Two Boys in Wyoming | Page 8

the backs of the ponies,
adjusted their Winchesters across the saddles in front, following the
suggestions of Hazletine, and announced themselves ready to set out on
the long ride northward. The animals struck into an easy canter, and a
few minutes later all signs of civilization were left behind them.
The boys were in buoyant spirits. There was just enough coolness in
the air to make the exercise invigorating. Here and there a few snowy
flecks dotted the blue sky, but the sun shone with undimmed splendor,
the warmth slightly increasing as the orb climbed the heavens. To the
northward the undulating plain was unbroken by hill or stream, so far
as the eye could note, while to the eastward the prospect was similar,
though they knew that the North Platte curved over in that direction,
and, after winding around the upper end of the Laramie Mountains,
joined the main stream far over in Nebraska.
To the westward the prospect was romantic and awe-inspiring. The
Wind River range towered far up in the sky in rugged grandeur,
following a course almost parallel with their own, though gradually
trending more to the left, in the direction of Yellowstone Park. The
snow-crowned peaks looked like vast banks of clouds in the sky, while
the craggy portions below the frost-line were mellowed by the distance
and softly tinted in the clear, crystalline atmosphere. The mountains
formed a grand background to the picture which more closely
environed them.
As the three galloped easily forward they kept nearly abreast, with the

ranchman between them. He was in a pleasant mood, and seemed to
have formed a fancy for the youths, who felt a natural admiration for
the big, muscular veteran of the plains and mountains.
"Yes," said he, in answer to their inquiries; "I've spent all my life as a
cattleman, cowboy, hunter or trapper. I left the States with my parents,
when a small younker, with an emigrant train fur Californy. Over in
Utah, when crawling through the mountains, and believing the worst of
the bus'ness was over, the Injins come down on us one rainy night and
wiped out nearly all. My father, mother and an older brother was killed,
and I don't understand how I got off with my scalp, but I did, with half
a dozen others."
"Did you go on to California?"
"No; I've never been in that country, which I s'pose you'll think strange;
but I was on my way there, when I met the great scout Kit Carson and
several hunters. They took me along with 'em, and the next twenty
years of my life was spent in New Mexico, Arizona and Texas. Since
then I've ranged from the Panhandle to Montana, most of the time in
the cattle bus'ness."
"At what are you engaged just now?" inquired Jack.
"The same--that is, the cattle bus'ness. You may know that after
thousands of the critters have spent the summer in Texas, New Mexico
and Arizona, they drive 'em north into Wyoming, Montana and the
Dakotas, to git their finishing touches. The grazing is so much better
than in the south that in a few months they're ready for the market, and
are either killed and their carcasses shipped to the East, or they are took
there by train in as fine condition as anybody could ask. You obsarve
that the grass under our feet is powerful good."
The boys replied that it seemed to be.
"Wal, there's hundreds of thousands of acres better than this; there's
thirty thousand of 'em in Bowman's ranch, where we're going, and it's
the best kind of grazing land."

"I believe it extends to the Wind River Mountains," said Jack.
"It takes in a part of the foot-hills; there are plenty of streams there, and
some of the finest grass in the world."
Jack Dudley did not forget the real object of the coming of himself and
companion to this section, and he could not gather the information too
soon.
"How does Bowman's ranch compare with others in Central
Wyoming?"
"You may ride over the whole State without finding a better. If you
doubt it, look at the country for yourself."
"We don't doubt anything you tell us," said Fred Greenwood. "I
suppose you know that Mr. Dudley, the father of my friend, owns half
the ranch?"
"I've heerd that."
"He didn't intend to buy it, but matters so shaped themselves that he
couldn't help doing so. Before selling it, he sent us to take a look at it
and find out whether it is all that was claimed. We have come to do that,
but, at the same time, are eager to have some hunting among the
mountains."
"You won't have any trouble about that. As I was saying, we're close to
the mountains, and