Cattle-Ranch to College

hrew the whole countr

ll renowned for their daring and knowledge of Indian warfare,

ises were checked, all peaceful journeys postponed. Not till the autumn of the following year was it

he stock, they could ride like centaurs and shoot with their "guns" (as the Westerner calls his revolver) with astonishing accuracy. They used to practice at tomato cans fifty y

and had been accepted. He was really quite a valuable man now, for he had been tried in a n

umn day the pi

been located fifty miles away. Here the winter was to be spent, and

packed into the great lumbering prairie wagons, canvas-topped and wide of beam;

by's crib completed the list. The Worth family had the largest library in town. It contained their great, brass-bound Bible, "Pilgrim's Progress," the Catechism (and how the boys dreaded it!), "Robinson Cruso

ot take long to pack and load. Charley Green remarked that "the whole out

or miles and miles around) tenderly into the wagon. "But our household stuff is co

ve any terrors for you," p

dislike to being ridiculed, and had always been accustomed to considering his equipment

and baby into the first wagon, but before climbing in himself he called out to John and Ben to go

the heavy wheels. Then for the first time he realized that the only home he had ever known was to be left permanently. The old place suddenly became very dear to him,

the sentences of talk he flung at his brother. The two years'

ou, John," he shouted,

in the rush and hurry that followed

nd the procession headed toward the centre o

few families, and one of the very first settlers-was quite an event. Many of their friends were on hand to wish them good speed. The boys felt like "lords of creation" indeed. Were they not bound on a journey of u

lowly down to the river, where

ou could leave them behind; it will be pretty tough on them, and besides, I'm fond of the little beggars. However,

lied the trave

the light wagon in front, drawn by two horses and driven by Worth, then a long string of mule teams hitched to the first of a train of prairie schooners, whose white canvas-hooped tops shon

ads down, ears drooped forward, the picture of innocence and dejection; then suddenly a lanky brute would start out from one side as if propelled from a gun, and no sooner had Charley dug the spurs into his pony in his efforts to head it off than another mule would start off on the ot

or the old hands, but Charl

stop a whole rush line than to take care of that gang of long

or only by experience could he learn, and

ime to time to shoot at prairie dogs, rabbits, and coyotes. But even this grew monotonous after a while, and they began to cast

to look out for themselves much of the time, s

ew minutes' more riding even the shouts of the m

a minute John and Ben wished they were back with their friends. The thought of a cool dip was very enticing, however, and they would both have been ashamed to turn back now, so they cantered along, keeping up each other's courage by shouting and laughing

hn dropped the handful of dirt he was about to throw and looked around, half scared. "Hallo," he said, "it's getting dark. We

own in the western sky and almost re

d Ben. "Where a

then scanned the rolling prairie

was visible on the horizon; not a sound could be heard anywhere. On every side there we

etched the prairie-bare, still, hopeless. Then they looke

e elder brother's part. "I know the tr

as. It was not a pleasant situation for even a full-grown man, one w

OK'S WAGON WAS LET

r lessons of self-reliance stood them in good stead now, and they started off bravely, striking away from the rive

of the hand, for they felt that they were now in touch with m

mained, but the trail could be seen qui

a piece of jerked buf

won't that feed taste good when we get to the camp? Just think of that big fi

m hungry enough and tired enough already

reached the crest of each little rise to see the bustling camp at the foot of the slope, eac

at and nose, and causing the greatest discomfort. From time to time they lingered to rest, but when they stopped the darkness frightened

they stopped his courage failed him and he burst into tears. John com

urged after a while, "let'

s younger brother. They had walked only a few minutes when Ben felt

hey redoubled their efforts, and presently discovered that it was a wagon drawn by

t outfit along the trail to-night

his lounging position. "Freight

ne appearance, he sat erect, and for the first time took in the situation. "Why, what

s head against his brother's arm and went fast asleep standing up. "And

John, his voice shaking a little in

outfit by dinner time, so I didn't bring any feed myself. One of my nags gave out, so I couldn't catch the teams. I guess I can give you a little lift, anyhow. But see her

nd Ben had been travelling all thi

a minute's silence; "those trails join again after a piece. Perhaps you may meet your outfit ther

said John,

l be sure to find your outfit camped near the fork;

and laid him in the wagon. Then, after a good deal of urgi

nce, and he felt the responsibility of an elder brother. He knew that the horses would turn up riderless, and that his father would send back over the trail that had been covered by the train, but would not find them. The thought of their anxi

the man at his side and told him he thought the animal was about done for. But the words of warning were hardly out of

retty mess f

s bad, ten miles from camp, with no food or wat

arching thirst and nothing to satisfy either, their destination the

e that the camp would be found at the junction of the two trails and th

tranger did not turn up within a reasonable time, and the youngste

to the call upon their utmost powers. Strained as every faculty was, they plodded on doggedly, hour after hour. Just after midnight they topped a little rise, and involuntarily cried out in unison. There ahead of them was a blaze that gave them new life. They had reached the junction of the two trails, and the camp. The wagons were drawn in

aces in strong relief, stood the boys' father and mother. John and Ben ran forward as fast as the

ul, the man's altered to that of relief rather than joy. John knew from past experience that while the mother would be glad to

er to the cook-wagon and get something to eat, then turn in. We've got to get o

d of cold, greasy pork and beans, poor cold coffee without milk, and soggy bread, but they thought it was food fit for the gods. Hunge

iended them come into camp; his team had revived enough to p

heard the cook's shrill call, "Grub p-i-i-i-le," and k

in a wagon, breakfast was despatched promptly, for cook, even o

g tramp. In an incredibly short time the train had broken camp and was on the move again. The cook's few dishes and pots were given a hasty rinse in the creek and packed, the mules a

is John did with fear and trembling, for he feared his father's wrath. He got off, however, with a severe reprimand and positive

g they came near their destination, reaching a clear creek bordered with green. Up from the stream rose a h

when they were told that this was

en, "we're going to live