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

get above the cattle and start them down
the canyon, When they come along, you
fellows taks in after them and run them
like blazes and be very careful they don't
turn up any of these side canyons or wen
never see them again"
Bill and Howard stationed themselves
behind a clump of bushes and watched
and waited, with cars straining to catch
every sound, Suddenly a shout from the
opposite side of the canyon turned their
eyes in that direction. A bunch of cattle
in mad fight were crossing the canyon
and heading for a narrow ravine which
opened below and to the left of where the
men stood. Robert was dashing down the
hill behind them, yelling: "Stop 'em,
boys! Head 'em off,
mo use; it can't be done" said Bill,
seeing at a glance that the cattle would be
in the ravine long before he could reach
1t. Hold on! You can't go that way" as
his companion turned and galloped up the
hill. Howard made no reply, but disap-
peared over the crest Of the hill, which
Bill knew descended almost perpendicu-
larry to the rayine. Bill spurred his horse
to the top and stood in petrified amaze
ment watching Towards flying figure.
Hell break his neck, sure as shooting,
but l guess he's nobody's coward" was
his inward comment. However, Howard
made the descent in safety, turned the
cattle and drove them at a ~breakneck pace
down the canyon, closely followed by the
other men.
"Howard, you're a brick, " said Robert
as soon as conversation was possible.
"You turned those cattle just in the nick
of time. But you're the most reckless fel.
low l ever saw. l wouldn't ride down
that hill as you did for all the cattle on
this ranch.'
"Why, you said to stop them, and that
was the only way to do it, " said Howard,
evidently surprised to find that he had
created a sensation. He would have been
more surprised had he known how much
he had risen in Bills estimation. That
worthy had found a man more daring
than himself, and his respect for him was
%boundless. "Boys, you ought to have seen
him!' he said afterward to an interested
circle to whom he was relating the adven-
ture. "Maybe he doesn't know much
about the cattle business, but a fellow
with that much grit is bound to learn"
On the third day Of the rodeo Robert
IOOh Wlp1 HILL tS ucudlj AlONtIN uuu UUC
faithful Jack, while the other men scat
tered in various directions. Howard and
Jack were searching one side of a canyon
when they heard Robert shouting to them
from a hill on the other side. They rode
over at once and found him sitting or his
horse and watching a patch of brush from
which mysterious cracking sounds issued.
"That old long horned Arizona COW is in
there" he said to Jack. II tried to drive
her, but she made a run at me and then
went into the bush, and l can't get her
out. Tie your horse and SEQ If you can't
make her move. She's fighting mad,
though, SO look out for yourself"
Jack crawled warily into the thioket,
while Robert and Howard stood by, riatas
in hand. A shout from Jack warned
them: "Look out! She's coming, and
she's mad as fury. l can see her eyes
blaze"
The brush snapped and parted, and out
plunged the COW, took one glance at the
situation and plunged straight for Robert,
who was the nearest. The attack was SO
sudden that before he could throw the riata
or move the cow struck his horse and,
with q vicious twist of her horns, tore a
gaping wound in the poor brute's side.
The shock sent horse and rider over in a
heap, and the COW faced about ready for
new foes. Robert was up In an instant,
with the elasticity of a man used to hard
falls, and ran for the nearest tree. The
COW heard him, wheeled like a fash and
charged after him with a snort of rage.
She was almost on him when Towards
RATA settled around her horns and stopped
her with a jerk that threw her to the
ground, while Robert made quick time to
q point Of safety.
In a moment the COW was again on her
feet, believing and paving the ground.
Then, with lowered horns, she dashed fu.
riously at Howard, whose keen eyes were
Watching her every movement and who
still had one end of the RATA twisted
around the horn Of his saddle. He spurred
his horse in the opposite direction, a ma.
neuver which stood the astonished COW on
her head at the imminent risk of fractur-
ing her neck. Before she could rise Jack
was sitting On her head, and, with riatas,
they bound her legs till she was helpless.
re a trump, Howardl' said Rob-
ert warmly as soon as the excitement was
over. "I'd have been badly hurt only for
you. l thought l was done for when I
heard that old COW snort behind me, but !
believe I'd Just as soon be killed outright
as scared to death"
"Well, I'm glad that you're only scared"
replied Howar r "It was a pretty close
call, though, and it's lucky I didn't miss"
This Incident settled Howard g standing
as a vaque,o. The man who rode with
brilliant daring and threw his RATA with
unerring aim in tho face Of danger was
worthy to take his place among the shin
Ing lights Of the land.-Celia Lynn In