The morning times., 1897-02-07

Leaving tile stage road to the right, outlined
by the two high ridges Of hardpacked
snow, crunched by the wheels OF the daily
stages, he bore down toward the Careless
Creek drainage. The hills looked all the
same in the driving storm, but the wind
was steady and gave him a clew to direc-
ton. Suddenly there loolned up in front
of him what to the uninitiated eye reseni-
bled houses, with outlines dimmed by the
driving storm, but the rider knew they were
cattle He changed his course and rode up
closer to read the brands. They were cover
ed with frost, but ne was satisfied that
these were the cattle he was after; and,
what was more, that there were several
hundred of them in this one bunch. The
best service lie could render his employers
was to bunch this outfit, turn them toward
the Gap, and take them back the next day
before they scattered
The punchers mind was strangely
dimmed His thoughts would revert to
days, when, on the old Missouri farm in
the States, he lay at noon IN the shade
of the haystack and ate the bountifnl
luncheon provided by mother and sisters.
He could hear the water pouring over
the old mill-dam down below the or
chard-and then he was in the orchard.
But this would never do. He was now
on the Montana prairie, one OF the best
cowhands in the Basin, and here was
a bunch of cattle to be taken care OF;
he and Mike were all that stood be
tween their employers and the less of
several thousand dollars. The puncher
rolled the big rowcls of his spursinto Mike $
sides, the game cowpony sprang forward
and they went and around the cattle
until they had them punched. 1t was
hard work tor get them strung out against
the storm; they would do nothing but MILL
for the frosty air cut like needles in their
faces when they turned in the direction
the solitary puncher was trying to make
them go. But he found himself strange
ly lacking that life and energy which
had Won him his wide reputation on the
ranges Sleep hung heavy on his eyes.
He rolled in the saddle, and when Mike
made one of his famous quick turns his
rider clung to the horn of the saddle TO
keep from falling off. Suddenly 1t seemed
to the puncher thatit was getting dark: the
herd was but dim outline; the wind tore
at the punches of sage and grease wood,
piliDg up the snow on one side and cutting
out caves on the other.
The rider was warm and cold at inter
vals. His mind wandered TO the last fall
drive, when on the night herd he was wont
to slip from his horse, and seeking the
friendly cover of a buffalo wallow or a
badger hill topped by a bunch OF sage,
to slip the long bride over his arm and curl
up on the ground within the friendly shell
ter and sleep. Why not now? The shell
ter was better for the drifted now and he
was 50 sleepy. few moments rest, and
he would be able to resume his solitary
watch, and hold the herd until day. He
slid from his horse and followed out the
suggestion. 1t was oozy and comfortable.
Nike swung his hindquabters toward the
north, clamped his tail between his legs,
bumped his back and philosophically nodded
off TO sleep. The puncher slept also.
At first dreams crowded thick and fast,
then they faded. The storm howled with
increasing vigor. The cattle one by one
drifted off into the night, unable to with
stand the storm. Mike shifted his weight
from one foot to the other, and slept on,
shiverng beneath his saddle blanket His
headquarters white with snow, and his
breath covering his nostrls and breast
with a white frost.
The sun.rose next morning on scene OF
crystal spiendor dazzling TO the eye, and
when the two men who lived at the o. H.
home ranch rode out that morning they
were nearly blinded by the glare.
wen look up the north fence first"
said the foreman 20 the other. The cattle
may have broken it down yesterday in the
Storm
AS they rode along the fence but few
rods from the cabins and corrals, they saw
on the other side an animal motionless on
the prairie. When they approached they
saw that it was saddled horse, covered
with snow and ice. Putting spurs TO their
mounts. they rode rapidly in that direction.
The shiverlng brute on the other side OF the
fence heard them coming, pricked up his
ears, whined and paved the ground. but
did not move away. His bridal rein was
around an arm that could not relax its grip