The state herald., 1901-06-28

and for two blessed hours maintained
the pace without falter. Nor In all
that heart-breaking period did his lin
cal progress exceed 100 yards! 1t was
most astonishing. not one superfuous
movement was made; he simply kept
on and on, each jump being alost semi
circular. that Is. landing with his head
where his tail had started from, and
vice versa.
This is what the cowpunchers call
changing ends, and 1t Is not difficult
to imagine the effect of such pro-
tracted merry-go-round sensation on
the rider. The bucking was neither
high nor fierce, but the strain Of that
continuous swirl must have been rack
ing. There was one slight variation
which the scrubby buckskin allowed
himself in his system. though this was
OF such nature us to be rather discon-
certing to rider with head already
far from steady. 1t was to turn in the
air after the usual fashion, but instead
Of alighting on stiffened legs, to fall
clumsily on one side, the pony saving
himself by bending his foreleg back
under him. 1t was an ugly trick to
evade. and the black New Mexican
must have been clear grit to hold his
own SO long. His face grew pallid
and drawn, and after awhile his stom-
ach revolted.
At the close of the second hour he
was helpless; his will was still In the
thing. but his body was limp and In
effective. and the blood slowly trickled
from his nose and ears. The pony
still worked with the monotonous reg
ularity OF steam exhaust, and the
end was unquestionably near
When 1t came. the man was sprawled
to one side. and the horse immedi-
ately lapsed into his usual dropping
attitude OF watchful sleepiness. Some
OF us ran to assist Rawlins. who lay
Just as he had fallen, too weak to rise.
But he waved us back; his face was
malignant with shame and anger, and
distorted by pain; altogether. with the
pallor and the blood-streaked beard.
he was not an exhilarating sight. Roll
Ing over to his side. he raised himself
partially on an elbow, and before we
could close on him had drawn his
Colts and fred. The big gun spoke
sharply. and with moan that was al
most human the buckskin pony lurched
heavily to the ground.
We reached Rawlins in time to take
the smoking revolver from his nerve
less grasp; but as he fell back again,
l heard him mutter thicklv: There,
curse ye. y mud-skinned hell-hound!
Yell wear no more men out!"
The PROSTATE broncho- busters
friends had taken him up. and Dillon
was In the midst Of a brilliant address.
awarding with much ornate language
the purse to Curlew. when an incident
in the form Of anti-climax took the
floor from the speaker and wound up
the sport with a hearty burst of good
natured acclamation.
had the history OF this incident
afterward. 1t seems that the boys OF
the town-the Juveniles, I mean-had
organized and schemed to place an un-
registered and unexpected entry in the
contest: and their scheme was emf
nently successful-and amusing. Tho
camp supported little half-breed
youth OF about 12 years. a marvel In
his love for and command over horses:
he must have been born and reared
upon their backs, so easily did he be-
come them. 1t was this urchin. Pc
dro by name. who was elected to rep
resent the younger faction In the rid
Ing. There was one difilculty that
would have baffied most boys: no bad
horse was forthcoming. but Pedro was
SO extremely Indifferent as to the ma
ture or build Of his mount that even
this was an easy adjustment At the
extreme upper end OF the town was
butchers cow corral. and In II confined
bunch OF cattle new from the range;
one OF these. great red and white
t-year-old steer. was selected. and Pc
dro eagerly started on his ride to fame
Dillon was getting well warmed to
his prepared and patriotic ora
tion. when Pedro and the frantic steer
appeared. rushing down the pitch from
the town above. There was m unre-
strained howl from tho assembiage. In
which even Dillon Joined. and the
dirty. daredevil brat shot out an an
swcring grin from the cAreening back
OF his astonished steer. It was a thing
to make the old Eulch CULVER with
laughter. Some one had dressed the
boy especially for the game: he had on
4 pair OF heavy fringed. fuii-siaed
snaps. At least eight inches too long
for him. and only kept from entirely
covering his feet by the shanks OF 4
pair OF hugo Mexican spurs. all bells
and bangles. His impish face was sur
mounted by q 5-inch sombrero. u heavy
quirt In one hand and In the other .
coil Of rawhido lariat. which WAS
loopcd only over the steers horns.
And how that animal was twisting
himself. head down and tail up. But
the boy clung like a barnaclc. by what
means have no conjecture. II In we'll
known that a steer has no withsrs.
that he can buck through the cinchcs
Of any saddle. and cowboy without a
saddle In not formidable. Yet there
was that lean youth heather. hampercd
by tho awkward trappings they had put
on him. pcrched on his Archinx. un-
sirded stecd with all tho pert compos.
urc OF n tomtit on pump handle.
which ID old Joe's kimilc.
Cum ar nv that, yc young limb"
houfed MILAN na fhe sfaer v,,shad