
of the oncoming herd, scarce a dozen
yards away.
But they saw something more. AS
he rode fine, white stream poured
from his saddle bow, and a four-like
trail was left behind him, showing
clearly on the brown grass and barren
spots of earth.
what crazy ng''-began the chief
herder, who had been far in the rear,
but was now riding near the front.
The cowboy riding next him did not
wait for the conclusion of the sentence.
His quick mind had solved the problem,
and above the roar the chief caught the
| single word, "Salt!"
Before the first of the cattle had
reached the white line Paul was across
| the herds track and was trimming to
| come back further on. But it was I'M
| necessary. AS the first rank reached
the seemingly slight barrier familiar
and appetizing odor reached the dis
tended nostrils. Forgetting their i'm
patience, the strong beeves slackened
their pace. The crowding hundreds
behind pushed them forward, but these,
| too, caught the scent and in a moment
! the whole herd was hooking and striv-
| ing for taste of the animals greatest
luxury Paul, seeing what would hap
pen, rode on, still doing out the salt
until he had line long enough to en-
gage the greater part of the herd and
prevent any being crushed in the
throng. AS he looked back and saw
the lately stampeded brutes, sinking
here and there to their knees to lick up
the feast he had spread, he laughed
aloud.
"The old cattleman." he thought,
'swas right. = was their likes that
caught EN-
"Hope you won't feel sorry for the
loss of your fine salt, Aunt Serena, =
remarked Theo, roguishly, the follow
ing day.
L EI.~-A