The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1905-12-17

-lorIginallI

GU IN ana were invited to spend the
night at the house by Manuel pardo,
the owner There were number 0f
men In the yard, all Iingling spurs. and
one OF them was pointed out to me ns
I trailer. His name was Sancho, and
my informant told me that II he were
dropped down anywhere within fifty
miles OF the ranch on The darkest of
dark nights he would feel the bushes
and tell within thousand yards or
where he was. These traiIers were ul-
ways rare and are now well nigh cx-
tinct
| I only saw one woman about the
house. Prado's daughter. about sixteen
| years old She was Ds pretty as a lit
| Tic picture. Her black hair seemed to
| Indicate a trace Of Indian blood, aud in
the center OF her brown cheek was d
dab Of vermiiiion. AT supper she hand
cd MS coffee and during the evening
entertained lis With songs, accompany
Ing herself on the guitar.
After u good sleep | arose and threw
open my window The yard was full
OF men, plainly in state OF excite
ment Prado was there swearing like
a pirate, occasionally stopping to give
III order. Sancho was leaning against
the porch. apparently the only uncon-
cerned man OF the lot rrado every
now and again would 10 up to him aud
say something, TO which Sancho would
invariably shake his head. Meanwhile
saddle horses were being led from the
stables.
Dressing hastily. | went down to
learn that during the night some fifty
horses had been driven away from
their range A party was being made
up for pursuit. We were invited to
join and, after hasty breakfast,
mounted our horses. When all were
ready was surprised to see Sancho
sitting on the porch. evidently not go
ing. rrado went up to him and said
something we could not hear. but Ii
was like eleetrifying corpse Sancho
Jumped up and ran back TO the stables.
When be returned he was spIendldly
Mounted On his head was q sofnbrer0,
from under which fell long black In
dian hair; around him was gaudy
blanket; under his right knee bis Win
chester. prado gave the word, and
we were off Looking back, / saw
something white waved from an upper
window II any OF the party except
me saw III they paid no attention to 1t,
Nevertheless ! believed II was an
"adieu7 to some one of our number and
that some one saw it. but would not
admit the fact Which one OF the wild
gang 1t was intended for was a well
kept secret.
The stolen horses hal left broad
trail, WHICH Sancho, riding In front fol-
lowed On we rode mile after mile,
keeping the steady ranch horse trot.
The horse thieves had nearly twelve
hours the start OF us. and we We're
obliged TO NO. faster than they could
drive the horses. At noon we rested
for an honr. then started on and rode
till night was coming on, when the
broad trail suddenly disappeared. San
cho said that they had scattered the
horses.
We ate Il supper of bacon and hard
tack, then started on under the light OF
a full moon Sancho still kept the lead,
leaning far forward in his saddle,
watching what was now a single track.
Sancbo gave a grunt OF satisfaction.
Before us again stretches the wide
track made by the fugitives. Midnight
comes and passes. A faint streak Ia
the east brosdens aud before 1t the
face of the moon In the west grows
ashen. Then the sun rises. and we take
a few hours rest
cup OF coffee, and we were Off on
our relentless pursuit We had gone
but a few miles when the broad trail
gave place 10 a single one then disap-
peared altogether. Sancho was puz-
zied
Ugh he said presently, "they have
driven wild cattle across their trail"
The next sign was heavy cloud OF
smoke. Sancho said that they were
burning the dry grass through which
their trail lay. hoping to destroy it.
Prado, now realizing that the horse
thieves were near, gave the order to
push on more rapidly. and in another
hour we came up with them. There
were the herd OF Prado's horses, nib
bling at the grass. unconcernedly as
IL they had wandered away Of their
own accord. Some Of our party push
ed on, hoping TO catch the thieves, but
after several hours hunt returned with
out having even got glimpse OF them.
Then. after half n days rest. we made
our way slowly back to the ranch.
driving the horses before us.
When we rode up 90 the ranch house
there gain for n moment flashed some
thing white We were all facing Il. and
! lool Cd from one to the other Tor some
telltale color on the cheek or fash in the
eye 10 Indicate that it was Tor him. /
looked in vain. We dismounted In the
yard and all went In to supper. which
was the tirst square meal we had had
since we started.
The next afternoon we prepared 70
continue our Journey. when Prado beg
red MS 10 delay
1--WE arr 10 have p wedding tonight"
he said. and we would Ike TO have
you present"