He was yaller, long, and g'anted
Like a steer with holler horn.
An' you oughter seen his breeches!
He must sure be shy on sense;
Why, they looked like he'd been riding
On a bucking barb wire fence.
You won't meet him, 'cause I saw him
Coming back across this way,
Going eastward where he come from;
Took the back trail yesterday.


13

"Said he'd found the old man's outfit
Moving westward on North Fork.
Can't remember all he told me,
For he runs a heap to talk.
Said he'd found out what he wanted;
Said he 'had a plan or two,
And the folks that knowed Jim Johnson,
Knowed that he would put 'em through.'
Then there's others took the west trail;
They got that way huntin' range--
Funny how folks when they come here
Get to itchin' for a change!
I've been stayin' too confinin';
Never left this herd but once.
I'm the oldest puncher round here,--
Been here over fourteen months."