The National tribune., 1901-01-10

I feet on 10 Wheeler that when the latter
reached the ford he turned and dashed
across it and up the hill on the other side,
still followed by ST, and he by the cattle,
who no longer showed antipathy when
they saw their leader go. They went over
with such rush now that Monty and
Harry could not make an accurate count.
But they were certain that fully 800 had
passed, and would have been willing to
make the number near double.
The cattle continued moving at rate
which promised to make up a good deal
that was lost by their previous stubborn
ness. 10 Wheeler maintained his lead,
and paced along at gait which kept Sis
horse moving. Riding by the side of Shad
Graham, 81 would look back from each
rise and note with satisfaction the mile
long column pressing on through the mar
row valley. As there were cleared fields
on either side of the road, there was now
little difficulty in keeping the cattle to-
gether. But 81 began to fear that he
pace at which they were going would soon
break them down, and he tried to get 10
Wheeler to strike slower gait. That er-
ratio individual, however, had ideas of his
own as to travelling, and showed such dis
inclination to be interfered with that 81,
after several attempts, prudently let him
have his own way, especially as they were
now going over hill, which had brush on
possibilities of Settlement.
They descended into q wide, open valley,
which struck 81 ut once as 4 good place for
rounding up and bedding down the cattle
for the night, and also to Craze them for
an hour or two in the morning. The sun
was now beginning to sink behind the
mountains, and it would be soon necessary
to stop. He brought all his herding skill
to bear. He got Shad, Shorty and the rest
tn1 iii fol- ind
him on the right side of the moving line
and as the column descended onto the
plain, began to press its head slowly and
carefully over toward the left. 10 Wheeler
bore off to the left to keep q distance from
the horsemen closing quietly and persist
emily in upon him, slowed down, and pres
emily found himself describing wide cir
Gle around the valley, coming back toward
where he entered it. Presently the whole
herd was milling" around in the most
satisfactory manner, with the horsemen
gradually contracting the circle. At length
10 Wheeler stopped, gaZed contemplatiTely
for minute or more on the darkling
mountain tops and meditated on the mura
bility of mundane affairs and the vicissj-
tudes in an oxs life. Then his fore knees
suddenly bent, but his launches came first
to the ground, and without any apparent
preliminaries. He continued his specula-
tive gaze on the mountain crests, gave a
resounding sigh over the vanity of bovine
existence and mans inhumanity to the
whole horned race, and then began DELHI
erately chewing his cud, and sinking into
deeper and deeper reflections. The rest
followed his example, and soon the whole
herd was lying in compact mass, en-
gagged in contented rumination.
Must be some fun about being q steer,
after all" remarked Shorty, gazing on the
scene. He eats his grub twice and swal-
lows it three times, and so gets at least
twice as much good out of it. But, then,
when he hain't none. he must be twice as
hungry as other people,
We're all right, now" said 81 salts
fiedly as he disposed his men for the
night and came back to take Il last look at
the herd before it became too dark. I'VE
had little trouble starting them, because
we were strange to them, and they strange
to us. But we done that rounding up in
great shape. Oldest COW puncher in Amer
lea couldn't have done it better. I'll make
a detail directly, to take turns riding
herd all night and keeping from be-
ing disturbed, and tomorrow morn
ing we'll just unwind 'em Just the way we
wound 'em up tonight, and start 'em right
along without any trouble. All we've got
to do is TO keep 'em from being disturbed
tonight and | don't think there'll be any
trouble about that, for there amt anything
alive in this part of the country. What
amt been killed has been scared off. L
think my strongest point is stock, and I'll
go into stockraising and handling, after
tie war. There's pile o money in it for
a mans who's built for the business"
IF you heaYe another dornick so close
to my head as that'n to-day, you're liable
not to live to see the end of the war;" re-
marked Shorty. as they sHuntered back to
the fire for their coffee and crackers. You ,
throw stones too well to make it funny.
I'd rather have n rebel tlinging shells at
me-"
The crisp evening air was redolent of |
he fragrance of boiling coffee and frying |
meat. The tired partners sat down in
leep content to full meal of the grateful |
,iands furnished by the CommisSary.
Driving cattle isn't so bad. after ALL
embarked Shorty, as the modifying effects
If good supper began to make them
elyes felt. Il guess I'd about as soon go
IN to Atlanty this way as any other"
Sooner go this way than be coOped up
IN the cars" echoed 81, cOntentedly.
A white mule, which had escaped from
lis corral, or had been turned loose to die
n the Summer, had surveyed the scene
rom the hill top, which had been his
efuge and range during his period of free
ON. The sight of 'ae fires and the smell
f the coffee and meat brought homesick-
ess to his hybridized heart. 1t brought
ack memories of the happy days of COM
with his fellows, of regular "a
ions of rich, golden corn, and the fra