Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1905-04-01
A Little Western Hern

side the Stockade to guard the corral
| gates with no companions hat u pony
and the 3GUO halt-Wild and restless eat
tie Most boys OF II would not hala
| rcltSbcd the position even in "a time uf
peace. And now Il band of de>ueYadas
! Of the worst type was known TO he APP
/ proaching White SevageS vito have no
/ fear of the law are worse than savage
/ Indians \ scout bad brought word that
! the terrible "Bolter gang We're on their
/ way to raid the cattlemen of the valley.
and all hands had since been busy gath
! eriug the scattered settlers into the cen
! tral st0ckade for protection against this
/ marauding band of 'rlstiers." or cattle
thieves.
Whatever may he said against the
! cowboy. laMneSs and coWardire are not
| among his falllngS 50 Il is not surpriS-
! ing that the ranchmen began 10 prepare
most actively to give their unwelcomc
! visitors warm receptions
| Up on the mountain lay the scout,
waiting To send the signal of warning
! when the foe should enter the pass. Be
! low. fearless riders dashed over the
! plains. bringing in the scattered cattle
and preparing for a long and vigorous
| defense. Until the Sigual came there
was no danger, and. as all hands were
needed in driving mp the more distant
| herds the Stockadc was. for the time
! left comparatively undefCnded That
/
was left alone 10 guard the corral gates
| till the remaining cattle were driven in
and the heavy fastenings 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 aud not Il little
| danger. Often the least unusual thing
| is enough to start those herds of half
wild cattle ON mad stampede before
| which there is no safety but in flight \
single misstep, and horse and rider would
| he trampled to pieces by thousand
| hoofs.
The cattle were restless that day
| ready for n stampede Oh tho 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 in
closure.
Within the stockade the women were
doing what they could in preparation for
the coming fight Guns We're being
cleaned and examined, ammunition boxes
dragged into more convenient places. and
the little fortress strengthened IN every
possible manner In fact, every one was
| busy nj some active work except the
| scout, away mp on the mountain, and
| Ernest No wonder the lad felt almost
alone i'm the world.
Would the men he ready 90 return be-
y
would be all right anyhow. for they
would have time to get back after Boit,r
came in sight of the scout. They could
leave the rest of the herds if necessary.
But The excitement Of the cattle Inc was
guarding seemed to be contagious auj
Ernests restIessHcsA. like theirs, iu-
creased. He calioped up 10 a little plH-
tcau. and, dismouuting. looked anNou~iy
toward the spot where the scout was
stationed, rs if expecting hi >j-lai His
attention was about equally divided he
tween the trail by which the men would
come and the lookout on the mountains
The lad was not hv any mcau> q COW
ard. Accustomed aus he was to the dan
gers and hardships of frontier life even
the cowboys admired his daring, SUN,
it was with Il keen sense of relief that
he saw an approaching cloud Of dust taus
told him the men We're coming.
But was it really the mem The CAD
tie never came like that unless they were
Stampediug Surely that couldn't hc Boil
ter! The scout would have been sure t.
see him ana give warning unless ne had
been surprised and captured.
Older heads than Ernest's would have
been anxious at that moment. Furious
ly the cloud of dust approached. drow
near then parted. and out Of il ihoro
came, not horns. but horses ridden as If
the evil one possessed The reiu~. There
Wa ,thrIo co"io pc N' more "'""l. IL
"iS hoi'er a anu IN. ms EIi'2. .,... ...,
I-Ihes' Hrsi l'Iop-nl WIS ~ 1' men
SC"tIeFeu h"p'its9i "H'I 'h' N"i'H tHrn
| AIDE. dcfcnscless and a@ vet unconscious
81 'hoiI HahGer, ihth 81 W." c4l'Iti M
ne cai que. i1tll"G spurs - ms ""F1''
ne dhSheH 10 me '"Ffai eAl'@, tore 'a'i1
WIHr oheh' ana tnen new 7" re f'if "i
me Ihei"NWc' anu shouting HE" MA
mac; swung ms coat ~ me 5 a.t 3p"5r
nus heau, or oIir instant '''' h'""@
were III Inc an Inc nest tour times as
many hoots went LAUNDERING down ne
valley m hopeless stampede. n faH-
road IRAN W"uid nor nave 9i"tb'a mag
tisN' ->"ih'H2 ''ul" "4'iN'ahN "i '''''H
/ me- advancing h'f~Fnihi drew rom 4''