Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1899-05-12
On the Long Trail.
The Story of a Boys Cattle Drive
from the Great Plains
to st. Louis.

TT WAS a proud day for Lorne, the
ranch, when he started on his first
drive with herd of 5000 cattle for
the northern shipping point.
1t was his orders to take the herd
TO ST. Louis and pass through the Ozark
mountains or foothills. The herd was
tractable during the earlier days of the
course, but as the cattle went on they
became more nervous, and it was with
difficulty that the herders could keep
them within the lines of the nightly
Tound-up.
Once, when they had been compelled
to ride constantly around the herd from
evening far into the night, Lorne went
TO the head of the herd to see what was
the disturbing cause.
AS ohe sat on his horse he heard the
call of a wolf off to the right, answered
by another from the left. Something
about the sound was unnatural, and he
listened closely. Again they came, and
soon there was second movement
among the cattle something had been
thrown into the herd to startle them.
He knew then what was the matter
some one was annoying the herd to
make him trouble. But when daylight
came he could see nothing of the dis
turbers, and again he waited for night.
He took his own position far on the
outskirts that light and waited for de-
velopments. Soon there was another
wolf call; then another, then whiz-
zing sound and another movement of
the cattle. He rode furiously at the
point where he thought the sound
originated, and was not surprised to
catch glimpse of a dark form which
he0took to be a man on horseback.
Halt he cried, ''or L will shoot
you'll"
There was no stopping. Faster and
faster he rode and gained on his an
meyer. Then before he was aware of
what was happening he was seized from
behind and went rolling to the ground,
a lariat coiled around him having jerked
him from the saddle. 1t had not caught
over his head and his second assailant
went rushing past and away before he
could regain his feet.
But not quick enough for the rider to
escape notice, and one glance at the
STOPPING shoulders and the long hair
told Lorne who it was-Louie, the Mex
lean. who had been discharged when
Lorne went to work first on the Circle
Bar.
But there was enough to look after
at the other end of the line. The cattle,
startled more than ever by the noise,
had started on a stampede and were
racing toward the east at the top of
their speed, the herders doing all in
their power to stop them, but without
effect.
1t was two days before the herd was
in shape to start on the journey again.
Then the course was turned to the
north and it was hoped that on striking
the long trail there would be no more
trouble.
On the whole the trip was going well
and they were up in the middle of the
territory with hopes of seeing the south
branch of the Cimarron most any day.
y halt had been CALLED early for night.
and on the level plain the cattle were
scattered for two miles up and down
the trail. The herders were getting
supper and only three were on guard.
Isy some means one of these was off his
horse and the others were together at
the southern end of the long line.
None of them saw a crawling figure
leading small pony that crept across
the herds grazing ground and
slowly. without making the con-
tented animals raise their heads
suspiciously, separate the northern
third of the herd from those of
the south. Steadily they drew away,
and, as there were several hummocls
In that region. were soon behind one
and out of sight of the regular herders.
1T wslssa shrewd trick, and one that was
played on more than one occasion in
the history of the cattle trade. Lorne
was new to it and did not even. see
what had been done until one of the
hcredrsarode up to say that there was
something out of the way.
1.-The herds short, somehow he ex-
claimed.
What do you mean?"
They're missing stolen- or strayed.
and we are out"