The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-08-22

man that did this" he said quietly, but
clinching his fists.
Ringer dropped the CANDLE, ard they
all made dive for their blankets.
II can Mex the man that did It," re.
peated the tenderfoot, but the cowboys
were snoring again, and that was all the
notice they took of his challenge.
In the morning, as they started out on
the fat to mark and brand the animals
captured the day before, the tenderfoot
touched Ringer on the shoulder. "Did
you hear what l said last nightw he
asked.
"'Bout that RATHER" Queried the cow
boy. grinning.
mo. About being able to lick the man
who put up that job" retorted the ten
derfoot.
you'll have to join some other hunt il
you want to lick anybody in this one,"
said Ringer Wen fight for each other,
but we'll never be caught fighting one
another. Don't take joke too hard, old
man."
II like jokes, but I don't like snakes.
Please to remember that, II you are 60
ing to hide behind ranch rules" And
the tenderfoot mounted and rode out
with the rest.
Hell pay you off for that one,
Frank" said Langford, who had over
heard the conversation. "Better keep
your eye peeled. He's gritty"
"Pll try his nerve out there on the
fat" replied Ringer. "I'll dare him to
ride that black bull roped yesterday"
Ringers bull was the last to be brand
ed. As they cropped one ear and sharp
ed the other Grigsby called out:
|, "Who can ride this maverick
"That's the new mans job" said
I4angford.
1.-THE new man declines the mount" the
tenderfoot replied.
"'FraidT' queried Ringer.
"Of snakes only" was the answer.
an take the mount" cried Ringer.
"1'll show this youngster how to sit on
a bucking bull"
A lariat was passed around the bulls
body Just back of the shoulders and
drawn tightly and knotted. Two other
lariats were Joined, and the moose of one
of them was thrown over the bulls horns,
while the other end was held by two of
the cowboys to prevent the bull from get
ting away until they had tired of the fun.
Then Ringer slipped off his boots, 50
that he could get toe hold in the rope
around the bulls body. Straddling the
bull, he called out, keep your eye on
me, youngster!" and then, "Cast off"
Langford slipped off the leg ropes, and
the bull sprang to his feet. He made
run on the rope, but the cowboys surged
back upon it and caused him to turn.
For few seconds he bucked in q circle,
with Ringer yelling in his ears like an
Indian and the others cheering him on.
Then the unexpected happened. In
working his toes into the rope for a STIR
rup hold the rope slackened little, and
both of Ringers feet went through. At
the same moment the bull stumbled and
fell. With his legs tied to the animals
sides, Ringer went down with him, and
the bull rolled over upon him. As the
cowboys dropped their rope to run to
Ringers assistance the bull scrambled to
his feet and made off SO fast that when
the cowboys grabbed for the anchor rope
it was jerked through their hands, and
the bull was free with Ringer practical
ly tied to his bnck. He had lost his
hand hold and was trying desperately
now to free his feet.
A hundred yards away was the edge
of the cedar brake, and for that the bull
was headed. Once in that thicket Rim
ger would be torn to pieces and his
brains dashed out against the low hang
ing limbs of the trees The cowboys ran
madly for their mounts in forlorn hope
that they might be in time to head the
bull back out on the fiat.
The tenderfoot had taken up position
between the cowboys and the brake to
watch the proceedings. He was almost
in the path of the runaway. For mo-
ment he hesitated. Then in two jumps
he placed himself directly in the course
of the Infatuated beast and waited, As
the bull charged he sprang out to meet
him. The bull had lowered his head,
and the tenderfoot landed fairly between
his horns. In IN instant he had seized
the loose ends of the slipknot In which
the body rope had been tied, and as the
bull tossed him he chung to them.
The rope turned, and he was dragged
along at the bulls feet for half dozen
strides. Then. almost at the edge of the
brake, the knot pulled out, and he drop
ped under the animals heels. That was
all he remembered for n time.
When he came to, Ringer was stagger-
ing toward him with his hand stretched
out. He reached up and took it.-New
York Press.