Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1905-05-06
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How Ernest Saved the Herd and
\ Routed Boilers Gang.
Wilder Grahamo in 81. Nicholas.


" y outside the stockade l.
9 o guard the corral gates
with no companions but
NON pony and $500 half-wilC
and restless cattle. Mos
boys would not have relshed the posi-
ton even in time of peace. And nov
a band of desperadoes of the wors
type was known to be approaching
White savages who have no fear o.
the law are worse than savage In
dams. A scout had brought word tina
the terrible "Bolter gang" were OIL
their way TO raid the cattlemen OF
the valley, and all hands had since
been busy gathering the scattered set
tiers into the central stockade for pro
lection against this marauding banG
of "rustlers," or cattle thieves.
Whatever may be said against the
cowboy, laZiness and cowardice are
not among his failings; so it is moi
surprising that the ranchmen begar
to prepare most actively to give theil
unwelcOme visitors warm reception.
Up on the mountain lay the scout
waiting to send the signal of warning
when the foe should enter the pass
Below, fearless riders dashed over the
plains, bringing in the scattered cattle
and preparing for long and vigorous
defense. Until the signal came there
was no danger, and, as all hands were
needed in driving up the more distant
herds, the stOckude was, for the time,
left comparatively undefended That
was how it came to pass that Ernest
was left alone to guard the corral
gates till the remaining cattle were
driven In and the heavy fastenlngs
safely secured. There was little for
him to do but watch till the other herds
arrived. Then he would have to swing
the big gates open and help turn the
leaders in. This might take some hard
riding and not Il little danger. Often
start those herds of half-wild cattle
on mad stampede before which there
is no safety but in flight. A single
misstep and horse and rider would be
trampled to pieces by n thousand hoOfs.
The cattle were restless that day
ready for stampede on the slightest
provocation. As though they scented
danger, they shifted the air, paved,
and lowed till Ernest began to fear
they would attempt to break from the
Enclosure.
Within the stockade the women were
doing what they could in preparation
for the coming light. Guns were be-
ing cleaned and examined, ammunition
boxes dragged into more convenient
places, and the little fortress strength
ened in every possible manner. In
fact, every one was busy at some ac-
tive work except the scout, away up
on the mountain, and Ernest. No Won
der the lad felt almost alone in the
world.
Would the meE be ready to return
before the signal came? OF course
they would be all right anyhow, for
they would have time to get back after
Bolter came in sight of the scout
They could leave the rest of the herds,
If necessary. But the excitement of
the cattle he was guarding seemed to
be contagious, and Ernest's restless
ness, like theirs, increased. He gal
lOped up to n little plateau, and, dis
mounting, looked anxiously toward the
spot where the scout was stationed, as
If expecting his signal. His attention
was about equally divided between the
trail by which the men would come
and the lookout OH the mountain. The
lad was not by any means a coward.
Accustomed as lie was to the dangers
and hardships of frontier life, even the
cowboys admired his daring. Still, 1t
was with n keen sense of relief that
he saw an approaching cloud of dust
that told him the men were coming.
But was 1t really the men? The cat.
tie never came like that unless they
We're stampedlng. Surely that couldn't
be Bolter! The scout would have been
sure to see him and give warning-un-
less he had been surprised and cap
tured.
Older heads than Ernest's would
have been anxious at that moment.
Furlousy the cloud of dust approached,
drew near, then parted, and out of It
there came, not horns, but horses rid
den as IL the evil one possessed the
relns. There was-there could be-
no more doubt. 1t was Bolter and his
gang!
Ernests first thought was for the
men scattered hopelessly over the val
ley; then of the women and children
in the stockade, defenseless and as
yet unconscious of their danger; then
OF the cattle. All, the cattlel Putting
spurs to his horse, he dashed to the
corral gates, tore them wide open, and
then few to the rear of the Enclosure,
and, shouting like maniac, swung his
coat In the air above his head. For one
instant 5000 heads were in the air.
The next, four times as many hoofs
went laundering down the valley in
hopeless stampede. A railroad train
would not have stopped that rush.
Nothing could withstand or check IT,
The advancing horsemen drew rein
for a moment astonished at the COM
motion. Then, as the full sense of
their danger burst upon them, they
turned about and fed helter-sketer
for their lives. Desperate men they
were, and only desperate riding could
save them.
When the cowboys had returned the
noise and dust had died away, and the
desperNdoes were disorganlzed and