The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-07-02

and was standing close to the corral
watching the boys rope out their
horses, when the boss called to him !:
Come on into the corral, and I'll show
you what to ride
Contrary to the expectations of the
cowboys, Dolby pointed out a chunky
little black, saying as he did so: You
en- ride that black this mornin; he's
liable t. buck some, but after he gets
through you en- do anything with i'm.
We've got to round up between --ere
an Clearwater this mornin' an we
amt got no time t. fool with mean
horses; but this afternoon you can
ride that big sorrel," pointing to King
bolt. If you en- stick him to fin
ish you can ride anything we've got
here
"All right" said the Freak, and toss
ed his rope over the blacks head. At
ter petting him a little, he led him
from the corral and saddled him
without any trouble.
That fellow saveys his business, "
said Dolby to one of tie cowpunchers
Looks like it-but a man may be
handy with horses, and not be top
rider any man that rides old King
bolt has got to be a natural born
broncho- fighter"
That's right; but Well find out this
afternoon" said Dolby. "Wen, come
. on boys-lets hit the trail"
The cowpunchers swung into their
saddles, with one eye on the Freak.
They knew that the little black,
though fairly gentle, could make a
man ride for a few seconds, if he got
started that way. But they were dis
appointed. The Freak gathered up
his reins, and, patting the little black
on the neck, caught his name in one
hand, grasped the horn of the sad
die in the other, and shook it gently.
Then he stuck his foot in the stirrup
and swung lightly into the saddle.
The little black walked off like lamb.
Up out of the cree bottom they
rode. When they reached the top of
the first hill, old Dolby pulled up and
turned to Kid Moore. take four or
five of the boys, and go down to the
mouth of Chin Coulee," he said.
Work the country from there to the
Big Hole on Clearwater; that's where
the wagons III camp. Well round up
on the fiat You go with inland you,
and you, and you,' motioning : some
of the boys. THE rest of you fellows
come with me-"
They turned to follow him. johnny
Layton dropped behind the Freak, who
was riding half turned in his saddle,
gazing out across the prairie. Johnny
winked at the boys, raised his foot and
spurred the little black on the rump
The next instant the Freak was on his
back on the ground, and the little
black was flying over the prairie with
the stirrup feathers Tapping wildly
against his sides. Two of the boys
dashed after him, roped him, and led
him back.
How the devil did you get off"
asked Dolby as the Freak climbed on
again.
"Oh, I was ridin' careless, an he got
me fore I knew what happened" sail
the Freak, scowling at Layton, who
sat on his horse grinning like a
Cheshire cat.
you better not let i'm git you
agin; if you can't ride him, thar
amt much use of your tacklin' King
bolt"
"Oh, you needn't be alarmed about
met l amt asleep all the time; a man
amt going to fall off every time a
horse steps sideways, just cause he
got caught unexpected once" hotly re-
piled the Freak, fairly choking with
rage and modification.
Nothing more was said. Dolby let
out at a good, swift gallop for the next
five miles, when they pulled up at
the top of the divide to wind their
painting horses and take a look at the
country.
Spread before them was a picture
that would have gIaddened the soul
of an artist. Half a mile further
down the slope the white, canvas
covered wagons were rolling swiftly
to the Clearwater, followed by a long
string of saddle horses driven by the
horse wrangler. A mile or SO behind
them a great moving mass of cattle
drifted slowly down the ridge. Two
eowpunchers rode back and forth be-
hind them, while one rode out on each
side to keep the cattle from spreading
out too far. Off across the Clearwater,
the Bear Paw Mountains reared their
timber crowned peaks, while the roll
ing prairie between was dotted with
little punches of stock. There was
little time to enjoy the scene, for Dolby
started again, and soon had his men
scattered in pairs over the country,
driving the stock before them toward
the Big Hole Flat.
Then Kid Moore and his men ap-
peared with quite herd, and all the
fat cattle belonging to the Circle
Four were cut out and driven into the
big bunch which was being grazed
down to the creek. The tired cowboys
rode into camp, turned their horses
loose, and lay around in the shade of
the wagons until dinner was ready.
Dinner over the cavy. was driven