The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1866-03-11
BULL VERSUS BEAR.

and aden with the perfume OF the flowers ana herD-
age; whilst, as the sun arose. the dew drops gilt
tered everywhere upon the twigs an IA grass blades
like diamonds The deer; they left their COW
erts to feed gaIed fearlesslessy either side OF
the trail ~ | passed. and every now and theh
disturbed bevy OF quail, who, after snort
flight, dropped in the edge of the chspparei, .,
into the wild oats The country was rolling ana
nart l;ke dotted here and there with live oaks OF
immense size, standing singly, or with smaller
trees in cumps - Nh, !,
came visible in the distance, looming up cioud-lke
in the thin air whilst, upon my lett, the coast i
range ran along almost parallel to my route
GRADUALLY the breeze ceased, and the air became
close and oppressive and continued so until /
stopped fo my mid day halt, to allow my horse to
+ feed Unusually 81 TRY as the day had been, IT
became still more so, and silent that not even
the buzzng Of an insect could be heard, and the
air felt as though il bad been heated in furnace.
Stretched on my blankets had tried to smoke my
pipe but that lacked its usual soothing effect.
Presently, low mutterng sound was audible,
which gradually increased. 1t was the moaning
Of the storm wind, which came sweeping gustily
along Then came a fash of the most vivid light
ming | ever saw instantly followed by q tremen-
dous peal of thunder, the signal gun ofthe adyan-
cling storm, which rent the air and made the earth
tremble. A deep silence for brief interval, FOL
lowed which seemed more terrible than heprevlous
uproar; then came the lurid flashes and crashing
thunder, not in low, grumbng tones but in deaf
ening peaIs whilst the wind roared, and the rain
descended in sheets of driving water. For two
mortal hours did the tempest rage, and the wild
winds swept by, whilst covered under my bian-
kets with bent head, and back to the blast.
At first, the thirsty and parched prairie drank
greedily up the food of water poured upon il, but
soon il becamely saturated, and could contain
more, and the overlooking waters collected in great
pools.
Nv horse, who had at first been terrified by the
thunder peals and lightning flashes, had strained
upon his pieket-peg. he plunged, snorting with
terror. but had failed to either break the tough
raw hide larat draw the peg: and satisfied that
be could not get loose, had devoted my attention
solely to sheltering myself as much as possible
from the downpour.
Upon looking around when the storm had some
what abated what my CONSERVATION 10 find
that nv horse. rs soon : the ground had become
thoroughly saturated, had pulled out the peg, and
had LETT me on foot in the prairie. 1t was no use
to think of pursuing my journey thus, and / sor-
rowfully prepared to retrace the long miles over
which | had ridden in the morning. Rolling upmy
saddle, bride and tin cup in which had made
coffee in nv saturated blankets, and hiding them
as well as | could in some stunted shrubs, follow
eli in the direction my horse had started, hoping
to he able 10 trail him by his hoof marks in the
softened ground, and BY the drag Of his long ariat
and picket peg, (which | hoped might cntang,e
themselves around some bush saping and thus
bring up my runaway to stand still.
II was not, however, without great difficulty that
that could discern the trail for the driving rain
had washed it out sayehere and there occasionally
but still, by keeping the line managed now and
then to come upon some trnces OF the fugitive.
More intent upon the trail than on surrounding
objects. | bad proceeded four five miles when |
discovered that had become object Of curiosity
to large herd OF cattle which closing in upon
mc with friendly intention
had lived in Texas long enough TO know how
Ito
horseman right ride close to them unresard,d;
| also knew how helpless | was when opposed to
such tremendous aggregation Of brute force a
the three four hundred Wild cattle possessed
which were now rushing believing toward me.
2 The herd Of cows and steer, and ycarnss was iei
r by fierce old bull. who occasionally stopped 20
TO tear UP the earth aud shaae his horns; then
again he would advance. the mas, crow ling To-
gether. switching their tails high u the air utter
ing fearful bellowiu-s, while they tossed their
hons, staring wildly IN mingled rage aud wonder
There was no time to hesitate: had only just
perceived my enemies ia time. A herd of vii,
Z cattle rushing furiously at upon opct
d plain assist him IN coming to decision. Fou
or i've hundred yards behind me tree which
! had lately passed. and Just behind that agar
: some bushes along The margin OF a little creek.
5 determined 10 make for the tree, aud climb that i
possible; if not. and was too closely pressed b,
the laundering herd, / would try and gain tn,
. bushes, among which. in some hole Granny il
u the creeks banks | ght hope to conceal my self
Most pedestrian races are timed my race was not
but have reason to believe that the same dstaac,
never covered quicker by any mortal man. Al
gained the tree | looked back and saw the fore
J, most of the herd about hundred yards from me
| never considered an extraordinary climbcr
when boy, at school, perhaps are pair o
heavy Mexican spurs an advantage in climbing
but went up the tree like squirrel. and has
gained safe position when my pursuers rushe,
underneath. Although had Igained safety 70
the moment, still there something very fearful
: in my posi- ion for / could form idea how lon,
a the fierce beasts, who tearing up the eartl
e glazing at with their wild, fierce ewes
S would keep me 'treed"
n \ most unlocked for adventure reliev oil me Fo
r some time most OF the herd remained gazing at me
!, but at length though feeling satisfied that
: could not escape, they became less stationary ant
moved about snatchng pettshiy a; the grass les
: from desire Of grazing than Tor restlessness a
> their disappointment in failing TO catch me befor
= | could tree"
y While thus sauntering aimlcssly about m,
e especial enemy the bun strayed into the bushe
that fringed the rayine, and suddenly there ARCS
. a fearful uproar, and it evident that the tawn
f lord Of tn herd had got into trouble.
q A hoarse believing and confused growing, in
. termiXel with crushing Of the bushes, Will
: the tai er saplings swayod TO and fro showed tina
!, some desperate struggle taking place on tn
e edge of the ravine in whieh the bull was engaged
n the bull merged With bloody head and huge fur
!, rows plowed upon his shoulders from which hun,
y long strips Of bloody skin like ribbons His eve
. were red with rage, and it was evident be had n
n idea OF giving up the contest but had only re
r treated 10 gain an open space where he could igh
to better advantage. Hitherto | had only no
j ticed the bull a ferocious beast. who bad from
pure Ill nature, put me in serious danger: but now
: as be stood glowing with rage I could not hell
noticing his admirable proportions.
? Long, 1.-THE and wry he stood perfect model G
: strength and activity, while his massive shoulder
n proved what force he could bring to aid tn
e thrusts OF his straight, long sharp pointed horns
| had not more than second or two to take il
; these points, when bis anita gonist appeared upol
; the scene in the shape OF a huge grizzly bear y
: sooner was the bear fully IN the opening than tn
: bull lowered his head and charged straight an
= true AT him with the seeming force of steam
I, engine. The bear up upon his hind legs /
i receive the attack. and catching the bull by til
h horns, bore down his head upon the ground b,
r bis great strength and weight ciinging to the hea
o with his fore-legs, while he worked his hind ones
elawing with his cruel tal0ns the sides and shout
ders OF the bull. The match was an equal one a
- tar as weight was concerned, and nearly balance,
In other respects for while the bear worked ftoot
= aud toe nails, the sharp horns and greater activ
ly o the bull served to equalize them as to yea
pons; and as both antagonists 20 ses ed enual
age and determination, it was clear the dnol wa T.
be q "a mort and the victory, | could see betwee,
such well matched foes depended upon aceden,
j.: Locked together thus in deadly strife. they re-
d manned some minutes, the bull each moment stri
e wing, as it were, to contract himself for his re-