The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1865-07-21

within the fringe Of the timber, where we haC
an admirable lookout: and laying clear tht
fastenings Of Iances and unslinging our rifles
we were prepared for whatever emergency
might arise
/ The level, grassy plain, between the two
spurs, was less than half mile in width, and
about one-third of the distance across it, coun-
/ ting from our side, and directly in front of our
position was grazing quietly beautiful mouse
colored mare, having pair OF twin colts, three
months DID, perhaps, frisking about her. OF
to our right, and down towards the bottom of
the grassy cove, were two immense pumas-
I male and female-steang cautiously out to-
wards the unsuspicious mare; and away to the
left, out in the centre of the meadow, was q
small herd of the finest looking horses had
+ ever seen on llano or pampa.
/ The animals had discovered the pumas, and
were preparing for battle; while the lone mare,
her attention diverted probably by the gambos
of her foals, remained unconscious of danger
The mare was about midway between her
friends and enemies, and the pair of ferocious
brutes appeared to be calculating their chances
Of poancing upon and bearing eff the two
foals before the horse brigade could sweep
down upon them.
There was something very much like reason
in the sagacity manifested by the horses The
herd numbered perhaps a hundred animals, a.
mong them some twenty mares, with tUals by
their side After a brisk trottIng to and fro
for two minutes by half a dozen Of the finest
locking wild stations / ever saw, as many stad
matroniy mares drew out from the troop, fol-
lowed by every colt among them. Then, as ii
fa heir
tions from the pumas, every animal put his or
her head down to the grass, and began chop
ping along towards the mare at rate just "a
bout equal in speadto the advance of the pumas
1t looked very much as if the horses wished to
draw their enemies so far from their base that
when the charges were made they would be a.
bic to cut off their retreat.
Both parties continued to advance until the
distance to the mare on either hand was less
ened TO twenty-five yards. The situation was
growing, to us, exctingly interesting.
Mrs Louise Elmer, by far the best rife
shot among US, poised her Lansingburg, drew
back the hammer, and in three seconds more
ii is likely there would have been a royal puma
Hnnuderinp on the grass, with bullet through
the weapon, scoldIng his Wlle Httle III HIS
good humored way:
:.Eie, Louise, would you deprive us OF the
amusement wehave been SO long in search OF"
II say it's shame! downright barbarity,
to permit those ferocious brutes to mangle and
murder the innocent foals!" exclaimed Diana
! indignantly lingering the lock of her rifle I'M
patiently.
"Nao, Sonora Diana-Ri ieo mao mureto
/ NADIA"
/ And Mendoza was right. The lion would
/ kill nothing That we saw very clearly in less
than thirty seconds.
There came suddenly shriIl neigh from the
general of horse, a magnificent brown stallion
"a veil more like the scream Of a sharr-set
steam whistle than the neigh of horse, and IN
a moment, the whole troop was charging down
like whirlwind.
First they came four or five abreast, IN sec
tions passinn between us and the mare and be-
yond the pumassthe head of the column, wher
the leader suddenly swept round in curve tc
the left the animals dropping into single file a:
regularly as the best drilled troopers on cart
could have done, and round they went liki
LIGHTNING by the left until the head of the col
umn came round and Tapped the rear on the IN
side by about ten animals, leaving space OF &
bout six feet clear between the laps of the eli;
Gle which inclosed the two pumas and the ma.
with her foals.
The pumas. finding themselves completely en-
veloped, set up a terrific roar, and on the IN
stant, dashed upon their enemies with headiong
brute fury The male made tremendou;
lean. aimed the stallion, who wheeling on the
instant. his head towards the outer line, let fly
his heels with such force that their contact witt
the puma's laws sounded like the crack of ;
Distol. The vast brute was hurled end owe
end across the revolving circle, and, ike light
ming, fiery gray dropped into the line, wheel
ed and drove his hoofs into the pumas' ribs wit
thud that sent the monster rolling over ant
over, bowling with rage and agony.
The female puma sprung her leap upon 6
!. beautiful motted mare, some ten animals Il
advance of the brown stallion, and was NOR
: hardly dealt with than her mate. AS quick a
thoucht. the mare and two of her nearest com
papions fell within the line, turned tail to, ant
: simultaneously there fell the crushing blow
from six spiteful hoofs upon the 2uma's head
breast and shoulders, knocking every atom c
fioht out Of her in second, and laying her ou
there on the grass as limp as rag.
Bravo. little beauty y cheered Louise fl
the mottled mare.
"Hurrah for General Brown!" shouted d
ana, enthusiastically.
stVico os todos carvalhOs !" put in Mendoz;
!, in extacies.
"Hurrah bravo! viva go it, wild horses
d we all yelled in concert"
And 90 it they did-those gallant defender
; of female and infant horses. Round and roun
tbey went in that whirling, dizzy waltz, deallr
batterinc blows with their vengeful heels unit
the last spark of life was beaten from the might
pumas, and then, with many proud neigh
: triumph they went prancing away from tt
= field of battle.
es~One hundred and seventy pardons We
t. granted July sth. by the President