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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of A Texas Cow Boy, by Chas. A. Siringo
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: A Texas Cow Boy
+       or, fifteen years on the hurricane deck of a Spanish pony,
+       taken from real life
+
+Author: Chas. A. Siringo
+
+Release Date: December 15, 2011 [EBook #38309]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A TEXAS COW BOY ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Dianna Adair, Suzanne Shell and the Online
+Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+  A TEXAS COW BOY
+
+  OR
+
+  FIFTEEN YEARS ON THE HURRICANE
+  DECK OF A SPANISH PONY.
+
+  TAKEN FROM REAL LIFE BY
+
+  Chas. A. Siringo.
+
+  AN OLD STOVE UP COW PUNCHER WHO
+  HAS SPENT NEARLY A LIFE TIME ON THE
+  GREAT WESTERN
+  CATTLE RANGES.
+
+  GLOBE LITHOGRAPHING & PRINTING CO. CHICAGO
+
+  Illustration: REPRESENTATION OF LIFE IN A COW CAMP.
+
+  Illustration: THE AUTHOR, IN COW BOY UNIFORM.
+
+
+
+
+  A TEXAS COW BOY
+
+  OR,
+
+  FIFTEEN YEARS
+
+  ON THE
+
+  Hurricane Deck of a Spanish Pony.
+
+  TAKEN FROM REAL LIFE
+
+  BY
+
+  CHAS. A. SIRINGO,
+
+  AN OLD STOVE UP "COW PUNCHER," WHO HAS SPENT
+  NEARLY TWENTY YEARS ON THE GREAT
+  WESTERN CATTLE RANGES.
+
+  M. UMBDENSTOCK & CO., Publishers,
+  CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.
+  1885.
+
+  Illustration: THE AUTHOR
+  after he became stove-up--financially, as well as otherwise.
+
+
+
+
+INDEX.
+
+
+      CHAPTER.                                       PAGE.
+
+       I. My Boyhood Days                               13
+
+      II. My Introduction to the late war               20
+
+     III. My First Lesson in Cow Punching               31
+
+      IV. My second experience in St. Louis             43
+
+       V. A New experience                              53
+
+      VI. Adopted and sent to school                    61
+
+     VII. Back at last to the Lone Star State           68
+
+    VIII. Learning to rope wild steers                  75
+
+      IX. Owning my first cattle                        84
+
+       X. A start up the Chisholm trail                 95
+
+      XI. Buys a boat and becomes a sailor             103
+
+     XII. Back to my favorite occupation, that of
+          a wild and woolly Cow Boy                    112
+
+    XIII. Mother and I meet at last                    119
+
+     XIV. On a tare in Wichita, Kansas                 129
+
+      XV. A lonely trip down the Cimeron               141
+
+     XVI. My first experience roping a Buffalo         150
+
+    XVII. An exciting trip after thieves               158
+
+   XVIII. Seven weeks among Indians                    164
+
+     XIX. A lonely ride of eleven hundred miles        176
+
+      XX. Another start up the Chisholm trail          186
+
+     XXI. A trip which terminated in the capture
+          of "Billy the Kid"                           196
+
+    XXII. Billy the Kid's capture                      215
+
+   XXIII. A trip to the Rio Grande on a mule           223
+
+    XXIV. Waylaid by unknown parties                   231
+
+     XXV. Lost on the Staked Plains                    239
+
+    XXVI. A trip down the Reo Pecos                    255
+
+   XXVII. A true sketch of "Billy the Kid's" life      269
+
+  XXVIII. Wrestling with a dose of Small Pox on
+          the Llano Esticado                           285
+
+    XXIX. In love with a Mexican girl                  299
+
+     XXX. A sudden leap from Cow Boy to Merchant       309
+
+
+
+
+Copyrighted by CHAS. A. SIRINGO, Caldwell, Kans.
+
+All rights reserved.
+
+
+
+
+PREFACE.
+
+
+My excuse for writing this book is money--and lots of it.
+
+I suppose the above would suffice, but as time is not very precious I
+will continue and tell how the idea of writing a book first got into my
+head:
+
+While ranching on the Indian Territory line, close to Caldwell, Kansas,
+in the winter of '82 and '83, we boys--there being nine of us--made an
+iron-clad rule that whoever was heard swearing or caught picking grey
+backs off and throwing them on the floor without first killing them,
+should pay a fine of ten cents for each and every offense. The proceeds
+to be used for buying choice literature--something that would have a
+tendency to raise us above the average cow-puncher. Just twenty-four
+hours after making this rule we had three dollars in the pot--or at
+least in my pocket, I having been appointed treasurer.
+
+As I was going to town that night to see my Sunday girl, I proposed to
+the boys that, while up there, I send the money off for a years
+subscription to some good newspaper. The question then came up, what
+paper shall it be? We finally agreed to leave it to a vote--each man to
+write the one of his choice on a slip of paper and drop it in a hat.
+There being two young Texans present who could neither read nor write,
+we let them _speak_ their choice after the rest of us got our votes
+deposited. At the word given them to cut loose they both yelled "Police
+Gazette", and on asking why they voted for that wicked Sheet, they both
+replied as though with one voice: "Cause we can read the pictures." We
+found, on counting the votes that the Police Gazette had won, so it was
+subscribed for.
+
+With the first copy that arrived was the beginning of a continued story,
+entitled "Potts turning Paris inside out." Mr. Potts, the hero, was an
+old stove-up New York preacher, who had made a raise of several hundred
+thousand dollars and was over in Paris blowing it in. I became
+interested in the story, and envied Mr. Potts very much. I wished for a
+few hundred thousand so I could do likewise; I lay awake one whole night
+trying to study up a plan by which I could make the desired amount. But,
+thinks I, what can an uneducated cow puncher do now-a-days to make such
+a vast sum? In trying to solve the question my mind darted back a few
+years, when, if I had taken time by the forelock, I might have now been
+wallowing in wealth with the rest of the big cattle kings--or to use a
+more appropriate name, cattle thieves. But alas! thought I, the days of
+honorable cattle stealing is past, and I must turn my mind into a
+healthier channel.
+
+The next morning while awaiting breakfast I happened to pick up a small
+scrap of paper and read: "To the young man of high aims literature
+offers big inducements, providing he gets into an untrodden field."
+
+That night I lay awake again, trying to locate some "cussed" untrodden
+field, where, as an author, I might soar on high--to the extent of a few
+hundred thousand at least.
+
+At last, just as our pet rooster, "Deacon Bates" was crowing for day, I
+found a field that I had never heard of any one trampling over--a
+"nigger" love story. So that night I launched out on my new novel, the
+title of which was, "A pair of two-legged coons." My heroine, Miss Patsy
+Washington was one shade darker than the ace of spades, while her lover,
+Mr. Andrew Jackson, was three colors darker than herself. My plot was
+laid in African Bend on the Colorado river in Southern Texas.
+
+Everything went on nicely, until about half way through the first
+chapter, when Mr. Jackson was convicted and sent to Huntsville for
+stealing a neighbors hog; and while I was trying to find a substitute
+for him, old Patsy flew the track and eloped with a Yankee
+carpet-bagger. That was more than I could endure, so picking up the
+manuscript I threw it into the fire. Thus ended my first attempt at
+Authorship.
+
+I then began figuring up an easier field for my inexperienced pen, and
+finally hit upon the idea of writing a history of my own short, but
+rugged life, which dear reader you have before you. But whether it will
+bring me in "shekels" enough to capsize Paris remains yet to be
+"disskivered" as the Negro says.
+
+
+
+
+A TEXAS COW BOY.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I.
+
+MY BOYHOOD DAYS.
+
+
+It was a bright morning, on the 7th day of February 1856, as near as I
+can remember, that your humble Servant came prancing into this wide and
+wicked world.
+
+By glancing over the map you will find his birthplace, at the extreme
+southern part of the Lone Star State, on the Peninsula of Matagorda, a
+narrow strip of land bordered by the Gulf of Mexico on the south and
+Matagorda Bay on the north.
+
+This Peninsula is from one to two miles wide and seventy five miles
+long. It connects the mainland at Caney and comes to a focus at Deskrows
+Point or "Salura Pass." About midway between the two was situated the
+"Dutch Settlement," and in the centre of that Settlement, which
+contained only a dozen houses, stood the little frame cottage that first
+gave me shelter.
+
+My father who died when I was only a year old, came from the sunny clime
+of Italy, while my dear old mother drifted from the Boggs of good "ould"
+Ireland. Am I not a queer conglomerate--a sweet-scented mixture indeed!
+
+Our nearest neighbor was a kind old soul by the name of John Williams,
+whose family consisted of his wife and eleven children.
+
+In the fall of 1859 I took my first lessons in school, my teacher being
+a Mr. Hale from Illinois.
+
+The school house, a little old frame building, stood off by itself,
+about a mile from the Settlement, and we little tow-heads, sister and I,
+had to hoof it up there every morning, through the grassburrs,
+barefooted; our little sunbrowned feet had never been incased in
+shoe-leather up to that time.
+
+To avoid the grassburrs, sometimes on getting an early start we would go
+around by the Gulf beach which was quite a distance out of our way. In
+taking this route though, I would generally be late at school, for there
+were so many little things to detain me--such as trying to catch the
+shadow of a flying sea gull, or trying to lasso sand crabs on my stick
+horse.
+
+Crowds of Cow Boys used to come over to the Peninsula from the mainland
+and sometimes have occasion to rope wild steers in my presence--hence me
+trying to imitate them.
+
+I remember getting into a scrape once by taking the beach route to
+school; sister who was a year older than I, was walking along the water
+edge picking up pretty shells while I was riding along on my stick horse
+taking the kinks out of my rope--a piece of fishline--so as to be ready
+to take in the first crab that showed himself. Those crabs went in large
+droves and sometimes ventured quite a distance out from the Gulf, but on
+seeing a person would break for the water.
+
+It was not long before I spied a large drove on ahead, pulling their
+freight for the water. I put spurs to my pony and dashed after them. I
+managed to get one old fat fellow headed off and turned towards the
+prairie. I threw at him several times but he would always go through the
+loop before I could pull it up. He finally struck a hole and
+disappeared.
+
+I was determined to get him out and take another whirl at him, so
+dropping my horse and getting down on all fours I began digging the
+sand away with my hands, dog fashion.
+
+About that time sister came up and told me to come on as I would be late
+at school, etc.
+
+I think I told her to please go to Halifax, as I was going to rope that
+crab before I quit or "bust." At any rate she went off, leaving me
+digging with all my might.
+
+Every now and then I would play dog by sticking my snoot down in the
+hole to smell. But I rammed it down once too often. Mr. Crab was nearer
+the surface than I thought for. He was laying for me. I gave a comanche
+yell, jumped ten feet in the air and lit out for home at a 2:40 gait.
+One of his claws was fastened to my upper lip while the other clamped my
+nose with an iron-like grip.
+
+I met Mr. William Berge coming out to the beach after a load of wood,
+and he relieved me of my uncomfortable burden. He had to break the crabs
+claws off to get him loose.
+
+I arrived at school just as Mr. Hale was ringing the bell after recess.
+He called me up and wanted to know what was the matter with my face, it
+was so bloody. Being a little George W., minus the hatchet, I told him
+the truth. Suffice to say he laid me across his knee and made me think
+a nest of bumble bees were having a dance in the seat of my breeches--or
+at least where the seat should have been. I never had a pair of pants on
+up to that time. Had worn nothing but a long white shirt made of a flour
+sack after some of the "big bugs" in Matagorda had eaten the flour out.
+
+The fall of 1861 Mr. Hale broke up school and left for Yankeedom to join
+the blue coats. And from that time on I had a regular picnic, doing
+nothing and studying mischief. Billy Williams was my particular chum; we
+were constantly together doing some kind of devilment. The old women
+used to say we were the meanest little imps in the Settlement, and that
+we would be hung before we were twenty-one. Our three favorite passtimes
+were, riding the milk calves, coon hunting and sailing play-boats down
+on the bay shore.
+
+Shortly after school broke up I wore my first pair of breeches. Uncle
+"Nick" and aunt "Mary," mothers' brother and sister, who lived in
+Galveston, sent us a trunk full of clothes and among them was a pair of
+white canvas breeches for me.
+
+The first Sunday after the goods arrived mother made me scour myself all
+over and try my new pants on. They were large enough for two kids of my
+size, but mother said I could wear them that day if I would be a good
+boy, and that she would take a few tucks in them before the next Sunday.
+So after getting me fixed up she told me not to leave the yard or she
+would skin me alive, etc.
+
+Of course I should have been proud of the new addition to my wardrobe
+and like a good little boy obeyed my mother; but I wasn't a good little
+boy and besides the glory of wearing white pants was insignificant
+compared to that of an exciting coon hunt with dogs through brush,
+bramble and rushes. You see I had promised Billy the evening before to
+go coon hunting with him that day.
+
+I watched my chance and while mother was dressing sister in her new
+frock I tiptoed out of the house and skipped.
+
+Billy was waiting for me with the four dogs and off we went for the Bay
+shore.
+
+Arriving there the dogs disappeared in the tall rushes barking at every
+jump; we jumped right in after them, up to our waists in the mud. We had
+a genuine good all-day coon hunt, killing several coons and one wild
+cat.
+
+We gave up the hunt about sundown, and I started for home, the glory of
+my new pants having departed. I was indeed a sorry looking sight,
+covered with mud from head to foot.
+
+I entered the house with some fear and trembling, and well I might, for
+mother was "laying" for me with the old black strap. The result was I
+slept sound that night, but couldn't sit down without pain for a week
+afterwards.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II.
+
+MY INTRODUCTION TO THE LATE WAR.
+
+
+It was Monday morning--a day that I despised. Need you wonder, for it
+was mother's wash day and I had to carry wood from the Gulf beach to
+keep the "pot boiling."
+
+I tried to play off sick that morning but it would not work, for mother
+had noticed that I got away with two plates of mush besides three hard
+boiled eggs for breakfast.
+
+Before starting out after my first load of wood, I hid the big old strap
+which hung by the door, for I felt it in my bones there was war in the
+air. I always did have a tough time of it on wash days, and I knew this
+Monday would bring the same old story.
+
+At last mother got the fire started under the wash-pot which stood out
+in the yard and told me for about the twentieth time to go after an
+armful of wood. I hesitated, in hopes that she would take a notion to go
+herself, but when she stamped her foot and picked up a barrel stave I
+knew I had better be going, for when she got her Irish blood up it was
+dangerous to linger.
+
+When I got out among the drift wood on the beach, I treed a cotton-tail
+rabbit up a hollow log, and I made up my mind to get Mr. cotton-tail
+out, wood or no wood.
+
+I began digging the sand away from the log as fast as I could so as to
+be able to roll it down into the Gulf and drown the rabbit out.
+
+It was a very hot day and digging the heavy sand with only my hands and
+a stick was slow, tiresome work. The result was I fell asleep with my
+head under the log and my bare legs sticking out in the hot June sun. I
+dreamt I died and went to a dreadful hot country and Satan was there
+piling hot coals on me.
+
+Finally the sun went under a cloud, or at least I suppose it did, for
+the burning pain left me and I began to dream of Heaven; I thought the
+Lord was there sitting upon His throne of gold in the midst of scores of
+happy children. Calling me up to him he pointed to a large pile of fence
+rails down in a beautiful valley and said: "my boy you go down and carry
+every one of those rails up here to me before you stop."
+
+His words landed up against my happy thoughts like a thunderbolt from a
+clear sky. I had been thinking of what a picnic I would have with the
+other children.
+
+A walk of about one mile brought me to the pile of rails; there were
+more in the pile than I could count, I shouldered one of the lightest
+and struck out up the steep hill, thinking how I would like to be back
+with mother, even if I had to carry an armful of wood from the beach now
+and then.
+
+When about half way up the hill I heard a terrible noise such as I had
+never heard before, it awakened me, and in trying to jump up I bumped my
+head against the log, and also filled my eyes full of sand.
+
+When I got onto my feet and the sand out of my eyes, I discovered the
+whole beach, east of me, thronged with men carrying guns, and marching
+right towards me. The head ones were not over a hundred yards off,
+beating drums and blowing their horns.
+
+It is needless to say I was scared and that I ran as fast as my legs
+could carry me, looking back every minute to see if they were after me.
+It was in this way that I ran or sprang right into the midst of Mrs.
+Zipprian's drove of geese, before I knew it. There were several old
+ganders in the drove which used to chase me every chance they got. I
+generally took particular pains to go around them; but this time my mind
+was in a different channel from what it had ever been in before, hence
+my not looking out for them.
+
+As I flew past, two of the old ganders made a dive at me, but only one
+succeeded in catching on; he grabbed the tail of my shirt, which stuck
+straight out behind, in his mouth and hung on with blood in his eyes. My
+speed seemed to increase instead of slacken, every time the old gander
+would bounce up and come down, his claws would rake the skin from the
+calves of my legs. His death-like grip finally broke loose and I felt
+considerable lighter. My mind also, felt somewhat relieved.
+
+Mother was out in the yard washing, she had picked up chips enough to
+boil the water; the tub was sitting upon a box and she was rubbing away
+with all her might, her back towards me. As I was looking over my
+shoulder I ran against her, knocking her, tub and all over in a pile,
+myself with them.
+
+Mother got up first with her right hand in my shirt collar, I plead
+manfully, and tried to tell her about the scores of men, but she was
+too mad to listen, she dragged me to where the big black strap should
+have hung, I knew she couldn't find it, therefore hoped to get off with
+a few slaps, but alas, no she spied the mush stick and the way she gave
+it to me with that was a caution!
+
+The crowd I saw proved to be Dr. Pierceson's company of rebels, who had
+been sent over from Matagorda to drill and be ready to fight the blue
+coats when they came. It was then the summer of 1862. They located their
+camp on the beach, about a mile from our house, and I used to march with
+them all day long sometimes. The captain, Dr. Pierceson, gave me an
+umbrella stick which I used for a gun.
+
+That coming fall about five thousand Yankees landed at Deckrows Point on
+the Peninsula and marched by our ranch on their way to the rebel camp
+which was stationed forty miles above, at the mouth of Caney Creek.
+
+They camped one night close to our house and filled me up with
+hard-tack, which was quite a treat to a fellow living on mush and milk.
+
+They had a five or six day fight with the rebels, neither of them coming
+off victorious. We could hear the guns plainly from the "Settlement."
+Many dead men were washed ashore on the beach. My sister and I stumbled
+onto one poor fellow one day, shot through the heart. His clothes were
+gone and his wrist was marked "J. T." in India ink.
+
+After the battle the Yankees marched back to Deckrows Point where they
+remained to the end of the war; the rebels still held their ground at
+the mouth of Caney. Every now and then a squad from each side would meet
+at the "Settlement" and have a skirmish. I remember once after one of
+those skirmishes a crowd of Yankees rounded Mr. Williams up on the
+prairie--Billy and I being with him--and throwing their pistols in his
+face told him if they ever found him so far from home again they would
+kill him.
+
+Their threats didn't scare Mr. Williams the least bit, for he afterwards
+slipped into their camp after dark and stole eleven head of their best
+horses and gave them to the rebels. But on his way back from the rebel
+ramp, where he went to take the horses they caught him and took him
+aboard of a Yankee man-of-war to hang him. They had the rope around his
+neck ready to swing him when the General turned him loose, on account of
+his old age and bravery, telling him never to be caught from home
+again.
+
+Fighting was going on nearly every day in sight of us; sometimes the
+Yankee gun boats would get into the Bay among the rebel boats, and at
+other times they would fight across the narrow strip of land, shooting
+right over the houses at one another. Many of the cannon balls dropped
+on the prairie; one of them at one time struck within a few feet of Mr.
+Williams, almost burying him in the sand as it plowed along on the
+ground. Poor fellow, he was afterwards killed by one, he carried one
+home and taking all the powder out of it, as he supposed, set it out in
+the yard with the hole up, and then told Billy to get him a coal of fire
+in the tongs. He thought it would just flash a little.
+
+I was present, and not liking the looks of it, crept out behind the
+picket gate, a few yards away, and peeped between the pickets.
+
+The whole family was looking on to see the fun, Mattie, one of the
+little girls, was sitting with her arms around a dog's neck, within a
+few feet of it.
+
+Billy, arriving with the coal, handed it to his father who reached over
+and let it drop down into the hole--where he had taken out the lead
+screw.
+
+It seemed to me that the coal hadn't reached the hole when the thing
+exploded. For a few seconds everything was enveloped in smoke; when the
+smoke disappeared sufficiently for me to see, the whole sky seemed to be
+a blaze of fire, and finally Mr. Williams emerged out of the heavy cloud
+of smoke hopping on one leg.
+
+A piece of the bomb-shell had taken off part of one foot on the left leg
+and another piece had plowed through the calf of his right leg; part of
+one ear was also gone. He only lived a few days.
+
+A piece of the shell took off one of the dog's legs without even
+touching Mattie, the little girl who had her arms around his neck.
+
+Several pieces went through the house, and one piece went through the
+picket gate right over my head. The next day Billy and I found a large
+piece sticking in the wall of an old vacant house a mile from where it
+exploded.
+
+During the war several ships were driven ashore on the beach by the
+Yankee gun boats. The folks at the "Settlement" would get all the
+plunder. One ship was loaded with dry goods and from that time on I wore
+breeches.
+
+About a year after the war broke out the rebels gathered up all the
+cattle on the Peninsula and drove them to the mainland, where they were
+turned loose with the thousands upon thousands of wild cattle already
+over there. Their idea in doing so was to keep the Yankees--whom they
+knew would hold the lower part of the Peninsula, they having the best
+gunboats--from getting fresh beef to eat. There was only one cow left in
+the whole "Settlement" and that was our old "Browny;" mother had begged
+manfully for them to leave her, for she knew we children would starve to
+death living on mush straight.
+
+When the war broke up everybody was happy. We cheered for joy when Mr.
+Joe Yeamans brought the good news from town.
+
+Shortly after this all of the men and boys that were large enough, went
+over to the mainland to gather up the Peninsula cattle. On their arrival
+they found it a bigger job than they had figured on, for they were
+scattered over two or three hundred miles of country and as wild as
+deer.
+
+Billy and I thought it very hard that we could not go and be Cow Boys
+too; but we had lots of fun all by ourselves, for we had an old mule and
+two or three ponies to ride, so you see we practiced riding in
+anticipation of the near future, when we would be large enough to be Cow
+Boys.
+
+After being gone about three months the crowd came back, bringing with
+them several hundred head of cattle, which they had succeeded in
+gathering. Among them were about twenty head belonging to mother.
+
+The crowd went right back after more. This stimulated Billy and I to
+become a crowd of Cow Boys all by ourselves, therefore we put in most of
+our time lassoing and riding wild yearlings, etc. We hardly stayed at
+home long enough to get our meals. Mother had to get her own wood in
+those days, for sister had gone to school in Galveston. Of course I
+always had to come home at night, therefore mother would get
+satisfaction out of me with the black strap or mush stick, after I was
+snugly settled in bed, for my waywardness and trifling habits.
+
+In the spring of 1867, a cattle man by the name of Faldien brought his
+family over to the Peninsula for their health and rented part of our
+house to live in.
+
+After getting his wife and babies located in their new quarters, he
+started back home, in Matagorda, to make preparations for spring work,
+he having to rig up new outfits, etc. He persuaded mother to let me go
+with him, and learn to run cattle. When she consented I was the happiest
+boy in the "Settlement," for my life long wish was about to be
+gratified.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III.
+
+MY FIRST LESSON IN COW PUNCHING.
+
+
+The next day after arriving in town, Mr. Faldien sent me out to his
+ranch, twenty miles, on Big Boggy. I rode out on the "grub" wagon with
+the colored cook. That night, after arriving at the ranch, there being
+several men already there, we went out wild boar hunting. We got back
+about midnight very tired and almost used up. Such a hunt was very
+different from the coon hunts Billy and I used to have at the
+"Settlement." Our dogs were badly gashed up by the boars, and it was a
+wonder some of us hadn't been served the same way.
+
+In a few days Mr. Faldien came out to the ranch, bringing with him
+several men. After spending a few days gathering up the cow-ponies,
+which hadn't been used since the fall before, we started for Lake
+Austin--a place noted for wild cattle.
+
+During the summer I was taken sick and had to go home. I was laid up for
+two months with typhoid fever. Every one thought I would die.
+
+That fall, about October, mother married a man by the name of Carrier,
+who hailed from Yankeedom. He claimed that he owned a farm in Michigan,
+besides lots of other property.
+
+He was very anxious to get back to his farm, so persuaded mother to sell
+out lock, stock and barrel and go with him.
+
+She had hard work to find a buyer as money was very scarce, but finally
+she got Mr. George Burkheart, a merchant in Matagorda, to set his own
+price on things and take them.
+
+The house and one hundred and seventy-five acres of land only brought
+one hundred and seventy-five dollars. The sixty head of cattle that we
+had succeeded in getting back from the mainland went at one dollar a
+head and all others that still remained on the mainland--thrown in for
+good measure.
+
+At last everything for sale was disposed of and we got "Chris" Zipprian
+to take us to Indianola in his schooner. We bade farewell to the old
+homestead with tears in our eyes. I hated more than anything else to
+leave old "Browny" behind for she had been a friend in need as well as a
+friend indeed. Often when I would be hungry and afraid to go home for
+fear of mother and the mush stick, she would let me go up to her on the
+prairie calf fashion and get my milk. She was nearly as old as myself.
+
+At Indianola we took the Steamship "Crescent City" for New Orleans. The
+first night out we ran into a large Brig and came very near going under.
+The folks on the Brig were nearly starved to death, having been drifting
+about for thirty days without a rudder. We took them in tow, after
+getting our ship in trim again, and landed them safely in Galveston.
+
+There was a bar-room on our ship, and our new lord and master, Mr.
+Carrier, put in his spare time drinking whisky and gambling; I do not
+think he drew a sober breath from the time we left Indianola until we
+landed in New Orleans, by that time he had squandered every cent
+received for the homestead and cattle, so mother had to go down into her
+stocking and bring out the little pile of gold which she had saved up
+before the war for "hard times," as she used to say. With this money she
+now bought our tickets to Saint Louis. We took passage, I think, on the
+"Grand Republic." There was also a bar-room on this boat, and after
+wheedling mother out of the remainder of her funds, he drank whisky and
+gambled as before, so we landed in Saint Louis without a cent.
+
+Mother had to pawn her feather mattress and pillows for a month's rent
+in an old delapidated frame building on one of the back streets. It
+contained only four rooms, two up stairs and two down; the lower rooms
+were occupied by the stingy old landlord and family; we lived in one of
+the upper rooms, while a Mr. Socks, whose wife was an invalid, occupied
+the other.
+
+The next day after getting established in our new quarters, the "old
+man," as I called him, struck out to find a job; he found one at a
+dollar a day shoveling coal.
+
+At first he brought home a dollar every night, then a half and finally a
+quarter. At last he got to coming home drunk without a nickel in his
+pocket. He finally came up missing; we didn't know what had become of
+him. Mother was sick in bed at the time from worrying. I went out
+several times hunting work but no one would even give me a word of
+encouragement, with the exception of an old Jew who said he was sorry
+for me.
+
+A little circumstance happened, shortly after the "old man" pulled his
+trifling carcass for parts unknown, which made me a better boy and no
+doubt a better man than I should have been had it never happened.
+
+Everything was white without, for it had been snowing for the past two
+days. It was about five o'clock in the evening and the cold piercing
+north wind was whistling through the unceiled walls of our room. Mother
+was sound asleep, while sister and I sat shivering over an old, broken
+stove, which was almost cold, there being no fuel in the house.
+
+Sister began crying and wondered why the Lord let us suffer so? I
+answered that may be it was because we quit saying our prayers. Up to
+the time we left Texas mother used to make us kneel down by the bed-side
+and repeat the Lord's prayer every night before retiring. Since then she
+had, from worrying, lost all interest in Heavenly affairs.
+
+"Let us say our prayers now, then, brother!" said sister drying the
+tears from her eyes.
+
+We both knelt down against the old, rusty stove and commenced. About the
+time we had finished the door opened and in stepped Mr. Socks with a
+bundle under his arm. "Here children, is a loaf of bread and some
+butter and I will bring you up a bucket of coal in a few moments, for I
+suppose from the looks of the stove you are cold," said the good man,
+who had just returned from his day's work.
+
+Was ever a prayer so quickly heard? We enjoyed the bread and butter, for
+we hadn't tasted food since the morning before.
+
+The next day was a nice sunny one, and I struck out up town to try and
+get a job shoveling snow from the sidewalks.
+
+The first place I tackled was a large stone front on Pine street. The
+kind lady of the establishment said she would give me twenty-five cents
+if I would do a good job cleaning the sidewalk in front of the house.
+
+After an hour's hard work I finished, and, after paying me, the lady
+told me to call next day and she would give me a job shoveling coal down
+in the cellar, as I had done an extra good job on the sidewalk. This was
+encouraging and I put in the whole day shoveling snow, but never found
+any more twenty-five cent jobs; most I received for one whole hour's
+work was ten cents, and then the old fat fellow kicked like a bay steer,
+about the d----d snow being such an expense, etc.
+
+From that time on I made a few dimes each day sawing wood or shoveling
+coal and therefore got along splendid.
+
+I forgot to mention my first evening in Saint Louis. I was going home
+from the bakery when I noticed a large crowd gathered in front of a
+corner grocery; I went up to see what they were doing. Two of the boys
+had just gotten through fighting when I got there; the store-keeper and
+four or five other men were standing in the door looking on at the crowd
+of boys who were trying to cap another fight.
+
+As I walked up, hands shoved clear to the bottom of my pockets, the
+store-keeper called out, pointing at me, "there's a country Jake that
+I'll bet can lick any two boys of his size in the crowd."
+
+Of course all eyes were then turned onto me, which, no doubt, made me
+look sheepish. One of the men asked me where I was from; when I told
+him, the store-keeper exclaimed, "by gum, if he is from Texas I'll bet
+two to one that he can clean out any two boys of his size in the crowd."
+
+One of the other men took him up and they made a sham bet of ten
+dollars, just to get me to fight. The two boys were then picked out;
+one was just about my size and the other considerably smaller. They
+never asked me if I would take a hand in the fight until everything was
+ready. Of course I hated to crawl out, for fear they might think I was a
+coward.
+
+Everything being ready the store-keeper called out, "dive in boys!"
+
+We had it up and down for quite a while, finally I got the largest one
+down, and was putting it to him in good shape, when the other one picked
+up a piece of brick-bat and began pounding me on the back of the head
+with it. I looked up to see what he was doing and he struck me over one
+eye with the bat. I jumped up and the little fellow took to his heels,
+but I soon overtook him and blackened both of his eyes up in good shape,
+before the other boy, who was coming at full tilt could get there to
+help him. I then chased the other boy back to the crowd. That ended the
+fight and I received two ginger-snaps, from the big hearted storekeeper,
+for my trouble. I wore the nick-name of "Tex" from that time on, during
+my stay in that neighborhood; and also wore a black eye, where the
+little fellow struck me with the bat, for several days afterwards.
+
+About the middle of January mother received a letter from the "old man,"
+with ten dollars enclosed, and begging her to come right on without
+delay as he had a good job and was doing well, etc. He was at Lebanon,
+Ill., twenty-five miles from the city. The sight of ten dollars and the
+inducements he held out made us hope that we would meet with better luck
+there, so we packed up our few traps and started on the Ohio and
+Mississippi railroad.
+
+On arriving in Lebanon about nine o'clock at night we found the "old
+man" there waiting for us.
+
+The next morning we all struck out on foot, through the deep snow, for
+Moore's ranch where the "old man" had a job chopping cord wood. A tramp
+of seven miles brought us to the little old log cabin which was to be
+our future home. A few rods from our cabin stood a white frame house in
+which lived Mr. Moore and family.
+
+Everything went on lovely for the first week, notwithstanding that the
+cold winds whistled through the cracks in our little cabin, and we had
+nothing to eat but corn bread, black coffee and old salt pork that Moore
+could not find a market for.
+
+The first Saturday after getting established in our new home the "old
+man" went to town and got on a glorious drunk, squandered every nickel
+he could rake and scrape; from that time on his visits to town were more
+frequent than his trips to the woods, to work. At last I was compelled
+to go to work for Moore at eight dollars a month, to help keep the wolf
+from our door, and don't you forget it, I earned eight dollars a month,
+working out in the cold without gloves and only half clothed.
+
+Towards spring the "old man" got so mean and good-for-nothing that the
+neighbors had to run him out of the country. A crowd of them surrounded
+the house one night, took the old fellow out and preached him a sermon;
+then they gave him until morning to either skip or be hung. You bet he
+didn't wait until morning.
+
+A short while afterwards mother took sister and went to town to hunt
+work. She left her household goods with one of the near neighbors, a Mr.
+Muck, where they still remain I suppose, if not worn out. But there was
+nothing worth hauling off except the dishes. I must say the table ware
+was good; we had gotten them from a Spanish vessel wrecked on the Gulf
+beach during the war.
+
+Mother found work in a private boarding house, and sister with a Mrs.
+Bell, a miller's wife, while I still remained with Moore at the same
+old wages.
+
+Along in June sometime I quit Moore on account of having the ague. I
+thought I should have money enough to take a rest until I got well, but
+bless you I only had ninety cents to my credit, Moore had deducted
+thirty-five dollars the "old man" owed him out of my earnings. I pulled
+for town as mad as an old setting hen. But I soon found work again, with
+an old fellow by the name of John Sargent, who was to give me eight
+dollars a month, board and clothes and pay my doctor bills.
+
+About the first of September mother and sister went to Saint Louis where
+they thought wages would be higher. They bade me good bye, promising to
+find me a place in the city, so I could be with them; also promised to
+write.
+
+Shortly afterwards I quit Mr. Sargent with only one dollar to my credit;
+and that I havn't got yet. He charged me up with everything I got in the
+shape of clothes, doctor bills, medicine, etc.
+
+I then went to work for a carpenter, to learn the trade, for my board,
+clothes, etc. I was to remain with him three years. My first day's work
+was turning a big heavy stone for him to grind a lot of old, rusty tools
+on. That night after supper I broke my contract, as I concluded that I
+knew just as much about the carpenter's trade as I wished to know, and
+skipped for the country, by moonlight.
+
+I landed up at a Mr. Jacobs' farm twelve miles from town and got a job
+of work at twelve dollars a month. I didn't remain there long though, as
+I had a chill every other day regular, and therefore couldn't work much.
+
+I made up my mind then to pull for Saint Louis and hunt mother and
+sister. I had never heard a word from them since they left. After buying
+a small satchel to put my clothes in and paying for a ticket to the
+city, I had only twenty-five cents left and part of that I spent for
+dinner that day.
+
+I arrived in East Saint Louis about midnight with only ten cents left. I
+wanted to buy a ginger-cake or something, as I was very hungry, but
+hated to as I needed the dime to pay my way across the river next
+morning. I wasn't very well posted then, in regard to the ways of
+getting on in the world, or I would have spent the dime for something to
+eat, and then beat my way across the river.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV.
+
+MY SECOND EXPERIENCE IN ST. LOUIS.
+
+
+Bright and early next morning I gave my dime to the ferryman and pulled
+out for the bustling city, where I was soon lost in the large crowd
+which thronged the levee.
+
+I left my satchel in a saloon and struck out to find Mr. Socks, hoping
+he could give me some information as to mother and sister's whereabouts,
+but I was sadly disappointed, he had left that part of the city in which
+he lived when I knew him.
+
+I put in the rest of the day gazing through the show windows, especially
+of the bakeries, at the fat pies, cakes, etc., for I was getting very
+hungry, my last meal being dinner the day before.
+
+About dark I strolled up to a second-hand book store and asked how much
+a bible, nearly new, would bring? The man behind the counter told me to
+bring it around and he would give whatever it was worth. So I struck out
+after my satchel; I hated the idea of parting with the book for it had
+been presented to me by my late employer's mother Mrs. Moore, a nice
+old lady who had taken a liking to me. But you know how it is when a
+fellow is hungry, or would have known had you been in my shoes.
+
+I got twenty-five cents for the bible and immediately invested fifteen
+cents of it in a mince pie.
+
+That night I stowed myself away in an empty dry goods box. I did not
+sleep well, and when I did sleep it was to dream of snakes and other
+venomous reptiles.
+
+I put in the whole of the next day hunting work, but failed to find it.
+I had bought a five cent ginger-cake for my dinner and now I got a five
+cent pie for my supper; this broke me flat and I had nothing else that I
+could sell; so I put up for the night in a pile of bailed hay, which was
+stacked up behind a store.
+
+The next morning I struck out again hunting work, but this time on an
+empty stomach. About two o'clock in the afternoon I found a hack driver
+who said he wanted to hire a boy to take care of his horses; he said he
+would not be going home until about one o'clock that night and for me to
+wait for him in front of the Court house on Fourth street.
+
+Just as soon as dark came, I went to the appointed place and staid there
+for fear my man would conclude to go home earlier than he expected. I
+was exceedingly happy when the long-looked for hour drew near, for I
+thought it wouldn't be long until I would have a good square meal and a
+warm bed to sleep in.
+
+About two o'clock, while leaning against a lamppost gazing up and down
+Fourth street, a policeman punched me in the ribs and told me to "hunt
+my hole" and that if he caught me out again so late at night he would
+put me in the cooler.
+
+I pulled out across the street and waited until he got out of sight,
+then I went back to my same old stand, thinking that my man would
+certainly be along in a few moments at the outside. Every hack that
+drove by would cause me to have a spell of the blues, until another hove
+in sight--soon to disappear again. Finally about three o'clock my
+courage and what few sparks of hopes that still remained, wilted, for,
+an empty stomach and sitting up so late had given me a terrible
+headache, which was almost past endurance.
+
+I was sitting on the edge of the sidewalk, with my face buried in both
+hands, crying, when someone touched me on the shoulder. I was scared at
+first for I thought it was a "peeler;" but my fears vanished when I
+looked up into the gleaming countenance of a small, red complexioned
+man, who said in a pleasant tone:--"Is there anything I can do for you
+my little man?"
+
+His kindness proved too much for me, I burst out crying and it was quite
+awhile before I could tell him my trouble. He was terribly mad when I
+told him how the hack man had served me; he told me to watch for the
+hard-hearted wretch next day and if I saw him to point him out and he
+would teach him how to play jokes on innocent children.
+
+He took me to his boarding place, a fancy restaurant, right across the
+street; he said he was just fixing to go to bed when he spied me across
+the street, acting as though in trouble.
+
+When he found out that I hadn't had a square meal for three days he
+remarked that it was a d--d shame and then told the night clerk, who
+appeared to be half asleep, to have me a good supper fixed up and to
+give me a good room. He then bid me good night and started to bed,
+telling me to remain there until I found work, if it was a month, that
+he would arrange everything with the proprietor in the morning before
+he went to work. I thanked him with tears in my eyes, for his kindness.
+
+I was so tired and sleepy that I never woke up until nearly noon next
+day. After eating breakfast, I struck out to hunt a job, but failed as
+usual.
+
+Three days after, while out hunting work, I stopped an old man and asked
+him if he knew where I could find a job? He smiled and said: "My boy
+this is the fourth time you have asked me that same question in the last
+three days. You must like my looks, for I have noticed you pass scores
+of men without stopping them."
+
+I told him I never tackled a man unless he had a pleasing countenance,
+for I had been snapped up short by so many; I also told him that I did
+not remember asking him before.
+
+He finally, after asking me a few questions, said: "Follow me and I will
+find you work before I stop."
+
+The first place we went into was the Planters' House, on Fourth street,
+between Pine and Chestnut, and he asked the clerk if they needed a bell
+boy. "No," was the short answer he received.
+
+He then asked where he could find the proprietor. "Up in his room,
+No.--. on first floor," was the answer.
+
+We found the "boss" busily writing. My new friend plead my case like a
+dutch uncle and told him if I didn't prove to be just what he
+recommended me to be--a wide-awake, get-up-and-get, honest boy, that he
+would pay all damages, etc.
+
+That seemed to settle it, for I was told to go down to the office and
+wait for orders.
+
+I was too happy to live. I thanked the kind old gentleman from the
+bottom of my heart and offered to pay him for his trouble as soon as I
+earned some money. He told me I could pay him for his trouble by being a
+good boy.
+
+After waiting a few minutes in the office, the proprietor came down and
+made a bargain with me. My wages were to be ten dollars a month. He gave
+me one month's wages in advance, to buy clean clothes with.
+
+I was put on the forenoon watch which went on duty at eight in the
+morning and came off at one in the afternoon. There were five of us on
+at a time.
+
+We would always make from twenty-five cents to five dollars a day while
+on duty, for we hardly ever went to wait on a person but what they would
+give us something in the shape of money. Gamblers generally gave us the
+most; sometimes a lot of them would get together in a room to play
+cards and send down to the bar after their drinks and may be send a ten
+or twenty dollar bill and tell the bell boy to keep the change. With
+this money we used to have some gay old times taking in the city after
+coming off guard.
+
+The next fall, nearly one year after landing at the "Planters," I had a
+fight with one of the bell boys, Jimmie Byron. He called me a liar and I
+jumped aboard of him. When it was over with, the clerk, Mr. Cunningham,
+called me up to the counter and slapped me without saying a word.
+
+I went right straight to my room, packed up my "gripsack" and went to
+the proprietor for a settlement.
+
+He was surprised and wanted to know what in the world had gotten into
+me.
+
+I told him the whole thing, just as it happened. He tried to get me to
+stay but I was still mad and wouldn't listen to him. I had made up my
+mind to buy a pistol, come back and get square with Mr. Cunningham for
+slapping me.
+
+I left the house with eighteen dollars in my pocket; jumped aboard of a
+street car and rode down to the levee. I left my valise at a saloon and
+then started back to find a gun store. I finally found one and gave ten
+dollars for a fancy little ivory handled five-shooter.
+
+I then started for the "Planters" still as mad as an old setting hen. I
+had not gone far when I came across a large crowd gathered around one of
+those knife rackets, where you pay a quarter for five rings and try to
+"ring" a knife.
+
+I watched the thing awhile and finally invested a quarter. I got a
+little "Jim Crow" barlow the first throw. That made it interesting, so I
+bought another quarters worth, and another until five dollars was gone.
+This did not satisfy me, so I kept on until I didn't have a nickel left.
+
+But wasn't I mad when I realized what I had done! I forgot all about my
+other troubles and felt like breaking my own head instead of
+Cunningham's.
+
+I went to the levee and found out that the "Bart Able" would start for
+New Orleans in a few minutes, so I ran to get my satchel, not far off,
+determined on boarding the steamer and remaining there until kicked off.
+Anything to get nearer the land of my birth, I thought, even if I had to
+break the rules of a gentleman in doing so.
+
+When the Purser came around collecting fares, I laid my case before him
+with tears in my eyes; I told him I was willing to work--and hard, too,
+to pay my fare. He finally, after studying awhile, said, "Well go ahead,
+I'll find something for you to do."
+
+Everything went on lovely with me until one evening when we stopped at a
+landing to take on some freight, mostly grain. We pulled up by the side
+of an old disabled steamer which was being used for a wharf-boat and
+went to work loading. The job given to me was sewing sacks when ever one
+was found out of order.
+
+There were two sets of men loading, one in the stern and the other in
+the bow, and I was supposed to do the sewing at both ends. When they
+came across a holey sack, if I happened to be at the other end they
+would holloa for me and I would go running through the narrow passage
+way, leading from one end to the other.
+
+I was in the stern when the sound of my name came from the other end; I
+grabbed my ball of twine and struck out in a dog trot through the
+passage the sides of which were formed of grain piled to the ceiling.
+When about half way through I thought I heard my name called from the
+end I had just left; I stopped to listen and while waiting, being tired,
+I went to lean over against the wall of sacked grain, but instead of a
+wall there was an old vacated hatchway and over into that I went. There
+being no flooring in the boat, there was nothing but the naked timbers
+for my weary bones to alight upon.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V.
+
+A NEW EXPERIENCE.
+
+
+The next day about noon I came to my senses. I found myself all alone in
+a nice little room on a soft bed. I tried to get up but it was useless;
+my back felt as if it was broken. I couldn't think what had happened to
+me. But finally the door opened and in stepped a doctor, who explained
+the whole matter. He said the captain, just as the boat was fixing to
+pull out, was walking through the passage way when he heard my groans
+down in the hold and getting a lantern, ladder and help, fished me out
+almost lifeless. I was in the captain's private room and having the best
+of care. The back of my head was swollen out of shape, it having struck
+on one of the cross timbers, while my back landed across another. The
+doctor said I owed my life to the captain for finding me, "for," said
+he, "if you had remained in there twenty minutes longer your case would
+have been hopeless."
+
+At last we arrived in Memphis, Tenn. We had been traveling very slowly
+on account of having to stop at all the small landings and unload
+freight or take on more.
+
+After landing at Memphis I took a notion that a little walk would help
+my lame back, so I struck out along the river bank, very slowly.
+
+During my walk I came across a drove of small snipe, and having my
+pistol with me, I shot at them. The pistol report attracted the
+attention of two boys who were standing not far off. They came over to
+me, and one of them, the oldest, who was on crutches, having only one
+leg, asked how much I would take for my "shooter?" I told him I would
+take ten dollars for it, as I was in need of money. He examined it
+carefully and then said: "It's a trade buddy, but you will have to go up
+to that little house yonder, to get the money, as I havn't got that much
+with me."
+
+The house he pointed out stood off by itself to the right of the town,
+which was situated about a mile from the river. The house in question
+being half a mile off, I told him that I was too weak to walk that far,
+on account of my back being out of whack. "Well," said he, "you go with
+us as far as that big sand hill yonder," pointing to a large red sand
+hill a few hundred yards from where we stood, "and my chum here, who has
+got two good legs, will run on and get the money while we wait."
+
+I agreed, not suspecting anything wrong and when behind the sand hill,
+out of sight of the steamboat landing, Mr. one-leg threw down on me with
+my own "shooter" and ordered me to throw up my hands. I obeyed and held
+mighty still while the other young ruffian went through my pockets. They
+walked off with everything I had in my pockets, even took my valise key.
+I felt considerably relieved, I can assure you, when the cocked revolver
+was taken down from within a few inches of my nose. I was in dread for
+fear his trembling finger might accidently touch the trigger.
+
+As soon as I was released I went right back to the landing and notified
+a policeman who struck out after them. But whether he caught them or not
+I never knew, as the "Bart Able" steamed down the river shortly
+afterwards.
+
+The same evening after arriving in New Orleans the "Bart Able" pulled
+back, for Saint Louis, leaving me there flat broke and among strangers.
+
+I looked terribly blue late that evening as I walked up and down the
+crowded levee studying what to do. I had already been to the Morgan
+steamship landing and begged for a chance to work my way to Texas, but
+met with poor success. I could not hire out even if I had applied and
+got a job, for my back was still stiff, so much so that I couldn't stoop
+down without terrible pain.
+
+That night I laid down under an old tarpaulin which was spread over a
+lot of sugar.
+
+After getting up and shaking the dust off next morning, I went down the
+river about a mile where scores of small boats were being unloaded.
+
+Among them were several boat loads of oranges, bananas, etc., which were
+being unloaded. In carrying the bananas on shore the over ripe ones
+would drop off. On those I made my breakfast, but I wished a thousand
+times before night that I had not eaten them, for Oh Lord, how my head
+did ache!
+
+That night I went to sleep on a pile of cotton bales--that is I tried to
+sleep, but my headache was terrible, I could get but little repose.
+
+The next morning I found there was a Morgan steamship in from Texas, and
+I struck out to interview the captain in regard to a free ride to
+Texas. But the old pot-bellied sinner wouldn't talk to me.
+
+In the afternoon I began to grow weak from hunger and my back ached
+badly. I sat down on an old stove at the foot of Canal street and never
+moved for three long hours.
+
+Finally a well dressed old man about fifty years of age, with an
+umbrella over his head, came out of Couens' office, a small building a
+short distance from where I sat, and walking up to me said, in a gruff
+voice, "young man what are you sitting out here in the sun for, so
+upright and stiff, as if nailed to that old stove?"
+
+I told him I was compelled to sit upright on account of a lame back. In
+fact I laid my case before him in full. He then said in a much more
+pleasant voice: "My boy I'm going to make you an offer, and you can take
+it or let it alone--just as you like. I will give you four dollars a
+month to help my wife around the house and at the end of four months
+will give you a free pass to Texas. You see I am agent for Couens' Red
+River line of boats and, therefore, can get a pass cheap."
+
+I accepted his offer at once and thanked him with all my heart for his
+kindness. Being on his way home, we boarded a Canal street car. It was
+then almost sundown.
+
+About a half hour's ride brought us within half a block of our
+destination.
+
+Walking up a pair of nicely finished steps at No. 18 Derbigny street, he
+rang a bell. A negro servant whom he called "Ann," answered the call.
+Everything sparkled within, for the house was furnished in grand style.
+The old gentleman introduced me to his wife as a little Texas hoosier
+that had strayed off from home and was about to starve.
+
+After supper "Miss Mary," as the servants called Mrs. Myers and as I
+afterwards called her showed me to the bath house and told me to give
+myself an extraordinary good scrubbing.
+
+I do not know as this improved my looks any, as I hadn't any clean
+clothes to put on, my valise having been stolen during my illness coming
+down the river.
+
+The next day Miss Mary took me to a clothing house and fitted me out in
+fine style. I admired all but the narrow brimmed hat and peaked toed
+gaiters. I wanted a broad brimmed hat and star top boots, but she said I
+would look too much like a hoosier with them on.
+
+That evening I got a black eye. After Mr. Myers came home from his work
+about four o'clock, we all went out on the front steps to breathe the
+fresh air. There being a crowd of boys playing at the corner I asked Mr.
+and Mrs. Myers if I could go over and watch them awhile. Both consented,
+but told me not to stay long as they didn't want me to get into the
+habit of mixing with the street loafers.
+
+On arriving there all eyes were turned towards me. One fellow yelled
+out, "Hello dandy, when did you arrive!" and another one remarked, "He
+is a stiff cuss--aint he?"
+
+I concluded there was nothing to be seen and turned back; just as I
+turned around a yellow negro boy slipped up behind me and pulled my
+hair. The white boys had put him up to it, no doubt.
+
+I jumped aboard of him quicker than a flash and forgot all about my sore
+back. It was nip and tuck for awhile--we both being about the same size,
+but I finally got him down and blooded his nose in good shape. As I went
+to get up he kicked me over one eye with his heavy boot. Hence the black
+eye, which was swollen up in a few minutes to an enormous size.
+
+I expected to get a scolding from Mr. and Mrs. Myers, but they both
+gloried in my spunk for taking my own part. They had witnessed the whole
+thing.
+
+Somehow or another that fight took the kink out of my back for from that
+time on it began to get well. I am bothered with it though, to this day,
+when I take cold or do a hard day's work.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI.
+
+ADOPTED AND SENT TO SCHOOL.
+
+
+Mr. and Mrs. Myers had no children and after I had been with them about
+a month, they proposed to adopt me, or at least they made me promise to
+stay with them until I was twenty-one years of age.
+
+They were to send me to school until I was seventeen and then start me
+in business. They also promised to give me everything they had at their
+death.
+
+So they prepared me for school right away. As I was not very far
+advanced in book learning, having forgotten nearly all that Mr. Hale
+taught me, they thought I had better go to Fisk's public school until I
+got a start.
+
+I had not been going to this school long when I had trouble with the
+lady teacher, Miss Finnely. It happened thus: A boy sitting behind me,
+struck me on the neck with a slate pencil, and when I turned around and
+accused him of it he whispered, "you lie." I gave him a lick on the nose
+that made him bawl like a calf.
+
+Of course the teacher heard it and called us up to take our medicine.
+
+She made the other boy hold out his hand first and after giving him five
+raps told him to take his seat.
+
+It was then my time, and I stuck out my hand like a little man. She gave
+me five licks and was raising the rule to strike again when I jerked my
+hand away, at the same time telling her that it wasn't fair to punish me
+the most when the other boy caused the fuss. She insisted on giving me a
+little more so finally I held out my hand and received five more licks
+and still she was not satisfied; but I was and went to my seat. She told
+me two or three times to come back but I would not do it, so she sent a
+boy upstairs after Mr. Dyer, the gentleman who taught the large boys.
+
+I had seen Mr. Dyer try his hand on boys, at several different times,
+therefore didn't intend to let him get hold of me if I could help it.
+She saw me looking towards the door, so she came over and stood between
+me and it.
+
+I heard Mr. Dyer coming down the stairs; that was enough; I flew for the
+door. I remember running against something soft and knocking it over and
+suppose it must have been Miss Finnely. When I got to the street I
+pulled straight for home.
+
+About a week afterwards Mr. Myers sent me to pay school, where I was
+taught German, French and English. My teacher was an old gentleman who
+only took a few select scholars.
+
+Everything went on fine until the following spring, in May or June, when
+I got into a fuss with one of the scholars and skipped the country.
+
+The way it happened: One day when school let out for dinner we all,
+after emptying our dinner baskets, struck out for the "green" to play
+"foot and a half."
+
+There was one boy in the crowd by the name of Stemcamp who was always
+trying to pick a fuss with me. He was twice as large as I was, therefore
+I tried to avoid him, but this time he called me a liar and I made for
+him.
+
+During the scuffle which followed, I got out my little pearl handled
+knife, one "Miss Mary" had given me just a few days before and was
+determined to use it the first opportunity.
+
+I was down on all fours and he astride of my back putting it to me in
+the face, underhanded. The only place I could get at with the knife was
+his legs, so I stuck it in up to the handle, on the inside of one leg,
+just below the groin and ripped down.
+
+He jumped ten feet in the air and roared out "Holy Moses!"
+
+As soon as I regained my feet he took to his heels, but I soon overtook
+him and got another dig at his back. I thought sure I had done him up
+for good this time but found out afterwards that I had done no harm,
+with the exception of ripping his clothes down the back.
+
+The next day at that time I was on my way to Saint Louis. I had stowed
+myself away on board of the "Mollie Able" among the cotton bales.
+
+The second night out we had a blow up. One of the cylinder-heads blew
+out of the engine. It nearly killed the engineer and fireman, also
+several other persons.
+
+A little negro boy--who was stealing his passage--and I were sleeping on
+a pile of lumber close to the engine when she went off. We both got
+pretty badly scalded.
+
+The steamer ran ashore and laid there until morning and then went the
+balance of the way on one wheel. It took us just eight days from that
+time to get to Saint Louis.
+
+I remained in Saint Louis one day without food--not caring to visit the
+"Planters" or any of my acquaintances--and then walked to Lebanon, Ill.,
+twenty-five miles. I thought may be I might find out through some of my
+Lebanon friends where mother and sister were.
+
+It was nearly noon when I struck out on my journey and nine o'clock at
+night when I arrived at my destination. I went straight to Mrs. Bell's,
+where sister had worked, but failed to hear a word of mother and
+sister's whereabouts.
+
+Mrs. Bell gave me a good bed that night and next morning I struck out to
+hunt a job.
+
+After considerable tramping around I found work with one of my old
+employers, a Mr. Jacobs, who lived twelve miles from town.
+
+I only worked a short while when I began to wish I was back under "Miss
+Mary's" wing. So one morning I quit and pulled for Saint Louis.
+
+I had money enough to pay my fare to Saint Louis and I arrived there
+just as the "Robert E. Lee" and "Natchez" were fixing to pull out on
+their big race for New Orleans.
+
+The "Robert E. Lee" being my favorite boat, I jumped aboard just as she
+was shoving off. Of course I had to keep hidden most of the time,
+especially when the captain or purser were around. I used to get my
+chuck from the cook who thought I was a bully boy.
+
+The "Natchez" would have beaten, no doubt, but she got too smart by
+trying to make a cut-off through an old canal opposite Memphis and got
+stuck in the mud.
+
+The first thing after landing in New Orleans, I hunted up one of my boy
+friends and found out by him how my victim was getting on. He informed
+me that he was up and hobbling about on crutches. He also stated that
+the poor fellow came very near losing his leg. I concluded if they did
+have me arrested that Mr. Myers was able to help me out, so I braced up
+and struck out for home.
+
+Mr. and Mrs. Myers were terribly tickled over my return. They had an
+awful time though getting me scrubbed up again, as I was very black and
+dirty.
+
+A few days after my return Mr. Myers went to see my same old teacher to
+find out whether he would take me back or not. At first he said that no
+money could induce him to be bothered with me again, but finally Mr.
+Myers talked him into the notion of trying me once more.
+
+So the next morning I shouldered my books and struck out for school to
+take up my same old studies, German, French and English.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII.
+
+BACK AT LAST TO THE LONE STAR STATE.
+
+
+Everything went on lovely until the coming fall, about the latter part
+of November when I skipped the country for good. I will tell you how it
+happened.
+
+One afternoon a fire broke out close to the school house and as
+everybody was rushing by, I became excited and wanted to go too, to see
+the fun. I asked the teacher if I could go, but he refused in a gruff
+voice. This did not keep me, I made a break for the door and was soon
+lost among the surging mass of people.
+
+The next heard of me was on the "rolling deep." I had boarded a Morgan
+steamship and stowed myself away until the vessel was at sea, where I
+knew they wouldn't land to put me ashore.
+
+"St. Mary" was the name of the ship. She lost one of her wheel houses
+and was considerably out of shape when we landed in Galveston, Texas. It
+had stormed terribly during the whole trip.
+
+During the few hours that the ship remained in Galveston, I put in my
+time hunting an old uncle of mine by the name of "Nick" White, whom I
+had never seen. He had been living there seventeen years, therefore I
+experienced but little difficulty in finding his place; but after
+finding it I didn't have courage enough to go in and make myself known.
+One reason was, I thought he might think I was beholden to him, or in
+other words, trying to get his sympathy. I just stood at the gate a few
+minutes viewing the beautiful shrubbery, which filled the spacious yard
+and went back to the boat which by that time, was just fixing to pull
+out.
+
+We arrived in Indianola one morning about sun-up. I recognized several
+of my old acquaintances standing on the wharf before the ship landed;
+among them was my old God-father Mr. Hagerty, who stood for me when I
+was being christened by the Catholic priest.
+
+They were all surprised to see me back. Mr. Hagerty took me home with
+him and told me to content myself until I could find work.
+
+In about a week I went to work for Mr. H. Selickson, who ran a packing
+house five miles below town. He gave me fifteen dollars a month all
+winter.
+
+The first month's wages went for a fancy pistol, the next, or at least
+part of it, for a pair of star topped boots and all the balance on
+"monte," a mexican game. There were lots of mexicans working there and
+after working hours some of them would "deal" monte while the rest of us
+"bucked."
+
+About the first of February I quit the packing house and went to
+Matagorda where I was welcomed by all my old acquaintances. From there I
+took a trip over to the "Settlement," on the Peninsula, to see the old
+homestead. Everything looked natural; the cedar and fig trees were
+covered with little red winged black birds, seemingly the same ones that
+were there when I left, nearly three years before.
+
+After a week's stay in the Settlement, I went back to Matagorda and went
+to work for Mr. Joseph Yeamans, a Baptist preacher. My work was farming
+and my wages part of the crop.
+
+Mr. Yeamans' farm was a thirty acre sand patch on the Peninsula, about
+forty miles above the Settlement. Our aim was to raise a big crop of
+water melons and sweet potatoes, but when I left everything pointed to a
+big crop of grass burrs and a very slim lay out of sweet potatoes and
+water melons.
+
+The old gentleman and I lived all alone in a little delapidated shanty
+with a dirt floor. Our chuck consisted of black coffee, hard-tack and
+coon or 'possum meat. We had three good coon dogs, therefore had plenty
+of fresh meat such as it was.
+
+There being plenty "Mavricks" close at hand, and being tired of coon
+meat, I used to try and get the old man to let me butcher one now and
+then for a change, but he thought it wicked to kill cattle not our own.
+
+As some of you may not know what a "Mavrick" is, I will try and explain.
+
+In early days, a man by the name of Mavrick settled on the Lavaca river
+and started a cow ranch. He being a chicken-hearted old rooster,
+wouldn't brand nor ear-mark any of his cattle. All his neighbors branded
+theirs, therefore Mr. Mavrick claimed everything that wore long ears.
+
+When the war broke out Mr. Mavrick had to bid adieu to wife and babies
+and go far away to fight for his country's good.
+
+When the cruel war was ended, he went home and found his cattle roaming
+over a thousand hills. Everywhere he went he could see thousands upon
+thousands of his long-eared cattle.
+
+But when his neighbors and all the men in the surrounding country came
+home and went to branding their five years increase, Mr. Mavrick did not
+feel so rich. He made a terrible fuss about it, but it did no good, as
+in a very few years his cattle wore some enterprising man's brand and he
+was left out in the cold.
+
+Hence the term "Mavrick." At first people used to say: "Yonder goes one
+of Mr. Mavrick's animals!" Now they say: "Yonder goes a Mavrick!"
+
+About the time we got our crops, sweet potatoes, melons, etc., in the
+ground, I swore off farming and skipped out for town, leaving Mr.
+Yeamans my share of the "crop" free _gratis_.
+
+After arriving in Matagorda I hired out to a Mr. Tom Nie, who was over
+there, from Rancho Grande, hiring some Cow Boys.
+
+"Rancho Grande" was owned by "Shanghai" Pierce and Allen and at that
+time was considered one of the largest ranches in the whole state of
+Texas. To give you an idea of its size, will state, that the next year
+after I went to work we branded twenty-five thousand calves--that is,
+just in one season.
+
+Altogether there were five of us started to Rancho Grande to work--all
+boys about my own age; we went in a sail boat to Palacious Point, where
+the firm had an outside ranch and where they were feeding a large lot of
+cow ponies for spring work.
+
+It was about the middle of April, 1871, that we all, about twenty of us,
+pulled out for the headquarter ranch at the head of Tresspalacious
+creek. It took us several days to make the trip as we had to brand
+calves and Mavricks on the way up.
+
+A few days after arriving at the ranch Mr. or "Old Shang" Pierce as he
+was commonly called, arrived from Old Mexico with about three hundred
+head of wild spanish ponies, therefore we kids had a high old time
+learning the art of riding a "pitching" horse.
+
+We put in several days at the ranch making preparations to start out on
+a two months trip. Being a store there we rigged up in good shape; I
+spent two or three months' wages for an outfit, spurs, etc., trying to
+make myself look like a thoroughbred Cow Boy from Bitter creek.
+
+There were three crowds of us started at the same time; one to work up
+the Colorado river, the other around home and the third which was ours,
+to work west in Jackson and Lavaca counties.
+
+Our crowd consisted of fifteen men, one hundred head of ponies--mostly
+wild ones--and a chuck wagon loaded down with coffee, flour, molasses
+and salt. Tom Nie was our boss.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII.
+
+LEARNING TO ROPE WILD STEERS.
+
+
+Arriving on the Navadad river, we went to work gathering a herd of
+"trail" beeves and also branding Mavricks at the same time. Some days we
+would brand as high as three or four hundred Mavricks--none under two
+years old.
+
+After about a month's hard work we had the herd of eleven hundred ready
+to turn over to Mr. Black who had bought them, delivered to him at the
+Snodgrass ranch. They were all old mossy horn fellows, from seven to
+twenty-seven years old.
+
+Mr. Black was a Kansas "short horn" and he had brought his outfit of
+"short horn" men and horses, to drive the herd "up the trail."
+
+Some of the men had never seen a Texas steer, consequently they crossed
+Red river into the Indian territory with nothing left but the "grub"
+wagon and horses. They had lost every steer and Mr. Black landed in
+Kansas flat broke.
+
+Lots of the steers came back to their old ranges and Mr. "Shanghai" had
+the fun of selling them over again, to some other greeny, may be.
+
+"Shanghai" Pierce went to Kansas the next year and when he returned he
+told of having met Mr. Black up there, working at his old
+trade--blacksmithing. He said Mr. Black cursed Texas shamefully and
+swore that he never would, even if he should live to be as old as Isaac,
+son of Jacob, dabble in long horns again.
+
+After getting rid of Mr. Black's herd we turned our whole attention to
+branding Mavricks.
+
+About the first of August we went back to the ranch and found that it
+had changed hands in our absence. "Shanghai" Pierce and his brother
+Jonathan had sold out their interests to Allen, Pool & Co. for the snug
+little sum of one hundred and ten thousand dollars.
+
+That shows what could be done in those days, with no capital, but lots
+of cheek and a branding iron. The two Pierce's had come out there from
+Yankeedom a few years before poorer than skimmed milk.
+
+Everything had taken a change--even to the ranch. It had been moved down
+the river four miles to Mr. John Moore's place. Mr. Moore had been
+appointed "big chief," hence the ranch being moved to his place.
+
+About the middle of August we pulled out again with a fresh supply of
+horses, six to the man and a bran new boss, Mr. Wiley Kuykendall.
+
+Some of the boys hated to part with Mr. Nie, but I was glad of the
+change, for he wouldn't allow me to rope large steers nor fight when I
+got on the war-path. I remember one time he gave me fits for laying a
+negro out with a four-year old club; and another time he laid me out
+with his open hand for trying to carve one of the boys up with a butcher
+knife.
+
+We commenced work about the first of September on "Big Sandy" in Lavaca
+county, a place noted for wild "brush" cattle. Very few people lived in
+that section, hence so many wild unbranded cattle.
+
+To illustrate the class of people who lived on Big Sandy, will relate a
+little picnic a negro and I had a few days after our arrival there.
+
+While herding a bunch of cattle, gathered the day before, on a small
+prairie, we noticed a footman emerge from the thick timber on the
+opposite side from where we were and make straight for a spotted pony
+that was "hobbled" and grazing out in the open space.
+
+He was indeed a rough looking customer, being half naked. He had nothing
+on his head but a thick mat of almost gray hair; and his feet and legs
+were bare.
+
+We concluded to "rope" him and take him to camp, so taking down our
+ropes and putting spurs to our tired horses we struck out.
+
+He saw us coming and only being about a hundred yards from the spotted
+pony, he ran to him and cutting the "hobbles," which held his two front
+legs together, jumped aboard of him and was off in the direction he had
+just come, like a flash. The pony must have been well trained for he had
+nothing to guide him with.
+
+A four hundred yard race for dear life brought him to the "brush"--that
+is timber, thickly covered with an underbrush of live-oak "runners." He
+shot out of sight like an arrow. He was not a minute too soon, for we
+were right at his heels.
+
+We gave up the chase after losing sight of him, for we couldn't handle
+our ropes in the "brush."
+
+The next day the camp was located close to the spot where he disappeared
+at, and several of us followed up his trail. We found him and his three
+grown daughters, his wife having died a short while before, occupying a
+little one room log shanty in a lonely spot about two miles from the
+little prairie in which we first saw him. The whole outfit were tough
+looking citizens. The girls had never seen a town, so they said. They
+had about two acres in cultivation and from that they made their living.
+Their nearest neighbor was a Mr. Penny, who lived ten miles west and the
+nearest town was Columbus, on the Colorado river, fifty miles east.
+
+As the cattle remained hidden out in the "brush" during the day-time,
+only venturing out on the small prairies at night, we had to do most of
+our work early in the morning, commencing an hour or two before
+daylight. As you might wish to know exactly how we did, will try and
+explain:--About two hours before daylight the cook would holloa "chuck,"
+and then Mr. Wiley would go around and yell "breakfast, boys; d----n you
+get up!" two or three times in our ears.
+
+Breakfast being over we would saddle up our ponies, which had been
+staked out the night before, and strike out for a certain prairie may be
+three or four miles off--that is all but two or three men, just enough
+to bring the herd, previously gathered, on as soon as it became light
+enough to see.
+
+Arriving at the edge of the prairie we would dismount and wait for
+daylight.
+
+At the first peep of day the cattle, which would be out in the prairie,
+quite a distance from the timber, would all turn their heads and
+commence grazing at a lively rate towards the nearest point of timber.
+Then we would ride around through the brush, so as not to be seen, until
+we got to the point of timber that they were steering for.
+
+When it became light enough to see good, we would ride out, rope in
+hand, to meet them and apt as not one of the old-timers, may be a
+fifteen or twenty-year old steer, which were continuously on the
+lookout, would spy us before we got twenty yards from the timber. Then
+the fun would begin--the whole bunch, may be a thousand head, would
+stampede and come right towards us. They never were known to run in the
+opposite direction from the nearest point of timber. But with cattle
+raised on the prairies, it's the reverse, they will always leave the
+timber.
+
+After coming in contact, every man would rope and tie down one of the
+finest animals in the bunch. Once in awhile some fellow would get more
+beef than he could manage; under those circumstances he would have to
+worry along until some other fellow got through with his job and came to
+his rescue.
+
+If there was another prairie close by we would go to it and tie down a
+few more, but we would have to get there before sunup or they would all
+be in the brush. It was their habit to graze out into the little
+prairies at night-fall and go back to the brush by sunrise next morning.
+
+Finally the herd which we had gathered before and which was already
+"broke in," would arrive from camp, where we had been night-herding them
+and then we would drive it around to each one of the tied-down animals,
+letting him up so he couldn't help from running right into the herd,
+where he would generally stay contented. Once in awhile though, we would
+strike an old steer that couldn't be made to stay in the herd. Just as
+soon as he was untied and let up he would go right through the herd and
+strike for the brush, fighting his way. Under those circumstances we
+would have to sew up their eyes with a needle and thread. That would
+bring them to their milk, as they couldn't see the timber.
+
+I got into several scrapes on this trip, by being a new hand at the
+business. One time I was going at full speed and threw my rope onto a
+steer just as he got to the edge of the timber; I couldn't stop my horse
+in time, therefore the steer went on one side of a tree and my horse on
+the other and the consequence was, my rope being tied hard and fast to
+the saddle-horn, we all landed up against the tree in a heap.
+
+At another time, on the same day, I roped a large animal and got my
+horse jerked over backwards on top of me and in the horse getting up he
+got me all wound up in the rope, so that I couldn't free myself until
+relieved by "Jack" a negro man who was near at hand. I was certainly in
+a ticklish predicament that time; the pony was wild and there I hung
+fast to his side with my head down while the steer, which was still
+fastened to the rope, was making every effort to gore us.
+
+Just before Christmas Moore selected our outfit to do the shipping at
+Palacious Point, where a Morgan steamship landed twice a week to take on
+cattle for the New Orleans market.
+
+We used to ship about five hundred head at each shipping. After getting
+rid of one bunch we would strike right back, to meet one of the
+gathering outfits, after another herd. There were three different
+outfits to do the gathering for us.
+
+We kept that up all winter and had a tough time of it, too, as it
+happened to be an unusually cold and wet winter.
+
+Towards spring the cattle began to get terribly poor, so that during the
+cold nights while night-herding them a great many would get down in the
+mud and freeze to death. Have seen as high as fifty head of dead ones
+scattered over the ground where the herd had drifted during the night.
+It's a pity if such nights as those didn't try our nerves.
+
+Sometimes it would be twelve o'clock at night before we would get the
+cattle loaded aboard of the ship. But when we did get through we would
+surely have a picnic--filling up on Mr. Geo. Burkheart's red eye. Mr.
+Burkheart kept a store at the "Point" well filled with Cow Boys
+delight--in fact he made a specialty of the stuff.
+
+Our camping ground was three miles from the Point, and some mornings the
+cook would get up and find several saddled horses standing around camp
+waiting for their corn--their riders having fallen by the wayside.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX.
+
+OWNING MY FIRST CATTLE.
+
+
+When spring opened, our outfit, under the leadership of Mr. Robert
+Partin, Mr. Wiley having quit, struck out up the Colorado river in
+Whorton and Colorado counties to brand Mavricks.
+
+About the last of July we went to the "home" ranch, where Mr. Wiley was
+put in charge of us again. We were sent right out on another trip, west,
+to Jackson county.
+
+It was on this trip that I owned my first cattle. Mr. Wiley concluded it
+would look more business like if he would brand a few Mavricks for
+himself instead of branding them all for Allen, Pool & Co., so he began
+putting his own brand on all the finest looking ones. To keep us boys
+from giving him away, he gave us a nest egg apiece--that is a few head
+to draw to. My nest eggs were a couple of two-year olds, and my brand
+was A. T. connected--the T. on top of the A. Of course after that I
+always carried a piece of iron tied to my saddle so in case I got off
+on the prairie by myself I could brand a few Mavricks for myself,
+without Mr. Wiley being any the wiser of it. The way I would go about it
+would be to rope and tie down one of the long-eared fellows and after
+heating the straight piece of round, iron bolt, in the brush or
+"cow-chip" fire, "run" my brand on his hip or ribs. He was then my
+property.
+
+Everything ran along as smooth as if on greased wheels for about two
+months, when somehow or another, Mr. Moore, our big chief, heard of our
+little private racket and sent for us to come home.
+
+Mr. Wiley got the "G. B." at once and a Mr. Logan was put in his place.
+Now this man Logan was a very good man but he was out of his latitude,
+he should have been a second mate on a Mississippi steamboat.
+
+I worked with Logan one trip, until we got back to the ranch and then I
+settled up for the first time since going to work, nearly two years
+before.
+
+An old irishman by the name of "Hunky-dorey" Brown kept the store and
+did the settling up with the men. When he settled with me he laid all
+the money, in silver dollars, that I had earned since commencing work,
+which amounted to a few hundred dollars, out on the counter and then
+after eyeing me awhile, said: "Allen, Pool & Co. owe you three hundred
+dollars," or whatever the amount was, "and you owe Allen, Pool & Co. two
+hundred ninety-nine dollars and a quarter, which leaves you seventy-five
+cents." He then raked all but six bits into the money drawer.
+
+To say that I felt mortified wouldn't near express my feelings. I
+thought the whole pile was mine and therefore had been figuring on the
+many purchases that I intended making. My intentions were to buy a herd
+of ponies and go to speculating. I had a dozen or two ponies, that I
+knew were for sale, already picked out in my mind. But my fond
+expectations were soon trampled under foot. You see I had never kept an
+account, consequently never knew how I stood with the company.
+
+After pocketing my six bits, I mounted "Fannie" a little mare that I had
+bought not long before and struck out for W. B. Grimes' ranch, a few
+miles up the river. I succeeded in getting a job from the old gentleman
+at fifteen dollars per month.
+
+Mr. Grimes had a slaughter house on his ranch where he killed cattle for
+their hides and tallow--the meat he threw to the hogs. About two
+hundred head per day was an average killing. Did you ask kind reader,
+if those were all his own cattle that he butchered? If so, will have to
+say that I never tell tales out of school.
+
+After working around the ranch a short while Mr. Grimes gave me the job
+of taking care of his "stock horses," that is mares, colts and horses
+that wern't in use. There were about two hundred head of those and they
+were scattered in two hundred and fifty different places--over fifty
+square miles of territory and of course before I could take care of them
+I had to go to work and gather them up into one bunch.
+
+A little circumstance happened shortly after going to work at the "W. B.
+G." ranch which I am going to relate.
+
+An old gentleman by the name of Kinchlow, who owned a large horse ranch
+up on the Colorado river in Whorton county, came down and told Mr.
+Grimes that his outfit was fixing to start on a horse "hunt" and for him
+to send a man along, as there were quite a number of "W. B. G." horses
+in that country.
+
+As I had the job taking care of the horses, it fell to my lot to
+accompany the old gentleman, Mr. Kinchlow, to his ranch fifty miles
+distant.
+
+It was bright and early one morning when we pulled out, aiming to ride
+the fifty miles by ten o'clock that night. Mr. Kinchlow was mounted on
+"old Beauregard," a large chestnut sorrel, while I rode a fiery little
+bay.
+
+Our journey was over a bald, wet prairie; night overtook us at the head
+of Blue creek, still twenty miles from our destination.
+
+A few minutes after crossing Blue creek, just about dusk, we ran across
+a large panther, which jumped up out of the tall grass in front of us.
+It was a savage looking beast and appeared to be on the war-path. After
+jumping to one side it just sat still, growling and showing its ugly
+teeth. I started to shoot it but Mr. Kinchlow begged me not to as it
+would frighten his horse, who was then almost beyond control, from
+seeing the panther.
+
+We rode on and a few minutes afterwards discovered the panther sneaking
+along after us through the tall grass. I begged Mr. Kinchlow to let me
+kill it, but he wouldn't agree, as, he said, a pistol shot would cause
+old Beauregard to jump out of his hide.
+
+It finally became very dark; our guide was a certain bright little star.
+We had forgotten all about the panther as it had been over half an hour
+since we had seen it. The old man was relating an indian tale, which
+made my hair almost stand on end, as I imagined that I was right in the
+midst of a wild band of reds, when all at once old Beauregard gave a
+tremendous loud snort and dashed straight ahead at a break-neck speed.
+Mr. Kinchlow yelled "whoa," every jump; finally his voice died out and I
+could hear nothing but the sound of his horse's hoofs, and finally the
+sound of them too, died out.
+
+Of course I socked spurs to my pony and tried to keep up, for I imagined
+there were a thousand and one indians and panthers right at my heels.
+
+After running about a quarter of a mile I heard something like a faint,
+human groan, off to my right about fifty yards. I stopped and listened,
+but could not hear anything more, except now and then the lonely howl of
+a coyote off in the distance. I finally began to feel lonesome, so I put
+spurs to my pony again. But I hadn't gone only a few jumps when I
+checked up and argued with myself thusly:--Now suppose that groan came
+from the lips of Mr. Kinchlow, who may-be fell from his horse and is
+badly hurt; then wouldn't it be a shame to run off and leave him there
+to die when may be a little aid from me would save him?
+
+I finally spunked up and drawing my pistol started in the direction from
+whence came the groan. My idea in drawing the pistol was, for fear the
+panther, who I felt satisfied had been the cause of the whole trouble,
+might tackle me. Suffice it to say that I found the old gentleman
+stretched out on the ground apparently lifeless and that a half hour's
+nursing brought him to. He finally after several trials, got so he could
+stand up, with my aid. I then helped him into my saddle, while I rode
+behind and held him on and we continued our journey both on one horse.
+He informed me after he came to his right senses, that old Beauregard
+had fallen and rolled over him.
+
+We landed at our destination about ten o'clock next morning; but the
+good old man only lived about two weeks afterwards. He died from the
+effects of the fall, so I heard.
+
+About Christmas I quit Mr. Grimes and went to work on my own hook,
+skinning "dead" cattle and adding to the nest egg Mr. Wiley gave me. I
+put my own brand on quite a number of Mavricks while taking care of Mr.
+Grimes' horses, which began to make me feel like a young cattle king.
+The only trouble was they were scattered over too much wild territory
+and mixed up with so many other cattle. When a fellow branded a Mavrick
+in those days it was a question whether he would ever see or realize a
+nickel for it. For just think, one, or even a hundred head mixed up with
+over a million of cattle, and those million head scattered over a
+territory one hundred miles square and continually drifting around from
+one place to another.
+
+After leaving Daddy Grimes I made my home at Mr. Horace Yeamans', an old
+mexican war veteran, who lived five miles from Grimes'. His family
+consisted of two daughters and two sons, all grown but the youngest
+daughter, Sally, who was only fourteen, and who I was casting sheeps
+eyes at. The old gentleman had brought his children up very pious, which
+was a glorious thing for me as, during the two years that I made my home
+there, I got broke of swearing--a dirty, mean habit which had fastened
+itself upon me, and which I thought was impossible to get rid of. I had
+become so that it was almost an impossibility for me to utter a sentence
+without using an oath to introduce it and another to end it. To show how
+the habit was fastened upon me: Mr. Parten, one of my former bosses,
+made me an offer of three dollars more wages, on the month, if I would
+quit cursing but I wouldn't do it.
+
+Horace Yeamans, who was about my own age and I went into partnership in
+the skinning business. Cattle died by the thousands that winter, on
+account of the country being overstocked, therefore Horace and I had a
+regular picnic skinning, and branding Mavricks--only those that looked
+as if they might pull through the winter.
+
+To give you an idea how badly cattle died that winter will state that,
+at times, right after a sleet, a man could walk on dead animals for
+miles without stepping on the ground. This, of course, would be along
+the Bay shore, where they would pile up on top of one another, not being
+able to go further, on account of the water.
+
+About five miles east of Mr. Yeamans' was a slough or creek called
+"Turtle bayou" which lay east and west a distance of several miles, and
+which I have seen bridged over with dead cattle, from one end to the
+other. You see the solid mass of half starved animals, in drifting ahead
+of a severe "Norther," would undertake to cross the bayou, which was
+very boggy and consequently the weakest ones would form a bridge for the
+others to cross on.
+
+My share of the first hides we shipped to Indianola amounted to one
+hundred and fourteen dollars. You bet I felt rich. I never had so much
+money in all my life. I went at once and bought me a twenty-seven dollar
+saddle and sent mother twenty-five dollars. I had found out mother's
+address, in Saint Louis, by one of my old Peninsula friends getting a
+letter from sister.
+
+Our next sale amounted to more than the first. That time Horace and I
+went to Indianola with the hides for we wanted to blow in some of our
+surplus wealth; we were getting too rich.
+
+When spring opened I bought five head of horses and thought I would try
+my hand at trading horses. The first trade I made, I cleared twenty-five
+dollars. I gave an old mare which cost me twenty dollars, for a pony
+which I sold a few days afterwards for forty-five.
+
+Along in May I fell head over heels in love, for the first time in my
+life. A pretty little fourteen year old Miss, cousin to Horace and the
+girls, came over on a month's visit and when she left I was completely
+rattled--couldn't think of anything but her; her beautiful image was
+continually before my eyes.
+
+Her father, who was Sheriff of Matagorda county lived on the road to
+Matagorda, fifteen miles from Mr. Yeamans', therefore, during the coming
+summer I went to town pretty often; to get a new brand recorded was
+generally my excuse. You see, as she lived about half way between the
+Yeamans' ranch and town, I could be near her two nights each trip, one
+going and one returning.
+
+I had very poor success that summer in my new enterprise, horse trading.
+I was too badly "locoed" to tell a good horse from a bad one; in fact I
+wasn't fit for anything, unless it would have been a Mail carrier
+between "Denning's Bridge" and Matagorda.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X.
+
+A START UP THE CHISHOLM TRAIL.
+
+
+I put in the following winter branding Mavricks, skinning cattle and
+making regular trips to Matagorda; I still remained in partnership with
+Horace Yeamans in the skinning business. I made considerable money that
+winter as I sold a greater number of Mavricks than ever before. But the
+money did me no good as I spent it freely.
+
+That coming spring, it being 1874, I hired to Leander Ward of Jackson
+county to help gather a herd of steers for the Muckleroy Bros., who were
+going to drive them to Kansas. I had also made a contract with
+Muckleroy's boss, Tom Merril, to go up the trail with him, therefore I
+bid my friends good-bye, not expecting to see them again until the
+coming fall. My wages were thirty-five dollars per month and all
+expenses, including railroad fare back home.
+
+After a month's hard work we had the eleven hundred head of wild and
+woolly steers ready to turn over to the Muckleroy outfit at Thirteen
+mile point on the Mustang, where they were camped, ready to receive
+them. Their outfit consisted mostly of Kansas "short horns" which they
+had brought back with them the year before.
+
+It was a cold, rainy evening when the cattle were counted and turned
+over to Tom Merril. Henry Coats, Geo. Gifford and myself were the only
+boys who were turned over with the herd--that is kept right on. We were
+almost worn out standing night guard half of every night for the past
+month and then starting in with a fresh outfit made it appear tough to
+us.
+
+That night it began to storm terribly. The herd began to drift early and
+by midnight we were five or six miles from camp. The steers showed a
+disposition to stampede but we handled them easy and sang melodious
+songs which kept them quieted. But about one o'clock they stampeded in
+grand shape. One of the "short horns," a long legged fellow by the name
+of Saint Clair got lost from the herd and finally when he heard the
+singing came dashing through the herd at full speed yelling "let 'em
+slide, we'll stay with'em!" at every jump.
+
+They did slide sure enough, but he failed to "stay with 'em." For
+towards morning one of the boys came across him lying in the grass sound
+asleep. When he came dashing through the herd a stampede followed; the
+herd split up into a dozen different bunches--each bunch going in a
+different direction. I found myself all alone with about three hundred
+of the frightened steers. Of course all I could do was to keep in front
+or in the lead and try to check them up. I finally about three o'clock
+got them stopped and after singing a few "lullaby" songs they all lay
+down and went to snoring.
+
+After the last steer dropped down I concluded I would take a little nap
+too, so locking both legs around the saddle-horn and lying over on the
+tired pony's rump, with my left arm for a pillow, while the other still
+held the bridle-reins, I fell asleep. I hadn't slept long though when,
+from some unaccountable reason, every steer jumped to his feet at the
+same instant and was off like a flash. My pony which was sound asleep
+too, I suppose, became frightened and dashed off at full speed in the
+opposite direction. Of course I was also frightened and hung to the
+saddle with a death grip. I was unable to raise myself up as the pony
+was going so fast, therefore had to remain as I was, until after about
+a mile's run I got him checked up.
+
+Just as soon as I got over my scare I struck out in a gallop in the
+direction I thought the cattle had gone, but failed to overtake them. I
+landed in camp almost peetered out about nine o'clock next morning. The
+rest of the boys were all there, just eating their breakfast. Tom Merril
+and Henry Coats had managed to hold about half of the herd, while the
+balance were scattered and mixed up with "range" cattle for twenty miles
+around.
+
+After eating our breakfast and mounting fresh horses we struck out to
+gather up the lost steers. We could tell them from the range cattle by
+the fresh "road" brand--a brand that had been put on a few days
+before--therefore, by four o'clock that evening we had all but about one
+hundred head back to camp and those Leander Ward bought back at half
+price--that is he just bought the road brand or all cattle that happened
+to be left behind.
+
+On arriving at camp, we all caught fresh horses before stopping to eat
+dinner or supper, whichever you like to call it, it being then nearly
+night. The pony I caught was a wild one and after riding up to camp and
+dismounting to eat dinner, he jerked loose from me and went a flying
+with my star-spangled saddle.
+
+I mounted a pony belonging to one of the other boys and went in hot
+pursuit. I got near enough once to throw my rope over his rump and that
+was all. After a run of fifteen miles I gave it up as a bad job and left
+him still headed for the Rio Grande.
+
+I got back to camp just at dark and caught a fresh horse before stopping
+to eat my supper. It was still raining and had kept it up all day long.
+Mr. "Jim" Muckleroy had an extra saddle along therefore I borrowed it
+until I could get a chance to buy me another one.
+
+After eating a cold supper, the rain having put the fire out, I mounted
+and went on "guard," the first part of the night, until one o'clock,
+being my regular time to stay with the herd, while the last "guard"
+remained in camp and slept.
+
+About ten o'clock it began to thunder and lightning, which caused the
+herd to become unruly. Every time a keen clash of thunder would come the
+herd would stampede and run for a mile or two before we could get them
+to stop. It continued in that way all night so that we lost another
+night's rest; but we managed to "stay with 'em" this time; didn't even
+loose a steer.
+
+That morning we struck out on the trail for Kansas. Everything went on
+smoothly with the exception of a stampede now and then and a fuss with
+Jim Muckleroy, who was a regular old sore-head. Charlie, his brother was
+a white man. Where the trouble began, he wanted Coats and I, we being
+the only ones in the crowd who could ride wild horses--or at least who
+were willing to do so, to do the wild horse riding for nothing. We
+finally bolted and told him that we wouldn't ride another wild horse
+except our regular "mount," unless he gave us extra pay. You see he
+expected us to ride a horse a few times until he began to get docile and
+then turn him over to one of his muley pets while we caught up a fresh
+one.
+
+At High Hill in Fayette county I got the bounce from old Jim and a
+little further on Coats got the same kind of a dose; while nearing the
+northern state-line Geo. Gifford and Tom Merril, the boss, were fired;
+so that left old Jim in full charge. He hired other men in our places.
+He arrived in Wichita, Kansas with eight hundred steers, out of the
+eleven hundred we started with.
+
+After leaving the outfit I rode to the Sunset railroad at Shusenburg and
+boarded a train for Columbus on the Colorado river. "Pat" Muckleroy,
+Charlie's son, who was about eighteen years old, quit and went with me.
+His home was in Columbus and he persuaded me to accompany him and have a
+good time.
+
+On arriving in Columbus I went with Pat to his home where I remained
+during my stay in that place. I found Mrs. M., Pat's mother, to be a
+kind-hearted old lady, and I never shall forget the big, fat apple
+cobblers she used to make; she could beat the world making them. There
+were also two young Misses in the family, Nannie and Mary, who made time
+pass off pleasantly with me.
+
+It being seventy-five miles to Tresspalacious and there being no
+railroad nearer than that, I had to wait for a chance to get home. I
+could have bought a horse and saddle when I first struck town but after
+remaining there a week I began to get light in the pocket, for it
+required quite a lot of money to keep up my end with the crowd that Pat
+associated with.
+
+At last after about a three weeks stay, I struck Asa Dawdy, an old
+friend from Tresspalacious. He was there with a load of stock and was
+just fixing to load them on the cars to ship them to Galveston when I
+ran afoul of him. He had sold his saddle and was going to put his pet
+pony, one that he wouldn't sell, into a pasture until some other time
+when he happened up there. So you see I was in luck, he turned the pony
+over to me to ride home on.
+
+After buying and rigging up a saddle I left town flat broke. I spent my
+last dime for a glass of lemonade just before leaving. Thus ended my
+first experience on the "trail."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI.
+
+BUYS A BOAT AND BECOMES A SAILOR.
+
+
+A three days' ride brought me to Grimes' ranch where I hoped to strike a
+job, but the old gent' informed me that he was full handed--had more men
+than he really needed. But he offered me a job cutting cord wood at a
+dollar a cord until there should be an opening for me, which he thought
+would be when the branding outfit arrived from Jackson county where it
+had gone quite a while before.
+
+"Cutting cord wood" sounded tough to me, but I finally agreed to try it
+a round or two, for I hated the idea of being "busted." Mr. Grimes was
+to advance me about two weeks provisions on "tick," so I concluded I
+couldn't lose anything--unless it was a few pounds of muscle and I had
+grave doubts about that, for I knew my failing when it came to dabbling
+in wood.
+
+Before launching out into the wood business I borrowed a horse and
+struck out to hunt up old Satan so that I could ride around and find
+easy trees to cut down; I found him about thirty miles from Grimes'
+ranch; he was fat and wild; I had to get help to put him in a corral and
+when I mounted him he pitched like a wolf. He had forgotten that he had
+ever been ridden.
+
+The "wood camp" was three miles from the ranch in a thinly timbered
+bottom. I had to camp all by myself, which made it a disagreeable job.
+
+The first day, after locating camp, was spent in building a kind of Jim
+Crow shanty out of rotten logs--was saving my muscle to cut cord wood.
+
+Next morning bright and early I mounted Satan and rode around hunting
+some easy trees--ones that I thought would cut nicely. I marked about a
+dozen and went back to camp, it being noon by that time.
+
+After dinner I lay down to take a nap until evening when it would be
+cooler. About five o'clock I rolled up my sleeves and waded into a
+small, sickly pin-oak tree and the way chips flew for half an hour was a
+caution. I then put in the balance of the evening cording it up--that is
+what I had cut. It lacked considerable of being half a cord, but I
+filled in a lot of rotten chunks to make it pan out fifty cents worth.
+I slept sound that night for I was tired.
+
+Bright and early next morning I shouldered my axe and struck out to
+tackle another sickly pin-oak tree. While spitting on my hands and
+figuring on how many licks it would take to down the little sapling, I
+spied a large coon in a neighboring live-oak. Now catching coons, you
+all know by this time was a favorite passtime with me, so dropping the
+axe I went for him. By the time I got part of him cooked it was noon;
+and after dinner I fell asleep and dreamt happy dreams until after
+sundown. After supper I went turkey hunting and killed a fat gobbler.
+Thus ended my third day in a wood camp.
+
+I became tired of the cord wood business after two weeks time. It was
+too lonesome a work for a boy of my restless disposition. I mounted
+Satan one morning after devouring the last speck of grub in camp and
+struck out for the ranch. On my arrival there Mr. Grimes asked me how
+much wood I had? I told him I thought there was enough to balance my
+grub bill. He said all right, he would send a man up there with me next
+morning to measure it. I finally informed him that it wasn't in shape
+for measuring, with the exception of half a cord that I cut the first
+day, as it was scattered over a vast territory, two or three sticks in a
+place.
+
+I suppose he balanced my grub bill as he has never presented it yet.
+
+Just then I came across a factory hand, John Collier by name, who had a
+boat for sale. He had bought it for a pleasure boat but found he
+couldn't support such a useless piece of furniture. He offered it to me
+for forty dollars and he had paid one hundred for it. I tried to sell
+Satan so as to buy it, but no one would have him as a gift, as they said
+they would have to get their lives insured before mounting him.
+
+I wanted the boat, but how to get her I did not know. I finally studied
+up a scheme: Mr. Collier wanted to buy a horse in case he sold the boat,
+so I began talking horse trade. Nothing but a gentle animal would suit
+he said. I then described one to him and asked how much he would take
+to-boot if the pony proved to be as I represented? "Ten dollars" said
+he; "she pops" continued I. So I started over to Cashe's creek to trade
+Horace Yeamans out of an old crippled pony that he couldn't get rid of.
+He was a nice looking horse and apparently as sound as a dollar; but on
+trotting him around a short while he would become suddenly lame in both
+of his front legs.
+
+Before starting to Cashe's creek next morning Mr. Collier told me to try
+and get the horse there that night as, in case we made the trade, he and
+Mr. Murphy would start next morning on a pleasure trip to Columbia, a
+town forty miles east. I assured him that I would be back by dark. You
+see, that was a point gained, making the trade after dark.
+
+I succeeded in making the trade with Horace; he gave me "old gray" as he
+called him and fourteen dollars in money for my interest in three
+different brands of cattle. He afterwards sold the cattle for enough to
+buy a whole herd of crippled ponies.
+
+I rode back to Grimes' ranch very slowly so as not to cause old gray to
+become lame.
+
+I arrived there about sundown, but remained out in the brush until after
+dark.
+
+Mr. Collier, on being notified of my arrival, came out, lantern in hand,
+bringing his friend Murphy along to do the judging for him. He confessed
+that he was a very poor judge of a spanish pony, not having been long in
+America. He was from "Hengland."
+
+After examining old gray all over they both pronounced him a model of
+beauty--an honor to the mustang race. You see, he was hog fat, not
+having been used for so long.
+
+The trade was sealed that night and next morning Mr. Collier and Murphy,
+who already had a pony of his own, started on their forty mile journey.
+When within five miles of Elliott's ferry on the Colorado river, which
+was fifteen miles from Grimes' old gray gave out entirely, so that poor
+Collier had to hoof it to the ferry where he secured another horse.
+
+Now kind reader you no doubt think that a shabby trick. If so, all I can
+say is "such is life in the far west."
+
+Now that I was owner of a ship I concluded it policy to have a partner
+for company if nothing more, so I persuaded a young factory hand by the
+name of Sheiseinhamer or some such name to go in with me in my new
+enterprise. He only had ten dollars to invest, therefore I held the
+controlling interest.
+
+Our ship was schooner-rigged and would carry about three tons. Her name
+was "Great Eastern" but we changed it to "The Blood Hound."
+
+I turned Satan loose to rustle for himself (I afterwards sold him to a
+_stranger_ for thirty dollars) and then pulled down the river for
+Matagorda Bay, a distance of fifteen miles.
+
+I concluded to go to the Peninsula and buy a load of melons that trip,
+as there were none on Tresspalacious.
+
+We struck the Bay just at dark; the water was terribly rough and the
+wind was so strong that it made the Blood Hound dip water and slide
+along as though it was fun. My young pard, who had never been on salt
+water before, having been raised in Saint Louis, turned pale behind the
+gills and wanted to turn back when the low streak of land behind us
+began to grow dim. But as I owned the controlling interest in the ship,
+I told him he would have to grin and bear it. He swore that would be his
+last trip and it was. He sold me his interest on the way back for eight
+dollars; he lost just two dollars besides his time in the speculation.
+
+Finally we hove in sight of the light house at Salura Pass. Then we were
+all right for I could tell just where to head for, although I hadn't
+been on the Bay much since leaving there in '67. But I had learned it
+thoroughly before then.
+
+It was fifteen miles across the Bay to Fred Vogg's landing, where I had
+concluded to land. We arrived there about midnight and next morning
+walked up to Mr. Vogg's house, about half a mile for breakfast. The
+whole family were glad to see me--for the first time in eight years.
+
+I bought a load of melons delivered at the landing for five cents a
+head--or piece I should have said.
+
+The next evening we started back home, and arrived at Grimes' just as
+the whistle was tooting for dinner, next day. The whole crowd of factory
+hands, there being about seventy-five, made a break for the boat to fill
+up on melons. The largest I sold at fifty cents and the smallest at
+twenty-five. By night I had sold entirely out and started back after
+another load, all by myself this time, with the exception of a dog, a
+stray that I had picked up.
+
+I bought my melons at a different place this time, from a Mr. Joe Berge
+who lived a few miles above Mr. Vogg. I got them for two and a half
+cents a piece, therefore made a better "speck" than before. I struck a
+terrible storm on my return trip and came very near swamping.
+
+I made my next trip to Indianola as I had four passengers to take down,
+at two dollars and a half a head.
+
+Shortly after landing in Indianola I got two passengers, one of them a
+pretty young lady, Miss Ruthie Ward, to take to Sand Point in Lavaca
+county, just across the Bay from Indianola.
+
+I remained in Indianola two days "bucking" monte. I left there broke
+after paying for a load of melons.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII.
+
+BACK TO MY FAVORITE OCCUPATION, THAT OF A WILD AND WOOLLY COW BOY.
+
+
+When the oyster season began, I abandoned the melon trade in favor of
+the former.
+
+I would load up at one of the many oyster reefs in the Bay and take them
+either to the factory or Indianola where they sold for one dollar a
+barrel, in the shell.
+
+Along in October sometime, I worked up a scheme by which I thought I
+could make a stake. My scheme was to get into the Colorado river where
+there were no boats and speculate among the africans that lined the
+river banks on both sides just as far up as it was navigable, which was
+fifty miles or more.
+
+The worst job was to get the boat into the river, the mouth of it being
+stopped up with a raft, or "drift" about eighteen miles long.
+
+My only show was to snake her across the prairie from the head of
+Willson's creek, a distance of five miles--and that I concluded to do
+if it took all the oxen in Matagorda county.
+
+As I needed a partner in my new enterprise, I managed to find one in the
+person of an old irishman by the name of "Big Jack." He only had a
+capital of eighteen dollars but I agreed to give him half of the
+profits--which I figured on being very large. You see my intentions were
+to swap for hides, pecans, etc., which I would have hauled overland to
+Willson's creek and from there to Indianola by sail boat.
+
+Our plans being laid we struck out for Indianola to buy our goods--all
+kinds of articles that we thought would catch the negro's eye, including
+a good supply of tanglefoot--which I am sorry to say cost me dear,
+besides being the cause of smashing my little scheme into a thousand
+fragments.
+
+We finally started back from Indianola with our load of goods; and Jack
+being an irishman, couldn't resist the temptation of taking a "wee drop
+of the critter" every fifteen or twenty minutes. The consequences were
+everything but edifying.
+
+I hired Anthony Moore, a gentleman of color to haul the Blood Hound and
+all of our traps to the river.
+
+We fixed rollers under the boat and after getting her out high and dry
+on the ball prairie, found that we didn't have oxen enough to carry out
+the job.
+
+While Anthony Moore was off rustling for a couple more yoke of cattle, I
+hired a horse to ride up to the Post Office after my mail, but before
+starting I gave Jack a raking over for remaining drunk so long. He
+hadn't drawn a sober breath since leaving town.
+
+When I returned next evening Jack was gone--no one there but my faithful
+dog, Ranger.
+
+I found Jack had taken a negro's skiff and pulled down Willson's creek,
+taking all of my snide jewelry, tobacco, etc. along. I traced him up to
+where he had sold a lot of the stuff. He sold an old englishman a lot of
+tobacco for seven dollars that didn't cost less than twenty. Being
+discouraged I sold the Blood Hound to Anthony Moore for twenty-five
+dollars, right where she lay, on the open prairie.
+
+I then hired to Wiley Kuykendall, who was buying and shipping beeves at
+Houston, at twenty-five dollars per month. I left my companion, Ranger,
+with Anthony, paying him two dollars and a half a month for his board.
+But poor dog he met a sad fate the next winter during one of my rash
+moments.
+
+I was out after a wild bunch of horses one day and while trying to slip
+up on them unobserved Ranger and three others belonging to a neighbor
+made a break after a little calf that jumped up out of the tall grass,
+which of course scared the horses. I wanted to run after them as that
+was my best and only chance, but I hated to go off and let the dogs kill
+the poor little calf which they all four had hold of by that time.
+
+I finally galloped back and yelled myself hoarse trying to get them off;
+but no use, so drawing my pistol I began firing right and left.
+
+When the smoke cleared away I discovered two of the dogs lifeless and
+poor Ranger crawling up towards me howling with pain. He was shot
+through both shoulders. No, no! I didn't feel bad; it was some other
+youngster about my size. I dismounted and caressed the poor dumb brute,
+with tears in my eyes. It was ten miles to camp or the nearest ranch,
+therefore I had no alternative but to kill him--or leave him there to
+suffer and finally die. I had tried to lift him on my horse so as to
+take him to camp and try and doctor him up, but he was too heavy--being
+a large, powerful brute.
+
+I made several attempts to kill him, but every time I would raise the
+pistol to shoot he would look up into my eyes so pitifully as much as to
+say please don't kill me. I at last mounted my horse and after starting
+off wheeled around in my saddle and put a bullet between his eyes. Thus
+ended the life of as faithful a dog as ever lived.
+
+After New Year's I quit Mr. Wiley and went to work again on my own hook,
+skinning cattle and branding Mavricks. I had bought me a twenty-five
+dollar horse for the occasion.
+
+I established my camp at the head of Cashe's creek, three miles above
+Mr. Yeamans.' The only company I had was Ranger and I didn't have him
+but a short while, as you already know.
+
+Cattle died pretty badly that winter and therefore I made quite a pile
+of money, besides branding a great many Mavricks.
+
+About the middle of April I met with a painful and almost fatal
+accident--got shot through the knee with one of those old time dragoon
+pistols, which carry a very large ball.
+
+The bullet entered the top of my knee and came out--or at least was cut
+out--on the opposite side; went right through the knee-cap. The doctor
+who waited on me said I would be a cripple for life, but he missed his
+guess, although I have received another bullet hole through the same
+knee since then.
+
+After getting wounded I remained at Mr. Yeamans' awhile and then went
+down to Mr. Morris' on Tresspalacious Bay to board.
+
+When I got so that I could move around on crutches I went up to Mr. John
+Pierce's ranch to live. Mr. Pierce had persuaded me to put in my time
+going to school while unable to work. He gave me my board and washing
+free and all I had to do was to take care of the "children," little
+Johnny Pierce, eight years old, Mamie Pierce, "Shang's" only child,
+twelve years old and a Miss Fannie Elliott, sweet sixteen. The school
+house being two miles off, we had to ride on horseback.
+
+I would have had a soft time of it all summer, but before two weeks
+rolled around I had a fuss with the red complexioned school master. I
+then mounted "Boney-part" and struck out for Houston, ninety miles east.
+
+I arrived in Houston during the State Fair. Everything was lively
+there--in fact too lively for me. The first thing I did was to strike a
+monte game and the second thing was lose nearly all the money I had.
+
+After quitting the monte game I struck out to hunt aunt "Mary" whom I
+heard had moved to Houston from Galveston. I had never seen her that I
+remembered of, but held her in high esteem for her kindness in sending
+me the white canvas breeches during the war.
+
+I found her after hunting all day; she kept a private boarding house
+close to the Union depot. She appeared to be glad to see me.
+
+The next day aunt Mary's husband, Mr. James McClain, took me out to the
+Fair ground to see the sights. The biggest sight to me was Jeff. Davis,
+although I was deceived as to his makeup; I expected to see a portly
+looking man on a gray horse.
+
+May be the following song that I used to sing during the war had
+something to do with that, for it ran thus:
+
+    Jeff Davis is our President,
+    And Lincoln is a fool,
+    Jeff Davis rides a big gray horse
+    While Lincoln rides a mule.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII.
+
+MOTHER AND I MEET AT LAST.
+
+
+After spending a week with aunt Mary, I grew restless and pulled for
+Galveston to visit my uncle "Nick." I went by way of steamboat down
+Buffalo bayou, leaving my horse and saddle in Houston.
+
+I landed in the "Island City" one evening about dark. The first man I
+met, I inquired of him, if he knew where Mr. Nicholas White lived? "Why
+of course," was his quick answer, "I have known him for seventeen
+years." He then gave me the directions how to find him.
+
+His wife, whom he had just married a short while before, she being his
+second wife, met me at the door and escorted me to the bed room where I
+found the old fellow three sheets in the wind. He soon braced up though
+and tendered me a hearty welcome.
+
+The next day he spent in showing me around the city and introducing me
+to his friends as his little nephew who had to "skip" from western Texas
+for stealing cattle. I remember there were several high toned officials
+among the ones he introduced me to; one of them I think was Tom
+Ochiltree--a red-headed Congressman or Senator, I forget which.
+
+The old gentleman had a horse and buggy, consequently I had a regular
+picnic, during my stay, driving up and down the beach watching the
+pretty girls go in bathing.
+
+I remained there two weeks and on taking my departure uncle "Nick"
+presented me with a Spencer Carbine--one he had captured from a yankee
+while out scouting during the war. I was very proud of the gift for I
+had never owned a repeating rifle before.
+
+I landed in Houston flat broke, but wasn't long in making a raise of ten
+dollars from aunt Mary. Boney-part had been taken good care of during my
+absence, which made him feel too rollicky--he tried to pitch me off when
+I got on him.
+
+After bidding aunt Mary and uncle "Jim" good-bye I struck out for Allen,
+Pool & Co.'s ranch on Simms' bayou. There I hired to a Mr. Joe Davis of
+Clear creek, who had the contract furnishing beef to the Gulf, Colorado
+and Santa Fe R. R. which was just building out from Galveston.
+
+About the first of September I mounted Ranger, a pony I swapped
+Boney-part for and lit out for Tresspalacious. My wound by that time was
+about well.
+
+On arriving at Mr. "Tom" Kuykendall's at the head of Tresspalacious
+river, I learned that mother was at Mr. Morris', at the mouth of Cashe's
+creek, waiting for me. She had arrived there just a few days after my
+departure--for parts unknown, as no one knew where I was going.
+
+You see after getting shot I wrote to mother telling her of the accident
+and also sending her some money, as I was in the habit of doing when
+flush. Hence, like a kind mother, she came out to be of service to me,
+but arrived too late.
+
+It is needless to say we were glad to meet, for the first time in
+several long years.
+
+I went right to work trying to rig up a home for her. She had brought
+some money with her and I sold a lot of Mavricks--some of those I
+branded the winter previous--for two dollars a head, therefore we both
+together had money enough to build and furnish a shanty.
+
+As Mr. Morris was just going to Indianola in his schooner we sent by him
+after our lumber, etc. But before he got there the "big" storm, which
+swept nearly every soul from the Peninsula and nearly wiped Indianola
+out of existence, struck him and scattered his boat, money and
+everything he had aboard to the four winds of Heaven. He and his son
+"Tom" barely escaped with their own lives.
+
+Mother and I experienced a share of the same storm too; we were still at
+Mr. Morris.' The storm came about ten o'clock at night and blew the
+Morris mansion down, leaving us, Mrs. Morris, her three children and a
+step-son, "Jim," mother and myself to paddle around in water up to our
+waists until morning.
+
+When daylight came the Bay shore was lined with dead cattle just as far
+as the eye could reach; cattle that had blown into the water and
+drowned.
+
+When Mr. Morris got back he started a new ranch up at the head of
+Cashe's creek, where I had camped the winter before and I built mother a
+shanty a few hundred yards from his, so she wouldn't get lonesome while
+I was away.
+
+I built it out of an old torn down house that I bought from Mr. John
+Pierce on "tick" for I was then financially "busted."
+
+Cattle didn't die very badly that coming winter, therefore I did not
+make much money. But towards spring I got my work in branding Mavricks.
+Some days I would brand as high as fifteen or twenty head.
+
+That spring there was a law passed prohibiting the carrying of pistols
+and I was the first man to break the law, for which they socked a
+heavier fine to me than I was able to pay; but I found a good friend in
+the person of Mr. John Pierce who loaned me the desired amount without
+asking for it.
+
+The first of April I hired to W. B. Grimes to go "up the trail" at
+thirty dollars per month. I bade mother good bye, promising to return,
+sure, that coming fall.
+
+Our outfit consisted of twenty-five hundred head of old mossy-horn
+steers, a cook and twenty-five riders, including the boss, Asa Dawdy,
+with six head of good horses to the man.
+
+Everything went on lovely with the exception of swimming swollen
+streams, fighting now and then among ourselves and a stampede every
+stormy night, until we arrived on the Canadian river in the Indian
+territory; there we had a little indian scare. When within a few miles
+of the river, Dawdy went on ahead to look up a good crossing; it wasn't
+long until we discovered a terrible dust on the trail between us and the
+river; it looked like it might be a cyclone coming, but instead of that
+it was our boss returning. He galloped up almost out of wind telling us
+to stop the herd and make preparations for war, as the woods along the
+river were covered with indians on the war path.
+
+After getting everything in shape for war, he selected two of his best
+armed men, which happened to be Otto Draub and myself, to go back with
+him and try to make peace with the red devils. We scoured the woods out
+thoroughly, but only succeeded in finding one old, blind "buck." Asa
+had, no doubt, seen him and imagined the rest. From that time on though
+we were among indians all the time; and they used to try and scare Asa
+into giving them "wo-ha's," (cattle) but he wasn't one of the scaring
+kind--except when taken by surprise.
+
+Everything went on smoothly again until we arrived at "Salt Fork" close
+to the Kansas line. It was raining and storming terribly when we hove in
+sight of the above named river. Asa went on ahead with the wagons--we
+having an extra one along then to haul wood and water in--to find a
+crossing, but on arriving there he found it very high, almost swimming;
+he succeeded in getting both wagons over though. He then galloped back
+to hurry the herd up.
+
+We were just about a mile from the river when he came dashing up saying:
+"Whoop 'em up boys! for she's rising a foot every second."
+
+When we got there she was "bank full" and still rising. It was at least
+half a mile to the opposite side and drift wood was coming down at a
+terrible rate, which made it dangerous to cross. But the wagons being
+over made it a ground hog case--or at least we thought so.
+
+The old lead steers went right into the foaming water without a bit of
+trouble and of course the balance followed.
+
+Henry Coats was in the lead of the herd, Asa Dawdy and Otto Draub on the
+left point, while negro "Gabe" and I kept them from turning to the
+right.
+
+We were all--that is we fellows on the points--out in swimming water
+when Henry Coats' horse went under, which scared the leaders, causing
+the whole herd to turn back amidst terrible confusion. Coats came very
+near drowning. We worked for half an hour or more trying to get the
+herd to take water again, but failed. The river continued to rise until
+she was over a mile wide.
+
+Suffice it to say, we remained there seven days without anything to eat
+except fresh meat without salt. It rained during the whole time nearly,
+so that we didn't get much sleep on account of having to stay with the
+cattle night and day.
+
+The first grub we got was from a lot of soldiers camped on the opposite
+side of the wicked little stream "Wild Horse." They were waiting for it
+to go down so they could proceed to Wichita, Kansas, their destination.
+
+The boss, Dawdy, a fellow by the name of Hastings and myself found the
+"blue coats" while out hunting a lot of steers lost the night before
+during a severe storm. We had spied the white tents off to the southward
+and pulled out for them, in a gallop.
+
+On arriving within a few hundred yards we found out that a swift stream
+of muddy water laid between us.
+
+They were camped right on the opposite bank from where we stood. Dawdy
+yelled over asking if they could spare some chuck? "Yes" was the quick
+response, "If you will come over after it."
+
+Dawdy and Hastings both looked at me, as much as to say: "Charlie it all
+depends on you." I was considered an extra good swimmer.
+
+After shedding my heaviest clothes--there being officers' wives in camp,
+so that I couldn't undress altogether--I put spurs to "Yankee-doodle"
+and went into her. It was at least two hundred yards across, but I made
+it all O. K.
+
+When the captain found out how long we had been without grub he ordered
+the cook to bring out some cold biscuits. He brought out a large pan
+full, and after I got my fists full, a lot of the soldiers took the
+balance and selecting a narrow place, threw them over one by one to
+Dawdy and Hastings.
+
+After hiding a dozen or two fat Government biscuits under my belt, I
+began studying up a plan by which I could get some flour and salt, also
+coffee, over. At last I hit upon a plan: I got a wash-tub from the
+captain's wife and filling it full of such stuff as we needed, launched
+her out into the water; I swam by the side of it and landed on the
+opposite side about half a mile below where I started in at. I then took
+the tub back thanked our benefactors, mounted Yankee-doodle and pulled
+for the other shore feeling a thousand per cent. better.
+
+We arrived at camp about sundown and the boys went to work baking bread
+by rolling the dough around a stick and holding it over the fire. Some
+of them sat up all night eating, trying to make up for lost time.
+
+The sun came out next morning for the first time in eight long days and
+towards evening we made it across the river. The wagons we found at the
+"Pond Creek" ranch on the Kansas line. The cooks had been having a soft
+time.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV.
+
+ON A TARE IN WICHITA, KANSAS.
+
+
+On the fourth day of July, after being on the trail just three months,
+we landed on the "Ninnasquaw" river, thirty miles west of Wichita,
+Kansas.
+
+Nearly all the boys, the boss included, struck out for Wichita right
+away to take the train for Houston, Texas, the nearest railroad point to
+their respective homes. Mr. Grimes paid their railroad fares according
+to custom in those days. I concluded I would remain until fall.
+
+Mr. Grimes had come around by rail, consequently he was on hand to
+receive us. He already had several thousand steers--besides our herd--on
+hand; some that he drove up the year before and others he bought around
+there. He had them divided up into several different herds--about eight
+hundred to the herd--and scattered out into different places, that is
+each camp off by itself, from five to ten miles from any other. With
+each herd or bunch would be a cook and "chuck" wagon, four riders, a
+"boss" included--and five horses to the rider. During the day two men
+would "herd" or watch the cattle until noon and the other two until time
+to "bed" them, which would be about dark. By "bedding" we mean take them
+to camp, to a certain high piece of ground suitable for a "bed ground"
+where they would all lie down until morning, unless disturbed by a storm
+or otherwise. The nights would be divided up into four equal parts--one
+man "on" at a time, unless storming, tormented with mosquitos or
+something of the kind, when every one except the cook would have to be
+"out" singing to them.
+
+The herd I came up the trail with was split into three bunches and I was
+put with one of them under a man by the name of Phillups, but shortly
+afterwards changed and put with a Mr. Taylor.
+
+I spent all my extra time when not on duty, visiting a couple of New
+York damsels, who lived with their parents five miles east of our camp.
+They were the only young ladies in the neighborhood, the country being
+very thinly settled then, therefore the boys thought I was very
+"cheeky"--getting on courting terms with them so quick. One of them
+finally "put a head on me"--or in grammatical words, gave me a black
+eye--which chopped my visits short off; she didn't understand the Texas
+way of proposing for one's hand in marriage, was what caused the fracas.
+She was cleaning roasting-ears for dinner when I asked her how she would
+like to jump into double harness and trot through life with me? The air
+was full of flying roasting-ears for a few seconds--one of them striking
+me over the left eye--and shortly afterwards a young Cow Puncher rode
+into camp with one eye in a sling. You can imagine the boys giving it to
+me about monkeying with civilized girls, etc.
+
+After that I became very lonesome; had nothing to think of but my little
+Texas girl--the only one on earth I loved. While sitting "on herd" in
+the hot sun, or lounging around camp in the shade of the wagon--there
+being no trees in that country to supply us with shade--my mind would be
+on nothing but her. I finally concluded to write to her and find out
+just how I stood. As often as I had been with her I had never let her
+know my thoughts. She being only fourteen years of age, I thought there
+was plenty time. I wrote a long letter explaining everything and then
+waited patiently for an answer. I felt sure she would give me
+encouragement, if nothing more.
+
+A month passed by and still no answer. Can it be possible that she don't
+think enough of me to answer my letter? thought I. "No," I would finally
+decide, "she is too much of an angel to be guilty of such."
+
+At last the supply wagon arrived from Wichita and among the mail was a
+letter for me. I was on herd that forenoon and when the other boys came
+out to relieve Collier and I, they told me about there being a letter in
+camp for me, written by a female, judging from the fine hand-writing on
+the envelope.
+
+I was happy until I opened the letter and read a few lines. It then
+dropped from my fingers and I turned deathly pale. Mr. Collier wanted to
+know if some of my relations wasn't dead? Suffice it to say that the
+object of my heart was married to my old playmate Billy Williams. The
+letter went on to state that she had given her love to another and that
+she never thought I loved her only as a friend, etc. She furthermore
+went on advising me to grin and bear it, as there were just as good fish
+in the sea as ever was caught etc.
+
+I wanted some one to kill me, so concluded to go to the Black hills--as
+everyone was flocking there then. Mr. Collier, the same man I traded
+the crippled horse to--agreed to go with me. So we both struck out for
+Wichita to settle up with daddy Grimes. Mr. Collier had a good horse of
+his own and so did I; mine was a California pony that I had given
+fifty-five dollars for quite awhile before. My intention was to take him
+home and make a race horse of him; he was only three years old and
+according to my views a "lightning striker."
+
+After settling up, we, like other "locoed" Cow Punchers proceeded to
+take in the town, and the result was, after two or three days carousing
+around, we left there "busted" with the exception of a few dollars.
+
+As we didn't have money enough to take us to the Black hills, we
+concluded to pull for the Medicine river, one hundred miles west.
+
+We arrived in Kiowa, a little one-horse town on the Medicine, about dark
+one cold and disagreeable evening.
+
+We put up at the Davis House, which was kept by a man named Davis--by
+the way one of the whitest men that ever wore shoes. Collier made
+arrangements that night with Mr. Davis to board us on "tick" until we
+could get work. But I wouldn't agree to that.
+
+The next morning after paying my night's lodging I had just one dollar
+left and I gave that to Mr. Collier as I bade him adieu. I then headed
+southwest across the hills, not having any destination in view; I wanted
+to go somewhere but didn't care where. To tell the truth I was still
+somewhat rattled over my recent bad luck.
+
+That night I lay out in the brush by myself and next morning changed my
+course to southeast, down a creek called Driftwood. About noon I
+accidently landed in Gus Johnson's Cow camp at the forks of Driftwood
+and "Little Mule" creeks.
+
+I remained there all night and next morning when I was fixing to pull
+out--God only knows where, the boss, Bill Hudson, asked me if I wouldn't
+stay and work in his place until he went to Hutchison, Kansas and back?
+I agreed to do so finally if he would furnish "Whisky-peat," my pony,
+all the corn he could eat--over and above my wages, which were to be
+twenty-five dollars a month. The outfit consisted of only about
+twenty-five hundred Texas steers, a chuck wagon, cook and five riders
+besides the boss.
+
+A few days after Mr. Hudson left we experienced a terrible severe snow
+storm. We had to stay with the drifting herd night and day, therefore it
+went rough with us--myself especially, being from a warm climate and
+only clad in common garments, while the other boys were fixed for
+winter.
+
+When Mr. Hudson came back from Hutchison he pulled up stakes and drifted
+south down into the Indian territory--our camp was then on the territory
+and Kansas line--in search of good winter quarters.
+
+We located on the "Eagle Chief" river, a place where cattle had never
+been held before. Cattlemen in that section of country considered it
+better policy to hug the Kansas line on account of indians.
+
+About the time we became settled in our new quarters, my month was up
+and Mr. Hudson paid me twenty-five dollars, telling me to make that my
+home all winter if I wished.
+
+My "pile" now amounted to forty-five dollars, having won twenty dollars
+from one of the boys, Ike Berry, on a horse race. They had a race horse
+in camp called "Gray-dog," who had never been beaten, so they said, but
+I and Whisky-peat done him up, to the extent of twenty dollars, in fine
+shape.
+
+I made up my mind that I would build me a "dug-out" somewhere close to
+the Johnson camp and put in the winter hunting and trapping. Therefore
+as Hudson was going to Kiowa, with the wagon, after a load of
+provisions, etc., I went along to lay me in a supply also.
+
+On arriving at Kiowa I found that my old "pard" Mr. Collier had struck a
+job with a cattleman whose ranch was close to town. But before spring he
+left for good "Hold Hengland" where a large pile of money was awaiting
+him; one of his rich relations had died and willed him everything he
+had. We suppose he is now putting on lots of "agony," if not dead, and
+telling his green countrymen of his hair-breadth escapes on the wild
+Texas plains.
+
+We often wonder if he forgets to tell of his experience with "old gray,"
+the pony I traded to him for the boat.
+
+After sending mother twenty dollars by registered mail and laying in a
+supply of corn, provisions, ammunition, etc., I pulled back to Eagle
+Chief, to make war with wild animals--especially those that their hides
+would bring me in some money, such as gray wolves, coyotes, wild cats,
+buffaloes and bears. I left Kiowa with just three dollars in money.
+
+The next morning after arriving in camp I took my stuff and moved down
+the river about a mile to where I had already selected a spot for my
+winter quarters.
+
+I worked like a turk all day long building me a house out of dry
+poles--covered with grass. In the north end I built a "sod" chimney and
+in the south end, left an opening for a door. When finished it lacked
+about two feet of being high enough for me to stand up straight.
+
+It was almost dark and snowing terribly when I got it finished and a
+fire burning in the low, Jim Crow fire-place. I then fed Whisky-peat
+some corn and stepped out a few yards after an armful of good solid wood
+for morning. On getting about half an armful of wood gathered I heard
+something crackling and looking over my shoulder discovered my mansion
+in flames. I got there in time to save nearly everything in the shape of
+bedding, etc. Some of the grub, being next to the fire-place, was lost.
+I slept at Johnson's camp that night.
+
+The next morning I went about two miles down the river and located
+another camp. This time I built a dug-out right on the bank of the
+stream, in a thick bunch of timber.
+
+I made the dug-out in a curious shape; started in at the edge of the
+steep bank and dug a place six feet long, three deep and three wide,
+leaving the end next to the creek open for a door. I then commenced at
+the further end and dug another place same size in an opposite
+direction, which formed an "L." I then dug still another place, same
+size, straight out from the river which made the whole concern almost in
+the shape of a "Z." In the end furthest from the stream I made a
+fire-place by digging the earth away--in the shape of a regular
+fire-place. And then to make a chimney I dug a round hole, with the aid
+of a butcher knife, straight up as far as I could reach; then commencing
+at the top and connecting the two holes. The next thing was to make it
+"draw," and I did that by cutting and piling sods of dirt around the
+hole, until about two feet above the level.
+
+I then proceeded to build a roof over my 3 x 18 mansion. To do that I
+cut green poles four feet long and laid them across the top, two or
+three inches apart. Then a layer of grass and finally, to finish it off,
+a foot of solid earth. She was then ready for business. My idea in
+making it so crooked was, to keep the indians, should any happen along
+at night, from seeing my fire. After getting established in my new
+quarters I put out quite a number of wolf baits and next morning in
+going to look at them found several dead wolves besides scores of
+skunks, etc. But they were frozen too stiff to skin, therefore I left
+them until a warmer day.
+
+The next morning on crawling out to feed my horse I discovered it
+snowing terribly, accompanied with a piercing cold norther. I crawled
+back into my hole after making Whisky-peat as comfortable as possible
+and remained there until late in the evening, when suddenly disturbed by
+a horny visitor.
+
+It was three or four o'clock in the evening, while humped up before a
+blazing fire, thinking of days gone by, that all at once, before I had
+time to think, a large red steer came tumbling down head first, just
+missing me by a few inches. In traveling ahead of the storm the whole
+Johnson herd had passed right over me, but luckily only one broke
+through.
+
+Talk about your ticklish places! That was truly one of them; a steer
+jammed in between me and daylight, and a hot fire roasting me by
+inches.
+
+I tried to get up through the roof--it being only a foot above my
+head--but failed. Finally the old steer made a terrible struggle, just
+about the time I was fixing to turn my wicked soul over to the Lord, and
+I got a glimpse of daylight under his flanks. I made a dive for it and
+by tight squeezing I saved my life.
+
+After getting out and shaking myself I made a vow that I would leave
+that God-forsaken country in less than twenty-four hours; and I did so.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XV.
+
+A LONELY TRIP DOWN THE CIMERON.
+
+
+The next morning after the steer racket I pulled out for Kiowa, Kansas.
+It was then sleeting from the north, consequently I had to face it.
+
+About three o'clock in the evening I changed my notion and concluded to
+head for Texas. So I turned east, down the Eagle Chief, to where it
+emptied into the Cimeron, and thence down that stream; knowing that I
+was bound to strike the Chisholm trail--the one I came up on, the spring
+before.
+
+I camped that night at the mouth of Eagle Chief, and went to roost on an
+empty stomach, not having brought any grub with me. I was then in the
+western edge of what is known as the Black-jack country, which extends
+east far beyond the Chisholm trail.
+
+The next morning I continued down the Cimeron, through Black-jack timber
+and sand hills. To avoid the sand hills, which appeared fewer on the
+opposite side, I undertook to cross the river, but bogged down in the
+quicksand and had to turn back.
+
+That night I camped between two large sand hills and made my bed in a
+tall bunch of blue-stem grass. I went to bed as full as a tick, as I had
+just eaten a mule-eared rabbit, one I had slipped up onto and killed
+with a club. I was afraid to shoot at the large droves of deer and
+turkeys, on account of the country being full of fresh indian signs.
+
+I crawled out of my nest next morning almost frozen. I built a roaring
+big fire on the _south_ edge of the bunch of tall grass so as to check
+the cold piercing norther. After enjoying the warm fire a few moments, I
+began to get thirsty and there being no water near at hand, I took my
+tin cup and walked over to a large snow-drift a short distance off, to
+get it full of clean snow, which I intended melting by the fire to
+quench my burning thirst.
+
+While filling the cup I heard a crackling noise behind me and looking
+over my shoulder discovered a blaze of fire twenty feet in the air and
+spreading at a terrible rate. I arrived on the scene just in time to
+save Whisky-peat from a horrible death. He was tied to a tree, the top
+limbs of which were already in a blaze. I also managed to save my
+saddle and an old piece of saddle blanket, they being out under the tree
+that Whisky-peat was tied to. I didn't mind losing my leather leggins,
+saddle blankets, etc., so much as I did the old delapidated overcoat
+that contained a little silver-plated match box in one of the pockets.
+
+That day I traveled steady, but not making very rapid progress, on
+account of winding around sand hills, watching for indians and going
+around the heads of boggy sloughs. I was certain of striking the
+Chisholm trail before night, but was doomed to disappointment.
+
+I pitched camp about nine o'clock that night and played a single-handed
+game of freeze-out until morning, not having any matches to make a fire
+with.
+
+I hadn't gone more than two miles next morning when I came across a
+camp-fire, which looked as though it had been used a few hours before;
+on examination I found it had been an indian camp, just vacated that
+morning. The trail, which contained the tracks of forty or fifty head of
+horses, led down the river. After warming myself I struck right out on
+their trail, being very cautious not to run onto them. Every now and
+then I would dismount and crawl to the top of a tall sand hill to see
+that the road was clear ahead.
+
+About noon I came to a large creek, which proved to be "Turkey Creek."
+The reds had made a good crossing by digging the banks down and breaking
+the ice.
+
+After crossing, I hadn't gone but a short distance when I came in sight
+of the Chisholm trail. I never was so glad to see anything
+before--unless it was the little streak of daylight under the steer's
+flanks.
+
+The indians on striking the trail had struck south on it; and after
+crossing the Cimeron I came in sight of them, about five miles ahead of
+me. I rode slow so as to let them get out of sight. I didn't care to
+come in contact with them for fear they might want my horse and possibly
+my scalp.
+
+About dark that evening I rode into a large camp of Government
+freighters, who informed me that the fifty indians who had just
+passed--being on their way back to the reservation--were Kiowas who had
+been on a hunting expedition.
+
+I fared well that night, got a good supper and a warm bed to sleep
+in--besides a good square meal of corn and oats for my horse.
+
+The next morning before starting on my journey, an old irish teamster by
+the name of "Long Mike" presented me with a pair of pants--mine being
+almost in rags--and a blue soldier coat, which I can assure you I
+appreciated very much.
+
+About dusk that evening, I rode into Cheyenne Agency and that night
+slept in a house for the first time since leaving Kiowa--in fact I
+hadn't seen a house since leaving Kiowa.
+
+The next morning I continued south and that night put up at "Bill"
+Williams' ranch on the "South Canadian" river.
+
+Shortly after leaving the Williams ranch next morning I met a crowd of
+Chickasaw indians who bantered me for a horse race. As Whisky-peat was
+tired and foot-sore, I refused; but they kept after me until finally I
+took them up. I put up my saddle and pistol against one of their ponies.
+The pistol I kept buckled around me for fear they might try to swindle
+me. The saddle I put up and rode the race bare-back. I came out ahead,
+but not enough to brag about. They gave up the pony without a murmer,
+but tried to persuade me to run against one of their other ponies, a
+much larger and finer looking one. I rode off thanking them very kindly
+for what they had already done for me.
+
+That night I put up at a ranch on the Washita river and next morning
+before leaving swapped my indian pony off for another one and got ten
+dollars to-boot.
+
+That morning I left the Chisholm trail and struck down the Washita
+river, in search of a good, lively place where I might put in the
+balance of the winter.
+
+I landed in Erin Springs late that evening and found a grand ball in
+full bloom at Frank Murry's mansion. The dancers were a mixed crowd, the
+ladies being half-breeds and the men, mostly americans and very tough
+citizens.
+
+Of course I joined the mob, being in search of excitement and had a gay
+old time drinking kill-me-quick whisky and swinging the pretty indian
+maidens.
+
+After breakfast next morning the whole crowd, ladies and all, went down
+the river five miles to witness a "big" horse race at "Kickapoo" flat.
+
+After the "big" race--which was for several thousand dollars--was over
+the day was spent in running pony races and drinking whisky. By night
+the whole mob were gloriously drunk, your humble servant included. There
+were several fights and fusses took place during the day, but no one
+seriously hurt.
+
+It being against the laws of the United States to sell, or have whisky
+in the Indian territory, you might wonder where it came from: A man by
+the name of Bill Anderson--said to have been one of Quantrell's men
+during the war--did the selling.
+
+He defied the United States marshalls and it was said that he had over a
+hundred indictments against him. He sold it at ten dollars a gallon,
+therefore you see he could afford to run quite a risk.
+
+The next day on my way down the river to Paul's valley I got rid of my
+extra pony; I came across two apple peddlers who were on their way to
+Fort Sill with a load of apples and who had had the misfortune of losing
+one of their horses by death, the night before, thereby leaving them on
+the prairie helpless, unable to move on. They had no money to buy
+another horse with, having spent all their surplus wealth in Arkansas
+for the load of apples. When I gave them the pony, they felt very happy
+judging from their actions. On taking my departure one of them insisted
+on my taking his silver watch as a token of friendship. I afterwards had
+the watch stolen from me.
+
+Well, patient reader, I will now drop the curtain for awhile. Just
+suffice it to say I had a tough time of it during the rest of the winter
+and came out carrying two bullet wounds. But I had some gay times as
+well as tough and won considerable money running Whisky-peat.
+
+The following May I landed in Gainesville, Texas, "right side up with
+care" and from there went to Saint Joe on the Chisholm trail, where I
+succeeded in getting a job with a passing herd belonging to Capt.
+Littlefield of Gonzales. The boss' name was "Jim" Wells and the herd
+contained thirty-five hundred head of stock cattle. It being a terribly
+wet season we experienced considerable hardships, swimming swollen
+streams, etc. We also had some trouble with indians.
+
+We arrived in Dodge City, Kansas on the third day of July and that night
+I quit and went to town to "whoop 'em up Liza Jane."
+
+I met an old friend that night by the name of "Wess" Adams and we both
+had a gay time, until towards morning when he got severely stabbed in a
+free-to-all fight.
+
+On the morning of July fifth I hired to David T. Beals--or the firm of
+Bates & Beals, as the outfit was commonly called--to help drive a herd
+of steers, twenty-five hundred head, to the Panhandle of Texas, where he
+intended starting a new ranch.
+
+The next morning we struck out on the "Old Fort Bascom" trail, in a
+southwesterly direction.
+
+The outfit consisted of eight men besides the boss, Bill Allen and
+"Deacon" Bates, one of Mr. Beals' silent partners, who was going along
+to locate the new range and O. M. Johnson, the whole-souled ex-rebel
+cook. We had six extra good horses apiece, my six being named as
+follows: Comanche, Allisan, Last Chance, Creeping Moses, Damfido and
+Beat-and-be-damned. The last named was afterwards shot full of arrows
+because he wouldn't hurry while being driven off by a band of indians
+who had made a raid on the camp.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVI.
+
+MY FIRST EXPERIENCE ROPING A BUFFALO.
+
+
+About the sixth day out from Dodge we crossed the Cimeron and that
+evening I had a little excitement chasing a herd of buffaloes.
+
+After crossing the river about noon, we drove out to the divide, five or
+six miles and made a "dry" camp. It was my evening to lay in camp, or do
+anything else I wished. Therefore concluded I would saddle my little
+indian mare--one I had traded for from an indian--and take a hunt.
+
+About the time I was nearly ready to go Mr. Bates, seeing some of the
+cattle slipping off into a bunch of sand hills which were near the herd,
+asked me if I wouldn't ride out and turn them back. I went, leaving my
+pistol and gun in camp, thinking of course that I would be back in a few
+minutes. But instead of that I didn't get back until after dinner the
+next day.
+
+Just as I was starting back to camp, after turning the cattle, a large
+herd of buffaloes dashed by camp headed west. The boys all ran out with
+their guns and began firing. I became excited and putting spurs to my
+pony, struck out to overtake and kill a few of them, forgetting that I
+didn't have anything to shoot with. As they had over a mile the start it
+wasn't an easy matter to overtake them. It was about four o'clock in the
+afternoon and terribly hot; which of course cut off my pony's wind and
+checked her speed to a great extent.
+
+About sundown I overtook them. Their tongues were sticking out a yard. I
+took down my rope from the saddle-horn, having just missed my shooting
+irons a few minutes before, and threw it onto a yearling heifer. When
+the rope tightened the yearling began to bleat and its mammy broke back
+out of the herd and took after me. I tried to turn the rope loose so as
+to get out of the way, but couldn't, as it was drawn very tight around
+the saddle-horn. To my great delight, after raking some of the surplus
+hair from my pony's hind quarters, she turned and struck out after the
+still fleeing herd.
+
+Now the question arose in my mind, "how are you going to kill your
+buffalo?" Break her neck was the only way I could think of; after
+trying it several times by running "against" the rope at full speed, I
+gave it up as a failure. I then concluded to cut the rope and let her
+go, so getting out my old frog-sticker--an old pocket knife I had picked
+up a few days before and which I used to clean my pipe--I went to work
+trying to open the little blade it being the only one that would cut hot
+butter. The big blade was open when I found it, consequently it was
+nothing but a sheet of rust. The little blade had become rusted
+considerably, which made it hard to open. Previous to that I always used
+my bowie knife, which at that time was hanging to my pistol belt, in
+camp, to open it with. After working a few minutes I gave up the notion
+of opening the little blade and went to work sawing at the rope with the
+big one. But I soon gave that up also, as I could have made just as much
+headway by cutting with my finger. At last I dismounted and went to him,
+or at least her, with nothing but my muscle for a weapon.
+
+I finally managed to get her down by getting one hand fastened to her
+under jaw and the other hold of one horn and then twisting her neck. As
+some of you might wonder why I had so much trouble with this little
+animal, when it is a known fact that one man by himself can tie down the
+largest domestic bull that ever lived, I will say that the difference
+between a buffalo and a domestic bull is, that the latter when you throw
+him hard against the ground two or three times, will lie still long
+enough to give you a chance to jump aboard of him, while the former will
+raise to his feet, instantly, just as long as there's a bit of life
+left.
+
+After getting her tied down with my "sash," a silk concern that I kept
+my breeches up with, I went to work opening the little blade of my
+knife. I broke the big one off and then used it for a pry to open the
+other with.
+
+When I got her throat cut I concluded it a good idea to take the hide
+along, to show the boys that I didn't have my run for nothing, so went
+to work skinning, which I found to be a tedious job with such a small
+knife-blade.
+
+It was pitch dark when I started towards camp with the hide and a small
+chunk of meat tied behind my saddle.
+
+After riding east about a mile, I abandoned the idea of going to camp
+and turned south facing the cool breeze in hopes of finding water, my
+pony and I both being nearly dead for a drink.
+
+It was at least twenty miles to camp over a level, dry plain, therefore
+I imagined it an impossibility to go that distance without water. As the
+streams all lay east and west in that country, I knew by going south I
+was bound to strike one sooner or later.
+
+About midnight I began to get sleepy, so, pulling the bridle off my pony
+so she could graze, I spread the buffalo hide down, hair up, and after
+wrapping the end of the rope, that my pony was fastened to around my
+body once or twice so she couldn't get loose without me knowing it, fell
+asleep.
+
+I hadn't slept long when I awoke, covered from head to foot with ants.
+The fresh hide had attracted them.
+
+After freeing myself of most of the little pests I continued my journey
+in search of water.
+
+About three o'clock in the morning I lay down again, but this time left
+the hide on my saddle.
+
+I think I must have been asleep about an hour when all at once my pony
+gave a tremendous snort and struck out at full speed, dragging me after
+her.
+
+You see I had wrapped the rope around my body as before and it held me
+fast some way or another; I suppose by getting tangled. Luckily for me
+though it came loose after dragging me about a hundred yards.
+
+You can imagine my feelings on gaining my feet, and finding myself
+standing on the broad prairie afoot. I felt just like a little boy does
+when he lets a bird slip out of his hand accidently--that
+is--exceedingly foolish.
+
+The earth was still shaking and I could hear a roaring noise like that
+of distant thunder. A large herd of buffaloes had just passed.
+
+While standing scratching my head a faint noise greeted my ear; it was
+my pony snorting. A tramp of about three hundred yards brought me to
+her. She was shaking as though she had a chill. I mounted and continued
+my journey south, determined on not stopping any more that night.
+
+About ten o'clock next morning I struck water on the head of Sharp's
+creek, a tributary to "Beaver" or head of North Canadian.
+
+When I got to camp--it having been moved south about twenty miles from
+where I left it--the boys had just eaten dinner and two of them were
+fixing to go back and hunt me up, thinking some sad misfortune had
+befallen me.
+
+When we got to Blue Creek, a tributary to South Canadian, camp was
+located for awhile, until a suitable location could be found for a
+permanent ranch.
+
+Mr. Bates struck out across the country to the Canadian river, taking me
+along, to hunt the range--one large enough for at least fifty thousand
+cattle.
+
+After being out three days we landed in Tascosa, a little mexican town
+on the Canadian. There were only two americans there, Howard &
+Reinheart, who kept the only store in town. Their stock of goods
+consisted of three barrels of whisky and half a dozen boxes of soda
+crackers.
+
+From there we went down the river twenty-five miles where we found a
+little trading point, consisting of one store and two mexican families.
+The store, which was kept by a man named Pitcher, had nothing in it but
+whisky and tobacco. His customers were mostly transient buffalo hunters,
+they being mostly indians and mexicans. He also made a business of
+dealing in robes, furs, etc., which he shipped to Fort Lyons, Colorado,
+where his partner, an officer in the United States Army lived. There
+were three hundred Apache indians camped right across the river from
+"Cold Springs," as Pitcher called his ranch.
+
+A few miles below where the little store stood Mr. Bates decided on
+being the center of the "L. X." range; and right there, Wheeler
+post-office now stands. And that same range, which was then black with
+buffaloes, is now stocked with seventy-five thousand fine blooded
+cattle, and all fenced in. So you see time makes changes, even out here
+in the "western wilds."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVII.
+
+AN EXCITING TRIP AFTER THIEVES.
+
+
+After arriving on our newly located ranch we counted the cattle and
+found the herd three hundred head short.
+
+Bill Allen, the boss, struck back to try and find their trail. He found
+it leading south from the "rifle pits." The cattle had stolen out of the
+herd without anyone finding it out; and of course finding themselves
+free, they having come from southern Texas, they headed south across the
+Plains.
+
+Allen came back to camp and taking me and two horses apiece, struck down
+the river to head them off. We made our headquarters at Fort Elliott and
+scoured the country out for a hundred miles square.
+
+We succeeded in getting about two hundred head of them; some had become
+wild and were mixed up with large herds of buffalo, while others had
+been taken up by ranchmen around the Fort and the brands disfigured. We
+got back to camp after being absent a month.
+
+About the first of October four more herds arrived; three from Dodge and
+one from Grenada, Colorado, where Bates & Beals formerly had a large
+ranch. We then turned them all loose on the river and established "Sign"
+camps around the entire range, which was about forty miles square. The
+camps were stationed from twenty-five to thirty miles apart. There were
+two men to the camp and their duty was to see that no cattle drifted
+outside of the line--on their "ride," which was half way to the next
+camp on each side, or in plainer words one man would ride south towards
+the camp in that direction, while his pard would go north until he met
+the man from the next camp, which would generally be on a hill, as near
+half way as possible. If any cattle had crossed over the line during the
+night they would leave a trail of course, and this the rider would
+follow up until he overtook them. He would then bring them back inside
+of the line; sometimes though they would come out so thick that half a
+dozen men couldn't keep them back, for instance, during a bad storm.
+Under such circumstances he would have to do the best he could until he
+got a chance to send to the "home ranch" for help.
+
+A young man by the name of John Robinson and myself were put in a Sign
+camp ten miles south of the river, at the foot of the Staked Plains. It
+was the worst camp in the whole business, for three different reasons,
+the first one being, cattle naturally want to drift south in the winter,
+and secondly, the cold storms always came from the north, and the third
+and most objectionable cause was, if any happened to get over the line
+onto the Staked plains during a bad snow storm they were considered
+gone, as there were no "breaks" or anything to check them for quite a
+distance. For instance, drifting southwest they would have nothing but a
+level plain to travel over for a distance of three hundred miles to the
+Pecos river near the old Mexico line.
+
+John and I built a small stone house on the head of "Bonetta" Canyon and
+had a hog killing time all by ourselves. Hunting was our delight at
+first, until it became old. We always had four or five different kinds
+of meat in camp. Buffalo meat was way below par with us, for we could go
+a few hundred yards from camp any time of day and kill any number of the
+woolly brutes. To give you an idea how thick buffaloes were around there
+that fall will say, at one time when we first located our camp on the
+Bonetta, there was a solid string of them, from one to three miles wide,
+going south, which took three days and nights to cross the Canadian
+river. And at other times I have seen them so thick on the plains that
+the country would look black just as far as the eye could reach.
+
+Late that fall we had a change in bosses. Mr. Allen went home to Corpus
+Christi, Texas, and a man by the name of Moore came down from Colorado
+and took his place.
+
+About Christmas we had a little excitement, chasing some mexican
+thieves, who robbed Mr. Pitcher of everything he had in his little Jim
+Crow store. John and I were absent from our camp, six days on this trip.
+There were nine of us in the persuing party, headed by Mr. Moore, our
+boss. We caught the outfit, which consisted of five men, all well armed
+and three women, two of them being pretty maidens, on the staked plains,
+headed for Mexico. It was on this trip that I swore off getting drunk,
+and I have stuck to it--with the exception of once and that was over the
+election of President Cleveland--It happened thus:
+
+We rode into Tascosa about an hour after dark, having been in the saddle
+and on a hot trail all day without food or water. Supper being ordered
+we passed off the time waiting, by sampling Howard and Reinheart's bug
+juice.
+
+Supper was called and the boys all rushed to the table--a few sheepskins
+spread on the dirt floor. When about through they missed one of their
+crowd--a fellow about my size. On searching far and near he was found
+lying helplessly drunk under his horse, Whisky-peet--who was tied to a
+rack in front of the store. A few glasses of salty water administered by
+Mr. Moore brought me to my right mind. Moore then after advising me to
+remain until morning, not being able to endure an all night ride as he
+thought, called, "come on, fellers!" And mounting their tired horses
+they dashed off at almost full speed.
+
+There I stood leaning against the rack not feeling able to move.
+Whisky-peet was rearing and prancing in his great anxiety to follow the
+crowd. I finally climbed into the saddle, the pony still tied to the
+rack. I had sense enough left to know that I couldn't get on him if
+loose, in the fix I was in. Then pulling out my bowie knife I cut the
+rope and hugged the saddle-horn with both hands. I overtook and stayed
+with the crowd all night, but if ever a mortal suffered it was me. My
+stomach felt as though it was filled with scorpions, wild cats and
+lizards. I swore if God would forgive me for geting on that drunk I
+would never do so again. But the promise was broken, as I stated before,
+when I received the glorious news of Cleveland's election.
+
+After New Year's, Moore took Jack Ryan, Vandozen and myself and went on
+an exploring expedition south, across the Staked plains, with a view of
+learning the country.
+
+The first place we struck was Canyon Paladuro, head of Red river. The
+whole country over there was full of indians and mexicans. We laid over
+two days in one of their camps, watching them lance buffaloes. From
+there we went to Mulberry where we put in three or four days hunting.
+When we pulled out again our pack-pony was loaded down with fat bear
+meat.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVIII.
+
+SEVEN WEEKS AMONG INDIANS.
+
+
+On our arrival back to the ranch, Moore rigged up a scouting outfit to
+do nothing but drift over the Plains in search of strayed cattle.
+
+The outfit consisted of a well-filled chuck-wagon, a number one good
+cook, Mr. O. M. Johnson, and three warriors, Jack Ryan, Vanduzen and
+myself. We had two good horses apiece, that is, all but myself, I had
+three counting Whisky-peet.
+
+About the sixth day out we struck three thousand Comanche Indians and
+became pretty badly scared up. We had camped for the night on the
+plains, at the forks of Mulberry and Canyon Paladuro; a point from
+whence could be seen one of the roughest and most picturesque scopes of
+country in the west.
+
+The next morning Jack Ryan went with the wagon to pilot it across
+Mulberry Canyon, while "Van" and I branched off down into Canyon
+Paladuro to look for cattle signs. We succeeded in finding two little
+knotty-headed two-year old steers with a bunch of buffalo. They were
+almost as wild as their woolly associates, but we managed to get them
+cut out and headed in the direction the wagon had gone.
+
+About noon, on turning a sharp curve in the canyon, we suddenly came in
+full view of our wagon surrounded with a couple of thousand red skins,
+on horse back, and others still pouring down from the hills, on the
+east.
+
+It was too late to figure on what to do, for they had already seen us,
+only being about half a mile off. You see the two wild steers had turned
+the curve ahead of us and attracted the indians attention in that
+direction. We couldn't see anything but the white top of our wagon, on
+account of the solid mass of reds, hence couldn't tell whether our boys
+were still among the living or not. We thought of running once, but
+finally concluded to go up and take our medicine like little men, in
+case they were on the war-path. Leaving Whisky-peet, who was tied behind
+the wagon, kept me from running more than anything else.
+
+On pushing our way through the mass we found the boys, winchesters in
+hand, telling the old chiefs where to find plenty of buffalo. There were
+three thousand in the band, and they had just come from Ft. Sill,
+Indian Territory, on a hunting expedition. They wanted to get where
+buffaloes were plentiful before locating winter quarters.
+
+From that time on we were among indians all the time. The Pawnee tribe
+was the next we came in contact with. Close to the Indian Territory line
+we run afoul of the whole Cheyenne tribe. They were half starved, all
+the buffalo having drifted south, and their ponies being too poor and
+weak to follow them up. We traded them out of lots of blankets,
+trinkets, etc. For a pint of flour or coffee they would give their whole
+soul--and body thrown in for good measure. We soon ran out of chuck too,
+having swapped it all off to the hungry devils.
+
+We then circled around by Ft. Elliott, and up the Canadian river to the
+ranch, arriving there with eighteen head of our steers, after an absence
+of seven weeks.
+
+We only got to remain at the ranch long enough to get a new supply of
+chuck, etc., and a fresh lot of horses, as Moore sent us right back to
+the Plains. In a south westerly direction this time.
+
+We remained on the Plains scouting around during the rest of the winter,
+only making short trips to the ranch after fresh horses and grub. We
+experienced some tough times too, especially during severe snow storms
+when our only fuel, "buffalo-chips," would be covered up in the deep
+snow. Even after the snow melted off, for several days afterwards, we
+couldn't get much warmth out of the buffalo-chips, on account of them
+being wet.
+
+About the first of April, Moore called us in from the Plains to go up
+the river to Ft. Bascom, New Mexico, on a rounding-up expedition. We
+were gone on that trip over a month.
+
+On our arrival back, Moore went right to work gathering up everything on
+the range in the shape of cattle, so as to "close-herd" them during the
+summer. His idea in doing that was to keep them tame. During the winter
+they had become almost beyond control. The range was too large for so
+few cattle. And another thing buffalo being so plentiful had a tendency
+to making them wild.
+
+About the first of June Moore put me in charge of an outfit, which
+consisted of twenty-five hundred steers, a wagon and cook, four riders,
+and five horses to the man or rider. He told me to drift over the Plains
+wherever I felt like, just so I brought the cattle in fat by the time
+cold weather set in.
+
+It being an unusually wet summer the scores of basins, or "dry lakes,"
+as we called them, contained an abundance of nice fresh water, therefore
+we would make a fresh camp every few days. The grass was also fine,
+being mostly buffalo-grass and nearly a foot high. If ever I enjoyed
+life it was that summer. No flies or mosquitoes to bother, lots of game
+and a palmy atmosphere.
+
+Towards the latter part of July about ten thousand head of "through"
+cattle arrived from southern Texas. To keep the "wintered" ones from
+catching the "Texas fever," Mr. Moore put them all on the Plains,
+leaving the new arrivals on the north side of the river. There was three
+herds besides mine. And I was put in charge of the whole outfit, that
+is, the four herds; although they were held separate as before, with the
+regular number of men, horses, etc. to each herd.
+
+I then put one of my men in charge of the herd I had been holding, and
+from that time on until late in the fall I had nothing to do but ride
+from one herd to the other and see how they were getting along. Some
+times the camps would be twenty miles apart. I generally counted each
+bunch once a week, to be certain they were all there.
+
+About the first of October, Moore came out and picked eight hundred of
+the fattest steers out of the four herds and sent them to Dodge to be
+shipped to Chicago. He then took everything to the river, to be turned
+loose onto the winter range until the next spring.
+
+When the hardest work was over--winter camps established, etc., I
+secured Moore's consent to let me try and overtake the shipping steers,
+and accompany them to Chicago. So mounted on Whisky-peet I struck out,
+accompanied by one of the boys, John Farris. It was doubtful whether we
+would overtake the herd before being shipped, as they had already been
+on the road about fifteen days, long enough to have gotten there.
+
+The night after crossing the Cimeron river we had a little indian scare.
+About three o'clock that afternoon we noticed two or three hundred
+mounted reds, off to one side of the road, marching up a ravine in
+single file. Being only a mile off, John proposed to me that we go over
+and tackle them for something to eat. We were terribly hungry, as well
+as thirsty.
+
+I agreed, so we turned and rode towards them. On discovering us they all
+bunched up, as though parleying. We didn't like such maneuvering, being
+afraid maybe they were on the war-path, so turned and continued our
+journey along the road, keeping a close watch behind for fear they might
+conclude to follow us.
+
+We arrived on Crooked Creek, where there was a store and several
+ranches, just about dark. On riding up to the store, where we intended
+stopping all night, we found it vacated, and everything turned up-side
+down as though the occupants had just left in a terrible hurry. Hearing
+some ox bells down the creek we turned in that direction, in hopes of
+finding something to eat.
+
+About a mile's ride brought us to a ranch where several yoke of oxen
+stood grazing, near the door. Finding a sack of corn in a wagon we fed
+our horses and then burst open the door of the log house, which was
+locked. Out jumped a little playful puppy, who had been asleep, his
+master having locked him up in there, no doubt, in his anxiety to pull
+for Dodge.
+
+Hanging over the still warm ashes was a pot of nice beef soup which had
+never been touched. And in the old box cupboard was a lot of cold
+biscuits and a jar of nice preserves, besides a jug of molasses, etc.
+
+After filling up we struck out for Dodge, still a distance of
+twenty-five miles. We arrived there a short while after sun-up next
+morning; and the first man we met--an old friend by the name of
+Willingham--informed us of the indian outbreak. There had been several
+men killed on Crooked Creek the evening before--hence John and I finding
+the ranches deserted.
+
+On riding through the streets that morning, crowds of women, some of
+them crying, seeing we were just in from the South, flocked around us
+inquiring for their absent ones, fathers, brothers, lovers and sons,
+some of whom had already been killed, no doubt; there having been
+hundreds of men killed in the past few days.
+
+John and I of course laughed in our boots to think that we turned back,
+instead of going on to the band of blood-thirsty devils that we had
+started to go to.
+
+The first thing after putting our horses up at the livery stable, we
+went to Wright & Beverly's store and deposited our "wealth." John had a
+draft for one hundred and fourteen dollars, while I had about three
+hundred and fifty dollars. We then shed our old clothes and crawled
+into a bran new rig out and out. Erskine Clement, one of Mr. Beal's
+partners, was in town waiting to ship the herd which should have been
+there by that time. But he hadn't heard a word from it, since getting
+Moore's letter--which, by the way, had to go around through Las Vegas,
+New Mexico, and down through the southern part of Colorado--stating
+about what time it would arrive in Dodge. He was terribly worried when I
+informed him that John and I had neither seen nor heard anything of the
+outfit since it left the ranch.
+
+That night about ten o'clock John, who had struck a lot of his old
+chums, came and borrowed twenty-five dollars from me, having already
+spent his one hundred and fourteen dollars that he had when he struck
+town.
+
+I went to bed early that night, as I had promised to go with Clement
+early next morning to make a search for the missing herd.
+
+The next morning when Clement and I were fixing to strike out, John came
+to me, looking bad after his all night rampage, to get his horse and
+saddle out of "soak." I done so, which cost me thirty-five dollars, and
+never seen the poor boy afterwards. Shortly after that he went to Ft.
+Sumner and was killed by one of "Billy the Kid's" men, a fellow by the
+name of Barney Mason. Thus ended the life of a good man who, like scores
+of others, let the greatest curse ever known to mankind, whisky, get the
+upper hand of him.
+
+Clement and I pulled south, our ponies loaded down with ammunition so in
+case the indians got us corralled we could stand them off a few days, at
+least. We were well armed, both having a good winchester and a couple of
+colts' pistols apiece.
+
+We found the outfit coming down Crooked Creek; they having left the main
+trail, or road, on the Cimeron, and came over a much longer route, to
+avoid driving over a dry stretch of country, forty miles between water.
+Hence John and I missing them. No doubt but that it was a lucky move in
+them taking that route, for, on the other, they would have just about
+come in contact with the three or four hundred Cheyenne reds, whose
+bloody deeds are still remembered in that country.
+
+On arriving in town with the herd we split it in two, making four
+hundred head in each bunch, and put one half on the cars to be shipped
+to Chicago. I accompanied the first lot, while Clement remained to come
+on with the next.
+
+In Burlington, Iowa, I met Mr. Beals. We lay there all day feeding and
+watering the cattle.
+
+On arriving in Chicago, I went right to the Palmer house, but after
+paying one dollar for dinner I concluded its price too high for a common
+clod-hopper like myself. So I moved to the Ervin House, close to the
+Washington Street tunnel, a two dollar a day house.
+
+That night I turned myself loose taking in the town, or at least a
+little corner of it. I squandered about fifteen dollars that night on
+boot-blacks alone. Every one of the little imps I met struck me for a
+dime, or something to eat. They knew, at a glance, from the cut of my
+jib, that they had struck a bonanza. They continued to "work" me too,
+during my whole stay in the city. At one time, while walking with Mr.
+Beals and another gentleman, a crowd of them who had spied me from
+across the street, yelled "Yonder goes our Texas Ranger! Lets tackle him
+for some stuff!"
+
+About the third day I went broke, and from that time on I had to borrow
+from Mr. Beals. I left there about a hundred dollars in his debt.
+
+After spending six days in the city I left for Dodge City, Kansas, in
+company with Mr. Beals and Erskine Clement, who, instead of stopping at
+Dodge, continued on to Grenada, Colorado, where the "Beals Cattle Co."
+still held their headquarters.
+
+Arriving in Dodge City, I found Whiskey-peet, whom I had left in
+Anderson's stable, all O. K., and mounting him I struck out all alone
+for the "L. X." ranch, two hundred and twenty-five miles.
+
+Arriving at the ranch I found the noted "Billy the Kid" and his gang
+there. Among his daring followers were the afterwards noted Tom
+O'Phalliard, and Henry Brown, leader of the Medicine Lodge Bank tragedy
+which happened in 1884, who was shot in trying to escape, while his
+three companions were hung. "The Kid" was there trying to dispose of a
+herd of ponies he had stolen from the "Seven River warriors" in Lincoln
+County, New Mexico--his bitter enemies whom he had fought so hard
+against, that past summer, in what is known as the "bloody Lincoln
+County war of '78." During his stay at the ranch and around Tascosa, I
+became intimately acquainted with him and his jovial crowd. I mention
+these facts because I intend to give you a brief sketch of Billy's
+doings, in the closing pages of this book.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIX.
+
+A LONELY RIDE OF ELEVEN HUNDRED MILES.
+
+
+After laying around the ranch a couple of weeks, Mr. Moore put me in
+charge of a scouting outfit and sent me out on the South Plains to drift
+about all winter, watching for cattle thieves, etc.; also to turn back
+any cattle that might slip by the "sign riders" and drift across the
+Plains.
+
+During that winter we, that is my crowd, went to church several times. A
+little Colony of Christians headed by the Rev. Cahart, had settled on
+the head of Salt Fork, a tributary of Red river, and built a church
+house in which the little crowd, numbering less than fifty souls would
+congregate every Sunday and pray.
+
+That same little church house now ornaments the thriving little city of
+Clarendon, County seat of Donley County. The old inhabitants point to it
+with pride when telling of how it once stood solitary and alone out on
+the great buffalo range two hundred miles from nowhere.
+
+The Colony had come from Illinois and drifted away out there beyond the
+outskirts of civilization to get loose from that demon whisky. And early
+that coming spring a lot of ruffians started a saloon in their midst. A
+meeting was called in the little church house and resolutions passed to
+drive them out, if in no other way, with powder and lead. They pulled
+their freight and I am proud to state that I had a hand in making them
+pull it; for the simple reason that they had no business encroaching
+upon those good people's rights.
+
+When spring opened Mr. Moore called me in from the Plains and put me in
+charge of a rounding-up outfit, which consisted of twelve riders and a
+cook.
+
+To begin rounding-up, we went over to Canyon Paladuro, where Chas.
+Goodnight had a ranch, and where a great many of the river cattle had
+drifted during the winter. There was about a hundred men and seven or
+eight wagons in the outfit that went over. We stopped over Sunday in the
+little Christian Colony and went to church. The Rev. Cahart preached
+about the wild and woolly Cow Boy of the west; how the eastern people
+had him pictured off as a kind of animal with horns, etc. While to him,
+looking down from his dry goods box pulpit into the manly faces of
+nearly a hundred of them, they looked just like human beings, minus the
+standing collar, etc.
+
+About the first of July, Moore sent me to Nickerson, Kansas, with a herd
+of eight hundred shipping steers. My outfit consisted of five men, a
+chuck wagon, etc. Our route lay over a wild strip of country where there
+was no trails nor scarcely any ranches--that is, until reaching the
+southern line of Kansas.
+
+We arrived at Nickerson after being on the road two months. "Deacon"
+Bates, Mr. Beals partner, was there waiting for us. He had come through
+with several herds that had left the ranch a month ahead of us. He was
+still holding some of the poorest ones, south of town, where he had a
+camp established.
+
+After loading my wagon with a fresh supply of grub, Mr. Bates, or the
+"Deacon" as he was more commonly called, sent me back over the trail he
+and his outfits had come, to gather lost steers--some they had lost
+coming through.
+
+I was gone about a month and came back with eighteen head. We had a soft
+trip of it, as most of our hard work was such as buying butter, eggs,
+etc., from the scattering grangers along the Kansas border. We never
+missed a meal on the trip, and always had the best the country afforded,
+regardless of cost. Deacon Bates was always bragging on some of his
+bosses, how cheap they could live, etc. I just thought I would try him
+this time, being in a country where luxuries were plentiful, and see if
+he wouldn't blow on me as being a person with good horse sense. An
+animal of course, as we all know, will eat the choicest grub he can get;
+and why not man, when he is credited with having more sense than the
+horse, one of the most intellectual animals that exists?
+
+On our return to Nickerson, I concluded to quit and spend the winter
+with mother, whom I received letters from every now and then begging me
+to come home. As I wasn't certain of coming back, I thought it best to
+go overland and take Whisky-peet along, for I couldn't even bear the
+_thought_ of parting with him; and to hire a car to take him around by
+rail would be too costly.
+
+I got all ready to start and then went to Deacon Bates for a settlement.
+He took my account book and, after looking it over, said: "Why, Dum-it
+to h--l, I can't pay no such bills as those! Why, Dum-it all, old Jay
+Gould would groan under the weight of these bills!" He then went on to
+read some of the items aloud. They ran as follows: Cod-fish $10; eggs
+$40; butter $70; milk $5; bacon $150; flour $200; canned fruits $400;
+sundries $600, etc., etc. Suffice it to say, the old gent told me in
+plain Yankee English that I would have to go to Chicago and settle with
+Mr. Beals. I hated the idea of going to Chicago, for I knew my
+failings--I was afraid I wouldn't have money enough left when I got back
+to pay my expenses home.
+
+That same evening a letter came from Mr. Beals stating that he had just
+received a letter from Moore, at the ranch, in which he informed him
+that there were two more herds on the trail for Nickerson, and, as it
+was getting so near winter, for Joe Hargraves, better known as
+"Jinglebob Joe," and I to go and turn them to Dodge City, the nearest
+shipping point.
+
+After putting Whisky-peet and my "Missouri" mare, one I had bought to
+use as a pack-horse going home, in care of an old granger to be fed and
+taken good care of until my return, Joe and I struck out with only one
+horse apiece--just the ones we were riding.
+
+On our arrival in Dodge I pulled out for Chicago, to get a settlement,
+with the first train load we shipped. I took my saddle, bridle, spurs,
+etc. along and left them in Atchison, Mo., the first point we stopped to
+feed at, until my return.
+
+Arriving in Chicago, I told Mr. Beals that I was going home to spend the
+winter, and therefore wanted to settle up.
+
+He set 'em up to a fine Havana and then proceeded. Every time he came to
+one of those big bills, which caused the Deacon's eyes to bulge out, he
+would grunt and crack about a forty-cent smile, but never kicked.
+
+When he had finished there was a few hundred dollars to my credit. He
+then asked me if I could think of anything else that I had forgotten to
+charge the "company" with? Of course I couldn't, because I didn't have
+time; his question was put to me too sudden. If I could have had a few
+hours to myself, to figure the thing up just right, I think I could have
+satisfied the old Gent.
+
+I remained in the city three days taking in the sights and feeding the
+hungry little boot blacks. When leaving, Mr. Beals informed me that he
+was going to buy a lot of southern Texas cattle, to put on his Panhandle
+ranch, the coming spring, and if I wanted a job, to hold myself in
+readiness to boss one of the herds up the trail for him. Of course that
+just suited me, providing I couldn't make up my mind to remain at home.
+
+Landing in Nickerson I hired a horse and went out to the old granger's
+ranch where I had left my two ponies. They were both fat and feeling
+good.
+
+Before starting out on my little journey of only eleven hundred miles, I
+bought a pack-saddle and cooking outfit--that is, just a frying pan,
+small coffee pot, etc. I used the mare for a pack animal and rode
+Whisky-peet. I had just six dollars left when I rode out of Nickerson.
+
+I went through Fort Reno and Fort Sill, Indian territory and crossed Red
+river into Texas on the old military road, opposite Henrietta.
+
+When within ten miles of Denton, Texas, on Pecan creek, Whisky-peet
+became lame--so much so that he could scarcely walk. I was stopping over
+night with a Mr. Cobb, and next morning I first noticed his lameness.
+
+I lacked about twenty-five cents of having enough to pay Mr. Cobb for my
+night's lodging that morning. I had sold my watch for five dollars a
+short while before and now that was spent.
+
+Whisky-peet being too lame to travel, I left him with Mr. Cobb while I
+rode into Denton to try and make a raise of some money.
+
+I tried to swap my mare off for a smaller animal and get some boot, but
+every one seemed to think that she had been stolen; I being so anxious
+to swap.
+
+I rode back to Mr. Cobb's that night in the same fix, financially, as
+when I left that morning.
+
+The next day I made a raise of some money. Mr. Cobb and I made a saddle
+swap, he giving me twenty dollars to boot. He and I also swapped
+bridles, I getting four dollars and a half to boot. One of his little
+boys then gave me his saddle and one dollar and a half for my
+pack-saddle, which had cost me ten dollars in Nickerson. I then had lots
+of money.
+
+Whisky-peet soon got over his lameness, having just stuck a little snag
+into the frog of his foot, which I succeeded in finding and pulling out
+before it had time to do serious damage, and I started on my journey
+again.
+
+On arriving in Denton that time, a negro struck me for a horse swap
+right away. I got a three year old pony and six dollars in money for my
+mare; the pony suited just as well for a pack animal as the mare.
+
+The next day after leaving Denton, I stopped in a negro settlement and
+won a fifty-dollar horse, running Whisky-peet against a sleepy looking
+grey. I had up twenty dollars in money and my Winchester, a fine silver
+mounted gun. I won the race by at least ten open feet, but the negroes
+tried to swindle me out of it.
+
+While riding along that evening three negroes rode up and claimed the
+horse I had won. They claimed that the parties who bet him off had no
+right to him, as they just had borrowed him from one of them to ride to
+the Settlement that morning. I finally let them have him for twenty
+dollars.
+
+I went through the following towns after leaving Denton: Ft. Worth,
+Clenborn, Hillsborough, Waco, Herrene, Bryant, Brenham and Columbus;
+besides scores of smaller places.
+
+I rode up to mother's little shanty on Cashe's creek after being on the
+road just a month and twelve days.
+
+To say that mother was glad to see me would only half express it. She
+bounced me the first thing about not coming back the next fall after
+leaving as I had promised. I had been gone nearly four years.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XX.
+
+ANOTHER START UP THE CHISHOLM TRAIL.
+
+
+I hadn't been at home but a few days when I came very near getting
+killed by a falling house.
+
+Mother had become tired of the neighborhood she lived in and wanted me
+to move her and her shanty down the creek about a mile, to Mr.
+Cornelius's. So hiring a yoke of oxen--although a pair of goats would
+have answered the purpose--I hauled her household goods down to the spot
+selected. I then went to work tearing the shanty down.
+
+In building it I had set eight pine posts two feet in the ground, and
+then nailed the sidings, etc., to them. There was only one room and it
+was eight feet wide and fourteen long. The roof had been made of heavy
+pine boards. After tearing both ends out, I climbed onto the roof to
+undo that.
+
+I was a-straddle of the sharp roof, about midway, axe in one hand and a
+large chisel in the other, when all at once the sides began spreading
+out at the top. Of course I began sinking slowly but surely, until
+everything went down with a crash. The pine posts had become rotten from
+the top of the ground down; and just as soon as the roof and I had
+struck bottom the sides flopped over onto us.
+
+A neighbor's little boy by the name of Benny Williams, had been
+monkeying around watching me work, and unluckily he was inside of the
+shanty when the collapse came.
+
+I was sensible, but unable to move, there being so much weight on me.
+
+Finally little Benny who was one thickness of boards under me woke up
+and began squalling like a six months old calf being put through the
+process of branding.
+
+After squalling himself hoarse he began to moan most pitiously. That was
+too much for me. I could stand his bleating but his moaning for help put
+new life into my lazy muscles, causing me to exert every nerve in my
+body, so as to get out and render the poor boy assistance. I had, before
+the boy's cries disturbed me, made up my mind to lie still and wait for
+something to turn up.
+
+In exerting myself I found that I could move my body down towards my
+feet, an inch at a time. The weight was all on my left shoulder. But it
+soon came in contact with something else, which relieved my bruised
+shoulder of most of the weight.
+
+I got out finally after a long and painful struggle; and securing help
+from the Morris ranch, fished Benny out. He had one leg broken below the
+knee, besides other bruises. I was slightly disfigured, but still in the
+ring.
+
+I put in the winter visiting friends, hunting, etc. I had sold my
+cattle--the mavricks branded nearly four years before--to Mr. Geo.
+Hamilton, at the market price, from five to ten dollars a head,
+according to quality, to be paid for when he got his own brand put on to
+them. Every now and then he would brand a few, and with the money
+received for them I would buy grub and keep up my dignity.
+
+About the first of March I received a letter from Mr. Rosencrans, one of
+D. T. Beals' partners, stating that Mr. Beals had bought his cattle in
+middle Texas instead of southern as he had expected, and as he had told
+me in Chicago. "But," continued the letter, "we have bought a herd from
+Charles Word of Goliad, on the San Antonia River, to be delivered at our
+Panhandle ranch and have secured you the job of bossing it. Now should
+you wish to come back and work for us, go out and report to Mr. Word at
+once."
+
+The next day I kissed mother good-bye, gave Whisky peet a hug, patted
+Chief--a large white dog that I had picked up in the Indian Territory on
+my way through--a few farewell pats on the head, mounted "Gotch"--a pony
+I had swapped my star-spangled winchester for--and struck out for
+Goliad, ninety miles west. Leaving Whisky-peet behind was almost as
+severe on me as having sixteen jaw-teeth pulled. I left him, in Horace
+Yeamans' care, so that I could come back by rail the coming fall. I
+failed to come back though that fall as I expected, therefore never got
+to see the faithful animal again; he died the following spring.
+
+A three days' ride brought me to Goliad, the place where Fannin and his
+brave followers met their sad fate during the Mexican war. It was dark
+when I arrived there. After putting up my horse, I learned from the old
+gent Mr. Word, who was a saddler, and whom I found at work in his shop,
+that his son Charlie was out at Beeville, gathering a bunch of cattle.
+
+Next morning I struck out for Beeville, thirty miles west, arriving
+there about four o'clock in the afternoon.
+
+About sun-down I found Charles Word, and his crowd of muddy
+cow-punchers, five miles west of town. They were almost up to their ears
+in mud, (it having been raining all day,) trying to finish "road
+branding" that lot of steers before dark. The corral having no "chute"
+the boys had to rope and wrestle with the wild brutes until the hot iron
+could be applied to their wet and muddy sides.
+
+When I rode up to the corral, Charlie came out, and I introduced myself.
+He shook my hand with a look of astonishment on his brow, as much as to
+say, I'll be----if Beals mustn't be crazy, sending this smooth-faced kid
+here to take charge of a herd for me! He finally after talking awhile
+told me that I would have to work under Mr. Stephens, until we got ready
+to put up the Beals herd--or at least the one I was to accompany. He
+also told me to keep the boys from knowing that I was going to boss the
+next herd, as several of them were fishing for the job, and might
+become stubborn should they know the truth.
+
+I went on "night-guard" after supper and it continued to rain all night,
+so that I failed to get any sleep; but then I didn't mind it, as I was
+well rested.
+
+The next day after going to work, was when I caught fits though, working
+in a muddy pen all day. When night came I didn't feel as much like going
+on guard as I did the night before. A laughable circumstance happened
+that morning after going into the branding-pen.
+
+As the pen had no "chute" we had to rope and tie down, while applying
+the brand. The men working in pairs, one, which ever happened to get a
+good chance, to catch the animal by both fore feet as he run by which
+would "bump" him, that is, capsize him. The other fellow would then be
+ready to jump aboard and hold him until securely fastened. There being
+only seven of us to do the roping that morning, it of course left one
+man without a "pard," and that one was me. Each one you see is always
+anxious to get a good roper for a "pard," as then everything works
+smoothly. Mr. Word told me to sit on the fence and rest until Ike Word,
+an old negro who used to belong to the Word family, and who was the best
+roper in the crowd, returned from town where he had been sent with a
+message.
+
+It wasn't long till old Ike galloped up, wearing a broad grin. He was
+very anxious to get in the pen and show "dem fellers de art of cotching
+um by boaf front feet." But when his boss told him he would have to take
+me for a "pard" his broad grin vanished. Calling Mr. Word to one side he
+told him that he didn't want that yankee for a "pard," as he would have
+to do all the work, etc. He was told to try me one round and if I didn't
+suit he could take some one else. Shortly afterwards while passing Mr.
+Word old Ike whispered and said: "Dogon me if dat yankee don't surprise
+de natives!" When night came, and while I was on herd, old Ike sat
+around the camp fire wondering to the other boys "whar dat yankee
+learned to rope so well." You see Mr. Word had told the boys that I was
+from the Panhandle, and old Ike thought the Panhandle was way up in
+Yankeedom somewhere, hence he thinking I was a yankee. A few days after
+that though, I satisfied old Ike that I was a thoroughbred.
+
+Mr. Word bought a bunch of ponies, new arrivals from Mexico, and among
+them was a large iron-grey, which the mexicans had pointed out as being
+"Muncho Deablo." None of the boys, not even old Ike, cared to tackle
+him. So one morning I caught and saddled him. He fought like a tiger
+while being saddled; and after getting it securely fastened he threw it
+off and stamped it into a hundred pieces, with his front feet, which
+caused me to have to buy a new one next day. I then borrowed Mr.
+Stephens' saddle, and after getting securely seated in it, raised the
+blinds and gave him the full benefit of spurs and quirt. After pitching
+about half a mile, me, saddle and all went up in the air, the girths
+having broken. But having the "hackimore" rope fastened to my belt I
+held to him until help arrived. I then borrowed another saddle, and this
+time stayed with him. From that on, old Ike recognized me as a genuine
+cow-puncher.
+
+We finally got that herd, of thirty-seven hundred steers, ready for the
+trail; but the very night after getting them counted and ready to turn
+over to Mr. Stephens the next morning, they stampeded, half of them
+getting away and mixing up with thousands of other cattle.
+
+Mr. Stephens thought he would try a new scheme that trip up the trail,
+so he bought a lot of new bulls-eye lanterns to be used around the herd
+on dark, stormy nights, so that each man could tell just where the other
+was stationed by the reflection of his light.
+
+This night in question being very dark and stormy, Stephens thought he
+would christen his new lamps. He gave me one, although I protested
+against such nonsense.
+
+About ten o'clock some one suddenly flashed his bulls-eye towards the
+herd, and off they went, as though shot out of a gun.
+
+In running my horse at full speed in trying to get to the lead, or in
+front of them, me, horse, bulls-eye and all went over an old rail
+fence--where there had once been a ranch--in a pile. I put the entire
+blame onto the lamp, the light of which had blinded my horse so that he
+didn't see the fence.
+
+I wasn't long in picking myself up and mounting my horse who was
+standing close by, still trembling from the shock he received. I left
+the lamp where it lay, swearing vengeance against the use of them,
+around cattle, and dashed off after the flying herd.
+
+When daylight came I and a fellow by the name of Glass, found ourselves
+with about half of the herd, at least ten miles from camp. The rest of
+the herd was scattered all over the country, badly mixed up with other
+cattle. It took us several days to get the lost ones gathered, and the
+herd in shape again.
+
+After bidding Stephens and the boys who were to accompany him, adieu, to
+meet again on Red River where he was to wait for us, we pulled for
+Goliad to rig up a new outfit, horses, wagon, etc.
+
+The horses, Word bought out of a mexican herd which had just arrived
+from Old Mexico. He gave eighteen dollars a head for the choice, out of
+several hundred head.
+
+Being all ready to start for Kimble County, two hundred miles northwest,
+where the herd was to be gathered, Mr. Word turned the outfit over to
+me, while he went around by stage.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXI.
+
+A TRIP WHICH TERMINATED IN THE CAPTURE OF "BILLY THE KID."
+
+
+We went through San Antonio and lay there long enough to have all of our
+horses shod, as we were going into a mountainous country where they
+couldn't stand it without shoes. While there I visited the Almo building
+where poor Davy Crocket and his brave companions bit the dust.
+
+We arrived at our destination, Joe Taylor's ranch, on Paint creek a
+small tributary to the Llano, at last; and it was one of the roughest,
+rockiest, God-forsaken countries I ever put foot on.
+
+We finally, after three weeks hard work, got the herd of twenty-five
+hundred head started towards the north star. We were awful glad to get
+out of there too, for our horses were all nearly peetered out, and the
+men on the war-path, from having to work twenty-six hours a day.
+
+At Red river we overtook Stephens and changed herds with him, his being
+the ones to go to Beal's ranch, while the others were for the Wyoming
+market.
+
+After parting with Stephens again we turned in a northwesterly direction
+and arrived at the "L. X." ranch on the first day of July.
+
+Moore sent me right out on the Plains to hold the herd I came up with,
+until fall. That just suited me as I needed a rest.
+
+After turning the herd loose on the range about the first of September,
+I was put in charge of a branding outfit. Our work then was drifting
+over the range branding calves.
+
+Late in the fall when all the branding was done, Moore put me in charge
+of a scouting outfit and sent me out on the Plains to drift around, the
+same as previous winters.
+
+I hadn't been there long, though, when he sent word for me to turn my
+outfit over to James McClaughety and come in to the ranch; and to bring
+three of my picked men along.
+
+On arriving at the ranch I found that he wanted me to take an outfit and
+go to New Mexico after a lot of cattle that "Billy the Kid" had stolen
+and run over there.
+
+The cattlemen along the Canadian river had hired a fellow by the name of
+Frank Stuart to keep a lookout for stolen cattle in New Mexico; and
+along in the summer he came to the Panhandle and notified the different
+cattlemen who had him employed that "Billy the Kid" and his gang were
+making a regular business of stealing Panhandle cattle and selling them
+to an old fellow named Pat Cohglin who had a large ranch on Three
+rivers, close to Ft. Stanton.
+
+The outfits then made up a crowd between them, and sent with Stuart,
+giving him orders to go right to the Cohglin ranch and take all the
+cattle found there, in their brands.
+
+But Mr. Stuart failed to go nearer than forty miles from where the
+cattle were reported to be. He claimed that Cohglin, who had a
+blood-thirsty crowd around him, sent him word that if he got the cattle
+he would have to take some hot lead with them, or something to that
+effect. So Stuart came back, claiming he didn't have men enough.
+
+This made Moore mad, so he concluded to rig up an outfit of his own and
+send them over after the cattle, hence he sending out after me.
+
+My outfit, after getting it rigged up, consisted of a chuck wagon with
+four good mules to pull it, a cook and five picked men, named as
+follows: James East, Lee Hall, Lon Chambers, Cal Pope and last but not
+by any means least "Big-foot Wallace." They all, except me, had one
+extra good horse apiece; I had two. Moore thought it best not to have
+many horses to feed, as corn would be scarce and high. He thought it
+best to buy more if we needed them.
+
+On starting, Moore gave me these orders: "Stay over there until you get
+those cattle or bust the "L. X." company. I will keep you supplied in
+money just as long as they have got a nickel left, that I can get hold
+of. And when you get the cattle if you think you can succeed in
+capturing "Billy the Kid" do so. You can hire all the men you need; but
+don't undertake his capture until you have first secured the cattle."
+
+At Tascosa we met Stuart who had succeeded in raising a little crowd to
+join us. Mr. McCarty, boss of the "L. I. T." ranch had furnished five
+men, a cook and chuck wagon; and Torry, whose ranch was further up the
+river, a wagon and two men, while a man by the name of Johnson furnished
+a man and wagon. The "L. I. T." outfit was in charge of a fellow by the
+name of "Bob" Roberson, whose orders were to get the stolen cattle
+before trying to capture the Kid, but in the meantime, to be governed by
+Stuart's orders. This placed "Bob" in bad shape, as you will see later.
+
+Stuart, after we all got strung out, took the "buck-board" on the mail
+line, and went on ahead to Las Vegas to put in a week or so with his
+solid girl.
+
+On arriving at San Lorenzo, New Mexico, I mounted a buck-board and
+struck out ahead, to Las Vegas, to buy a lot of corn, grub, ammunition,
+etc., to be delivered at Anton Chico, twenty-five miles south of
+"Vegas," by the time the crowd got there, so as not to cause any delay.
+"Bob" Roberson also gave me money to buy a lot of stuff for his outfit.
+
+Arriving in Vegas, during a severe snow storm, I found there wasn't
+fifty bushels of corn in town, the snow storm having delayed the freight
+trains. One merchant had just got a bill of several car loads which he
+expected to arrive any minute. So I concluded I would wait--and help
+Stuart hold the town down.
+
+I wrote a letter to Anton Chico, telling the boys to lay there and take
+it easy, as I might be detained several days waiting for corn.
+
+Every morning I would go to the grain merchant, and receive this reply:
+"Am looking for it every minute; t'will certainly be here by night."
+
+Not being acquainted in town, time passed off very slowly, so I finally
+got to "bucking" at my old favorite game--monte. I won for a while, but
+finally my luck took a turn and I lost nearly every dollar I had in my
+possession, most of which belonged to my employers. The one hundred
+dollars that "Bob" Roberson gave to buy stuff for his outfit, also went.
+
+While standing over the exciting game, after my pile had dwindled down
+to an even seventy dollars, I put just half of it, thirty-five dollars,
+on the Queen, or "horse," as it is called, being the picture of a woman
+on horseback, and made a vow, if I lost that bet that I never would as
+long as I lived, "buck" at monte again. I lost, and my vow has been
+sacredly kept.
+
+The corn finally arrived, but having no money, I had to run my face by
+giving an order on the "L. X." company, payable on demand. The other
+stuff, ammunition, etc., also things "Bob" had sent for, I had to buy in
+the same manner. Of course I hated to give orders so soon after leaving
+the ranch with a pocketfull of money, but then that was the best I
+could do under existing circumstances.
+
+After getting the goods started for Anton Chico, Stuart and I hired a
+rig and followed.
+
+Arriving in "Chico" we found Barney Mason, (an ex-chum of the "Kid's,"
+but now a deputy sheriff under Pat Garrett) there, with a message from
+Garrett telling Stuart to meet him in Vegas at a certain date, on
+important business. So Stuart struck right back to Vegas, accompanied by
+Mason, as the date fixed was only a few days off.
+
+I found the boys all well and having a fat time. The only thing that
+bothered me they had run in debt head over heels on the strength of me
+having lots of money. The merchants expected their pay according to
+contract, immediately after my arrival. I had to satisfy them with
+orders on the "L. X." firm.
+
+The boys had lots of news to relate, things that had happened after I
+left: One of "Bob's" men had had a shooting scrape with some mexicans;
+and "Billy the Kid" and his crowd had been in town, they having come in
+afoot, and went out well mounted. He and his five men having hoofed it
+through deep snow from the Greathouse ranch, over a hundred miles
+southwest of there.
+
+After getting everything in shape we pulled out for White Oaks, one
+hundred and fifty miles southwest.
+
+The second night out we camped at the Lewelling Wells, where bright and
+early next morning Stuart overtook us; accompanied by Pat Garrett and
+Barney Mason. They came with a scheme all cut and dried, by which they
+could get the big reward offered for the "Kid." Garrett knew the Kid and
+his few remaining followers had been to Chico and left for Fort Sumner a
+few days before; and that they were wore out from having been chased all
+over the country by a gang of ninety men from White Oaks and vicinity.
+Now was his time to strike, if he could just get Stuart to go in cahoots
+with him. That was soon accomplished; a promise of half of the reward, I
+suppose, done the work. Hence he sending for Stuart to come and see him
+in "Vegas" on important business.
+
+After eating breakfast Stuart broke the ice by telling a lie. He knew
+our orders were strictly to get the cattle first, and then if we could
+assist in the capture of the "Kid" to do so. Therefore he branched out
+thus: "Well boys, we have got a job on our hands: 'Kid' is on his way to
+Old Mexico with a bunch of Panhandle cattle; and we want every man in
+the outfit, except just enough to accompany the wagons to White Oaks, to
+go with Garrett and I to overtake them."
+
+"How can that be," someone asked "when Kid and his men just left Anton
+Chico a few days ago?"
+
+"Don't know," was the quick answer, unless some of his outfit had the
+cattle under herd somewhere down the river waiting for him. If you doubt
+my word about it, just ask Mr. Garrett, there.
+
+Of course we all did doubt his word, and were well satisfied that it was
+a put up job, to gain the reward.
+
+"Bob" Roberson and I went to one side and talked the matter over, while
+Stuart and his little party remained at camp wondering whether their
+little scheme would have strength to hold out, on its weak legs or not.
+
+"Bob" was in favor, after we had talked the thing over, of going right
+back and telling Stuart in plain English that he lied. But I wouldn't
+agree to that for fear it might accidently be true. I thought it strange
+that Garrett, who had the reputation of being a model of a man, would
+sit by with his mouth shut and listen to such a falsehood. Of course
+Garrett couldn't be blamed very much for he, being Sheriff, was
+interested in the "Kid's" capture, no matter what became of the cattle
+we had come after.
+
+"Bob" and I finally concluded, for fear the statement might be true, to
+let them have a few men, but not enough to completely cripple us so that
+we couldn't go on after the cattle should we think it best, after
+getting to White Oaks.
+
+I let them take three out of my crowd: "Jim" East, "Lon" Chambers and
+"Lee" Hall. While "Bob" gave up two, "Tom" Emory and Louis Bozman.
+Stuart wasn't satisfied, he wanted more. But not being successful in
+getting his whole wants supplied, they all rode off down the Pecos
+valley.
+
+Shortly after they left we pulled out on the White Oaks road. That night
+it began to snow, and kept it up for several days until the whole ground
+was covered to the depth of from two to three feet; so that it was slow
+work getting our wagons along through it.
+
+A few days afterwards we came to the Greathouse ranch, or at least to
+the hot ashes where it once stood, where "Kid" and six of his daring
+followers were surrounded by ninety men one whole night and day. It was
+as follows:
+
+A squad of men left White Oaks to hunt the "Kid" who was lurking in the
+neighborhood. They suddenly came upon him and Bill Willson cooking their
+breakfasts, one morning.
+
+On discovering their enemies they both, after firing a shot apiece, sped
+through the mountains like deer, leaving their horses, saddles, coats
+and breakfast behind.
+
+One of the shots fired at the White Oaks party took effect in the brain
+of a good horse that a young man by the name of Johnny Hudgens was
+riding, while the other, went through a hat, on the head of a young man.
+
+After following the trail through the deep snow awhile, and after
+satisfying themselves that the two young outlaws couldn't hide their
+tracks, the party struck back to White Oaks after something to eat, and
+more men.
+
+When they returned, that same evening, there was ninety men in the
+crowd. They got on the trail and followed it, until shortly after dark,
+when it brought them to within a few hundred yards of the Greathouse
+ranch, on the "Vegas" and White Oaks road.
+
+To satisfy themselves that the game was bagged, they circled around the
+ranch to see that no trails were leading out from it.
+
+They then stationed themselves in a circle around the house and,
+dismounting, began to make breast-works out of pine logs--the ranch
+being in the midst of a large pine grove.
+
+When day-light came Greathouse sent a negro, who was stopping with him,
+out after the horses which had been hobbled the night before.
+
+Mr. "Nig" hadn't gone but a few hundred yards when he was captured by
+the White Oaks boys.
+
+After learning from him that the "Kid" and five of his men were in the
+house they sent him back with a note to the "Kid," telling him if he and
+his party would come out with their hands up they would be treated as
+prisoners of war; if not they would have to stand the consequences, etc.
+
+In a few minutes the negro returned with a note from the "Kid," stating:
+"You fellers go to h--l!" or something to that effect.
+
+A consultation was then held, and finally decided to give the boys one
+more chance for their lives, before storming the house. So they sent
+Mr. Coon back with another note stating, that that would be their last
+chance, etc.
+
+In a short while a new messenger came forward. It was "Jim" Greathouse,
+proprietor of the ranch. He stated that the "Kid" desired to have a talk
+with their leader. On asking him what assurance he could give that their
+leader wouldn't be harmed, he replied, "myself." He told them that they
+could hold him a prisoner, and if anything happened to Carlyle, he was
+willing to stand the consequences.
+
+So Mr. "Jim" Carlyle, he being the leader, marched forward--never more
+to return--to have a talk with the "Kid".
+
+Arriving in the house where there was also a saloon, kept there to
+accommodate the thirsty traveler, he was made to go up to the bar and
+drink "health to Billy the Kid." This of course went against the grain
+with "Jim," but then what else could he do now, being at their mercy?
+
+Finally the Kid spied one of the gloves he had left behind in his
+retreat the day before, sticking out of "Jim's" coat pocket.
+
+This revived the hardships he and Billy Willson were compelled to
+endure, nearly all day the day before, traveling through snow up to
+their knees. So pulling the glove out of "Jim's" pocket and holding it
+up at arms length, he asked: "Jim, was you with that mob yesterday who
+caused me such a tramp through the snow?"
+
+"Yes," was the answer.
+
+"Well then, come up and take your last drink on this earth, for I am
+going to blow your light out."
+
+"Jim" of course didn't relish the half pint of rotgut that he was forced
+to drink at the point of a colts "45."
+
+After drinking a full glass himself the "Kid" threw his pistol down in
+"Jim's" face, full cocked, telling him at the same time to say his
+prayers while he slowly counted "three."
+
+The "one, two, three!" was uttered, and then a pistol shot rang out upon
+the still air, re-echoing from the mountain sides, in every direction.
+
+The bullet had struck its mark, a tin can hanging on the wall a few
+inches above "Jim's" head.
+
+"Well, Jim," was the first words that broke the death-like silence
+within, "you are worth several dead men yet, ain't you?" Said "Kid"
+grabbing "Jim's" trembling hand and leading him up to the bar, over
+which Billy Willson handed the fiery bug-juice.
+
+"You didn't think I would be brute enough to shoot you in _such_ a
+cowardly manner, did you, Jim?" continued the "Kid" setting his empty
+glass down on the counter.
+
+The shot from within had excited the crowd outside almost to fever heat;
+they thinking that it meant their leaders' death. One fellow during the
+exciting moment scribbled off a note which read thus: "If Carlyle ain't
+out here in ten minutes by the watch, your friend Greathouse will be a
+corpse," and sent it to the "Kid" by the negro, who had returned after
+delivering the last message which brought Greathouse out.
+
+The note was read in the presence of Carlyle, so that he heard every
+word it contained.
+
+"Kid" then answered it by stating: "Carlyle is safe, but we can't give
+him up just yet. Now remember, if we hear a shot from the outside we
+will take it for granted that you have carried out your threats by
+killing Greathouse, and will have to pay you back by killing our
+prisoner," etc.
+
+"Jim" knew the substance of the note and trembled in his boots at the
+thoughts of an accident shot being fired by his party. He was satisfied
+that his men wouldn't do as they threatened in the note after hearing,
+from the negro's own lips, that he was still alive. It was the
+_accident_ shot that disturbed his mind.
+
+The negro hadn't more than got behind the breastworks with the note when
+a man, stationed behind another breastwork, who knew nothing of the
+threat having been made, fired a shot at the house "just for fun."
+
+Carlyle, on hearing the shot, made a leap at the only glass window in
+the house, taking sash and all with him. But before striking the ground
+several bullets from the "Kids" well aimed "45" had pierced his body. He
+crawled a few yards and then fell over dead, in plain view of his eighty
+odd companions.
+
+"Kid" claimed afterwards that he was sorry for having had to kill "Jim."
+Their intentions were to hold him prisoner until dark, when they would
+tie him down, so he couldn't give the alarm, and then make their
+escape.
+
+From that on, the mad crowd outside kept up a continued firing at the
+log house until dark. But doing no damage, as the boys had breast-works
+built of sacks of flour, boxes, bedding, etc.
+
+Jim Greathouse during the excitement gave his guards the slip and pulled
+for "tall timber" up in the mountains where it was almost impossible for
+a mounted man to follow. I have often afterwards heard Greathouse laugh
+over the matter and tell how he "just hit the high places," and beat
+Goldsmith Maid's fastest time, for the first half mile.
+
+About ten o'clock that night the White Oaker's began to get tired and
+hungry, so concluded they would go back to town, forty miles, fill up,
+get a fresh mount and return by daylight, without the "Kid" and his men
+knowing anything of it. They stole off very slyly, without making any
+noise, and when they got about a mile, put their horses down to their
+best licks.
+
+About midnight the little party inside made a bold break for liberty.
+They headed north-east, with cocked winchesters, determined on fighting
+their way out. But they were happily disappointed.
+
+A ten-mile tramp through snow brought them to the Spencer ranch, which
+was kept by a kind old man by the name of Spencer, who lived there all
+alone, and was trying to establish a shorter route from "Vegas" to the
+"Oaks" by turning the road by his place, where there was a fine spring
+of water, a luxury the Greathouse ranch lacked, they having to haul
+water a distance of several miles from up in the rough mountains.
+
+Just as day was breaking the crowd returned from the "Oaks," and finding
+their game had fled they set fire to the house and struck out on the
+newly made foot prints.
+
+Arriving at the Spencer ranch they learned, from the old gentleman, that
+the "Kid" and his little party of five had been gone about two hours,
+and that they had eaten breakfast with him.
+
+After continuing on the trail about an hour longer, until it brought
+them to a rough strip of country where they would be compelled to take
+it afoot, they gave up the chase, and turned back to take their spite
+out on poor old Spencer for feeding the "Kid" and his crowd.
+
+They took the poor old harmless fellow out to a neighboring tree, after
+setting fire to his ranch, and put a rope around his neck; but before
+they had time to swing him up, a few of the men, who had been opposed
+from the start, interfered in the old man's behalf. Thus his neck was
+saved, and he is to-day a highly respected citizen in that community,
+which has since that time become a rich mining district.
+
+The "Kid" and his men made it into Anton Chico, where, as I stated
+before, they stole a good horse and saddle apiece, while the boys were
+there waiting for me to arrive from "Vegas," and pulled down the Reo
+Pecos.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXII.
+
+BILLY THE KID'S CAPTURE
+
+
+We arrived in the beautifully located town of White Oaks on the 23d day
+of December, (1880). The town, which consisted of 1000 inhabitants,
+mostly American miners, was then not quite two years old and pretty
+lively for its age. It contained eight saloons; and Saturday nights when
+the boys would come in from the surrounding mountains, to spend the
+Sabbath, is when the little burg would put on city airs.
+
+We rented a large log house in the lower end of town and went to living
+like white folks. We had no money, but we struck two of the merchants
+who gave us an unlimited credit until we could make a raise. Our
+greatest expense was feeding the horses corn which cost five cents a
+pound and hay, two cents a pound. The grub we ate wasn't very expensive
+as we stole all of our meat, and shared with our honest neighbors who
+thought it a great sin to kill other people's cattle. You see "Bob" and
+I still clung to the old Texas style which is, never kill one of your
+own beeves when you can get somebody else's.
+
+We had concluded not to go after the stolen cattle until the rest of the
+boys got there, by which time the deep snow would be melted, maybe, so
+that we could scour the White Mountains, where the cattle were reported
+to be, out thoroughly.
+
+New-Year's night we had a bushel of fun making the citizens think that
+"Billy the Kid" had taken the town. Billy was in the habit of "shooting
+the town up a lot" every now and then, hence, every time a few dozen
+shots were fired at an unusually late hour, they putting it down as
+being some of his devilment.
+
+We first sent one of our crowd up-town to the billiard hall, where most
+of the men generally congregated, and especially "Pinto Tom," the
+marshal, whose maneuvers we were anxious to learn, to watch and see what
+kind of an effect our shooting had on the people.
+
+At precisely twelve o'clock we got out with winchesters and
+six-shooters, cooks and all, and turned ourselves loose. About one
+hundred shots were fired in quick succession. We then went up town to
+note the effect.
+
+Arriving at the billiard hall we found old "Uncle Jimmie," our man,
+standing in the door laughing fit to kill himself. The hall was empty,
+with the exception of a few who were still hid under tables, chairs,
+etc. Most of them had gone out of the back door, there being a rough
+canyon within a few yards of it leading to the mountains, right at the
+marshal's heels. It was said that "Pinto Tom" didn't get in from the
+mountains for two days, and when he did come, he swore he had been off
+prospecting.
+
+Shortly after New-Years some of our men arrived, bringing the news of
+the "Kid's" capture, while the rest, Jim East and Tom Emory had
+accompanied Garrett and Stuart to "Vegas" with the prisoners.
+
+Stuart sent a letter by one of the boys, stating that he, East and
+Emory, would be in the "Oaks" just as quick as they could get there,
+after turning the prisoners over to the authorities in "Vegas."
+
+So, knowing that we were destined to remain around the "Oaks" a week or
+two at least, we pulled out in the mountains and camped, so as to save
+expenses by letting our horses eat grass instead of hay.
+
+That night, after the boys arrived and after we had moved camp out in
+the timber, while seated around a blazing pinyon fire, Lon Chambers who
+was a splendid single-handed talker, began relating how they captured
+the "Kid," etc., which ran about this way, as near as I can remember:
+
+     "After leaving you fellers we caught----. It began snowing that
+     night, and kept it up for two or three days and nights.
+
+     Arriving in Ft. Sumner, Garrett got word that the Kid and outfit
+     would be in town that night from Los Potales, where the 'Kid's'
+     ranch or cave was situated, so he secured a house near the road
+     leading to 'Potales,' to secret his men in. He then kept a man out
+     doors, on guard, watching the road.
+
+     About ten o'clock that night, while we were all inside playing a
+     five-cent game of poker, the guard opened the door and said,
+     'Garrett, here comes a crowd down the road!' We all dashed out,
+     winchesters in hand, and hid behind an adobe fence, close by, which
+     they would be compelled to pass.
+
+     The moon was shining and we could tell who it was, or at least
+     Garrett and Mason could; they being well acquainted with them.
+     There was six in the approaching crowd, and thirteen of us.
+
+     When they rode up within speaking distance Garrett yelled, 'throw
+     up your hands!' His voice had hardly died out when thirteen shots
+     from our nervously gripped winchesters were fired into their midst.
+
+     When the smoke cleared off we found that they had all vanished,
+     with the exception of Tom Ophalliard who was mortally wounded, and
+     died shortly after. He had several bullet holes through his body.
+     'These,' pointing down to his feet, 'are his over shoes, and this'
+     pulling off a finely finished mexican sombraro and displaying it,
+     "is the hat I pulled from his head before he had quit kicking."
+
+     The next morning we struck out on the trail which led back towards
+     Los Potales. The white snow along the trail was red with blood,
+     having flowed from the wounds in Rudabaugh's horse. The poor animal
+     died though after carrying his heavy master through twelve miles of
+     deep snow.
+
+     About midnight we hove in sight of a little rock house standing on
+     the banks of a small arroyo. The trail led right up to the door
+     which faced the south. Right near the door stood four shivering
+     horses.
+
+     Knowing we had the little band trapped, we took things cool until
+     daylight, when we stationed ourselves around the house.
+
+     There being no opening in the building except the door, Garrett and
+     Lee Hall crawled up to the end wall so they could watch the door
+     from around the corner, while the rest of us concealed ourselves
+     behind knolls, etc.
+
+     We had left our horses behind a hill quite a distance from the
+     house.
+
+     When it became light enough to see, Charlie Bowdre stepped out
+     doors to see about his horse, but he hadn't more than hit the
+     ground when two bullets, fired by Garrett and Hall, who were still
+     at the corner not a dozen feet from the door, sent him to his long
+     home. He only uttered a few words, which were: 'I wish, I wish,'
+     before his last breath left him.
+
+     Of course that caused a stirring around inside; they knew what it
+     meant and began making preparations for an escape. The 'Kid' had
+     his pony inside, out of the cold and the other four--Rudabaugh
+     having secured another one--were tied to the door frame so that
+     they could reach the ropes without exposing their bodies. Now
+     thought they if we can pull three of the horses inside we will
+     mount and make a bold dash out of the door. But when they got the
+     first animal about half way into the house Garrett sent a bullet
+     through its heart. The dead animal of course blocked the way so
+     that they had to give up that scheme.
+
+     They then tried picking port holes through the thick rock walls,
+     but had to give it up also, as they had nothing to do it with but
+     their knives and firearms.
+
+     The 'Kid' and Garrett finally opened up a conversation. The former
+     seemed to be in fine humor. Every now and then he would crack some
+     kind of a joke and then laugh, so that every one of us could hear
+     him. At one time he asked in a jovial way: 'Garrett, have you got a
+     fire out there?' 'Yes, a good one!' was the answer. 'Can we come
+     out and warm if we behave ourselves?' 'Yes,' replied Garrett, 'but
+     come with your hands up.' 'Oh, you go to h--l, won't you? You old
+     long-legged s--n of a b----h!'
+
+     You see they were without fire, water or provisions, consequently
+     we had the advantage. We had a good fire out behind one of the
+     knolls and would take turns about, during the day and coming
+     night, going to warm.
+
+     They held out until next day, when they surrendered, after being
+     promised protection from mob violence. Kid was the last man to come
+     out with his hands up. He said he would have starved to death
+     before surrendering if the rest had stayed with him."
+
+Chambers, after finishing gave a heavy sigh and wondered whether Garrett
+and Stuart would act white and whack up the reward evenly among the
+whole outfit, or not.
+
+"Bob" and I made arrangements with the boys to loan us their part of the
+reward, which would amount to considerable over a hundred dollars
+apiece, until we got back to the ranch, to pay our debts with.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIII.
+
+A TRIP TO THE RIO GRANDE ON A MULE.
+
+
+About the time we were getting out of patience waiting, the two boys,
+East and Emory, arrived with the good news that Stuart would be along in
+a few days, he having to remain over to get their part of the reward,
+etc.
+
+Stuart arrived finally; he came in a buggy with a gentleman from
+"Vegas." His orders to Roberson and Torry's men were: "Boys, you fellows
+pull right back to the ranch, as I have got some important business to
+look after in 'Vegas.' We can come back after those cattle in the
+spring," etc.
+
+The boys who had helped capture the "Kid" and outfit rounded him up for
+their part of the reward, but he said it was already spent. Oh no, they
+wasn't mad! Some of them swore that he would be a corpse before morning.
+But luckily for him he pulled for "Vegas" that night. I am not certain
+whether he was aware of his danger or not, but there is one thing I am
+certain of and that is, it wouldn't have been healthy for him to remain
+in that locality very long. "Bob" had even consented to the crowd
+hanging him. I was the only one who protested, for the simple reason
+that I do not believe in mob law. Of course I thought it very wrong in
+swindling the boys out of equal share of the reward, after they had
+shared equally in the danger and hardships.
+
+"Bob" was in a bad fix, in debt, no money and ordered home, by one whose
+orders his boss had told him to obey. The question was, how to stand his
+creditors off and get grub, corn, etc. enough to last him home.
+
+I finally came to his rescue. As I intended remaining, I went to the
+merchants and told them his fix and guaranteed that he would send the
+money he owed as soon as he got home, or else I would let them take it
+out of my four mules and wagon, which were worth a thousand dollars at
+least.
+
+They let him off; also let him have grub, corn, etc. enough to last him
+home, which would take fifteen days to make the trip.
+
+As some of my boys became homesick, on seeing Roberson's outfit getting
+ready to pull back and as I was anxious to cut down expenses, knowing
+that I would have to lay there the rest of the winter, waiting for
+money to pay up my bills before the merchants would let me move my
+wagon, I let three of them go along with "Bob." Those three were James
+East, Cal. Pope and Lee Hall. "Bob" let Tom Emory, one of his men, who
+was stuck on the light mountain air of New Mexico remain with me. This
+left me there with a cook and three warriors, Emory, Chambers and
+"Big-foot" Wallace.
+
+Just as soon as "Bob" had pulled out, I moved into town and rented a
+house, so that we could put on style, while waiting for the money I had
+written to the ranch for.
+
+The mails were so irregular, on account of the deep snow which lay on
+the ground up there in the mountains nearly all winter, that I didn't
+get a letter from Moore for three weeks. In the letter were drafts for
+three hundred dollars; and Moore stated that I had done just right by
+not taking Stuart's advice and coming home. He also reminded me that I
+mustn't come back until I got the cattle, if it took two years; and also
+that I must scour out the Sand hills on the Plains around Las Potales,
+"Kid's" den, on my return. I distributed the three hundred dollars among
+my creditors and then wrote back to the ranch for some more, as that was
+already gone, etc.
+
+We found the citizens of White Oaks to be sociable and kind; and
+everything went on lovely with the exception of a shooting scrape
+between a School teacher and "Big foot."
+
+About the last of February I received another three hundred dollars and
+I then struck out, accompanied by Tom Emory, to hunt the noted Pat
+Cohglin and find out if he would let us have the cattle without
+bloodshed or not. As he had a slaughter house in Fort Stanton I struck
+out for there first.
+
+We left the "Oaks" one morning early, Emory mounted on his pet "Grey"
+and I on one of the fat work mules and arrived in "Stanton" about
+sundown.
+
+We rode up to Cohglin's slaughter pen the first thing and found a man by
+the name of Peppen in charge. On examining the hides which hung on the
+fence we found five bearing the "L. X." brand. I laid them to one side
+and next morning brought two men Crawford and Hurly, down from the Post
+to witness the brands. I then told Mr. Peppen, or "Old Pap" as he was
+called, not to butcher any more of those cattle sold by "Billy the Kid."
+He promised he wouldn't unless he got new orders from Cohglin.
+
+From there we pulled for Tulerosa where Cohglin lived. The first night
+out we stopped at the Mescalero Apache Indian Agency, which is known as
+South Fork. There I learned from the storekeeper of a bunch of eight
+hundred cattle having passed there in a terrible hurry, about three
+weeks before, going west. He said that they were undoubtedly stolen
+cattle, for they drove night and day through the deep snow. I came to
+the conclusion that maybe it was Tom Cooper, one of "Kid's" right-hand
+bowers with a stolen herd of Panhandle cattle, so made up my mind to
+keep on his trail.
+
+We rode into Tulerosa the next evening about sundown. A young man from
+the Panhandle, by the name of Sam Coleman, who was on his way to
+Willcox, Arizona, was with us. We found the town to be a genuine mexican
+"Plaza" of about one thousand souls. We put up for the night at
+Cohglin's store and learned from the clerk, Morris, that the "King of
+Tulerosa," as Cohglin was called, was down on the Rio Grande on trail of
+a bunch of cattle stolen from him by Tom Cooper. I put that down as a
+very thin yarn, having reasons to believe that he and Cooper stood in
+with one another. I made up my mind that it was our cattle he was
+trying to get away with, after hearing of us being in the "Oaks."
+
+The clerk had told the truth though, for he was after Cooper. The way it
+happened, Cohglin had only paid Cooper and the "Kid" half down on the
+last bunch of Panhandle cattle he bought from them and Cooper hearing of
+"Kid's" capture and of us being in the "Oaks" on our way after the
+cattle, came onto Cohglin for the rest of the money so he could leave
+the country. On being refused he got his crowd together and stole three
+hundred head of the latter's best cattle and pulled for Arizona with
+them.
+
+After supper Emory and Coleman went to bed while I struck out to a
+mexican dance, at the outskirts of town, to keep my ears open for news
+connected with Panhandle cattle, etc.
+
+There being plenty of wine, or "mescal," on the ground the "Greasers"
+began feeling pretty good about midnight. Of course I had to join in
+their sports, so as to keep on the good side of them. There was only one
+American in the crowd, besides myself.
+
+I became pretty intimate with one old fellow of whom I made scores of
+inquiries in regard to Mr. Cohglin and the herd--the one I heard about
+at South Fork--that had passed there a few weeks before.
+
+He knew nothing of the herd, no further than having seen it, but he
+pointed out a long-haired "Greaser," who was three sheets in the wind
+and swinging his pistol around on his fore-finger, who could tell me all
+about it, as he had piloted it through San Augustine Pass.
+
+I learned that the herd was owned by Charlie Slaughter and that their
+destination was the Heeley River, near Tombstone, Arizona.
+
+Marking out a lot of brands which I had never heard of on a piece of
+paper, I asked the long-haired fellow if he noticed any of them on the
+cattle. He did not. So I then marked off a lot of Panhandle brands. He
+picked out several, the "L X." among them, this time, that he remembered
+of seeing in the herd. This satisfied me that the herd would bear
+inspection.
+
+The next morning I told Emory what the old mexican had said and that my
+intentions were to kill two birds with one stone; find Cohglin and then
+follow the herd.
+
+This didn't impress Emory very favorably. He advised me to return and
+get the wagon and outfit. I couldn't see the point, for we would lose
+at least a week by the operation. He took the back track while I
+continued single handed, accompanied by Sam Coleman, whose route was the
+same as mine until arriving on the Rio Grande, where he would change his
+course to southward.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIV.
+
+WAYLAID BY UNKNOWN PARTIES.
+
+
+After leaving Tulerosa our route lay across a young desert, called the
+"White Sands," a distance of sixty miles. That night Sam and I camped at
+a lonely spot called "White Water," where there wasn't a stick of wood
+in sight. We had to make a fire out of a bush called the "oil weed" to
+keep warm by.
+
+The next night we put up with an old man by the name of Shedd, who kept
+a ranch on the east side of Osscuro mountains, near San Augustine Pass.
+
+On arriving in the Pass next morning, on our way to Las Cruces, we could
+see the whole Rio Grande valley, dotted with green fields, for at least
+a hundred miles up and down. And by looking over our shoulder, in the
+direction we had come, we could see the white looking plain or desert,
+which extends for two hundred miles north and south. It was indeed a
+beautiful sight, to one who had just come from a snowy country, and we
+were loath to leave the spot.
+
+Arriving in Las Cruces, (City of the Crosses) on the Rio Grande,
+twenty-five miles from Shedd's where we had left that morning, I went to
+making inquiries about Mr. Pat Cohglin's whereabouts. I found out by the
+Postmaster, Cunnifee, who was an intimate friend of his that he was in
+El Paso, Texas, fifty miles below, and would be up to "Cruces" the next
+day.
+
+That night Sam and I proceeded to take in the town, which was booming,
+on account of the A. T. and S. F. R. R. being only forty miles above,
+and on its way down the river to El Paso.
+
+The next morning Sam bid me adieu and struck out on his journey for
+Willcox, Arizona, about two hundred miles distant.
+
+That evening Mr. Cohglin, whom I found to be a large, portly looking
+half-breed Irishman, drove up to Mr. Cunnifee's store in a buggy drawn
+by a fine pair of black horses.
+
+I introduced myself as having been sent from the Panhandle after the
+cattle he had purchased from the "Kid." He at first said I couldn't have
+them, but finally changed his tone, when I told him that I had a crowd
+at White Oaks, and that my instructions were to take them by force if I
+couldn't secure them in any other way.
+
+He then began giving me "taffy," as I learned afterwards. He promised
+faithfully that, as he didn't like to have his whole herd, which was
+scattered through the whole White Mountain district, disturbed at that
+season of the year, if I would wait until the first of April, at which
+time the new grass would be up, he would help me round-up every hoof of
+Panhandle cattle on his range. I agreed to do so providing he would
+promise not to have any more of them butchered at "Stanton."
+
+The old fellow was worried considerably about the three hundred head of
+cattle Cooper had stolen from him. He told me about having followed him
+with a crowd of mexicans into the Black Range, near the Arizona line,
+where he succeeded in getting back a few of the broken-down ones.
+
+There being a fellow by the name of "Hurricane Bill," of Ft. Griffin,
+Texas notoriety, in town, direct from Tombstone, Arizona, I concluded to
+lay over a few days and "play in" with him and his gang of four or five,
+in hopes of learning something about Slaughter and his herd, the one I
+was on trail of.
+
+I went under an assumed name and told them that I was on the "dodge" for
+a crime committed in Southern Texas.
+
+I found out all about their future plans from one of the gang, by the
+name of Johnson, who seemed to be more talkative than the rest. He said
+they were waiting for the railroad to get to El Paso; and then they were
+going into the butchering business on a large scale. He wanted me to
+join them; and said the danger wouldn't be very great, as they intended
+stealing the cattle mostly from ignorant mexicans.
+
+One morning while Johnson and I were eating breakfast at a restaurant a
+man sat down at the same table and, recognizing me, said: "Hello,"
+calling me by name; "where did you come from?" He then continued;
+although I winked at him several times to keep still, "So you fellows
+succeeded in capturing Billy the Kid, did you?" etc.
+
+Johnson gave a savage glance at me as much as to say: d----m you, you
+have been trying to work us, have you? I kept my hand near old colts
+"45" for I expected, from his nervous actions, for him to make a break
+of some kind. He finally got up and walked out without saying a word.
+This man who had so suddenly bursted our friendship was a friend of
+Frank Stuart's and had met me in Las Vegas, with his chum, Stuart.
+
+I concluded it wouldn't be healthy for me to remain there till after
+dark, nor to undertake the trip to Tombstone, for I had manifested such
+an interest in the Slaughter herd, etc., that they might follow me up,
+on hearing that I had left town. So I wrote a letter to Mr. Moore,
+telling him of the whole circumstances, and asking him if I had better
+take my men and follow the herd to the jumping-off place or not? I then
+struck back to White Oaks over the same route I had come.
+
+That night I stopped at Shedd's ranch; and so did Cohglin, he being on
+his way back to Tulerosa.
+
+The next day I rode the entire sixty miles, across the "white sands,"
+and landed in Tulerosa about a half hour behind Cohglin and his fast
+steppers. I was tired though, and swore off ever riding another mule on
+a long trip. I had figured on being in mountains all the time, where I
+would have lots of climbing to do, is why I rode the mule instead of a
+horse.
+
+The next morning I made up my mind that I would take a new route to the
+"Oaks" by going around the mountains through Mr. Cohglin's range which
+was on Three Rivers, twenty odd miles north. So before starting I
+inquired of Cohglin's clerk as to the best route, etc.
+
+I stopped at the Cohglin ranch that night and was treated like a white
+head by Mr. Nesbeth and wife who took care of the ranch, that is, done
+the cooking, gardening, milking, etc. The herders, or cowboys, were all
+mexicans, with the exception of Bill Gentry, the boss, who was away at
+the time.
+
+While getting ready to start for White Oaks next morning one of the
+eight or ten, mexicans, who were sitting on the fence sunning
+themselves, came to me, and told me of a near cut to the "Oaks," by
+taking an old Indian trail over the White Mountains, and advised me to
+take that route as I could save at least twenty miles, it being forty
+around by the road.
+
+Mr. Nesbeth spoke up and said it would be better for me to travel on the
+road, even if it was further, as I might experience some difficulty in
+finding the old Indian trail, etc.
+
+The "Greaser" then offered me his service, saying that he would go and
+put me on the trail so that it would be impossible for me to miss my
+way. I agreed, so he mounted a pony and we rode east up a rough canyon.
+
+A ride of about five miles brought us to the almost obliterated trail.
+It lead up an awful brushy and rocky canyon towards the snowy crags of
+the White Mountain range.
+
+About an hour after bidding the "Greaser" adieu, I came to where the
+trail made a short curve to the left, but I could tell from the lay of
+the ground that, by keeping straight ahead, I would strike it again. So
+I left it, and luckily for me that I did, for there was some one laying
+for me not far from there.
+
+I hadn't gone but a rod or two when bang! bang! bang! went three shots
+in quick succession, not over fifty yards to the left; and at the same
+time my mule gave a lunge forward, on the ice-covered stones, and fell
+broad-side, throwing me over a precipice about eight feet to the bottom.
+My winchester and pistol both were hanging to the saddle-horn, but I
+managed to grab and pull the latter out of the scabbard as I went off,
+and took it with me.
+
+The first thing I done on striking bottom was to hunt a hole. I found a
+nice little nook between two boulders and lay there with cocked pistol,
+expecting every second to see three Indians or "Greasers" peep over the
+ledge on the hunt for a dead "Gringo"--as the mexicans call an American.
+
+After waiting a few minutes I became impatient and crawled on top of a
+small knoll and, on looking in the direction the shooting had come from,
+I got a faint glimpse of what I took to be two half-stooped human forms
+retreating, through the pinyon brush, at a lively gait. Suffice it to
+say I found my mule standing in a grove of trees, with his front feet
+fastened in the bridle-reins, about two hundred yards from where he
+fell. And between his forelegs, on the ground was a small pool of
+sparkling red blood, which had dripped from a slight bullet wound in his
+breast.
+
+On examination I found that one bullet had cut a groove in the hind tree
+of my saddle, and another had plowed through a pair of blankets tied
+behind the saddle. I arrived in the Oaks, on my almost broken-down mule
+about dark that night, after an absence of nearly two weeks.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXV.
+
+LOST ON THE STAKED PLAINS.
+
+
+About a week after my return to White Oaks, I received a letter from Mr.
+Moore stating that I need not go to Arizona to look after the Slaughter
+herd as he had hired a United States Deputy Marshal by the name of John
+W. Poe, now Sheriff of Lincoln County, New Mexico, to go around by rail
+and tend to the matter. But when Poe arrived there the herd had been
+sold and driven to Old Mexico, so that we never knew whether there were
+any Panhandle cattle in it or not, except what I learned from the
+mexican, which appeared to me very good evidence, that there were.
+
+On the tenth day of March, while taking it easy waiting for the first of
+April to arrive so that we could round up the Cohglin range according to
+agreement, I received a confidential letter from Mr. Geo. Nesbeth of the
+Cohglin ranch, giving me a broad hint that Mr. Cohglin was getting rid
+of our cattle as fast as possible, before the first of April should
+arrive.
+
+The letter arrived in the evening and next morning I took "Big foot"
+along and struck out for "Stanton"--after giving Chambers and Emory
+orders to load up the wagon with grub and corn, and follow.
+
+"Big-foot" and I arrived in the Post about three o'clock in the
+afternoon and went through the Cohglin slaughter pens, finding several
+freshly butchered "L. X." hides, which went to show that I had been
+duped, and that the hint from Nesbeth was true. We then rode down the
+"Bonetta" River nine miles to Lincoln, to go through the hides there and
+to look for a herd we expected the old fellow had hidden out somewhere
+along the river.
+
+We stopped in "Stanton" that night and next morning struck out on the
+White Oaks road to meet the wagon and turn it towards Three Rivers.
+
+We met the outfit at the mouth of Nogal canyon and camped for dinner.
+
+It was sixty miles around by the road to Cohglin's ranch, the route the
+wagon would have to go and about twenty-five or thirty on a straight
+line over the White Mountains.
+
+After dinner "Big-foot" and I struck out over the mountains, while Emory
+and Chambers went around by the road to pilot the cook, etc.
+
+About twelve o'clock that night, after a very hard ride over one of the
+roughest strips of snow covered countries a man ever saw, we arrived at
+the Cohglin ranch.
+
+We found the corral full of cattle, but, being very dark, couldn't tell
+whose they were.
+
+Mr. and Mrs. Nesbeth got up out of bed and gave us a cold supper; and he
+also gave us a few pointers in regard to his employer's doings, etc. He
+informed me that Bill Gentry, the boss, had just began, that day,
+gathering the remaining Panhandle cattle, that might still be left on
+the range, to take to the "Stanton" slaughter pens. Hence those cattle
+in the corral.
+
+After breakfast Gentry and his seven "Greasers" turned the herd out of
+the corral with the intention of keeping right on with his work. There
+was only five head of "L. X.'s," all large steers, in the bunch and I
+told Gentry that I would have to take charge of those and also gather up
+the rest that were on his range. He couldn't agree to that, he said, for
+his orders from Cohglin were, not to give up any of the Panhandle
+cattle, etc. I told him that I didn't care what his orders were, as I
+was bound to have the cattle.
+
+Just about the time we were arguing the case the rest of my outfit hove
+in sight; they had been traveling all night.
+
+After camping the wagon we all went out to the herd, which the mexicans
+were guarding and proceeded to cutting our five head out. Gentry tried
+to get me to wait until he could send for Cohglin, he having already
+dispatched a mexican to Tulerosa after him, but I wouldn't reason the
+matter at all, as I was mad about the way I had been served.
+
+We went right to work after cutting out the five head, rounding up the
+whole range in search of more, but after three days hard work we only
+succeeded in finding three head more. But we left there with nine head,
+the ninth one being one of Cohglin's own steers which we butchered in
+the Oaks on our arrival back there, for the benefit of our many friends
+whom had been depending on us all winter for their fresh beef. Thus I
+had the satisfaction of getting even with the old fellow to the extent
+of one steer and a fat hog which we had butchered and stowed away in
+the wagon the night before leaving.
+
+The mexican that Gentry sent to Tulerosa with the dispatch had to go on
+down to Las Cruces, on the Rio Grande, Cohglin having started down there
+the day before; hence we not having the old fellow to contend with.
+
+After looking over the "Carezo" range, which was owned by Catron and
+Waltz and several small mexican ranges, we pulled into White Oaks with
+lots of experience but very few cattle.
+
+On arriving in the "Oaks" I wrote to Mr. Moore telling him all about the
+way in which Cohglin had taken advantage of me, etc. Also advised him to
+have the old fellow prosecuted as I had sufficient evidence to send him
+to the "Pen," etc.
+
+Mr. Moore on getting my letter, sent John Poe, the United States Deputy
+Marshal that he had sent to Tombstone, Arizona, over to have Cohglin
+arrested and put through the mill.
+
+On leaving the "Oaks" for good, I bought a wagon load of corn, chuck,
+etc. for which I gave orders on the "L. X." company, not having any
+money left. The merchants had by this time, become acquainted with me,
+so that my name to an order was just the same as cash to them.
+
+From the "Oaks" I pulled due east, around the "Capitan" mountains to
+Roswell on the Pecos River. I overhauled scores of little mexican
+ranches scattered through the mountains on my route, but failed to find
+any of our stock. At Roswell though we found two large steers which
+swelled our little herd to ten head.
+
+From Roswell we went to John Chisholm's ranch on the head of South
+Spring River; and got there just in time as he was rigging up his outfit
+for spring work. They were going to start down the Reo Pecos to the
+Texas line, next day, to begin work and I concluded we had better work
+with them, in search of Panhandle cattle which might have drifted across
+the Plains.
+
+I took my outfit back to Roswell, five miles, where I made arrangements
+with Capt. J. C. Lea, who kept a store, to board one of my men whom I
+wanted to leave there to take care of the ten head of steers until my
+return, not caring to drive them two hundred miles down the river and
+then back again.
+
+Not having grub enough to last on the trip I bought a supply from the
+accommodating Capt. Lea, who took my note for pay. He also sold me two
+horses on the same terms.
+
+We were absent two weeks on this trip, but failed to find any of our
+cattle. We came back with the satisfaction though of knowing that there
+wasn't any in that part of the world.
+
+On our arrival back to Roswell we learned of the "Kid's" escape from
+Lincoln after having killed his two guards. That night Lon Chambers wore
+a different hat; he had swapped his star-spangled mexican sombraro off
+to one of Chisholm's men. This hat had been presented to Tom O'Phalliard
+by the "Kid," hence Chambers not wanting it in his possession for fear
+he might run across the "Kid." Chambers of course denied the above,
+saying that he never thought of such a thing, but traded it off just
+because it, being so heavy, made his head ache. But that was too thin we
+thought under the circumstances. Any of us would have done the same
+though, no doubt, knowing that the "Kid" had sworn vengeance against all
+of O'Phalliard's "murderers" as he termed them.
+
+We found Emory and the ten steers doing finely. Tom hated to see us back
+for he was having such a soft time. All he had to do was turn the
+steers out of the corral, mornings, and then round-up and pen them at
+night again.
+
+After drawing on the whole-souled Capt. Lea again for more grub, etc.,
+we pulled up the Reo Pecos--looking through all the cattle on our
+route--to Ft. Sumner, a distance of one hundred miles.
+
+We laid over in Sumner two days and went to a mexican fandango both
+nights, at the Maxwell mansion in which the "Kid" was killed shortly
+afterwards. The "Kid" was in the building while the dance was going on
+but we didn't know it at the time. The way I found it out, I had
+escorted a young woman, after the dance, one night, to her room, which
+was in the same building as the dance, and she bid me good night without
+asking me in. I thought it strange but never said anything. That fall
+when I came back there she explained matters, by saying that the "Kid"
+was in her room at the time, reading. I had noticed that she stood
+outside of the door until I had turned the corner out of sight. She also
+explained that: The "Kid" had the door locked and she had to give a
+private rap to get him to open it.
+
+From Ft. Sumner we pulled due east on the Los Potales road, on our way
+to scour out the "Sand Hills" according to Moore's instruction in one
+of his letters to me at White Oaks. Before leaving the Post, the last
+settlement or store that we would come to before reaching the Canadian
+River, I sold one of the horses bought from Capt. Lea, for thirty-five
+dollars and laid in a small supply of grub with the money. Not being
+acquainted there my credit wasn't good, hence having to sell the horse.
+
+Two days out from Ft. Sumner we came to the little rock house, at
+Stinking Springs, where the "Kid" and his companions held out so long
+without fire, food or water. Chambers and Emory of course had to explain
+and point out every place of interest, to "Big-foot Wallace," the
+mexican cook, Frank, or Francisco, and myself.
+
+The second day after leaving Stinking Springs, we came to the "Kid's"
+noted "Castle" at Los Potales, on the western edge of the great "Llano
+Estacado."
+
+Los Potales is a large alkali Lake, the water of which is unfit for man
+or beast. But on the north side of the lake is two nice, cool springs
+which gurgle forth from a bed of rock, near the foot of "Kid's"
+Castle--a small cave in the cliff. In front of the cave is a stone
+corral about fifty feet square; and above the cave on the level plain
+is several hitching posts. Outside of those things mentioned there is
+nothing but a level prairie just as far as the eye can reach.
+
+We found about one hundred head of cattle, mostly from the Canadian
+River, but a few from as far north as Denver Col., at "Potales," which
+improved the appearance of our little herd considerably.
+
+From there we went to the Coyote lake, twelve miles further east, where
+we found about fifty head more cattle, a mixed lot like the first. They
+were almost as wild as deer.
+
+We then pulled into the Sand Hills, which extend over a scope of country
+from ten to fifty miles wide, and two hundred long--that is, two hundred
+miles north and south.
+
+After about ten days hard work we came out onto the Plains again, our
+herd having increased to about twenty-five hundred head. We were
+undoubtedly a worn out crowd--horses and all. To do that amount of work
+we should have had at least five more men, and three or four more horses
+apiece. We only had one horse apiece, besides one extra, and the four
+work mules, which we had to press into double duty by using them to
+guard the cattle at night.
+
+The next day about noon, after getting out of the Sand Hills, we came to
+a buffalo-hunter's camp on the head of Yellow-house canyon, a tributary
+to the Brazos River. There was one man in camp, the other one being away
+on a hunt. Our cattle being nearly dead for water, there being none
+there, with the exception of a small spring, just large enough to allow
+one animal to drink at a time, I asked the hunter to give me directions
+to the nearest water from there, on our route.
+
+Pointing to a cluster of sand hills about fifteen miles to the east, he
+said: "You will find Running Water, the head of Canyon Blanco, just
+eight miles east of those sand hills." As we learned, after it was too
+late, he should have said; eight miles _north_ of the sand hills,
+instead of _east_. We were all acquainted with the country from Running
+Water north, but had never been south of it; hence us having to depend
+on the "locoed" buffalo-hunter's directions.
+
+We camped for the night within a few miles of the sand hills. The cattle
+were restless all night, on account of being thirsty, which caused us
+all to lose sleep and rest.
+
+The next morning, after eating a hasty breakfast, we let the moaning
+herd string out towards the big red sun which was just making its
+appearance.
+
+Giving the boys orders to keep headed east, and telling the cook to
+follow behind the herd with his wagon, I struck out ahead on my tired
+and weak pony, Croppy, to find the water, which was "so near, and yet so
+far."
+
+I rode about fifteen miles, and still no water. I then dismounted to
+wait for the herd to come in sight, but changed my notion and galloped
+on five miles further, thinking maybe the hunter might have meant
+eighteen miles instead of eight. The five miles was reached and still
+nothing but a dry, level plain, with no indications of water ahead, as
+far as I could see.
+
+Thinking maybe I had bore too far to the south, I then rode five or six
+miles to the north, but with the same result. I then, after letting
+Croppy blow awhile started back towards the herd at a slow gait.
+
+Finally a cloud of dust appeared, and shortly after, the herd hove in
+sight. The poor cattle were coming in a trot, their tongues hanging out
+a foot.
+
+The way the boys cursed and abused that poor old hunter, at a distance,
+was a sin, after I had told them of our luck. Chambers wanted to go
+right back and eat the poor "locoed" human up alive without salt or
+pepper. But I pacified him by saying that maybe he had made a mistake of
+a few miles, meant eighty instead of eight. At any rate we continued
+right on, east.
+
+About noon our ten-gallon keg run dry, and then we began to feel
+ticklish, scared, or whatever you wish to call it. But about three
+o'clock, we spied a bunch of mustangs off to the right, about five
+miles, and on galloping over to where they had been, before seeing me, I
+found a small pool of muddy rain water, which they had been wallowing
+in.
+
+After letting Croppy fill up, and eating a drink of the muddy stuff
+myself, I struck back to let the other boys come on and fill up; also
+sent the cook to fill the keg, and to water his mules, I kept the herd,
+they being anxious to travel in search of water, pointed east, by
+myself, while the rest of the boys were absent.
+
+We traveled till midnight and then pitched camp to get something to eat.
+After getting supper cooked, it was almost an impossibility to find
+time to eat it, as the herd kept milling and trotting around like so
+many crazy animals.
+
+We remained there all night, and next morning used the last drop of
+water to make coffee. We found the keg, after draining it, to be about
+half full of solid mud.
+
+I concluded that we had gone far enough east, so, that morning changed
+our course to north.
+
+About eleven o'clock, while the hot June sun was coming down with
+vengeance, we struck a large lake about a mile wide. If ever a crowd was
+happy it was us. The poor cattle drank till some of them fell down and
+was unable to move.
+
+We laid there resting up until the next day after dinner. Our grub had
+given out by this time, therefore we had nothing to eat but coffee and
+beef "straight."
+
+When we left the lake our course was due north.
+
+About noon the next day we came to the head of Canyon Blanco, twelve
+miles below Running Water, consequently we turned west, and traveled
+twelve miles up the dry canyon before pitching camp.
+
+From there we turned due north again and traveled two days before
+striking any more water.
+
+On arriving at Terra Blanco, fifty miles south of the Canadian river we
+struck Mr. Summerfield, and his outfit, from whom we borrowed grub
+enough to last us home. There were also two "L. X." boys in the
+Summerfield camp, and they, having five good horses apiece, divided with
+us. Our ponies were just about completely peetered out.
+
+We landed at the "L. X." ranch on the 22nd day of June, with the herd of
+twenty-five hundred head of cattle, after having been absent just seven
+months, to a day.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVI.
+
+A TRIP DOWN THE REO PECOS.
+
+
+On my return I found that the "L. X." ranch had changed bosses. Moore
+had quit and bought a ranch of his own, while John Hollicott, one of the
+old hands had been put in his place. Hence in the future I had to be
+governed by Mr. Hollicott's orders--that is while working around the
+ranch. One of the firm, Erskine Clement, had charge of outside matters,
+now, since Moore had left.
+
+I put in the summer running a branding outfit, loafing around Tascosa,
+working up a cattle stealing case, etc., until the middle of October,
+when Clement received a letter from John Poe, who was prosecuting
+Cohglin, stating for Chambers and I to come over to Lincoln as witnesses
+in the Cohglin case. The time set for us to be there, was on the 7th day
+of November, therefore we had no time to lose, it being five hundred
+miles over there, by the shortest route.
+
+Hollicott and Clement talked the matter over and concluded that I had
+better not come back until the next spring--"just put in the winter
+drifting over the country, wherever you can do the most good," was my
+orders.
+
+Chambers and I struck out from Tascosa on the 22nd of October. He had
+only one horse, while I had two of the best animals on the ranch, Croppy
+and Buckshot.
+
+We traveled up the river to Liberty, New Mexico, and from there cut
+across the Staked Plains to Ft. Sumner, on the Reo Pecos.
+
+The distance from "Sumner" to the "Oaks" was about one hundred miles on
+a bee line across the country, while it was one hundred and fifty around
+by the road. We chose the former route, although we were told that there
+wasn't any water until reaching the Capitan mountains within thirty
+miles of the "Oaks." We both wished though, that we had followed the
+road, for, our progress being very slow on account of the loose dirt
+which would give away under a horse, allowing him to sink almost to his
+knees, we came very near perishing from thirst; and so did our poor
+horses.
+
+We landed in White Oaks about noon of the fourth day out from Ft.
+Sumner; and had been on the road twelve days from Tascosa. We were
+welcomed back to the "Oaks" by all of our old acquaintances, especially
+those whom we had furnished with stolen beef all winter.
+
+As we had five days to loaf in, before court set in, we went to work
+prospecting for gold, every body in the town being at fever heat over
+recent rich strikes.
+
+The first day was spent in climbing to the top of Baxter mountain, where
+most of the rich mines were located, and back. The only thing we found
+of interest was a lot of genuine oyster shells imbedded in a large rock
+on the extreme top of the mountain. Of course this brought up a
+discussion as to how they came there. Chambers contended that they grew
+there during the flood, and I argued that they were there before God
+made the earth. We both finally got mad, each one, over the other's weak
+argument, and began to slide down hill towards town, which looked
+something like a checkerboard from where we were.
+
+The next day we tied the pick and shovel behind our saddles and struck
+out on horseback to prospect in the valleys. At last we struck it, a
+fine gold bearing lead. It cropped out of the ground about a foot. I
+told Chambers to go to work and dig the prospect-hole, while I wrote out
+the location notices.
+
+Finally an old miner by the name of Stone came to us. I was sitting
+under the shade of a pinyon tree writing, while Chambers was sweating
+like a "Nigger at election." "What are you fellows trying to do?" spoke
+up Mr. Stone, after grinning a few moments. We told him. He then said:
+"Why neither one of you fellows has got as much sense as a last year's
+bird's nest; that's nothing but a very common ledge of rock." We took
+him at his word and went back to town.
+
+That night Mr. Stone gave us one of his mines, if we would sink a twenty
+foot shaft on it. We done so; that is, Chambers did, while I carried
+water, and rode into town every day at noon to bring him out his dinner.
+
+Finally our time was out and we had to pull for Lincoln, a distance of
+thirty-five miles. Poe had written to me to come in after night, and on
+the sly, as he wanted to make Cohglin believe that we wouldn't be there
+to appear against him, so he would let his trial come off, instead of
+taking a change of venue. I left Croppy in a feed stable to be taken
+care of until my return.
+
+Arriving in Lincoln, Poe sent us down the Reo Bonetta, twelve miles, to
+stop with a Mr. Cline, with whom he had made arrangements, until sent
+for.
+
+Mr. Cline was a Dutchman who had married a mexican wife and had a house
+full of little half-breeds around him.
+
+Time passed off very slowly to Chambers and I, although our host tried
+to amuse us by telling his hairbreadth escapes from wild indians and
+grizzly-bears.
+
+We were indeed glad when Mr. Poe rode up, after we had been at the Cline
+ranch twelve days, and told us that we were free. Cohglin had "smelled a
+mice" and taken a change of venue to Mesilla, in Dona Anna County.
+
+Before leaving Lincoln I had to sign a five hundred dollar bond for my
+appearance in Mesilla, as a witness against Cohglin, on the first Monday
+in April, 1882, which was the following spring. Mr. Chambers being sworn
+and not knowing anything of importance, was allowed to return home. We
+both received ninety dollars apiece, for mileage and witness fees.
+
+Returning to White Oaks, Chambers remained there a week, making love to
+his mexican widow, and then struck for the "L. X." ranch, by way of
+Anton Chico, and down the Canadian River. The route he and I had come
+was too far between ranches for him, traveling alone.
+
+I remained in the "Oaks" about a week after my "pard" had left, waiting
+for some more money which I had written for.
+
+From the "Oaks" I went to Roswell on the Reo Pecos, a distance of one
+hundred and twenty-five miles, by the route I took. There I struck
+company, a jovial old soul by the name of "Ash" Upson, who was just
+starting to the Texas Pacific Railroad, two hundred miles down the
+river, to meet Pat. Garrett, who had written to come there after him, in
+a buggy. Ash was making his home at Garrett's ranch, a few miles from
+Roswell.
+
+We laid over Christmas day at the mouth of Seven Rivers and helped kind
+Mrs. Jones, one of Mr. Upson's old-time friends, get away with a nice
+turkey dinner.
+
+While sitting around our camp-fire at nights "Old" Ash would amuse me by
+relating circumstances connected with the "bloody Lincoln County war."
+He also gave me a full sketch of "Billy the Kid's" life, a subject
+which I am going to devote the next chapter to, as I imagine it will be
+interesting reading to some.
+
+We arrived at Pecos Station, on the T. P. R. R., one afternoon about
+three o'clock. And it being a terribly lonesome place, we, after leaving
+our horses and things in care of an old wolf hunter who promised to see
+that the horses were well fed, boarded the west bound passenger train
+for Toyah, a distance of twenty-two miles.
+
+We put up at the Alverado House, in Toyah. It was kept by a man named
+Newell, who had a pretty little fifteen-year old daughter, whose
+sparkling eyes were too much for me; to use a western phrase, she broke
+me all up on the first round.
+
+After supper Ash went out to take in the town, while I remained in the
+office exchanging glances with Miss Bulah.
+
+It was New Year's eve and Mr. and Mrs. Newell were making preparations
+for a ball to be given New Year's night.
+
+Toyah was then one of those terrible wicked infant towns, it being only
+a few months old and contained over a dozen saloons and gambling halls.
+
+About midnight Ash got through taking in the town and came back to the
+hotel. He was three sheets in the wind, but swore he hadn't drank
+anything but "Tom and Jerry."
+
+The next morning the town was full of railroaders, they having come in
+to spend New Years. A grand shooting match for turkeys was advertised to
+come off at ten o'clock, and everybody, railroaders and all, were
+cleaning up their pistols, when Ash and I got up, we having slept till
+about nine o'clock.
+
+Miss Bulah made a remark, in my presence, that she wished someone would
+win a fat turkey and give it to her. Now was my time to make a "mash,"
+so I assured her that I would bring in a dozen or two and lay them at
+her feet.
+
+When the shooting commenced I was on hand and secured the ticket which
+was marked number eleven. The tickets were sold at twenty-five cents
+apiece, and if you killed the bird, you were entitled to a free shot
+until you missed.
+
+Mr. Miller, the Justice, was running the business for what money there
+was in it. He had sent to Dallas, six hundred miles east, after the
+turkeys, which had cost him three dollars apiece. Hence he had to
+regulate the distance and everything so that there would be considerable
+missing done.
+
+Everything being ready, he placed the turkey in an iron box, with
+nothing but its head visible and then set the box thirty-five yards from
+the line. The shooting to be done with pistols "off hand."
+
+Ten shots were fired and still Mr. turkey was casting shy glances
+towards the large crowd of several hundred men. Mr. Miller wore a
+pleasant smile, when he shouted number eleven.
+
+I stepped forward trembling like an aspen leaf, for fear I would miss
+and thereby fail to win Miss Bulah's admiration. I was afraid, should
+the bullet miss its mark, that the few dozen birds would be all killed
+before my time would come around again, there being so many men waiting
+for a shot. At last I cut loose and off went the turkey's head, also Mr.
+Miller's happy smile. You see he lacked "two bits" of getting cost for
+the bird.
+
+Another one was put up, and off went his head. This was too much for Mr.
+Miller, two birds already gone and only two dollars and "six bits" in
+the pot. He finally after humming and hawing awhile, said:
+
+"Gentlemen, I don't like to weaken this early in the game, but you all
+know I have got a large family to support and consequently I will have
+to rule this young man out of the ring. He's too slick with a pistol to
+have around a game of this kind anyway."
+
+I hated to quit of course, but it was best, for I might have missed the
+very next time, and as it was Bulah would think that I would have
+carried out my promise if I had been allowed to keep on.
+
+After that, during my stay on the T. P. R. R., I was called the "Turkey
+shooter." Often while riding near the railroad track, maybe four or five
+hundred miles from Toyah, some one would hail me from a passing train by
+that name; and whenever I would ride into a town there was sure to be
+some fellow on hand to point me out. They all knew me so well by my
+horse, Croppy, he being milk white and both ears being off close up to
+his head. He was indeed a notable animal, as well as a long, keen, good
+one.
+
+That night nearly everybody got drunk, old Ash excepted of course, as he
+was already full. The ball was a grand success. The dancers on the
+womens' side, were all married ladies, with the exception of Miss Bulah
+and a Miss Lee; and those on the opposite side were a terribly mixed
+mob, but mostly gamblers, horse thieves and cow boys. The railroaders
+didn't take any stock in the ball. Maybe it was because there were so
+many on the floor wearing six-shooters and bowie knives around their
+waists.
+
+It was indeed a grand sight next morning looking at black eyes and
+swollen heads. Every Chinaman, there being a dozen or two living in
+town, skipped for parts unknown that night. There was too many loose
+bullets flying through the air to suit them; and it is said that the
+"Pig-tails" have shunned Toyah ever since that New Year's night.
+
+A few days after New Years a telegram came to Ash, from Garrett who had
+arrived at Pecos Station stating: "Come on the first train as I am in a
+hurry to get home." Ash got me to answer it as he, having drank too much
+Tom and Jerry, was unable to walk to the Telegraph office. I sent the
+following message: "Can't leave here; owe every man in town."
+
+In a few minutes another one came, an answer to the one just sent,
+stating: "If you don't come down on the morning train I will strike out
+and leave you."
+
+This one raised Ash's spunk, so he told me to write down just what he
+told me, and then give it to the operator. I done as requested, which
+ran thus: "Go to, hic, h--l, d---- you!"
+
+The next evening, Garrett arrived on the west bound passenger, and next
+morning, after paying a lot of saloon bills, etc., took old Ash back
+with him.
+
+I had, the day after New Year's, went down to the Pecos and brought my
+ponies up to Toyah, therefore I took a little spin out into the country
+to pass off the time, every now and then, or at least to look through a
+few herds of cattle in that vicinity.
+
+After spending about two weeks around Toyah, I struck out for Colorado
+City, two hundred miles east. Of course I hated to part with Miss Bulah;
+and so did Mr. Newell hate to part with me, for he was losing a good
+cash boarder.
+
+Illustration: "BILLY THE KID."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVII.
+
+A TRUE SKETCH OF "BILLY THE KID'S" LIFE.
+
+
+The cut on opposite page was taken from a photograph and represents the
+"Kid" as he appeared before the artist after having just returned from a
+long, tiresome raid; and the following sketch of his short but eventful
+life was gleaned from himself, Ash Upson and others. The circumstance
+connected with his death I got from the lips of John W. Poe, who was
+with Garrett when he fired the fatal shot.
+
+Billy Bonney, alias the "Kid" was born in New York City, November the
+23rd, 1859; and at the age of ten he, in company with his mother and
+step-father, Antrim, landed in the Territory of New Mexico.
+
+Mr. Antrim, shortly after his arrival in the Territory, opened up a
+restaurant in Santa Fe, the Capitol, and one of his boarders was the
+jovial old Ash Upson, my informant, who was then interested in a
+newspaper at that place.
+
+Often when Ash was too busily engaged about his office to go to dinner,
+Mrs. Antrim would send it by her little merry-eyed boy, Billy, who was
+the pride of her life.
+
+Finally Ash sold out and moved to Silver City, which was then booming on
+account of its rich mines. And it wasn't long until Mr. Antrim followed
+and opened up another eating house there, with Ash as a boarder again.
+Thus it will be seen that my informant was just the same as one of the
+family for quite a while.
+
+The "Kid's" first man, as told to me by himself, was a negro soldier in
+Ft. Union, whom he shot in self-defence.
+
+His next killing was a young blacksmith in Silver City whom he killed in
+a personal encounter, but not according to law, hence it was this scrape
+that first caused him to become an outcast; driven from pillar to post,
+out of reach of a kind mother's influence.
+
+It was a cold stormy night when he, after kissing his mother's pale
+cheeks for the last time on this earth, rode out into the darkness,
+headed west for the wilds of Arizona, where he soon became an adept at
+cards and horse stealing.
+
+He finally landed in the City of Chihuahua, Old Mexico, with a pocket
+full of Arizona gold. Here he led a gay life until one night when a
+bullet from his trusty revolver sent a rich mexican monte-dealer to his
+long and happy home.
+
+The next we hear of him is in the friendly land of Texas, where he
+remained in retirement until the spring of 1876, when he drifted across
+the lonely Gandalupe mountains into Lincoln County, New Mexico, then the
+outlaw's Paradise.
+
+At Lincoln, the county seat, he hired out as a cow boy to a young
+Englishman by the name of Tunstall.
+
+In the spring of '78 Mr. Tunstall was killed by a mob, headed by a
+fellow named Morton, from the Reo Pecos.
+
+The "Kid" hearing of his employer's foul murder, rode into Lincoln from
+the Tunstall ranch to learn the full particulars concerning the killing.
+He and the young Englishman were warm friends and before leaving the
+ranch he swore vengeance against every one of the murderers.
+
+Arriving in the mexican Plaza of Lincoln the "Kid" learned that Morton
+and crowd had pulled back to the Reo Pecos. So he joined a crowd
+composed of the following named parties: R. M. Bruer, J. G. Skurlock,
+Charlie Bowder, Henry Brown, Frank McNab, Fred Wayt, Sam Smith, Jim
+French, McClosky and Johnny Middleton, and started in pursuit. This was
+just the beginning of the "bloody Lincoln County war" which you have all
+read so much about. But it is said that the "Kid" killed every man
+connected with the murder of his friend before the war ended.
+
+Billy was caught in a great many close places during the six month's
+bloody encounter, but always managed to escape, as though possessed of a
+charmed life. There is one of his hair-breadth escapes I wish to relate,
+just to show how cool he was in time of danger.
+
+He and about a dozen of his men were housed up at lawyer McSween's in
+Lincoln, when thirty-five of the Seven River "warriors" and two
+companies of United States Soldiers under command of Col. Dudly of the
+Ninth Cavalry, surrounded and set the large two-story building on fire,
+determined to capture or kill the young outlaw.
+
+The house was burning on the south side from whence the wind came, and
+as the fire advanced the little crowd would move further north, into an
+adjoining room. There was a fine piano in the parlor, the property of
+Mrs. McSween, who was absent, and on this the "Kid" played during the
+whole time, "just to amuse the crowd outside" he said.
+
+Finally everything was wrapped in flames but the little kitchen which
+stood adjoining the main building on the north, but still the coarse
+music continued to sail forth out onto the night air.
+
+At last the blaze began to stick its firey tongues into the kitchen.
+Then the music ceased, and the little band, headed by the "Kid" made a
+bold dash for liberty, amidst the thick shower of hot lead. The balance
+can be described best by quoting a negro soldier's words, he being
+nearest the kitchen door when the dash was made: "I jes' tell you white
+folkses dis nigger was for getting away from dah, kase dat Billy-goat
+was shooten wid a gun and two six-pistols all bofe at de same time."
+
+The "Kid" and Tom O'Phalliard were the only ones who came out of this
+scrape unhurt. Mr. McSween, owner of the burned building was among the
+killed. He had nine bullets in his body.
+
+Late that fall when the war had ended, "Kid" and the remainder of his
+little gang stole a bunch of horses from the Seven River warriors, whom
+they had just got through fighting with and drove them across the Plains
+to the Texas Panhandle, at Tascosa on the Canadian, where they were soon
+disposed of at good figures.
+
+After lying around the little town of Tascosa for nearly a month,
+squandering their surplus wealth on poor whisky and mexican woman, they,
+with the exception of Fred Wayt and Henry Brown who struck east for the
+Chickisaw nation where the former's mother and two half-breed sisters
+lived, pulled back to Lincoln County, New Mexico, to continue their
+lawlessness.
+
+From that time on, the "Kid" made a specialty of stealing cattle and
+horses, although he would kill a man now and then, for what he supposed
+to be a just cause. Let it be said right here that the "Kid" was not the
+cruel hearted wretch that he was pictured out to be in the scores of
+yellow-back novels, written about him. He was an outlaw and maybe a very
+wicked youth, but then he had some good qualities which, now that he is
+no more, he should be credited with. It has been said and written that
+he would just as soon shoot an innocent child as a mule-eared rabbit.
+Now this is all wrong, for he was noted as being kind to the weak and
+helpless; there is one case in particular which I can prove:
+
+A man, now a highly respected citizen of White Oaks, was lying at the
+point of death in Ft. Sumner, without friends or money, and a stranger,
+when the "Kid," who had just come into town from one of his raids, went
+to his rescue, on hearing of his helpless condition; the sick man had
+been placed in an old out-house on a pile of sheep skins. The "Kid"
+hired a team and hauled him to Las Vegas, a distance of over a hundred
+miles, himself, where he could receive care and medical aid. He also
+paid the doctor and board bills for a month, besides putting a few
+dollars in money in the sick man's hand as he bid him good bye.
+
+This circumstance was told to me by the sick man himself, who at the
+time was hale and hearty, on hearing of the "Kid's" death. While
+relating it the tears chased one another down his manly cheeks, to the
+end, at which time he pulled out a large red handkerchief and wiped them
+away.
+
+After the "Kid's" capture at Stinking Springs, he was lodged in jail at
+Santa Fe, and the following spring taken to Mesilla, county seat of
+Dona Ana county, and tried before Judge Bristol for the murder of
+Sheriff Brady, during the Lincoln county war.
+
+He was sentenced to be taken to Lincoln, and hung on the 13th day of
+May. On the 21st day of April he was turned over to Pat. Garrett, who,
+being sheriff, was to see that the law was carried out.
+
+There being no jail in Lincoln, Garrett used his office, which was
+up-stairs in the two-story court house, to guard the prisoner in. Robert
+Ollinger and J. W. Bell, two men who should have been hung before
+William Bonney was born--judging from reliable reports, were secured to
+do the guarding.
+
+The morning of April, 28th, Garrett was making preparations to go to
+White Oaks, when he told the guards to be very watchful as the prisoner,
+not having but a few more days to live, might make a desperate effort to
+escape.
+
+Ollinger who hated the "Kid," they having fought against one another in
+the Lincoln County war, spoke up and said: "Don't worry Pat, we'll watch
+him like a goat." So saying he unlocked the armory, a small closet in
+the wall, and getting out his double-barrel shot gun, put eighteen
+buck-shot in each barrel. Then setting it back, remarked, at the same
+time glancing over in the opposite corner at the "Kid" who was sitting
+on a stool, shackled and hand-cuffed: "I bet the man that gets them will
+feel it!" The "Kid" gave one of his hopeful smiles and said: "You might
+be the one to get them yourself."
+
+After Garrett left, the two guards had five more prisoners to look
+after. But they were allowed to wear their pistols, for fear of being
+mobbed by a crowd of Tulerosa mexicans who had chased them into Lincoln.
+They had given themselves up to Garrett more for protection than
+anything else. They had killed four Tulerosa mexicans, in a hand to hand
+fight, the day before, hence the mob being after them. One of those
+prisoners was a young Texan by the name of Chas. Wall, who had received
+two almost fatal bullet wounds in the fracas of the day before. It was
+from this young man, Mr. Wall, whom I became personally acquainted with
+afterwards, that I received my information from, in regard to the
+"Kid's" escape, etc.
+
+About five o'clock, that evening, Ollinger took the armed prisoners
+across the street, to the hotel, to supper, leaving Bell to guard the
+"Kid."
+
+According to what the "Kid" told after his escape, Bell became
+interested in a newspaper, and while thus engaged, he slipped one of his
+hand-cuffs, which he could have done long before if the right chance had
+been presented, and made a leap towards his guard, using the hand-cuff
+as a weapon.
+
+Bell almost fainted on looking up from his paper. He broke for the door
+after receiving a stunning lick over the head with the hand-cuff. But
+the "Kid" was right at his heels; and when he got to the door and
+started down stairs the "Kid" reached forward and jerked the frightened
+man's pistol which still hung at his side, he having never made an
+effort to pull it. Bell fell dead out in the back yard, near the foot of
+the stairs, with a bullet hole through his body.
+
+"Kid" then hobbled, or jumped, his legs being still shackled, to the
+armory and kicking the door open secured Ollinger's shot-gun, which
+contained the eighteen buck-shot in each barrel. Then springing to an
+open window, in an adjoining room, under which the other guard would
+have to come to get up stairs, he waited patiently for his "meat," as
+he termed it.
+
+He hadn't waited long though when Ollinger, who had started on hearing
+the shooting, came trotting under the window. "Kid" called in a pleasant
+voice: "Hello, Bob!" Robert looked up, but just in time to receive
+eighteen buck-shot in his breast. The "Kid" then walked out onto the
+balcony, fronting on Main street, and emptied the other barrel into the
+dead body of Ollinger. Then breaking the gun in two over the balcony
+railing he threw the pieces at the corpse, saying: "Take that you s----
+of a b----h! You will never follow me with that gun again!"
+
+This proceeding was witnessed by nearly a hundred citizens, nearly all
+of whom sympathized with the "Kid," although they didn't approve of his
+law-breaking. There was a few of his bitter enemies in town, though, but
+they soon hunted their holes, each one trying to pull the hole in after
+him, so as to be hid from the outside world.
+
+After being supplied from the armory with a good winchester, two colts
+"45" pistols and four belts of cartridges, he ordered a file thrown up
+to him, which was done without ceremony; he also ordered the deputy
+County Clerk's pony and saddle brought out into the street, which was
+also done in double quick time.
+
+The shackles being filed in two he danced around on the balcony quite a
+while, as though he was the happiest mortal on earth.
+
+As he went to mount, the firey pony, which was being held out in the
+street, and which had once belonged to him, broke loose and ran back to
+the stable. But he was soon brought back, and this time held until the
+"Kid" was securely seated in the saddle.
+
+After bidding everybody in sight adieu he rode slowly towards the
+setting sun, the winchester still gripped in his right hand. But when he
+arrived at the end of Main street he pulled off his hat, and waving it
+over his head, yelled at the top of his voice: "Three cheers for Billy
+the Kid!" Then putting spurs to the pony he dashed out of sight.
+
+After traveling about four miles west he turned north-east, across the
+Capitan mountains, towards Ft. Sumner.
+
+About the first of July, Garrett, who hadn't hunted much for the "Kid"
+since his escape, received a letter from a Mr. Brazil, who lived near
+Ft. Sumner, informing him of the "Kid's" presence in that vicinity.
+
+Garrett after answering the letter, asking Mr. Brazil to meet him at a
+certain spot on a certain night, secured the services of John W. Poe,
+one of the whitest and bravest men in the Territory, and taking his
+Deputy, "Kip" McKinnie along, struck out for "Sumner" to capture the Kid
+if possible.
+
+The little party of three arrived at the mouth of Tayban Arroyo, on the
+Reo Pecos, where Garrett had written Brazil to meet him, about dark on
+the night of July 13th. They waited there all night and Mr. Brazil
+failed to show up.
+
+Mr. Poe being a stranger in that country, and not known in the Post,
+Garrett sent him to the town, a distance of five miles, to try and
+learn, by keeping his ears open and mouth shut, of the "Kid's"
+whereabouts, while he and "Kip" would meet him at "Sunny-side" a ranch
+seven miles above "Sumner."
+
+About sundown Poe met his two companions, at Sunny-side, but was no
+wiser than when he had left them. Garrett then concluded that they would
+all ride into the town and if Peet Maxwell was at home he could maybe
+get some information from him.
+
+Arriving in an old orchard back of the Maxwell mansion about ten o'clock
+that night, they tied their horses and crawled around to the front of
+the building.
+
+There was a long porch on the south side of the house and about midway
+was Peet's room, the door of which opened onto the porch. Garrett knew
+where the room was, and there they headed for.
+
+On arriving in the front yard opposite the door of Peet's room, which
+was wide open, the night being very hot, Garrett told his companions to
+lie flat down in the grass while he slipped into the room.
+
+He found Peet asleep, but awakened him. He then laid down by the side of
+Peet, and they began talking.
+
+Back of the Maxwell house was an adobe cabin in which lived an old
+mexican Peon. The mexican had gone to bed, and by a greasy looking table
+sat the "Kid," who had just come in from the hills. He had pulled off
+his boots to rest his tired feet, and was glancing over a newspaper.
+
+Throwing down the paper he told the Peon to get up and cook him some
+supper, as he was very hungry. Being told that there was no meat in the
+house he picked up a butcher-knife which was lying on the table, and
+said: "I will go and get Peet to rustle me a piece." He started without
+either hat or boots.
+
+While walking along on the porch, butcher-knife in hand, he discovered
+the two men out in the grass, and, drawing his pistol, asked in mexican:
+Quien es? Quien es? (Who's there? Who's there?) Not getting an answer,
+the boys thinking he was one of the Peons, he backed into the door of
+Peet's room, and then turning towards the bed, which was to the left of
+the door, he asked: "Peet, who is that out there?" Not receiving an
+answer again, and being suspicious of some one being in bed with Peet,
+he began backing towards the opposite side of the room, at the same time
+asking: "Who in the h--l is in here? Who in the h--l is in here?"
+
+Peet whispered to Garrett: "That's him Pat." And by that time the "Kid"
+had backed until the light shone full upon him, through one of the south
+windows, giving Garrett a good chance to make a center shot.
+
+Bang! Bang! went Garrett's pistol. The first bullet took effect in the
+"Kid's" heart, while the next one struck the ceiling.
+
+The remains of what was once a fond mother's darling were buried next
+day in the old dilapidated Military Cemetery, without a murmer, except
+from one, a pretty young half-breed mexican damsel, whose tears, no
+doubt, has dampened the lonely grave more than once.
+
+Thus ended the life of William H. Bonney, one of the coolest-headed, and
+most daring young outlaws that ever lived. He had dwelt upon this earth
+just 21 years, seven months and 21 days.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVIII.
+
+WRESTLING WITH A DOSE OF SMALL POX ON THE LLANO ESTICADO.
+
+
+After leaving Toyah I followed the railroad east cross the Reo Pecos,
+out onto the Llano Esticado and through the sixty mile stretch of Sand
+Hills.
+
+At Sand Hill Station, about midway through the sand hills, I left the
+railroad and branched off in a north-easterly direction in search of
+buffalo-hunter's camps. Knowing buffalo were getting scarce, and having
+heard of a great many hunters being in the vicinity of Ceader Lake, I
+thought it a good idea to go out there and see what kind of game they
+were killing. Being nearly south of the Canadian River country, I
+thought maybe they were killing cattle which had drifted down in there
+during the winters. But I was mistaken. I found their camps black with
+genuine buffalo hides. There being no ranches in that wild scope of
+country the buffalo, what few there were left, had nearly all
+congregated in there.
+
+I played a single-handed game of freeze-out the first two nights after
+leaving the railroad, for there came a terrible snow storm, which
+covered up the buffalo-chips, there being no wood in that whole country,
+so that I couldn't make a fire to warm by.
+
+After striking the first buffalo-camp, then I was all right, for I could
+get directions how to find the next one, etc.
+
+I finally, by circling around to the east, and then south, struck the
+railroad again, and landed in the town of Big Springs; where I was
+mistaken for a horse-thief, whom I answered the description of, and told
+to "skip" by one of my friends, a stranger who recognized me as the
+turkey shooter from Toyah. I didn't skip; and the thing was finally
+straightened up to their entire satisfaction.
+
+I was out of money by this time, but found a draft in the express office
+awaiting me. Not having any particular use for the draft I swapped it
+off for a hundred dollars in money, to the express manager.
+
+After looking through a few herds around the Springs I pulled north-east
+for the head of Colorado River, to take a look over the Lum Slaughter
+range, which extended from the head of Colorado River down to Colorado
+City on the railroad, a distance of about sixty miles. I went to all the
+sign camps, and also the head-quarter ranch, but didn't let my business,
+residence or name be known, which caused the boys to believe I was "on
+the dodge."
+
+I rode into the lively little town of Colorado City one afternoon about
+four o'clock, and imagine my surprise at meeting Miss Bulah Newell on
+her way home from school. She and Mrs. Newell had left Toyah shortly
+after I did. They had left Mr. Newell at home to run the Hotel. And Mrs.
+Newell had accompanied Bulah to Colorado City, the nearest place where
+there was a school, so as to keep "the wild rattled-brain girl," as she
+called her, under her wing. They had rented a little cottage and were
+keeping house.
+
+I ran out of money shortly after striking Colorado City, my expenses
+being high, having to pay three dollars a day to keep my two horses at a
+feed stable, and one dollar and a half per day for my own board,
+lodging, etc., but found a good friend, Mr. Snyder, a merchant, who let
+me have all I wanted on my good looks until I could write to the ranch
+for some.
+
+While waiting for an answer to my letter I would put in my spare time
+taking little spins out into the country, looking through herds of
+cattle, etc. The longest trip I made was three days, down on the Concho
+River, and that was just two days and a half longer than I cared to be
+away from Miss Bulah.
+
+The mail finally brought two hundred dollars worth of "L. X." drafts,
+wrapped up in a letter from Mr. Erskine Clement, reminding me of the
+fact that his company wasn't a First National Bank. This of course was a
+hint for me to be more economical.
+
+Having to be in Mesilla, New Mexico, a distance of five hundred and
+fifty miles, by the last of March, and wanting to look over some small
+cattle ranges on the route, I struck out. I hated to leave Colorado City
+on account of Bulah, but was anxious to leave on account of the
+small-pox beginning to spread there.
+
+A forty-mile ride brought me to Big Springs, where I lay two days with a
+burning fever. The morning of the third day I pulled out, across the
+Staked Plains for the Reo Pecos, still feeling sick.
+
+That night I stopped at one of the section houses, which were located
+every ten miles along the railroad. And the next morning after riding
+about five miles I became so sick that I had to dismount and lie down
+in the grass. After groaning and tumbling around about two hours I fell
+asleep.
+
+About sundown an east bound freight train came along, which scared my
+ponies and awakened me. I felt terribly; my lips were parched, my bones
+ached and my tongue felt as though it was swollen out of shape. I
+started to lie down again, after the noise from the passing train had
+died out, but there being an ugly looking black cloud in the north,
+which indicated a norther, I concluded to brace up and ride to the next
+section house, a distance of about five miles.
+
+Arriving there, just as a cold norther was springing up, and riding up
+to the fence I called: "Hello!" in a feeble voice. A gentleman came out,
+and on informing him that I was sick, he told me to go in the house,
+that he would unsaddle and take care of my horses.
+
+I walked into a large room where a nice blazing fire greeted my eyes.
+There was a lady sitting by the fire sewing. On looking up at me, as I
+stepped into the door, she gave a scream, which brought her husband in
+on the double quick. "Small-pox, small-pox," was all she could say. The
+gentleman looked at me and asked: "Are you from Colorado City?" "Yes,"
+was my answer. "Well, you have got it, and I am sorry we can't keep you
+here to-night. I hate to turn a sick man out such a night as this, but I
+have got a wife and three little children here whose lives are at
+stake."
+
+I had never thought of small-pox since leaving Colorado City, until the
+good lady put me in mind of it.
+
+Oh, how my heart did ache at the thoughts of that dreadful disease, and
+having to go out into the cold night air. It was pitch dark and
+beginning to sleet when I mounted and struck out, west, aiming to go on
+to the next section house, ten miles, and try my luck there.
+
+About half an hour after the light over my shoulder had disappeared I
+began to grow weaker, so much so that I could hardly sit on my saddle.
+So finally, dismounting, I unsaddled and staking the two hungry ponies
+out to a telegraph pole, rolled myself up in my blankets, my saddle for
+a pillow, and went to sleep.
+
+I awakened just as day was breaking. The ground was covered with snow,
+and I was almost frozen. I felt as though I had been sent for and
+couldn't go. My mouth, I could tell by feeling it, was covered with
+sores, in fact it was one solid scab, and so were my shoulders and back.
+Strange to say there wasn't a sore on any other part of my body. Those
+sores on my mouth was what attracted the lady's attention the evening
+before, although they had just began to show themselves then.
+
+With great difficulty I saddled up and continued on towards the section
+house. This time I made up my mind not to let the folks know where I was
+from, and if they had cheek enough to ask I intended to say Ft. Concho.
+To avoid the sores on my mouth being seen I tied a silk handkerchief
+around it. And should they ask any questions about that, I intended
+telling them I had some fever blisters on my mouth, etc.
+
+I found only one man, the cook, at the Section house this time, the
+section hands having gone to work. I was treated like a white head by
+the cook, who no doubt took me for a desperado or horse-thief, by my
+looks. He thought no doubt the handkerchief was tied over my face to
+keep from being recognized.
+
+I informed him that I was feeling bad and would like to lie down a few
+moments, etc. He led the way up stairs where the section hands slept
+and told me to occupy any of the dirty looking beds there. I laid down
+and told him to bring me up a cup of coffee. He brought up a good
+breakfast and after he left I undone the handkerchief and tried to eat,
+but couldn't, on account of my tongue being so badly swollen.
+
+I found a looking glass in the room and took a squint at myself, and
+must say that I was indeed a frightful looking aspect, my face from nose
+to chin being a solid scab and terribly swollen. No wonder I frightened
+the lady so badly, I thought.
+
+After drinking the hot cup of coffee I went down stairs, gave the cook a
+silver dollar for his kindness and pulled out. I was very anxious to get
+to a doctor, and Toyah was the nearest place to find one unless I turned
+back to Colorado City, which I hated to do on account of having to
+attend court in Mesilla, soon.
+
+I arrived in Toyah about noon of the sixth day out from Big Springs. I
+headed straight for the Alverado House and who do you suppose was
+standing in the door when I rode up? Miss Bulah. The small pox had
+scared her and her mother away from Colorado City. The first thing she
+said was: "Hello, what's the matter with your face?" "Nothing but fever
+blisters." was my answer.
+
+I didn't dismount, for fear of giving the pretty little miss the small
+pox, but rode a few blocks to Doctor Roberson's office, telling her that
+I was going after some fever medicine and would be back in a few
+minutes, etc.
+
+The Doctor informed me that the danger was all over with, and that, if I
+hadn't been made of good stuff, I would have surely died, being exposed
+to bad weather, etc. He gave me some salve to dry up the sores, that
+being all there was to do at that stage of the disease, he said, and
+advised me to leave town, for said he: "If the citizens discover that
+you have had the small pox, they will have you taken to the pest house,
+where there are already three occupants, although the danger of it being
+catching from you is past." I assured him that I would fix it so they
+wouldn't find it out.
+
+On arriving back to the Alverado House, my face still tied up, I hired a
+boy to take care of my ponies and then telling Miss Bulah that I wanted
+a room to myself, I went to bed.
+
+Bulah would bring my meals into the room and sometimes sit down to wait
+until I got through eating, but I would never commence until she left.
+I would generally let her stay until she got ready to go, telling her
+that I wasn't hungry just then, but would try and eat it after awhile,
+etc. She would finally get tired and go, then I would lock the door and
+undo the handkerchief from my face. I kept this up a week, before eating
+my meals at the table with the rest of the boarders.
+
+I finally struck out for El Paso, two hundred miles over a dry,
+waterless plain, and another hundred up the Rio Grande valley, making
+three hundred miles in all.
+
+I hove in sight of the Rio Grande River one morning, but never got there
+until sundown.
+
+When I arrived within a few miles of the river I noticed a covered wagon
+and what I supposed to be a camp, down the valley, about three miles out
+of my way. I finally concluded to turn off and go and stop with whoever
+they were for the night.
+
+I found it to be a mexican camp, an old man, two boys and a grown girl.
+They had come from Larado and were on their way to El Paso. They gave me
+a hearty welcome.
+
+Next morning about daylight I got up and went out to change Croppy, he
+having been staked and Buckshot hobbled the evening before, in a fresh
+place, but lo, and behold! there was nothing there but the stake.
+
+I circled around and found both of the ponies tracks leading towards the
+river, a few hundred yards west, I followed, and found they had crossed
+over. After standing on the bank a few seconds, dreading to get wet, I
+went over too. The water was only about waist deep.
+
+Near the water's edge on the other side I found some mocassin tracks in
+the soft sand. I could see through the whole thing then, from
+indications, etc: two footmen, who wore mocassins, had stolen my horses
+and pulled into Old Mexico for safety. Where the tracks were visible in
+the sand, there was no doubt, they had dismounted and taken a farewell
+drink, or maybe filled a canteen, before leaving the river.
+
+After following the trail, there being just the tracks of two horses, a
+few hundred yards out from the river I turned and went back to camp, to
+try and hire the old mexican's horse to follow them on.
+
+The old fellow only had one pony, his team being oxen and I had to talk
+like a Dutch uncle to get it, as he argued that I was liable to get
+killed and he lose the pony by the operation. I finally though put up
+the price of the horse as security and promised the old fellow ten
+dollars a day for the use of him, when I returned. This seemed to give
+satisfaction, even with the two boys who would have to hoof it after the
+oxen every morning, in case the pony never returned.
+
+Just about sundown as I turned a sharp curve, near the top of the long
+chain of high mountains which run parallel with the river, I came in
+sight of both of my ponies staked to a pinyon tree, grazing.
+
+I immediately rode out of sight, dismounted, tied my tired pony to a
+tree and crawled to the top of a knoll, where I could see the
+surrounding country for half a mile around. But I couldn't see a living
+thing except the two horses, and the one I had just left.
+
+Finally, bang! went a shot, which sounded to be at least half a mile
+away, on the opposite side of the mountains.
+
+Thinks I now there's either a ranch over there and the two thieves have
+walked to it, to keep from being seen with the horses, or else they have
+gone out hunting to kill something for supper. At any rate I took
+advantage of their absence and stole my ponies back. Near where they
+were tied was a small spring of cool water; the first water I had seen
+since leaving the river.
+
+After taking a hasty drink myself, and letting the pony I was on, fill
+up, the other two not being dry, I took a straight shoot down grade, for
+the "eastern shores of the Rio Grande," a distance of about thirty-five
+miles. It was then nearly dark.
+
+I arrived in camp next morning just as the big yellow sun was peeping
+over the top of the Sierra Blanco mountains; and the old mexican, who
+was awaiting my return, was glad to see me back.
+
+That night I stopped with an old fat fellow by the name of Chas.
+Willson, in the little town of Camp Rice, and the next night I put up in
+the beautiful town of San Elizario, which is situated in the centre of
+the garden spot of the whole Rio Grande valley.
+
+The next morning I crossed the river into Old Mexico and took a three
+day's hunt through the mountains in search of a herd which had come from
+the north, and had crossed the river at San Elizario about a week
+before. I found it, but was unacquainted with any of the brands that the
+cattle wore. The herd had been stolen though, I think, from the way the
+men acted.
+
+I finally landed in El Paso and found a letter in the Post Office from
+John Poe, written at Lincoln, New Mexico, advising me not to go to
+Mesilla until the day that Court set, as Cohglin, who was out on bond,
+was there and might have my light blown out, I being one of the main
+witnesses against him. Also, it had been reported that he had said he
+would give five thousand dollars to get me out of the way. He
+furthermore advised me in the letter to take the train from El Paso, as
+the old fellow might have some mexicans watching along the road for me.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIX.
+
+IN LOVE WITH A MEXICAN GIRL.
+
+
+I found El Paso, to be a red-hot town of about three thousand
+inhabitants. There were also about that number of people in Paso Del
+Norte, across the river in Old Mexico. I spent several days in each
+place.
+
+I finally, after leaving my ponies in good hands, boarded one of the
+Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe trains for Las Cruces, two and a half
+miles from Mesilla, the county seat.
+
+There being better accommodations, in the way of Hotels, in "Cruces,"
+nearly every one who was attending court would stop there and ride to
+the county seat in one of the "hacks" which made hourly trips between
+the two places. Consequently I put up at the Montezuma House, in Las
+Cruces.
+
+There were several Lincoln County boys there when I arrived. Poe and
+Garrett came down next day. Mr. and Mrs. Nesbeth also came as witnesses
+against Cohglin. Mrs. Nesbeth had heard Mr. Cohglin make the contract
+with, "Billy the Kid," to buy all the stolen cattle he would bring to
+his ranch. But the good lady didn't live long afterwards, for she, her
+husband, a stranger, who was going from "Cruces" to Tulerosa with them,
+and a little girl whom they had adopted were all murdered by unknown
+parties. Cohglin was accused of having the crime committed, but after
+fighting the case through the courts, he finally came clear.
+
+A few days after my arrival in Las Cruces I went back to El Paso after
+my ponies. I ate dinner there and rode into Las Cruces about sundown. A
+pretty quick fifty-five mile ride, considering part of it being over a
+rough mountain road. The cause of my hurry was, we couldn't tell what
+minute the Cohglin case would be called up for trial.
+
+I had a little love scrape while loafing in Las Cruces. I don't mention
+it because my love scrapes were so scarce, but because it was with a
+Mexican girl, and under curious circumstances, that is, the
+circumstances were curious from the fact that we became personally
+acquainted and never spoke to one another, except by signs, and through
+letters.
+
+Her name was Magdalena Ochoa, niece to the rich Bankers Ochoa's in El
+Paso, Tucson, Arizona, and Chihuahua, Old Mexico, and she was sweet
+sixteen. She lived with her grandmother, whose residence was right
+straight across the street from the Montezuma Hotel, and who wouldn't
+let a young man, unless he was a Peon, come inside of her house. And she
+wouldn't let Magdalena go out of her sight, for fear she would let some
+of the young "Gringoes" make love to her.
+
+I first saw her one Sunday morning when she and her grandmother were
+going to church. I was standing out in front of the Hotel hugging an
+awning post, and wishing that I had something more human-like to hug,
+when they passed within a few feet of me. The girl looked up, our eyes
+met, and such a pair of eyes I had never seen. They sparkled like
+diamonds, and were imbedded in as pretty a face as was ever moulded. Her
+form was perfection itself; she had only one drawback that I didn't like
+and that was her grandmother. I immediately unwound my arms from around
+the post and started to church too.
+
+The church house was a very large building, and the altar was in one
+end. The couple I was following walked up near the altar and took a seat
+on the right hand side--on the dirt floor, there being no such thing as
+seats in the building--which was reserved for ladies, while the left
+hand side, of the narrow passage way, was for the men. I squatted myself
+down opposite the two, and every now and then the pretty little miss
+would cast sparks from her coal black eyes over towards me which would
+chill my very soul with delight.
+
+When church was over I followed, to find out where she lived. I was
+exceedingly happy when I found she was a near neighbor to me, being only
+a few steps across the street.
+
+I spent the rest of that day setting out under the awning in front of
+the Hotel, straining my eyes in hopes of getting a glimpse of her
+beautiful form through the large bay window which opened out from the
+nicely furnished parlor onto the street. But not a glimpse did I get. I
+retired that night with the vision of a lovely sunburnt angel floating
+before my eyes.
+
+The next morning I went to Mesilla and answered to my name when it was
+called, by the Judge, and then told Poe that I had some very important
+business to attend to in "Cruces" and for him, in case the Cohglin case
+was called, to hire a man at my expense and send him after me.
+
+On arriving back to the Hotel I took a seat in an old arm-chair under
+the awning. I was all alone, nearly every one being in Mesilla.
+
+Finally Magdalena brought her sewing and sat down among the flowers in
+the bay window. It was indeed a lovely picture, and would have been a
+case of "love among the roses" if it hadn't been for her old
+grandparent, who every now and then appeared in the parlor.
+
+At last I, having a good chance, no one being in sight but her and I,
+threw a kiss, to see how I stood in her estimation. She immediately
+darted out of sight, but soon re-appeared and peeping around a cluster
+of roses, returned the compliment. She then left the room and I never
+seen her again till after dinner.
+
+I then started into the Hotel, but was detained by a voice calling,
+through the closed blinds of a window near by: "Me ketch you! Me ketch
+you!" Come to find out it was the proprietor's wife, Mrs. Duper, an old
+mexican lady, who had been watching our maneuvers. She then opened the
+blinds and asked me in broken English, what I was trying to do?
+
+"Oh, nothing, much, just trying to catch on, is all;" was my answer.
+
+The old lady then broke out in one of her jovial fits and said: "You
+ketch on? Me bet you ten tousand dollars you no ketch him!" She then
+went on and told me how closely the old lady "Grandma Ochoa" watched her
+young niece. In fact, she gave me the girl's history from the time of
+her birth: Her father and mother were both dead and she, being the only
+child, was worth over a million dollars, all in her own name. This of
+course was good news to me, as it gave my love a solid foundation, and
+spread a kind of gold-like lining over the young lady's beauty.
+
+Finally, after court had been in session two weeks the Cohglin case was
+called up. His lawyers were Col. Rynerson and Thornton, while the
+Territory was represented by Newcomb, District Attorney, and A. J.
+Fountain whose services Poe had secured.
+
+Mr. Cohglin began to grow restless, for the "Pen" stared him in the
+face. There were eight indictments against him, but the worst one was
+where he had butchered the cattle after being notified by me not to.
+
+His only hopes now was to "sugar" the prosecuting Attorney, and that no
+doubt was easily done, or at least it would have looked easy to a man up
+a tree. You see Cohglin was worth at least a hundred thousand dollars,
+and therefore could well afford to do a little sugaring, especially to
+keep out of the Penitentiary. At any rate whether the Attorney was
+bought off or not, the trial was put off, on account of illness on said
+Attorney's part, until the last days of court.
+
+When the case came up again Mr. Prosecuting Attorney was confined to his
+room on account of a severe attack of cramp-colic. Judge Bristol was
+mad, and so was Poe. They could see through the whole thing now.
+
+That night Cohglin made a proposition that he would plead guilty to
+buying stolen cattle knowing they were stolen, if the one case in which
+he had killed cattle after being notified not to, would be dismissed, or
+thrown entirely out of court.
+
+It was finally decided to do that, as then he could be sued for damages,
+so the next day he plead guilty to the above charge, and was fined one
+hundred and fifty dollars besides costs.
+
+Fountain, our lawyer then entered suit against him for ten thousand
+dollars damage.
+
+I was then relieved. My mileage and witness fees amounted to something
+over a hundred dollars, this time. Of course that was appreciated as it
+was my own, over and above my wages. It came handy too as I was almost
+broke and needed it to take me home. I had spent all of my own money,
+besides nearly one hundred and fifty dollars borrowed from Poe.
+
+It was the first day of May, I think, when I mounted Croppy in front of
+the Hotel, threw a farewell kiss at Miss Magdalena, who was standing in
+the bay-window, and started east, in company with Chas. Wall--the young
+man I mentioned as being a prisoner in Lincoln at the time of "Kid's"
+escape. I hated to part with the pleasant smiles of my little mexican
+sweetheart, but then it had to be done. I still hold a rose and a bundle
+of beautifully written letters to remember her by.
+
+We stopped at San Augustine the first night out from "Cruces," and from
+there we struck south-east across the white sands for the mouth of Dog
+canyon--the noted rendezvous of old Victoria and his band of
+blood-thirsty Apache's.
+
+I had heard so much about this beautiful Dog canyon that I concluded to
+see it before going home, so that if it proved to be as represented I
+could secure it for a cattle ranch.
+
+It was a ticklish job going there by ourselves, as a telegram was
+received in Las Cruces, the morning we left, that a band of Apache's had
+crossed the Rio Grande at Colorow, killing three men there, and were
+headed toward Dog canyon. But I had faith in Croppy and Buckshot, they
+being well rested and hog fat, carrying us out of danger should we come
+in contact with them.
+
+We arrived at the noted canyon after being away from water nearly two
+days. It was a lovely place, at the foot of Gandalupe mountains.
+
+After leaving there we went through the following towns: La Luz,
+Tulerosa, South Fork and Ft. Stanton.
+
+At the last named place Charlie Wall left me, and I continued on alone.
+
+I remained in White Oaks a few days, looking over my town property, I
+having bought some lots and built cabins thereon, and examining the 'Old
+Panhandle Tiger' gold mine, the one Stone, Chambers and I owned. I had
+some of the rock assayed and it run twelve dollars in gold to the ton,
+besides a few ounces in silver and about two million dollars worth of
+hopes.
+
+From White Oaks I went through Anton Chico, San Lorenzo, Liberty and
+Tascosa, and arrived at the "L. X." ranch after an absence of nearly
+eight months, and about a three thousand mile ride.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXX.
+
+A SUDDEN LEAP FROM COW BOY TO MERCHANT.
+
+
+About the first of July, shortly after my return, Hollicott sent me to
+Kansas with a herd of eight hundred fat steers. My outfit consisted of a
+cook, chuck wagon, five riders, and six horses to the rider.
+
+We arrived in Caldwell, Kansas, near the northern line of the Indian
+Territory, about September the first.
+
+After putting the cattle aboard of the cars, and giving them a send-off
+towards Chicago, we all proceeded to take in the "Queen City of the
+Border," as Caldwell is called. I immediately fell in love with the
+town, also with a couple of young ladies, and therefore concluded to
+locate. I bought some lots and contracted a house built, with a view of
+going after mother.
+
+I then struck out with my outfit to attend the fall round-ups in the
+vicinity of Camp Supply, Indian Territory. Returning to Caldwell the
+latter part of November, I boarded a train for Southern Texas, after
+mother, by way of Saint Louis to visit my sister whom I hadn't seen for
+thirteen long years.
+
+I arrived in Saint Louis one evening--just in time to let an old
+flop-eared Jew take me in to the extent of a hundred dollars for a lot
+of snide jewelry and a Jim-Crow suit of clothes.
+
+Not caring to hunt sister until morning I went to the Planter's House to
+put up for the night, and to note the change of twelve years.
+
+After taking a bath and getting into my new rigging, I took a straight
+shoot for the office to make inquiries about the old boys. I found a
+long-legged youth behind the counter who, on asking how many of the old
+hands of twelve years ago were still there, pointed out Jimmy Byron, the
+kid I had the fight with, behind the cigar and news stand, across the
+hall. He was very busy at the time dishing out cigars, etc. to the
+scores of old fat roosters and lean dudes who were hurrying out after
+having eaten their supper.
+
+The rush was finally over and then I made myself known. He was terribly
+glad, as well as surprised to see me. We had parted as enemies but now
+met as friends. He informed me that there wasn't but three, besides
+himself, of the old outfit left, and those were the old steward, who was
+now proprietor, "Old" Mike, who was still acting as night watchman, and
+Cunningham, the fellow who had slapped me and who was still clerk. The
+latter gentleman I didn't get to shake hands with as he failed to put in
+an appearance during my stay.
+
+The next morning I struck out to hunt sister. I was armed with an old
+letter which gave the address, therefore had no trouble in finding her.
+
+She was alone with her three pretty little girls, her husband having
+gone up town to his place of business--a drug store--when I found her.
+
+The first thing she asked after kissing me, was, where I got my new
+suit?
+
+Of course I had to acknowledge that I bought them from a Jew on Fourth
+street.
+
+She then became frantic and wanted to know why in the world I didn't go
+to Humphry's and get them?
+
+"Who in the dickens is Humphry?" I asked.
+
+"Why, I thought everybody knew Mr. Humphry," she continued.
+
+She took me up town to this great establishment of Humphry's that
+evening and there I learnt how badly I had been bitten by the Jew.
+
+I remained in the city about a week and my brother-in-law spent most of
+his time showing me the sights.
+
+Before taking the train for Texas I bought mother a trunk full of
+clothes, knowing that she would be in need of them after having "roughed
+it" for nearly eight years.
+
+I stopped in Houston one day looking for Aunt Mary, but learnt finally
+that she had moved to the country.
+
+I then took in Galveston and spent two days visiting Uncle Nick and Aunt
+Julia. From there I went to Indianola on a Morgan Steamship and became
+sea sick; Oh, Lord! I concluded I would prefer the hurricane deck of a
+Spanish pony to that of a ship, every time.
+
+In the town of Indianola I met a lot of my old Peninsula playmates, who
+were there from Matagorda, in their sail boats, with freight.
+
+There being no boats down from Tresspalacious, I left my trunk to be
+shipped up the first chance and went to Matagorda with the two Williams'
+boys, Johnny and Jimmy. Nearly all the Peninsula folks lived in the
+vicinity of Matagorda now since the great storm of 1875, washed
+everything they had out into the Gulf, besides drowning about half of
+their number. Hence me going to Matagorda to visit them.
+
+There were three Tresspalacious boys in Matagorda, and one of them, Jim
+Keller, loaned me his horse and saddle to ride home on.
+
+Mother was happy when I told her to get ready and go to Kansas with me.
+There was only one thing she hated to leave behind, and that was her
+wood pile. She had spent the past two years lugging wood from along the
+creek and piling it up against her old shanty for "old age," she said. I
+suppose her idea in piling it against the house, on all sides, was to
+keep it from blowing over, should some kind of an animal accidently blow
+its breath against it.
+
+After spending about a week, visiting friends and waiting for my trunk
+to arrive from Indianola, I struck out with mother for the enterprising
+State of Kansas.
+
+I hired a neighbor, Mr. Cornelious, to take us to the Railroad, fifty
+miles north. He hauled us in an old go cart--one that had been sent
+from Germany in 1712--drawn by two brindle oxen.
+
+We arrived in Caldwell a few days before Christmas and after getting
+mother established in her new house, I went to work for the "L. X."
+company again.
+
+I had secured a winter's job from Mr. Beals before leaving therefore it
+was all ready for me to take charge of on my return. The job was feeding
+and taking care of about two hundred head of horses, at the company's
+ranch on the Territory line, near Caldwell.
+
+Having lots of fat ponies to ride, I used to take a dash up town nearly
+every night to see how mother was getting along and to see my
+sweethearts. Thus the winter passed off pleasantly.
+
+About the first of March I received orders from Mr. Beals, who was then
+at his home in Boston, Mass. to get everything in shape to start for the
+Panhandle at a moment's notice.
+
+That very night, after those orders were received, I fell head over
+heels in love with a pretty little fifteen-year old, black-eyed miss,
+whom I accidently met. It was a genuine case of love at first sight. I
+wanted her, and wanted her badly, therefore I went to work with a brave
+heart and my face lined with brass. It required lots of brass too, as I
+had to do considerable figuring with the old gent, she being his only
+daughter.
+
+Just three days after meeting we were engaged and at the end of the next
+three days we were made one. And three days later I was on my way to the
+Panhandle with an outfit of twenty-five men, one hundred horses and six
+wagons.
+
+An eighteen day's drive, southwest, brought us to the "L. X." ranch.
+After laying there about a week, resting up, Hollicott sent me and my
+outfit south to attend the round ups in the Red River country.
+
+We arrived back at the ranch about July the first, with three thousand
+head of "L. X." cattle which had drifted south during the past winter.
+
+As I was anxious to get back to Kansas to see my wife and mother,
+Hollicott immediately gathered eight hundred fat shipping steers and
+started me.
+
+I arrived in Caldwell September the first, and after shipping the herd,
+Mr. Beals ordered me to take the outfit back to the Panhandle and get
+another drove. This of course didn't suit, as I had only been at home a
+few days. But then what could I do? I hated to give up a good job, with
+no prospects of making a living by remaining in town.
+
+I finally concluded to obey orders, so started the men and horses up the
+Territory line, while I and Sprague went to town with the wagon to load
+it with chuck. Mr. Beals had taken the train the day before to be absent
+quite a while. After getting the wagon loaded and ready to start, I
+suddenly swore off cow-punching and turned everything over to Mr.
+Sprague, who bossed the outfit back to the Panhandle.
+
+The next day I rented a vacant room on Main street and, rolling up my
+sleeves and putting on a pair of suspenders, the first I had ever worn,
+started out as a merchant--on a six-bit scale. Thus one cow-puncher
+takes a sensible tumble and drops out of the ranks.
+
+Now, dear reader in bidding you adieu, will say: should you not be
+pleased with the substance of this _book_, I've got nothing to say in
+defence, as I gave you the best I had in my little shop, but before you
+criticise it from a literary standpoint, bear in mind that the writer
+had fits until he was ten years of age, and hasn't fully recovered from
+the effects.
+
+FINIS.
+
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Transcriber Notes
+
+  Minor obvious spelling and punctuation errors
+  have been corrected.
+
+  Words with various spellings interchangeably used in
+  the book have been retained as written.
+
+  Whisky-peet,  Whisky peet, Whiskey-peet, and Whisky-peat
+  sunup; sun-up
+  breastworks; breast-works
+  may be; may-be
+  daylight; day-light
+  hairbreadth; hair-breadth
+  headquarter; head-quarter
+  storekeeper; store-keeper
+  sundown; sun-down
+  southeast; south-east
+  upstairs; up-stairs
+  daylight; day-light
+
+  page 292: made up my mind not to let the folk's know where ...
+  author perhaps intended folks? left as written.
+
+  page 271, 307 the spelling Gandalupe mountains is used in this
+  book twice and is found in few other sources at the time. Although
+  spelled Guadalupe mountains in most other sources, it is left as
+  written: Gandalupe mountains.
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of A Texas Cow Boy, by Chas. A. Siringo
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