Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-08-19

the creek. The tired cowboys rode into
camp. turned their horses loose and lay
down in the shade of the wagons until
dinner was ready.
Dinner over. the cavy was driven IN
and the boys began catching their
mounts for The afternoon work, which
WAS simply a repetition of the morning
farther UP the creek
The Freak had done some hard
thinking while waiting for dinner. He
had overheard the remarks made the
evening before. and they had touched
a sore spot. He was a good rider; he
had held down many a job solely on ac-
count OF his ability to ride amy horse
which could be sa(ldlcd. And behold. he
had come 10 the Circle Four. hired out
for u broncho-tWister- and had been
piled up the first morning. 1t was mad
denng. But the Freak found some
consolation in the thought that if King
bolt was as bad as he was said to be.
he would soon have n chance to show
the Circle Four What he WAS made of
1t was with this thought in mind that
he unfastened his larst from his sad
die. stepped into the rope corral, ana
threw the moose over the head of King
bolt After slipping half-hitch over
his nose he led him out. and by much
coaxing and petting managed TO Dilaie
him.
He then picked up the saddie-biahke'
and attempted to place it on the morse ;
back: but kingnlt had decided that
the performance had gone far enough.
He reared. and struck out saNasciy
with both front feet. The Freak aodgea'
and. picking up lariat which lay near,
made n small loop. and. spreading II ON
the ground i'm front of the horse. ne led
him up ~ little at q time until both feet
we're in the loop. when he jerked 1T tight
with both hands.
kingbolt reared straight up as the
rope frightened about his feet, and a
savage jerk from the Freak brought
him flat on his side. No sooner had he
fallen than one of the boys had him by
the head-one hand gripping his ear
and the other over his nose-while an
other held the footrope. leaving the
Freak free to saddle him. This WAS soon
accomplished. All hands and the cook
We're watching eagerly for the climax.
The Freak gathered his reins in one
hand: in the other he held Il braided,
shot -loatled quirt One of the boys
pulled the rope off kingbolts feet. AS
he scrambled up the Freak sprang into
the saddle, and a performance took
place which battles description.
The big sorrel would bound high into
the air, shake himself and strike the
ground stiff legged. Then he would
spring again and reverse ends before
coming down varying this with kicking
q; the riders legs, and squealing like Il
pig with rage.
Ii Was of no use; the harder he
bucked the more the Freak whipped
and spurred. until Kingbolt's shoulders
and ribs looked as tho they had been
clswed by a wildcat. At last. almost
exhausted by his efforts to unseat his
rider. Kingbolt sprang into the AIR ana
threw himself flat on his side; but the
Freak was too wary to be caught that
way He ierked his feet from the stir
rups and swung clear of him as he fell.
Pressing his knee on the horn OF the
saddle he held the horse down While
he took fresh breath himself.
Once more ready for the fray. he
struck Kingbolt lightly With his quirt,
mounting him as he jumped up. The
big sorrel bumped his back to. buck
again. and the Freak gave a wild, eN-
ultant Yell and smote him across the
nose With his quirt.
The next instant he was racing in
mad s;allop across the Fat. straight for
{, gullev which ran into the bed of the
creek, only a few hundred yards away;
dry cash in the earth. twenty feet
deep, and no. much wider, with banks
straight up and down.
Head i'm off, boys. For Gods sake
head i'm off" shouted old Dolby. Half
a dozen cowpunchers sprang on their
horses and gave chase, but it was too
late. They We're not more than half