The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1900-03-15


5Spidex would at this time have consfd
cred such an outbreak beneath his dig
nifty. unless committed for weighty and
we'll considered reasons. Besides, his
outfit arrived, which placed him, when
the first stunning shock of surprise had
subsidized, on the pinnacle of all earthly
bliss
Spider might well be pleased. The
.'..'boys' had done their best, and Spider
was equipped from head to heel with
cowboy paraphernalia-saddle, Bride
spurs and all His chaps were resplend-
ent. The new leather made his legs, 80
the men said, look like those of a newly
Matched chicken. they were so yellow.
So taken with them was Spider that he
was nearly thrown several times the
first day he wore them because. instead
of looking to see where his horse was
going, he was admiring his legs But
glory greater even than the chaps lay
in his :'gun,' the heavy pistol, that
with it's holster and we'll filled car
tridge> belt Spider proudly buckled
around his waist. He seemed to have
grown two inches taller as he strutted
about the camp. The outfit would have
been woefully incomplete without this
weapon. If a herder becomes endorsed,
the half wild cattle will attack him
oftener than not and without this means
of defense he would be helpless.
Spider threw himself into his work
with an energy greater, if possible, than
before. Lack of energy was at no time
one of Spiders faults, and this was
most fortunate, for we needed him and
every one on whom we could depend
more and more as the days passed bly,
Matters in the camp were going from
bad to worse
Those men who went most FREQUENT
~ to Aqua Caliente began going often
er than ever. Sometimes they would
leave their work in order to go there,
and when they returned they would be
filled with the malignant whisky preva-
lent in that region or with the still
more malignant mescal Could we have
replaced them these men would have
been discharged at once, but we could
not replace them. For a time I was
comforted by the reflection that as soon
as their money gave out this conduct
must cease. It did not cease, but in
stead it became worse than ever Some
of the cowboys left. Some became so
useless that, great as our need was, we
had to discharge them. Of all the men
who went often to Aqua Caliente. Hollis
alone would return sober.
can he's jus the las one I care
about, said the foreman as for the
hundredth time we were holding a
council. Hes han in glove with Lo-
rena an the hull gang. It's them what
get the boys away-it's their regular
trick. They wants ter weaken US all
they can an then sneak the cattle Been
stealth cattle fer years, they have, only
no one couldn't prove nothin They
amt takin no chances they en- help,
but the rivers goin down purity fas'
now, an they know it, so l reckon
they II make Their try fer our herd in a
night er two-t'night maybe Better
get the cattle together There AIM no
use in our foolin things
don't look none too CANDY, no way you
en- see 'eul.
What the foreman said was perfectly
true. l fully realized that now, and at
once gave orders to round up the cattle
The river had fallen considerabl bly,, and it
was decided that we should move the
camp and gather the cattle at the near
est ford, 10 miles below. In this way it
was just possible that, if the river al
lowed us, we might get across and away
before there was an opportunity for
trouble
All OF our men were at supper that
night, and all Of them, with the excep-
ton of Hollis, were trustworthy The
others had been weeded out days before
AS the hasty meal was finished the fore
man stood up and made a little speech
to the men. 1t was very short
''Boys, he said, Il reckon You all
knows what you got ter do Now you
wanter saddle up an do it jus as quick
as you know how. There'll be trouble
else at both ends er the line Now's the
time ter start
The boys saddled and started. Ina
few minutes, except for the Ballet
Girl, who was hurriedly striking camp.
there was not a human being in sight.
Driving the spare horses ahead of me,
l went directly to our new camping
place. gathering by the way what few
cattle l could get. was the first to ar.
rive at the ford. built fire to guide
the others to this point and sat down
to keep it going until the cook could
come up and relieve me-
Few of the cattle had strayed far
Followed by shouting cowboy or two,
LcY IH~
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