The National tribune., 1898-02-17
of the Brownsville General, who had heard
xvas on tho rod

of the Brownsville General, who had heard
was on the road,
She Is nice, lively little woman, a red he
Southerner, glorying in the facts that she ha
no Northern relations or friends, and tina
she is a member Of the Church of England
Mr.. King first came to Texas as steam
boat Captain, but now owns an immens
tract of country, with 16, 900 head of cattle
situated, however, in a wild and almost un
inhabited district. Kings Ranch is distan
from Brownsville only 125 miles, and we hav,
been six days in reaching it.
We now entered boundless and mos
fertile prairie, upon which. as far as the ey,
could reach, cattle were feeding.
Bulls and cows, horses and Mares came tt
stare at us as we passed. They all seemed
sleek and in good condition, yet they gel
nothing but what they can pick up on the
prairie
We gave up the Judges horse at Kings
Ranch. The lawgiver now rides on the box
with Mr.. Sargent
April 90 slept well last night in spite
| of the numerous prairie wolves that sur
rounded us, making most dismal noise
We started at 5 a. m, and had to get
through some dreadful mud-Mr. Sargent in
an awful bad humor, and using terrific Ian
guage.
We were much delayed by this unfortu-
nate rain, which had converted a good road
into quagmire.
We halted at a. M, and, to make fire
for cooking, we SIT rat-ranch alight, which
answered very well but one big rat, annoyed
by our proceedings, emerged hastily from his
den, and very nearly jumped into the frying
pan.
We resumed our journey, and reached a
creek called Aqua Dulce at 2 D. M All
streams or rivers are called creeks, and pro-
nouneed "criks."] Mccarthy and l got out
before crossing, to forage at some huts close
by. We got two dozen eggs and some lard;
but, on returning to the road, we found that
Mr.. Sargent had pursued his usual plan of
leaving US In the lurch.
| luckily was able to get hold of Mexican
boy, and rode across the creek en- cronpc
Mccarthy dismounted negro, and so got over
After dark Mccarthy crossed the prairie TO
visit some friends who were encamped half
mile distant. He lost his way in returning.
and wandered about for several hours. TIE
Judge, with great presence of mind, kept the
fire up, and he found US at last
The heat from to 2 is pretty severe; but
in Texas there is generally cool sea breeze,
which makes it bearable
hplii we AT > u III. ana
reached a hamlet called Casa Blanca at 6.
We procured a kid, some Indian corn. and
two fowls In this neighhorhood.
We had now quilted the fat country, and
entered an undulating or 8 rolling country
full Of livc-oaks OF very respectable size, and
we had also got out of the mud.
Mr.. Sargent and the Judge got drunk again
about a m, which, however had a benc-
fetal effect urOn the speed. We descended
the Hills at terrific pace.
We ''nOoned it at small creek and after
Mr.. Sargent and the Judge had n
Tow with one another. after which Mr. Sar-
gent killed and cooked the goat, using my
knife for these operations With all his faults
ne certainly is a capital butcher, cook and
He takes great care OF his ami
mails. and is careful TO inform Us that the in
:reased pace we have been going at is not
to gin. He was very compli-
nentary to me, because | acted as assistant
ook and butcher. Mr.. Wards party passed
is about p. III.
We made a pretty good afternoons drive |
through a wood of post-oaks.
We halted at Spring Creek at $50 p. M;
water rather brackish and no grass for the |
nules
The Judge gave US some of his experiences |
s filibuster. He declares that well Looked |
olecat is as good to eat as a pig, and that |