Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1899-06-09
On the Long Trail.
The Story Of a Boys Cattle Drive
from the Great Plains
to ST. Louis.

NAo proud day Tor LOrnC, the
young foreman of the Circle Bar
ranch, when he started on his first
drive" with herd of 5000 cattle for
the northern shipping point.
1t was his orders 10 take the herd
to 81. Louis and pass through the Ozark
mountains or foothills. The herd was
tractablc 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
roundup.
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 he 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 night and waited for de-
velopments. Soon there was another
wolf call; then another, then a 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 a glimpse of a dark form which
he took to be 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 ne was seized from
behind and went rolling to the ground,
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-Loue, the Mex
lean, who had been discharged when
I 10 ft.uf ho In
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 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
i'm 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.
A 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.
By 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 crawling figure
leading small pony that crept across
the herds grazing ground and
slowly, without making the con-
tented animals raise their heads
suspciously, separate the northern
third of the herd from those OF
the south. Steadily they drew away
and. rs there were several hummocks
in that region, were soon behind one
and out of sight of the regular herders.
1t was a shrcwd trick and one that was
played on more than one occasion in
The history of the cattle trade. Lornc
was new to ii and did not even see
what had been done until one Of the
hcredrs rode up to say that there was
something out of the way.
1.-THE herds short, somehow" he ex-
claimed.
"Nvhat do you meanY"
They're missing--stolen or strayed
and we are out"