Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1902-09-04


that would have gladdened the soul
Of an artist. Half mile farther
down the slope the white. canvas
covered wagons were rolling swiftly
to the Clearwater, followed by q long
string of saddle horses driven by the
horse-wrangler. A mile or so behind
them, great, moving mass OF cattle
drifted slowly down the ridge. Two
cowpunchers rode back and forth be-
hind them, while one rode out on each
side to keep the cattle from spread
ing out too far. Off across the
Clearwater the Bear Paw mountains
reared their timber-crowned peaks,
while the rolling prairie between was
dotted with little punches OF stock.
There was little time to enjoy tho
scene, for old Dolby started again
and soon had his men scattered in
pairs over the country, driving tho
stock before them toward the Big
Hole fiat.
Then Kid Moore and his men APP
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 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 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 sore spot. He was good
rider; he had held down many a job
solely on account of his ability to
ride any horse which could be sad.
died. And behold, he had come to
the Circle Four, hired out for bron-
cho-twister-and had been piled up
the first morning. It was madden
ing. But the Freak found some con-
ISOLATION in the thought that if King
bolt was as bad as he was said to be,
he would soon have a chance to show
the Circle Four what he was made
of.
1t was with this thought in mind
that he unfastened his lariat from
his saddle, stepping into the rope
corral, and threw the moose over the
head of Kingbolt. After slipping
half-hitch over his nose, he led him
out, and by much coaxing and petting
managed to bride him.
He then picked up the saddle
blanket and attempted to place it
on the horses back; but Kingbolt
had decided that the performance
had gone far enough. He reared,
and struck out savagely with both
front feet. The Freak lodged, and,
picking up lariat which lay near,
made a small loop, and, spreading it
on the ground in front of the horse,
he led him up little at time until
both feet were in the loop, when he
ierked it tight with both hands.
Kingbolt reared straight up as the
rope frightened about his feet, and
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 another held the foot-rope,
leaving the Freak free to saddle him.
This was soon accomplished. All
hands and the cook were out watch
ing eagerly for the climax.
The Freak gathered his reins in
one hand; in the other he held
braided, shot-loaded quirt. One of
the boys pulled the rope off King
bolts feet. AS he scrambled up, the
Freak sprang into the saddle, and a
performance took place which baf-
fles description.
The big sorrel would bound high
in 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 at the riders legs, and
squealing like a pig with rage.
1t was of no use; the harder he
bucked the more the Freak whipped
and spurred, until Kingbolt's shout
dcrs and ribs looked as though they
had been clawed by wildcat. At
last, almost exhausted by his ef-
forts to unseat his rider, Kingbolt
sprang into the air and threw him
self fat on his side; but the Freak
was too wary to be caught that way.
He jerked his feet from the stirrups
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 :
wild, exultant yell and smote hir
across the nose with his quirt.
The next instant he was racing in
mad gallop across the fiat, straight
for gulley which ran into the bed
of the creek, only few hundred
yards away: a dry cash in the earth,
20 feet deep, and not much wider,