The Shasta courier., 1865-09-09

among them some twenty or more maree
with foals bv their sides. After a brisk
trotting to and fro for two or three minutes
by half dozen of the fines looking wild
stations l ever saw, as many staid, matronly
mares drew out from the troop, followed b.
every colt among them. Then. as practcng
q strategy to conceal their real intentions
from the pumas, every animal put bis or her
head down TO the grass, and began cropping
along towards the mare at a rate Just about
equal in speed TO the advance of the pumas.
1t looked very much as if the horses wanted
to draw their enemies 50 far from their bass
that when the charge was made they would
be able to cut off their retreat.
Both parties continued to advance until
the distance to the mare on either hand was
lessened to twenty five yards. The situation
was growing to us exceedingly interesting.
Mrs. Louise Elmer. by far the best rife
shot among US. poised her Lansingburg
drew back the hammer, aud in three seconds
it is likely there would have been royal
puma founde ing there in the grass, with a
bullet through his brain. But Harry
promptly put down the weapon, scolding
his wife little n his good-humored way
"Fie, Louise, would you deprive us of
the amusement we have been SO long in
search of''
Il say its shame downright barbar
ity, to permit those ferocious brutes to man
gle and murder those innocent foals?" ex-
claimed Diana, Indignantly, lingering the
lock of her rifle mpatiently
MAO, Sonora Diana-El leo mao muerto
nanda."
And Mendoza was right The lion would
kill nothing. That he saw clearly in less
than thirty seconds.
There came suddenly shrill neigh from
the general OF horse, magnificent brown
stallion-a yell more like the scream of a
sharp set steam whistle than tho neigh of a
horse. and in moment the whole troop was
charging down like whirlwind
First they came four or FIVE abreast in sec.
tons, passing between US and the mare and
beyond the pumas, the head of the column
when the leader suddenly swept round in a
carve to the left the animals dropping into
single file as regularly as the best drilled
troopers on earth could have done, and
round they went like lightning by the left
until the head of the column came round
and Tapped the rear on the inside by about
ten animals, leaving a space of about six
feet clear between the laps Of the circle
which enclosed the two pumas and the mare
with her foals
The moment that the mare found herself
encircled with her friends, she fell adrotly
into the ranks, as did her foals But they
shot off at tangent and joined their young
friends in the charge of the matron mares.
The Pumas finding themselves completely
enveloped. set up terrific roar. and, on the
Lol La,-
headlong, brute fury The male made a
tremendous leap, aimed at the brown stallion,
who. wheeling on the instant. his head to.
wards the outer line, let fy his heels with
such force that their contact with the puma's
jaw sounded like the crack of pistol, The
vast brute was hurled end over end across
the revolving circle and, like lightning, a
fiery gray dropped in the line, wheeled and
drove his hoofs into the puma's ribs with a
thud that sent the monster rolling over and
over, bowling with Rage and agony.
The female sprang her leap upon beau
tful mottled mare some ten animals in ad.
vance of the brown stallion, and was more
hardly dealt with than her mate As quick
as thought the mare and two of her earnest
companions fell within the line. turned tail
to, and simultaneously there fell the crush
ing blows from six spiteful hoofs upon the
puma's head. breast and shoulders, knocking
every atom of fight out of her in, second
and laying her out there upon the grass as
limp as ;srag. " Bravo. little beauty !"
cheered Louise for the mottled mare
" Hurrah tor General Brown" shouted
Diana. enthusiastically. g Fica os tados
carcalhos ~ put in Mendoza, in ecstacies
" Hurrah bravo viva go it wild horses ="
we all yelled in concert.
And 90 it they did-those gallant defen-
ders of female and infant horses. Round
and round they went in the whirling and
dizzy waltz, dealing battering blows with
their vengeful heels until the last spark of
life was beaten from the mighty pumas, and
then with many a proud neigh of triumph,
they went prancing away from the field of
battle Wilkes' Spirit.