Cattle-Ranch to College

boys were off on their skees, "if we only ha

wered John, the ever-ready. "It would be great

ir tracks and sped for hom

t you in,

et you

-increasing speed, the particles of snow rising like spray before them. The swishing, crunching noise grew into a hum as they sped faster and faster. At first Ben forged ahead-he had got a better start-then John's weight began to tell and he gained inch by inch. Ben crouched down still lower, making his body in a compact little ball, but in spite of all he could do his brother gained on h

he edge of a great drift. John had sailed over first and landed right side up some eight feet below, but so solidly that he broke through the crust and

uted derisively to his discomf

were great advantages now, and within half a mile the two were on even terms again. For a time they raced side by side, arms swinging in unison, legs going like piston rods. Their feet were kept absolutely straight, and so

came in short puffs and showed on the frosty air like the exhaust steam of a locomotive; perspiration b

towards John, caught between his legs, and threw him over backwards. For a moment there was the utmost confusion. The boys were stretched out, heads almost buried in the snow, feet kicking wildly, and the long skees beating the air like flails. Finally these were kicked off, and the crestfallen racers ma

to brace the whole thing. This much was easy, but both were at a loss to find anything for runners until Ben remembered that strips of flat steel had been used on some of the canned meat boxes. Thes

it was not beautiful to look at, and did not bear any highly nourished name like "Flyaway" or "P. D. Q.," but it did not lac

ithstand all the ill-usage the boys gave it. When the snow was soft they used broad runners made

nd that he must have a saddle, bridle, spurs, and quirt (a short, flexible, braided whip) of his own; and when he found that none of these things would be given him, he determined to earn enough money to buy them. Ben, too, had set his heart on owning a repeati

along and open another mine to the westward,

age. The spring was well advanced and the verdure of the prairie was in its prime. Wild flowers were plentiful and the air was filled with the melody of th

oles that served for homes, their curiosity drawing them out. The travellers took snap shots at them,

ith his finery, for he pranced around like a two-year-old and arched his neck in a way that seemed to say, "I'm about the finest thing a-top of t

of the boys to go ahead and trace it out. Later, when even the barely discernible wheel tracks ha

y was continually opening before them, and adv

e by that little hill?" said Joh

the hunter. Possessing the rifle, no opportunity to exploit it was ever allowed to slip; nor, if t

"We've never been on a

horse with the rope he carried on his saddle-horn: they were not going to travel afoot again if they could help it. It was now necessary to cross the open prairie in plain view of the animals they sought. Advantage was taken of a well-known characteristic of antelopes-their curios

any effect, for the animals were all looking the other way. Still they drew nearer; their eyes were fixe

N UNBROK

re moving slowly along over the plain. The wagon train was "flagging" them. Now if the hunte

nted by the bison for the sake of the moisture. This afforded the shelter that was needed. Attrac

a little closer," said Ben under

but just as Ben was about to chance a l

said John,

then the shot rang out. Almost simultaneously the biggest of the herd leaped

k sounded forth. Another antelope bounded up, ran frantically a few yards, and dropped. At this t

rather have your saddle and outfit, but now-" he slapped the stock of h

e stack of rifles." And John moved off in indignation to get t

. They were welcomed heartily at the camp, for fresh meat was at a

ing," said Ted. "I didn't suppose you cou

ver country that had apparently ne

ry well. They were apt to be sharply divided into good and bad, for in

, cow-puncher, or hunter when his money ran out. Rough, quick-tempered, and as ready with his fists as with his "gun," he was nevertheless possessed of a great heart and a loyalty to his friends that nothing could shake. Like many of his race he loved a fight and delighted to have a lively "argu

how to put up his hands

rain was to go by way of the Hart River road, and it seemed to the younger members of the expedition as if

th travelling. Many wide excursions were made on either side of the trail, and many hunting expeditions were

equent water courses. Here the wagon road disappeared altogether, and the pioneers found it necessary in many cases practically to build one, to level some plac

soil was loose, pliable stuff, liable to give way under the weight of a horse. Badge

of picking a way on dangerous ground as in the intelligence of the rider. It was a task of considerable responsibility that was put on John's shoulders; the route was difficult enough to puzzle a professional civil engineer. Baldy was left to find his own way while his rider looked ahead to choo

night's camp, had traced out a way by which it might be

im on. With a shake of his head that seemed to say: "Well, you are the boss, so here goes; but I don't like the looks of it," the pony went forward, gathering his hind legs under him to make his usual slide-when the ground beneath him gave way. Horse and rider went rolling down the slope, but as John felt himself falling he loosened his foot from the stirrup and leaped off, just in time. Boy and steed arrived at the bottom about the same time, but separately. John's mouth, eyes, nose, and ears were full of dirt and dried grass; in fact, he always declared that he ate his proverbial peck of dirt then, all at once; but he soon discovered

ACING THIS WA

N CAMP. (

ud, "you do know a thing or two,

sty appearance of himself and horse by reference to the well-kn