The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1900-04-27

Tie men were in Lib1 spirits. Joke
and rough chaf flew from one 10 anotb
err. But ii wonld never do TO use mp oul
horses by keeping them ut a cantef, b,
the order of the foreman the pace WA
brought down to "a shutting jog trot
The spirits OF the men seemed to keeI
pace with the speed Of their mounts
The shouts and laughter lowered until
only a rumble OF conversation could b.
heard.
Mile after mile wac passed. The plain
over which we rode WAS uDbroken by
any tracks save those we left behind us
The trail Of the herd, the foreman said,
lay farther TO the south The cattle
were heading eastward 80 were we
The point toward which they steered
was probably the grand, sleeping profile
Of Montezuma. outlined against the blne
sky by a distant mountain range. and
which marked a pass for which we, too,
were headed. On the other side OF the
pass lay Palomns,
At noon we ate Il basty lunch and
then logged on again One part Of the
desert was precisely like another There
was nothing TO mark our progress until
toward evening. we came on the track
Of the herd. The foreman and Hayward
were mildly elated then
There can't be no .,Onbt but what
we're gaipin on EN-, M there niD't no
donbt but what they're ali here, too,
said the foreman "We're liable for to
ruD agaips' the outfit mos my time
now. The chase WAS a little more
exciting after this To guard against
ambush ~ other surprise ten men were
detached and ordered to ride 900 yards
ahead OF III, and ten more were sent ~
far behind,
The trail we followed was IN plainly
marked ~ though u broad street had
been laid ont across the desert, Some.
times WI could sec II for miles ahead,
drawing TO . point ~ II disappeared
on tho horizon sometimes II pissed
over one OF the many sand dunes Tint
wripkled tho surface Of the plain then
we could see II only when we mounted
the rise,
After sunset we wopld camp by the
side Of tho trail In tho morning, M
soon M there was light enough TO SEQ
BY, we wonld pick " up again, Day
after day this went on, M%optezumn's
face grew more and more distinct, Ont,
tle that had fallen behind tho herd DO.
gan TO dot tho trail hers and there
Stretching their chafed limbs, the men
would tell each other TINT the thieves
wonld have TO pay for NIL this discom.
fort once we had 0yertnken them II
seemed 70 mo that II was months, not
days, since we had been following the
cattle, consulted with tho foreman
~ 10 the adyisability Of greater speed.
Cant 500 what we'd gain by ",
only 70 kill up our horses, = bo replied
Then thieves N driyin the herd tor
pretty near ~ good y place Ter ship
from ~ whore wo was goin when WE
started ont from tho ranch, We're
gainin on 'on too, Don't yon fret
You'll 500 ON soon enough, m thon
thereW DO all tho fun you want
10 bo SIRE, Tho foreman's idoa Of finn
differed materially from the Views
held on the nbjoct, hnt events rebound.
Cd 70 tho credit OF the foreman's wis.
dom, ~ events generally did,
" was abopt tho middle OF tho after.
noon when tho foreman rode np 10 me, |
to n thin clopd Oh dust TINT
hing over tho trial Mt u point directly
ahead 81 ns, whore y riso bid u from
orr sight,
THAT'S than, = he remarked torsoly
NOV, then, rockon'- III interrupt.
ed himself, tor there WINS tho ernek of u
rifle from tho Invisible epnGo, followed
by the popping of nix shooters Aboyp
the rise tlrpre Instantly appeared the