The Placer herald., 1855-10-06
Mike Fink and the Bull.

The story of Mike Fink aud the bull would
make cvnc laugh Mike took a notion to
go in swimming, and had just GOT his
clothes off. when he saw Deacon's Smiths
bull making at him-the bull was a vicious
animal and had come near killing too or
three persons-consequent Mike felt rather
'jubus." He didn't want to call for help for
he was naked, and the nearest place from
where assistance could arrive was the meet
ing-housc, which was at that time filed with
worshippers. among whom was the 'gal Mike
was paving his devours to-" So he lodged
the bull as the animal came at him. and man
aged to catch him by the tail. lie was
dragged around till nearly dead, and when
he thought he could hold no longer, he made
up his mind he had better "holler." And
now we will let him tell his own story:
$50 looking at the matter in all lis bear
ings. | cum to the conclusion that I'll better
let some one know whar was. So Gin a
veil louder than a locomotive whistle and it
wasn't long before seed the Deacon's two
dogs comm like as if thev war secin' which
could get thar fust. | knowed who they
were arter-they'd iine the bull asn me.
was sattn, for they were orful wenemous.
and had spite agin Inc. So says |, Old
brindle. as ridin' is as cheap as walkin' on
this route if you've no objections I'll just
take deck passage on that ar back o vourn
SO | wasn't long in oettn' astride Of him.
then, if you'd bin thar, you'd have sworn
thar warn't nothn' human in that ar mix,
the sile flew so orfullv as the crtter and
rolled round the fied-one dog on one side,
and one on the other-trvin 70 cinch my
feet | PRAYED and cussed, and cussed and
prayed, until couldn't tell which did at
last-and neither warn't of no use, they war
SO orfully mixed up. Well, reckon | rid
about an hour this way, when old brndle
thought it were time to stop to take in a
supply of wind, and cool off little. SO
when we got round to a tree that stood thar
he naturally halted. So sez |, old boy, you'll
lose one passenger sartin. So | iist clum up
a branch, kakelatin' to roost thar till
starved, atore I'd be rid around that ar way
any longer. | war maxim tracks for the top
o. the tree. when heard suthin' maxim
orful buzzin overhead. kinder looked up,
and if thar warn't-well, thar's no use
SWARM, but it war the biggest hornets nest
ever bilt. You'll gin in now, reckon.
Mike, cause ther's no help for Won But an
l
better chance a ridin the bull than whar
was. Sez |, old feller, if you'll hold on, I'll
ride to the next station anyhow. let that be
whar it will So jst dropped aboard of
him agn, and looked aloft to see what had
gained by changin' quarters; and, gentlemen
Inn liar if thar warent nigh a half buShel
of the singn' varnints ready to pitch into
me when the word go was gin. Well,
reckon they got it, for all hands started for
our company. Some on 'em bit the dogs
about quart struck me, and the rest charged
on brindle.
This time the dogs led off fust dead bent
for the old Deacon's, and as soon as and
old brindle could get under way we followed
and as was only deck passenger. and had
nothln' to do with the steering the craft.
sware if had we shouldn't have run that
channel, anyhow. But as said before the
dogs took the lead-brindle and next. and
the hornets dre'kly arter The dogs yellin'
--brindle bellern', and the hornets buzzin'
and stingin.' Well, we had got about two
hundred yards from the house and the Dea-
con heard us and cum out | seed him hold
up his hand and turn white. | reckoned he
was prayn' then for he didn't expect to be
called for so soon, and it warn't long neither,
atore the whole congregation-men, women,
and children-cum out, and then all hands
went to yellin'. None of 'em had the first
notion brindle and belonged to this world
| jst turned my head and passed the hull
congregation. seed the run would be up
soon, for brindle couldn't turn an inch from
afence that stood dead ahead. Well, we