SHERIFF'S WORK ON A RANCH 



129 



cious sense of equality shown in the last few sentences. He had been explaining that he believed I 

 had accused him of stealing some saddles : " In the first place I did not take your boat Mr. Roosevelt 

 because I wanted to steal something, no indeed, when I took that vessel I was labouring under the 



impression, die dog or eat the hachette When I was a couple of miles above your ranch the 



boat I had sprung a leak and I saw that I could not make the Big Missouri in it in the shape that it 

 was in. I thought of asking assistance of you, but I supposed that you had lost some saddles and 

 blamed me for taking them. Now there I was with a leaky boat and under the circumstances what 

 was I two do, two ask you for help, the answer I expected two get was two look down the mouth of 

 a Winchester. I saw your boat and made up my mind two get possession of it. I was bound two 

 get out of that country cost what it might, when people talk lynch law and threaten a persons life, I 

 think that it is about time two leave. I did not want to go back up river on the account that I 



feared a mob I have read a good many of your sketches of ranch life in the papers since 



I have been here, and they interested me deeply. 



" Yours sincerely, 



"&c. 



"P. S. Should you stop over at Bismarck this fall make a call to the Prison. I should be glad 

 to meet you." 



A TEXAN COWBOY. 



