Cattle-Ranch to College

seen for a week." Thus Mr. Worth greeted the boys as they came shuffling in after

ir horses, after completing their early chores,

crisp morning air acting like a tonic on horse and rider. Baldy was too old and dignified to be foolish, but his springy stride, wide-awake look, and quick response to each word of urging betokened his

l the boys had to cross their legs in fro

sign-language talk learned that there were six of the long-eared runaways tied at the camp. They had been put there for safe keeping, since they had been killing colts and were in danger of being roughl

side of the river from which they h

ny of the braves to answer their inquiries about the missing mules. A horse race was t

to see that they really belonged to the Worth outfit. On their way they had to pass straight through t

ly to each other. The boys found it hard to go on to attend to their errand, and though neither said anything for a while, they looked appealingly at each other. "If we find the mules belong to us," said John,

each beast soon dispelled them. "Lucky there's a fort near by," said John. "We'd never have seen those critters again if there hadn't been." The mules were drive

e the horses were to run lay little heaps of personal belongings that had been bet on this or t

rted toward them with greater speed than

run race? Me bet you now, me beat you." The grave old buck w

d then consulted with his brother. "What do you think?" said he. "Wolf

n't any mone

the Indian, coming up at this instant and

eading forward. The old brave demanded more, so John added bridle and silver-mounted bit to the pile; still he was not satisfied, but John refused to give anything more. Wolf V

's possessions were already pledged. It was a trying situation for the boy, for he wanted t

haven't got anything left." The younger boy was also eager to pay back the young br

dle or bridle, but his owner speedily made a hackamore or halter out of

sked them to wait a minute for the new entry. In the meantime John was trotting up and down, warming up his mount. In a few minutes Baldy was in

either side, their usually impassive, dark-red faces working with excitement. At a word from the starter the horses went forward at a trot, then changed to a lope, and were breaking into a run wh

to the scratch steadily. At the starter's ye

little bay, which was the old chief's pride, led, running beautifully; at his heels was a big gray, fully holding his own. The distance of half a mile was more than half covered and both bay and gray were ahea

ttle more, laid his ears hard against the side of his head, and set out to overhaul the leaders, now running nose and nose. Baldy's long stride told, and he gained ste

yelling insanely, uttering threats, encouragements, entreaties in the Indian dialect, which neither John nor Baldy understo

e with the gray's hind quarter, now even with his shoulder, and now all three horses were running as if harnessed in one team. And still he gained. John was becoming excited and raised his quirt. "Come, Baldy, do it!" he cried,

e affectionately. "Good work, old chap. I kne

n as the victors drew near. "Bal

of the horses he had won from Wolf Voice, mounted, and started off, leading the other two and Baldy. Ben managed as best he could with the mules, and so they returned to the mine, the richer by three ponies, several trinkets, moccasins, etc. It was not till a good deal later in life that th

portunities were offered for Baldy to show his speed, but the redskins had le

them games that were a constant delight. They made a kind of combination spear and skate from the curved rib of a buffalo to the end of which were fastened three feathers; the highly polished convex surface offered little

ld give points on the art of wrestling, and never lost an opportunity to show their superiority, the Worth youngsters got even by initiating them in the "noble art of self-defence."

er, in the redskins' camp; John was too suc

done, were spent by the men telling yarns. John and Ben slipped out often, joined the group, and listened eagerly to the tales that were told. It

s, and especially John, box, and made up his mind that he could do something in that line himself-at least that is my idea of his method of

eginning to take in the joke. John and his broth

fistic tactics. Anyhow the boy called the bluff by responding, 'Well, I don't know, I reckon I can do you up.' Ben was sent for the gloves, those primitive, deerskin-

ctator," shout

f, we want p

exclaimed another;

wing it to be a kind of battle, had arrayed himself in full war regalia, which consisted c

kled, but offered no remarks or object

acted as John's second. Wolf Voic

he short, pink-skinned boy, a smile appeared on the usually grave-faced red men. I said to myself, Is this a P

o take breath,

y took advantage of this and thumped Big Hawk on the chest. The Indian cleared his eyes and came at him like a wounded buffalo, head down, hands going like flails; avoiding them, John hit out for the nose and landed square on his beak. The buck tripped and f

d story. That they were greatly amused was evident. Cries of "Come off!" "What are you giving us?" and the

came back after opening a new mine, told them that he had bought a sheep ranch, and asked them if they wanted to go to work on it. The broth

little camp and had left behind its steel trail. The tracks were not used for regular traffic as yet, but the little dinky engine went by frequently, dragging flat cars loaded

nce po

od near the mine, hissing and grunting in impatience to be off, the boys cl

've got three boys about your size back in the E

lked about school, but father says h

at on work,"

uld go alone, driving a buckboard; and that though they did not know the road the horses had

r, after they had shaken hands and thanked him

ng!" called Ben a

eam puffed and hissed, and in a few minu

LONE WITH HIS FL

matter-of-fact farewell to all, started off: on a journey to a place neither

ructions ringing in their ear

t came into view occasionally were hailed with relief, for they somewhat broke the monotony of the journey; a word or two with these drivers and a question as to the location

ly by Abe Miller, the foreman in charge. In obedience to their father's command they delivered a letter of instructions, and while Abe was painfully studying this out, his hardened forefinger pointing to each word as he went along, the boys had ample time to observe him as well as their new surroundings. They saw that he was short and rather fat and blessed with the face that is apt to go with that build: it was decidedly

id John, after scanning; th

er pressed firmly on the last word he was d

," he answered. "We only keep them here in the wi

me to eat. In the shack a low fire was burning, which blazed cheerfully when John added an armful of dry twigs and brush. While the bo

re?" asked Ben, who now no

Meat keeps in this climate till it dr

cooked, for though they were more tired than they realized, they had

amb, their eyes on the crest of the mountain where the sun shon

?" he asked excitedly, interrupting himself and pointing, first to some