The National tribune., 1901-01-10

''The last time | saw that white-faced
| skeezicks," answered Pete, indifferently,
rs he made jerk in response to a nibble,
he'd started with his head and tail up for
and he must see the parade"
And Peter carefully cast his hook for
another trial.
Here, drop that pole, put that hook
and-line back in your pocket, and tend to
your business, Pete" said 81 irritably.
The United States amt paying you SIC
a month TO catch sunfish. Come with me
and find that steer, and be quick about it"
Pete sighed ut a lost opportunity, but
put up his tackle, and the two started in
search of the herd leader The cattle
were all now quietly browning around in
the little valley. Several red steers were
found, but none of them had the white
face, the crop in the left ear, and the
other distinguishing characteristics of the
sought-for 10 Wheeler. That individual
seemed to have disappeared as utterly as
if the earth had swallowed him. 81 began
to be feyerish, as the afternoon was pass
ing away. He galloped back to Jake Dye,
to find that all the rear of the herd had
been closed up, but there was no 10
Wheeler among them.
Where in time can that measly wind
sucker beg said 81, wiping his face and
making another tour of the cattle.
He made q vain effort TO have one of
the other red steers assume the lead, but
each of them, after being urged forward a
little ways, would suddenly slip off TO one
side and presently fall to quietly MUNICH
ing the grass, while the other cattle would
not pay sufficient attention to the perform
ance to look up from their browning.
ST sent Shorty back for some more of
the men, and they deployed as a skirmish
line to work through the herd, and the
ground it occupied, in search of a red steer
with white face, bell on, and a crop in
his left ear.
A precious hour was spent in this vain
search, and ST lost his temper as far as to
make some acrimonious remarks to Jake
Dye and his men about their carelessness
in looking to the rear, which had let the
steer escape.
81 stopped on n little knoll not far from
the ford, to think over what to do next,
and gather in his lieutenants for further
directions.
Pete took advantage of the lull to look
around for another worm to bait his hook.
He presently yelled:
"Sarjint, there's that COMPOUNDED steer,
hid in that bunch O. cedars there. He's
bin there all the time, standing so still
that he hain't even tinkled his bell. That's
just like an OK. That's just what makes
me deSpiSe an OK"
81 rushed up there to find 10 Wheeler
gazing with mildly cOntemplative, indif-
ferent eyes upon the turmoil around him,
as if it was a matter in which he had only
the most languid and spectacular interest.
Time was so important that ST violently
restrained his angry desire to rush at the
bullock with his whip. Besides, he re-
membered his admontiOns to his men as
TO kindness. lie moved quietly around
to the rear and ordered him out.
10 Wheeler's mood underwent a light
ming transformation. Before 81 could
think he suddenly dashed out of the copse
and started on a gallop up the creek, to
the left and away from the ford, a way
that none of them had SO far shown the
slightest desire to go. The others as sud
denly stopped their browsing and started
after him on dead run.
81 jumped into the saddle and started
after, circling around to head him Off
"Dumbed if | ever saw horned critter
run so in my life exclaimed 81, as he
Must be crossed with a deer. I'd like to
send him back to Injianny to trot in single
harness for a prize. But he can't keep up
that gait for long. Nothing covered with
sole leather can"
But a mile had been passed. and 10
Wheeler's wind and bottom seemed unim-
paired in the least. Though 81 had n good
horse, and could ride him for all that he
was worth, he had trouble keeping 10
in sight.
'Think I'd like to have that steer" re-
marked Shorty, land get the contract for
carrying the fast mail to San Francisco.
Don't think he'll stop in Chattynoogy. He
wants to see friends in Nashville"
But a half mile farther 10 Wheeler |
seemed to conclude that over-exercise |
might be bad for his heart. He whirled |
suddenly to the left and plunged into |
paw-paw thicket, where he stood as mo-
tionless and silent as if carved out of
wood. The others stopped, lolled out their
tongues and painted.
But he could not play that trick twice
on 81, who was old enough skirmisher to
watch for the bushes shaking. He rode
carefully to a little knoll in front of the
copse, and as he looked back from it he
could see the country around the ford, and
the cattle still turmoilng around there,
utterly refusing TO start across the creek.
His patience was clear exhausted, and, be-
sides, he was SO far away that any eXhi-
bition of temper would not have bad eff
feet on the boys. There were piles of large
rounded pebbles, called "dornicks' by the
people of that country, just the size for a
strong man to hurl with deadly effect. 81
picked UP one of these and threw it into
the brush with all the might that flaming
rage could lend to his stalwart arm, and
when 81 threw stone it was no joke. 1T
hit 10 Wheeler's side with whack like a
note on bass drum, and startled him
from his meditations on what foels men