St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1902-09-13

Wrangler drove the horses into the
| rope corral, which was strung ou
from the bed wagon, and those o.
the cowboys who were booked to e
on night-guard-they were gathering
beef cattle, and had quite 2 herd
caught their night horses and re
ieved the day herders.
The rest Of them lost no time IL
rolling into bed, for the cowpunche,
who puts in IL or IA hours in the
saddle every day, and stands guarc
two and 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 bunch of hungry cowpunchers
to eat breakfast, and in little while
they were preparing to move camp tc
Clearwater creek, about ten miles
away. The tents were pulled down;
the cook-tent, stove, pots, pans, and
all the paraphernalia presided over
by old Jake Devlin-as jolly soul as
ever boiled pot of coffee-were
loaded upon the mess-wagon. The
beds, sleeping-tent, corral ropes, and
other things used by the outfit were
piled into the other wagon.
After tho team-horses were caught
and harnessed, the boys began catch.
ing their saddle horses. The Freak,
after helping to load up, got his lariat
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 q 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. fool
with mean horses; but this after
noon you can ride that big sorrel, -
pointing to Kingbolt. If you en-
stick him to a finish you en- ride any.
thing we've got here"
"An right" said the Freak, and he
tossed his rope over the blacks head.
After petting him a little, he led him
from the corral and saddled him with
out any trouble.
"That fellow saveys his business, -
said Dolby to one of the cowpunchers.
"Looks like it-but a man may be
handy with horses and not be top
rider; any man that rides Kingbolt
has got to be natural born broncho-
fighter"
"That's right; but we'll find out this
afternoon" said Dolby. swell, come
on boys-let's 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 .
man ride for few seconds, il he got
started that way. But they were
disappointed. 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
saddle with the other and shook
it gently. Then he stuck his foot in
the stirrup and swung lightly into the
saddle. The little black walked of
like lamb.
Up out Of the creek 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 II camp. Well
round up on the fat. You go with
finland you, and you, and you, mo-
tioning to 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 over 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
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 on
again.
"Oh, was ridin' careless, an he
got me fore I knew what had hap
pened," said the Freak, scowling at
Layton, who sat on his horse, grim
ming like Cheshire cat.
"You better not let i'm git you
agin; if you can't ride him, thar amt
much use of your tacklin' Kingbolt."
"Oh, you needn't be none alarmed
about me! I amt asleep all the time;
q man amt goin' to fall off every
time a horse steps Sideways, just
cause he got caught unexpected
once," hotly replied the Freak, fairly
choking with rage and modification.
Nothing more was said. Dolby let
out at 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 look at the
country.
Spread before them was a picture
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 long
string of saddle horses driven by the
A mile or SO behind
them. a great. moving mass of cattle