The Van Buren press., 1898-01-08

"S-9@- 80 - Sc 80 -aG-E
TT WAS Zeb Ryerson who did it.
/ Zeb is a genuine specimen of the
Texas cowboy-a complete specimen,
may say, of the reckless, rollicking,
ready-for-anything rider-whom one
meets with so frequently among the
mesquite bush and upon the great roll
ing prairies of the southwestern stock
range.
A fellow who has spent his life, al
most from the cradle up, bestriding a
huge, red-leather saddle, mounted upon
a slim but mettlesome range pony" Of
racing speed and wonderful endurance.
gerous-looking fellow = this
wild rider-iudged by his reckless air
and his aceoutrements, yet withal
generous-hearted chap, who would
share the last erumb with you in a
tight PINCH" and at whose camp the
lost, belated or hungry traveller may al
ways find hearty welcome and blan-
ket to spare.
Such a one is Zeb Ryerson, who rides
| the Brazos Range-a trifle more dar-
ing, perhaps, but neither better nor
worse than the average of his species.
Like all the rest of them, Zeb has had
his adventures-a host of them-and
can spin yarns by the hour, if you have
a mind to listen.
His crowning achievement-a feat,
indeed, which has given him a wider
reputation than falls to the lot of many
upon the range-was won early in his
career, when, in fact, he was but a lad
of IS years.
Zeb was at that time working with a
party on the September "round up"
and, as the cattle were well scattered
and their circuit was large one, they
found themselves during the last
of the month out upon the Clear Fork
of the Brazos, at some distance beyond
what was usually the extreme edge of
their range.
They had camped on the bank of a
small run or branch of the Clear Fork,
and that day Zeb had followed the run
clear up to its source, demonstrating to
| his satisfaction that there were then,
and had been, no cattle along its banks
| that summer.
He was returning at his leisure, and
late in the afternoon had reached a
point some four miles from camp, when
he suddenly espied the humps and
backs of a small herd of buffalo feeding
among the mesquite bush at his right
| ard almost in the direction he was tray-
cling.
Now buffaloes were already getting
extremely scarce in the Brazos, and
though he had seen large numbers of
them in his early youth, when they were
plentiful as the cattle had become
since, he had never killed one.
Late years, when he had learned
well the use of Winchester and revolver,
his work had been done on the eastern
range, where there was no game larger
than the deer and turkey.
Now was the opportunity to redeem
his record-for never to have killed a
buffalo was little less than a disgrace
among his fellows-and in the wink OF
an eye almost he had determined to
slaughter the whole herd.
The buffalo were only little distance
off, and did not see the young herds
man. for their heads were down and
their big jaws quietly cropping the
rich mesquite grass which grew among
the bushes.
Edging his pony slowly around to the
right, so as to get the feeding herd be-
tween himself and camp, Zeb drew his
Winchester from the SADDLE scabbard'
and chucked the partially-flled maya
zine lam full" of well-greased car
tridges
BY the time this was accomplishedone
of the bulls in front had scented the
danger, and with a hoarse snort, which
startled all of his fellows, the great
beast bounded out from the bush, and
lifting his shaggy front stood facing
the would-be hunter with every appear
ance of bold defiance.
But when Zeb started his pony and
bore down on them, the old fellow
wheeled about and scampered away
with the others.
Away they went, Is or 20 of them
rolling over the plain in that long
undulating gallop peculiar to the Amer.
lean bison, ana away went the wild
pursuer after them, his sleek, sure
footed pony gaining at every leap.
Soon the excited rider came up with
fat COW, putting, as she numbered
along in the vain endeavor to keep up
with her more feet-footed mates. The
Winchester spoke once, twice, thrice
and then the horseman sped on, leav.
ing the staggering, mortally wounded
COW to her fate.
A young bull was the next victim
dropped in his tracks at the first shot
but the young hunter found but tithe
of the fun and excitement he had eX-
pected in this merciless, running
slaughter.
If they had only shown fight, or put
his pony down TO its best speed, he
would have been better pleased.
There was more fun in roping a steer
than in this kind Of sport, and suddenly
Zeb became fired with wild ambi
tion.
There was that big, shaggy, snorting