The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1900-04-25

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Hc .ooued has hand cs he passed me.
and shouting madly as they brought
hurrying in the stragglers that had
wandered up or down the river. Every
man was trying to do the work of three
men. Mounted on a gentle pony, and
leaning hard on one stirrup to ease the
other foot, I tried to help, but with an
arm in sling and an ankle lncapacl-
tated one does not succeed we'll IN
herding cattle.
A couple of cattle had broken away
from the herd, and I was trying to
chase them back. I failed signally. l
could not fellow their twists and turns,
on account Of my ankle, whic-4 was
hurt by the pressure against the STRAP
every time my horse suddenly changed
the direction in which he was going. |
ad nearly given up when Spider, his
pony en- the Keen jump, flashed by and
took up the pursuit He waved his
hand as he passed me and tried to
shout, but his throat was filed with
dust, and the nearest he could come to
his usual shrill cheer was sort OF
spluttering gasp.
In very few minutes the cattle
were safely reunited with the herd. l
had never seen Spider work with cattle.
and his ready skill surprised me. Ger
tainly he showed none of the awkward
ness of which the Ballet Girl had COM
planned. I was returning to the herd,
when Spider emerged from the cloud Of
dust that surrounded it and cantered
forward to meet me.
ssLook a-yer!'' he cried in a tone Of
authority as soon as he was close
enough to be heard. 'sYou ain got no
business here. You amt no good. nc
how, in the shape Ike you are, an
you'll only do yourself up worse. Go
up on that there little rise, where you
can see everything an won't hurt yer
self. Men the boys. We'll tend ter the
cattle all right.
Spiders command that should re-
tire was SO plainly prompted by sclici-
tude for my welfare that l could not
have resented his tone even had It not
amused me as it did. Besides, he was
perfectly right was of no use what
ever in the herring. Evidently intend
ing TO see that his orders were fully car
ried cat, Spider rode by my side as |
slowly ca1tered toward the rise that he
had pointed out to ne. Though the stir
rup feathers Of the borrowed saddle
were far toe long for him, though they
were pulled up as far as they would go,
and though tie saddle itself was so
large that it would have had room in It
for several boys Of Spiders size, still
Spider rode superbiy l saw that when
he was after those cattle. The pony he
was riding on was one of my own. and
though SPIDER had had the choice CT
several be had chosen TIE most un21a.l-
ageable animal of them all Cappy Lee
was the last mal who had attempted TO
ride the brute He had been promptly
bucked off He told NE aftecward that
he had tu-ced sc4ersault so quickly
that he had seen the canvas patcii t:if:;t
decorated the back OF his trousers.
How does the pony carry You,
SPIDER asked as we rode along to
getaer.
Like bird. Concho an mes cl
triens 5. Ee like some. He won t-esy 20
funny business when I'nl ridin m, re-
piled Spider. with a happy grin. as be
leaned forward and pattsd the pony 5
reck Concho generally carried his ears
pointing directly toward his tail. lie
rolled the whites Of his eyes in az
acknowledgement CT tie caress and cooked
his ears for an instant: then ne laid
them back again To nle his conduct
was not reassnring
..If I were in your place. woas3sl I
try any Of these tricks OF yoacs, sais.
I. l was speaking caiy CT tricks Of
horsemarsnip bat SPIDER misunderstood
me.
'.You amt seen ,ae dom no t1jcl:s
terday. l recson, he said il a tone
that showed that he was ratner hurt at
what l said. You ain a-soin ter see
none, neither. I'm herdin mex. It 3
business. "a I'm in it fer az l4i worth.
You watc;l see'f ] ai1 :; .:lJls go
back now Wheeling around ca hla
bind legs, Concho backed himself to
ward the herd Is ! E1o3nted tae rise to
which had been bound
The lean huasry looking cattle gath
cred On the t'-lio re Blended into az
indistinyuishaple mass by tie thin cloud
of dust taa5 hung over them. thrown
no by their hoofs as they pawe,! The
loose sand Hero and there flashed a