Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1902-07-31

After supper was over the horse.
wrangler drove the horses into the
rope corral, which was strung out
from the bed wagon, and those OF
the cowboys who were booked to &c
on night-guard-they were gathering
beef cattle, and had quite a herd
caught their night horses and re
ieved the day herders.
The rest of them lost no time in
rolling into bed, for the cowpunche1
who puts in IL or IA hours in the
saddle every day, and stands guart
two and a half hours every other
night, never loses a chance to sleep
Early the next morning they were
awakened by the musical jingling OF
the bells on the cavy as the night
hawk drove them into the corral
Soon the cook shouted Roll out
breakfasts ready"
Now, it takes a very short time
for a bunch of hungry cowpunchers
to eat breakfast, and in a little while
they were preparing to moye camp te
Clearwater creek, about ten miles
away. The tents were pulled down;
the cook-tent, stove, pots, pans, ant
all the pa%raphernalia presided ovel
by old Jake Devlin-as jolly a soul as
ever boiled a pot of coffee-were
loaded upon the mess-wagon. The
beds, sleeping-tent, corral ropes, ant
other things used by the outfit were
piled into the other wagon.
After the team-horses were caugh'
and harnessed, the boys began catch
ing their saddle horses. The Freak
after helping to load up, got his lariar
and was standing close to the corral
watching the boys rope out theil
horses, when the boss called to him;
Come on into the corral, and II
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 gifts through you en- do anything
with i'm. We've got to round up be
tween here an Clearwater this
mornin', and we amt no time t. foo
with mean horses; but this after
noon you can ride that big %sorrel,'
pointing to Kingbolt. eff you CT
stick him to a finish you en- ride any
thing we've got here"
"All right" said the Freak, and he
tossed his rope over the blacks head
After petting him a little, he led hin
from the corral and saddled him with
out any trouble.
''That fellow saveys his business
said Dolby to n of the cowpunchers
"Looks like it-but a man may bt
handy with horses and not be a tor
rider; any man that rides Kingbol'
has got Ia be a natural born broncho
fighter"
"That's right; but Well find out this
afternoon" said Dolby. "Well, come
on ~boys-let's hit the trail"
The cowpunchers swung into theil
saddles, with one eye on the Freak
They knew that the little black
though fairly gentle, could make 6
man ride for a few seconds, if he got
started that way. But they were
disappointed. The Freak gathered
up his reins, and, patting the littl'
black on the neck, caught his man'
in n hand, grasped the horn of thu
saddle with the other and shool
it gently. Then he stuck his foot il
the stirrup and swung lightly into thu
saddle. The little black walked of
like a lamb.
Up out of the creek bottom they
rode. When they reached the TOT
of the first hill, old Dolby pulled VI
and turned to Kid Moore. "Take foul
or five of the boys, and go down tt
the mouth of Chin Coulee," he said
"Work the country from there tt
the Big Hole on Clearwater; that
where the wagons IL camp. Wei
round up on the fiat. You go will
'im-and you, and you, and you, mo
tioning to some of the boys. Th'
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 over the prairie
Johnny winked at the boys, RAISED
his foot and spurred the little blacl
on the rump. The next instant thu
Freak was on his back on the ground
and the little black was flying ovel
the prairie with the stirrup leather.
Tapping wildly against his sides
Two of the boys dashed after him
roped him and led him back.
"How the devil did you git off?'
asked Dolby, as the Freak climbed OF
again.
"Oh, I was ridin' careless, an hi
got me fore I knew what had hap
pened," said the Freak, scowling a
Layton, who sat on his horse, grin
ming like a Cheshire cat.
"You better not let i'm git you
agin; if you can't ride him, thar aim
much use of your tacklin' Kingbolt.
"Oh, you needn't be none alarmed
about me! I amt asleep all the time;
a man amt goin' to fall off every
time a horse steps sideways, JUS
cause he got caught unexpected
once" hotly replied the Freak, fairly
choking with rage and modification
Nothing more was said. Dolby lei
out at q good, swift gallop for the
next five miles, when they pulled w
at the top Of the divide to wind theil
painting horses and take a look at the
country.
Spread before them was a picture
that would have gladdened the sou
of an artist. Half a mile farther
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