The Bryan daily eagle. (Bryan, Tex.) 1895-1898, 1898-04-20

TASK IfduEht Win tAtltiut AdusfAf az
Il Is necessary for the cowboys who
have charge OF the herd TO ride at
hreakneck speed side By side with the
leaders Of the affrlghted cattle. gradu-
ally nearing them until the cattle veer
from their original course and turn
back into the remainder OF the band.
The misstep OF a pony In this mad
race Of life and death ls fatal 10 the
rider, who "a cast beneath a thousand
pairs Of trampling hoofs In the twink
ling OF an eye, 10 be crushed and
trampled out Of recognition. ! remem-
Der once In the spring OF 1856 we were
coming over the trail with a band Of
fully 1000 head Of the wiidest-eyed
Texans that ever found resting place
in slaughter house. Al night four
night riders we're regularly detailed 70
circle about the band standing guard
as Il Is termed and singing 10 the I'M
mcnse herd. Strange as Il may seem.
cattle are quleted quicker BY the notes
% the human voice than by any other
known agency. We were about four
days from the end Of our journey sud
looking forward with pleasure 20
speedy cessation OF the continued anx-
lety OF the trip. when a tragedy was
enacted which cast a gloom over the
spirits Of the outfit. and from which
old plalnsmen predicted disaster 20 the
TRAN herd Our cowboys were FOR the
most part Texans and Mexlcans, the
former hoiheaded and quick 10 take
oiiense. the latter tTeacherous and re-
vengeful. Between two Of the riders
there was IN feeling arising from some
trivial disagreement az the beginning
Of the trip. The difference between
the men was gradually aggravated UNI
IN only a spark was necessary to cause
an explosion. The climax came In the
morning. Lum Jefsreys. a Texan rider.
lighted a cigarette after he had finished
bis breakfast. and after taking few
whihs Of the smoke tossed Il carelessly
away. Il vas carried a little distance
by the wind and fell directly into the
coffee cup In the hands Of Perfect Mob
lez. q Mexican. the bitter enemy OF
Jenreys. Whether accidental or inten-
tional. the act was attended with trag-
lc consequences. Noblez sprang 10 bis
feet and reached for his six-shOoter.
his face flaming with passion. One Of
the boys called loudly 10 Lnm. whose
face was turned away. 10 look out for
Nohlez. Jefreys turned. realized the
danger that menaced him. and leaped
behind the huge supply wagon. draw
ing his revolver at the same instant.
Noblez sprang to the other side % the
wagon TO meet him. as be reappeared.
As Noblez leaped forward his head
was thrown forward. presenting the
top Of Il 10 the aim OF Jcnreys and
the latter planted a heavy fi-callber
ban IN the very center OF Nohlezs
skull The Mexican dropped like a
stricken bullock as the heavy ball
crashed through his skull and into his
brain. All was excitement. and there
we're various views % the affair The
Mexicans insisted that Ienreys had In
,entIonally provoked the trouble. AMI
there were angry looks exchanged
among them which presagod more
I trouble. Finally the matter was COM
promised by the arrest OF Jenreys by
the entire band q riders who deprived
/ him Of his weapons and made him give
a solemn pledge 10 appear regularly for
trial when the outfit should reach the
nearest town. The body OF Noblez was
I buried. and the boys went about their
usual work. In the afternoon the hcay-
ems we're overcast and dense masses OF
black clouds were ominous Of trouble
with the cattle. The usual guard was
doubled and as darkness settled around
vivid lightning began to play among
the cloud banks. At length there was
sullon roar Of thunder like the noise
Of cannonading. a ripping volley Of
short. sharp crashes like the rattle of
musketry. a fash OF binding light
which enveloped the swaying herd in q
lurid glare. and with a roar that rly-
allied the thunder away sped the thous-
ands OF bewildered and frightened ami
mails across the prairie. Forth from
camp rode the cowboys. and on through
the darkness they spurred their horses
after the fylng herd II was a wild