Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1899-08-21
PROVING METTLE.

NA'
men, appeared, and the men set out for the
rodeo ground, which was located five miles
from the ranchhouse and about the center
of tho range. Howard had worked in the
country for several years as farmland,
but recently he had accepted the position
of superintendent Of cattle, or ''mayor
domo, as the Mexicans call the important
parsonage, and the lordly vaqueros were
inclined to resent the idea of a farmland
as ~"cattle boss and intimated that he
knew more about plows than he did about
cattle.
AS Howard rode up to the camp, where
about a dozen men had assembled, he was
the object of many curious glances, but
the vaqueros were forced to admit that he
did not look much like a greenhorn. He
wore the usual free and easy cowboy garb,
and the men who expected to see him
wearing a straw hat and a"jumper" were
not a little disappointed at his appear
ance. He greeted them with easy cordial
ity and proceeded to make himself at home
in true cowboy fashion.
Remember how you lost the branding
iron, Bill?" said one Of the men, with a
chuckle at the recollection.
"Guess l do" replied Bill m%ournfully;
event back five miles over the toughest
sort of country looking for the blamed
thing and then found it rolled up in my
coat behind the saddle"
"Do you carry an iron when you are
out on the range?'' asked Howard, with
some surprise.
"Bob does, u replied Bill promptly, "and
whenever he sees a likely ~orejano he claps
the iron on it. He's got so expert that he
can brand a yearling on the run"
"But how does he keep the iron hotP"
said Howard ~incrcdulously.
He was interrupted by a burst of laugh
ter from the men.
"You're altogether too easily fooled"
said Robert, e~ndeavoring to suppress a
smile. "Bill has peer giving you a fill.
You mustn't believe anything that fellow
says"
After swallowing a hasty breakfast of
bread and coffee before daybreak the men
brought the horses, which had been graz
ing in a field near by, and Robert at once
saddled his own and rode to the rodeo cor
raj to ascertain if it was in condition to
receive the cattle. Jack Williams showed
Howard the horse which had been assigned
to him and then turned to throw the sad
die on his own horse.
"Look out for him; he's dangerous
he remarked as Towards 10 drew
back with a snort at his too sudden APP
proach.
"Why, what does he do?' asked How
ard.
"Buoks like the devil; nearly killed a
man last week" answered Jack laconic-
ally.
"He doesn't look like a broncho," said
Howard, surveying the horse with some
disfavor.
"No; he's a meek looking cuss, but
these old stagers are the worst. They
buck for pure You'd better
blind him, or he'll never let you get into
the saddle. You can have my binder. l
won't need it today, " said Jack, with such
friendly concern chat Howard could not
suspect him of guile and accepted the
proffered bandage.
The men nudged each other and ex-
changed expressive winks as Howard drew
the blind carefully over Borego's eyes,
mounted in haste, settled himself firmly
in the saddle, then cautiously raised the
blind. Borego stared about him for ar
instant and when touched with the spurs
walked quietly away.
"He won't buck this time, but you
can't trust him." observed Jack gravely.
By this time all the men were in their
saddles, and the party turned toward the
scene of the days search. They were soon
joined by Robert, who refined up beside
Howard and at ono observed Borego's
unusual headgear.
"Why did you put a binder on that
horse?'' he asked, suspeoting that some
one had perpetrated a joke in his absence.
"Why, Jack said he's a bucker," began
Howard, but stopped when he saw that
Robert was smiling and the other men
were ohuckling silently.
Didn't l tell you not to believe these
fellows? Borego hasn't bucked In ten
years, and l believe he's forgotten how,
You ought to have known that l wouldn't
put you on a broncho, " said Robert, trying
to speak gravely, but much amused at the
sight of the blind on Borego's placid brow.
"Sold again!" said Howard resignedly,
IT wouldn't have believed Bill Lane, but
Jack looked SO innocent that I couldn't
doubt his word. Never mind, boys, I'll
get even with you yet"
When they came to where the creek
branched, Robert sent the men in twos
and threes to search the country thor
oughly, and all the cattle they found wers
driven to the rodeo ground. BY 10 O'Clock
all the detachments had arrived, and, leav'
ing a few men to guard the cattle, the
hungry vaqueros proceeded to satisfy
their ravenou appetites with the products
Of Ramon's skill.
A brief rest followed, and then came the
work Of separating the COWS and the
calves, parting the strays and marking and
branding the calves. This being accom-
plishcd, Robert and his men slept soundly
after the days exertion, but the first faint
CLEANS of dawn found them again in sad.
die and riding with renewed energy into
the hills.
1--WE have some lively work before us to-
day." remarked Robert to Howard as they
approached the point Of separation.
Somewhere around the headwaters Of this
creek is a bunch of cattle that we haven't
been able to get out for two years. They
are as wild as deer and tAke to the brush
whenever a man appears. We must get
them today If it can be done. Bill, you
come with us, and I think the four of us
can do the business"
With his three aids, Robert proceeded to
the place where he expected to find the
wild cattle. .Now, Bill, y he said, ''you
and Howard 60 q little way up on the hill,
20 as to be out Of sight. Jack and I will