The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1917-08-02

From The Reformators Record.


early days of California handled the range
cattle on the vast Spanish land grant estates.
He was an old man even when first met
him many years ago, but when he told his
stories you never thought of his age. His
flashing eyes. his gestures, and his voice
swept aside the years. Besides, he was still
the best "horse wrangler" in the county.
and every spring broke the bad colts on the
big ranch.
1t was at the camp fire, after day of
hunting, that he was at his best as story
teller: the blaze of the burning logs seemed
to bring him visions of the days that were
past.
t'The scar on your hand, Ramon-what
made it, asked one night at the fire.
Ramon looked at the hand as if he had
never before noticed the dark streak that
ran across the palm and up on the sides.
For moment or two he gazed at the scar
in silence: then he said:
cit was the black bull, the last of the
band of seven hundred wild cattle on the
Valdez ranch down in Southern California.
"Old Juan, who owned the ranch, gave
US five dollars apiece for every wild steer
that we roped and tied. The wild mustard
on the plains was as high as our heads when
we rode through it; the cattle hid in it like
deer. We had to throw and tie them after
A. oft loft
them, they fought so hard that they died be-
fore the drivers came to take them to the
big corral; but we got the money for each
one we tied. Each day we were paid in
gold according to the number we had roped.
81 was eighteen years old then, but
owned seven good horses and fine saddle
that my father had given me when he died.
had good 'reata,' too; it was smooth,
and the knot was just right.
''Pistol was the finest of the seven horses,
he was the best horse in Southern California
He was big and black, with one white fore
foot. My father knew good horse. When
was little boy he taught me how to fight
cattle. We began with calves. In those
days people knew a great deal about horse:
and cattle, no one was man until he could
rope and throw wild steer.
"Well, anyhow, we got all the cattle or
the Valdez ranch except about fifteen. Each
man was allowed to rope only five day
The first day roped seven. l did not
know the rules.
''Pretty soon at night the boys began te
speak about the black bull. He was five
years old; he wasn't heavy, like most bulls
but fast and strong, with long horns. HI
kept himself we'll hid in the wild mustard
and when occasionally, some of the boy
did find him, he alwas got away. They
had roped him once or twice, but each time
he was too quick even for the horses, ane
| broke away into the wild mustard.
"Old Juan did not pay out so mucl
money those days, for only the widest cat
tie were left, and we boys did not rope Sc
many each day. Each night he rode to on
camp and teased us about the black bull
He was big fat man, and rode gra!
horse called Pedro. 1 had not seen the bull
vet, but it made no difference to old Jaun
He always rode right up to me and said:
"'Ramon what is the matter? Are yo'
afraid? Is your rope not strong enough
You should get faster horse and drive tn
bull to the corral
"He knew that Pistol was the best hors
of all; but did not say anything because
was only boy, and he was old Juan, tn
owner of the ranch. l think he liked me
for he had been my fathers friend.
''By and by the boys made up prize fo
the man who should get the black bull
Each one put in five dollars, and old Jua
said he would give ten dollars more; thu
would make fifty dollars in all, for ther
were eight of US left. The only conditio
was that the bull must be thrown and tie
by one man only. Old Juan laughed whe
l gave him my money; he was to hold til
prize. It's bad year, Ramon. The VIII
ter will be long. Perhaps you will nee
the money for a new rope. He liked
tease me, because l was little fellow an
only eighteen years old. He laughed vel
loud up there on his gray horse; remen
Der his fine big white hat, and his bird
r and spurs.
"Nobody knew just where the bull Lives
D because he was never seen twice in the san
place. One day he would be seen down
e the soft ground at the edge of the mars
the next time out on the big alkali pate
It where the ground was springy and Il
S horses could not run fast without slippin
> But he liked best of all the hillside whe
u the live oaks grew. You could not swing
rope or ride fast on that hill. The dry era
: and dead leaves made it as slippery as gIas
re and you could not ride without making
n noise.
IS zone day heard the bull. He "
} talking to himself as he walked down to t