Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1906-11-06

w!..c o-cr to prairie. BY ni"ht lunches
o. tctii,rc,: CO Z: ponies Disappeared.
The cxaspcrated cowboys coIld only
| tell t..at suGt.cnly oUt OF the darkness
h:d s;vept down on their quiet camps
an avalanche OF Wild horses. And gen.
c::al!y ti,ty caI.i!: glimp'es OF a great
| black branded stallion who led the
r.arauders at such pace TINT lie
seemed almost to fly through the mir.
This stallion came to lie known as
Black Eagle and to he Thoroughly fear
| ell ana hated from one end Of the cat
tie country to the other. The Bar L
ranch appeared to be the heaviest los
er. Time after time were lis picketed
mares run of; again and again were
| the Bar l. herds scattered by the dash
| of this mysterious band. Was 1t that
Black Earle could take revenge? Cat
tlemen have queer notions They put
a price on his head. 1t was worth six
months wages to any cowboy who
might kill or capture Black Eagle.
About this time Lefty, the silent
man of the Bar L outfit, disappeared.
Weeks went by and still the branded
stallion remained free and unhurt, for
no COW horse in all the west could
keep him In sight half an hour.
Black Eagle had been the outlaw
king of the ranges for nearly two
years when one day as he was stand-
Ing at lookout while the band cropped
the rich mesa grass behind him he saw
entering the cleft end Of distant
arroyo a lone cowboy mounted on a
dun little pony. With quick intslli-
gence the stallion noted that this ar
royo wound about until Its mouth gave
upon the side of the mesa not hun
dred yards from where he stood.
Promptly did Black Eagle act. Call
Ing his band, he led it at sharp pace
to sheltered hollow on the mesa's
back slope. There he left 1t and hur-
ried away to take up his former posi-
ton. He had not waited long before
the cowboy, riding stealthily, reap
peared at the arroyo's mouth. Instant
ly the race was on. Tossing his fine
head in the air and switching haughti-
ly his splendid tail, Black Eagle laid
his course In a direction which took
him away from his sheltered band.
PC Inding along behind came the cow
boy, urging to utmost endeavor the
tough little mustang which he rode.
Had this been simply race 1t would
ha .e lasted but short time. But 1t
was more than race. 1t was con-
fict of strategists. Black Eagle wish
ed to do more than merely outdistance
bis enemy. He meant to lead him far
away and then, under cover Of night,
return to his band.
Also the cowboy had purpose. Well
knowing that he could neither over
take nor tire the black stallion, he In
tended to ride him down by circling.
In circling the pursuer rides toward
the pursued from an angle, gradually
forcing his quarry into circular
course whose diameter narrows with
every turn.
This, however, was q trick Black
Eagle had long ago learned to block.
Sure of his superior speed, he galloped
away in line straight as an arrows
flight, paying no heed ut all to the
manner In which he was followed.
Before night lie had rejoined his band,
while far off on the prairie was lone
cowboy moodily frying bacon over q
sagebrush fire.
But this pursuer was no faint heart.
Late the next day he was sighted
creeping cunninsly up to windward.
Again there was q race, not 50 long
this time, for the day was far spent,
but with the same result.
When for the third time there came
into view this same lone cowboy Black
Eagle was thoroughly aroused to the
fact that this persistent rider meant
mischief. Having once more led the
cowboy a long and fruitless chase, the
great black gathered up his band and
started south. Not until noon Of the
next day did he halt and then only be-
cause many of the mares were In bad
shape. For a week the band was
moved on. During intervals of rest
sharp lookout was kept Watering
places, where an enemy might lurk,
were approached only after the most
careful scouting.
Despite all caution, however, the
cowboy finally appeared on the hori-
zon. Unwilling to endanger the rest
| of the band and perhaps wishing free
hand in coping with this evident Mem
esis, Black Eagle cantered boldly out
to meet him. Just beyond gun range
the stallion turned sharply at right
angles and sped off over the prairie.
There followed curious chase. Day
after day the great black led his pur-
suer on, stopping now and then to
Craze or take water. never allowing