The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1902-08-15

riders as between the bay and the
buckskin. The south valley champion
was much shorter than Curlew and
better knit. If l had not seen the con-
fusing deXterity of the lanky, red hair
ed boy, l should have esteemed this
the likelier man. His movements were
alert, and he showed much experience,
in complexion almost black, with q
bearded and somewhat sinister face,
"Charley Rawlins, late av N'MiXico an
bad when he's dhrinkin'," as Dillon
catalogued him.
The buckskin pony remained in his
downcast posture and allowed the New
Mexican to saddle him unresistingly,
merely cooking his hairy ears, one for
ward and the other back, and watching
behind through the tail of his slitted
eye. ! was standing alongside old Joe
during this peaceful overture and noted
the old mans chuckle, grim and omi-
nous
Charley led his mount out from the
corral to the fiat and, jamming his
finely worked Mexican hat down over
The yellow pony walked up Immediate
ly and took the buck, not wildly and
ferociOuSly, as the bay had done, but
in calm, matter of fact sort of way
that convinced one it was his natural
gait. Just as another horse might have
galloped or trotted so did this beast
buck and for two blessed hours main-
tanned the pace without falter. Nor
in all that heartbreaking period did his
lineal progress exceed 100 yards. 1t
was most astonishing. Not one super
fiuous movement was made. He SIM
ply kept on and on, each jump being
almost semicircular-that is, landing
with his head where his tail had start
ed from, AMI vice versa.
This is what the cowpunchers call
changing ends, and it is not difficult to
imagine the effect of such protracted
merry go round sensation on the rider.
The bucking was neither high nor
fierce, but the strain of that continuous
swirl must have been racking. There
was one slight variation which the
scrubby buckskin allowed himself in
his system, though this was of such
nature as to be rather disconcerting to
a rider with a head already far from
steady. 1t was to turn in the air after
the usual fashion, but, instead of
alighting on stiffened legs, to fall
clumsily on one side, the pony saving
himself by bending Il fore leg back
under him. 1t was an ugly trick to
evade, and the black New Mexican
must have been clear grit to hold his
own so long. His face grew pallid and
drawn, and after awhile his stomach
revOlted.
At the close of the second hour he
was helpless His will was still in the
thing, but his body was limp and in
effective, and the blood trickled from
his nose and ears. The pony still work.
ed with the monotonous regularity of
steam exhaust, and the end was I'M
questionably near.
When it came, the man was sprawled
at one side, and the horse Immediately
lapsed into his usual dropping attitude
of watchful sleepiness. Some of US ran
to assist Rawlins, who lay just as he
had fallen, too weak to rise. But he
waved us back. His face was malig-
nant with shame and anger and dis
torted by pain. Altogether, with the
pallor and the blood streaked beard, he
was not an eXhilarating sight. Rolling
over on his side, he raised himself par
TALLY on an elbow and before we could
close in on him had drawn his Colts
and fired. The big gun spoke sharply,
and with moan that was almost hui
man the buckskin pony lurched heavily
to the ground.
We reached Raw.inR in time to take
the smoking revolver from his nerve
less grasp, but as he fell back again
l heard him mutter thickly: "There.
curse ye, ye mud skinned hellhoundl
Yell wear no more men outp'
The PROSTATE broncho busters friends
had taken him up, and Dillon was in
the midst of brilliant address, award