Cowboy Dave; Or, The Round-up at Rolling River

Yi!

o-o! Wa

we c

m the midst of which came strange, shrill sounds, punctuated

the thunder sounded louder,

ll, red buildings a sun-b

approaching cloud of animated and vociferous dust and, turning to a smiling Ch

are, rip-roarin' an' sn

" observed the Celestial

gry is their middle name just now, and you'd better begin t' rustle

ue, he scuttled toward the cook house, which stood in the midst of the other low r

nder how they made out?" he went on musingly as he started back toward the bunk house, whence he had come with a saddle strap to which he was attaching a new buckle. "If things don't take a turn for th' better soon, there won't any of us make out,

hard-riding sand dust-stirring p

Yi!

we c

in'! We've got our

t's

was an echo of many shots, the sharp crack of the forty-fives mingling w

erly man, who came to the door of the main

it don't need a movin' picture operator a

seem to be in go

from round-up. I want to hear how they mad

voice of Mr. Randolph Carson, owner of the Bar U ran

able. The horses, with heaving sides and distended nostrils that showed a deep red, hung their heads from weariness. They had been ridden hard, but not unmercifully, and they would soon recover. The cow

of their steeds, as an intimation that the horses were not to stray, and then slid to the ground, walki

men, as he used his blue neck kerchief to remov

her, significantly; while

her a Chinaman's pig-tail, an' I'm shore goin' t'get o

n'!" cried a four

house to hear these ominous words of warning, and now, with a howl of anguish, he drew it insid

exclaimed a tall, lanky cowboy, to a

ny," was the calm repl

t, with a frank and pleasing countenance, and his blue eyes looked at you fearlessly from under dark brows, setting off in contrast his sunburned face.

vidently an expected caress. Then the young man walked forward, with more of an air of grace than chara

ranch house he was met

ooked at him rather

the ranch owner, "h

than you led us to expect, and there were more strays than

Pete, quickly. "Whereabouts do y

e away up the valley, but we didn't have time to go for them, as we had a little trouble; a

sked Mr. Carson, l

le, but they rode off when we started for them. Some of the boys wanted to follow but it looked as though it mig

e ranch owner agreed. "But where

Dad. Looked to

came from Pocus Pete. "We'll hav

can afford to lose any cattle. But about these strays

ld say

re are man

I'll go to-morrow with one of the men.

not too much done out I'd li

ou think I'm making a p

te, with admiration. "I'd stake Cowboy Dave ag'in' any m

said the youth,

ss like a duck takes to water, though the land knows t

especially at this seas

be getting pretty

d. And there's hardly an

e stray cattle get

erved Pete. "But that might account for it,"

ed Dave, as he sat down

cattle comin' down where they could get plenty of water in Rolling River. That's worth lo

aimed. Evidently there was a strong feeling of affection b

Pete may go, Dave. But don't take any chan

to," said Pocus Pe

e the appetizing odor of food a

asked Mr

what I a

d rest, and tomorrow you can t

tent light showed where the elements were raging, but it was so far off that not even the faintest rumble of thunder came over Rolling River

aying of a dog, as he saw the rising moon, and the dull shuffle of the shifti

rite horses, and carrying with them a substantial lunch, set off after the

of our Western cattle states. The tributary divided into two parts, or branches, shortly above its junction with Rolling River. Henc

in'," observed Pocus Pete, as he u

ht," agreed

ut seldom, for a cowboy soon learns the tr

ave, who was riding a little ahead, drew rein. Instinctively Pocu

a man o