The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1897-01-23

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 qualifcation-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 attainments in even this
career for so cruel was he that no owner
Of horseflesh 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 straying by the sweet upspring-
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 Dur-
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 to crave mercy, a belly
full of water from the stream hard by
and few hours cropping of the grass
would bring him round again, and, even
ii it didn't, what matter? "Only $40 worth
of horehesh," said Joe.
The 'sCOw 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 a night, he seemed the
very incarnation of prescience. 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 ponys hoofs, and seeing
itself confronted by the dark lad whose
eyes glittered with cruel menace, aud
whose lips poured forth a fresh volley
OF imprecation with each furious whirl of
his lariat. When calves were to be brand
ed, no pitiful bleating softened Joes
heart nor stayed his hand. Choked to the
point of deal.4 by the tension of his cruel
moose, these tender creatures we're
dragged mercilessly through mud or dust
or stones or blazing embers, while their
moaning mothers gazed with lolling
tongues and bloodshot eyes upon their off
spring agonies, and Joe, sweeping Nth
savage grace from his saddle-bow,
scooped up a handful of dirt and flung it
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 lime
is valued even on the plains
Now if Joe had come to his death by
trampling of cattle in a midnight STAN
pede or goring at the hands of a mad
dened COW, or If his pony, rendered des-
perate by spur-thrusts and powerless to
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
dunghil weed should experience a fate
such as Nelson or 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 con-
templated with infinite satisfaction theic
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 liv-
ing prime roasts to a roseate perspective
of a winter of pleasure and luxury fol-
lowing upon the summer of toll and nard-
ship. There is usually thorn to the
rose somewhere. Here there was river
to be crossed-a river which at this season
should have been little more than
ripping rill, but which recent and pne-
nomenal rains had swollen to an alarming
volume. Its turgid waters rushed eddy
ing by, and ever and anon a splash of
/ toll Of ha MI n1a,sr I'D
and a still rising tide. Scarce more than
stones throw away the opposite bank,
fringed 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,
burrowing 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 a 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
of the herd which had advanced farthest
into the river and was in swimming
depth, was swept down by the seething
tide, struggling and believing, and
couple of boys spurred holly after 10
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 upon
the herd. In vain the shouts of encour-
agement from score of hoarse threats.
In vain the pressing hither and thither
| of faded nnnfae-nnu SWIMMING in rha