The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1866-03-09
Bull Vsrs4s Bear.

| PiOS' ui'oii ptiHlIitNS from NtOtkt on To
the mission of San Jose, di tanre Of
between eighty and ninety miles. was
IN the saddle betime>, as nv business was
OF Importance, and had made two or
three miles before the first Streaks OF the
comm" day became visible in the east.
he ar was cool and balmy. and laden
with the perfume of the flowers and herb
age; whilst, as the sun arose, the dew
drops glittered everywhere upon the twigs
and GRASS blades like diamonds. The
deer, as they lett their coyerts to feed,
gazed tcarles-ly on either side of the trail
as passed: and every now and then |
disturbed bevy of quail, who, after a
short flight dropped in the edge of the
chapparel, or into the wild oats. The
country was rolling and park-like, dotted
here and there with live oaks of immense
size, standing >insly, or with smaller trees
in clumpS.
After an hour or two'S ride Mount Di-
ablo became visible in the distance, loom
ing up cloud-like in the thin air, whilst.
upon my left, the coast range ran along
almost parallel to my route. Gradually
the breeze ceased. and the air became
close and oppressive, and continued 50
until | stopped for my midday halt, to
allow ny morse to feed Unusually s,lltrv
a> the day had been, it became still more
50, and 80 silent that not even the buzzinr
OF an insect could he heard. and the air
lrlt as though it had been heated in a fur
mace Stretched on NV blankets, | tried
70 smoke my pipe, bn; even that lacked
It's usual soothing effect Presently low
muttclmg sound was audible, which grad
uaily increased. II was the moaning of
the storm wind. which came sweeping
yuslily along. Then came flash Of tie
most vivid lighting ever saw, instantly
followed by a tremendous peal OF thunder,
the 81 gnal Gun OF the alyancin" storm.
which rent the air and made the earth
renblc. y deep silence, for 4 brief in
teival, followed, which seemed more ter
rlble than the prcvlou, uproar; then c,unt
the luriI haShe, and crashing thunder,
not in low, grumhlinY tones, but in deaf
ming pcals whilst the wind roarcl. and
the ram descended III sheets of driving
water. For two mortal hours did the
tempest rage. and the wild winds swept
by, whilst | covered under my blankets.
with bent mead and back to the blast
Vt first the thirsty and parrhct prairie
drank greedily up the flood of water pour
l. "a upon it, but soon it became completely
- saturated anl could contain ~ more, auc
the ove.t!owin@ waters collected in vrea
pools.
My horse, who had sat first been terrific,
by the thunder pe;lls and lightning flashes
: had strained upon his picket peg, as h,
plunged, snorting with terror, but Ea1
failed to either break the tough rlwllil,
laIiat OF draw the pee: and satisfied tina
hc could not Get loose, had devoted my
elf as nuch Is possible to protecting ny
- self from the ;lownpour.
Upon lroking around when the storm
had somewhat lbatcl, what was my con
stcluation TO find that my horse, a. ~ool
as the ground had become thoroughly ~al
ura'ed, h;,d pulled out the peg, amd ha'
left me on loot in the prairie. 1t was II
use to think Of pursuing ny journey thus
:. and | >orrowiuly prepared to rctrace th
long miles over which had ridden i'll til
V, morning. Roilin. up saddle, bride an
tin cap. III which | la! made my coilt,
in my saturated blankets, anI hiding III.
as we'll a. could in some >liuttr'l shrub
' followed in tn direction my horse h.
:. started, hoping to be able to trail him h
Iii, hootinark> in the sotlenc1 ground. an
$, by the drag of his long lariat and pick'
pee, which hoped might cmtangle then
selves around some bush or >apling, III
thus bring up my runaway to stan'
still
1t was moi, however, without crcat iii
ticulty that could discern the trail, II
gs the driving rain had washed it out, >l'
here and there occasionally; but still,
keeping the line, managed now AMI the
- to come upon some traces OF the fugltlS
More intent upon the trail tl!an on su
rounding Objects, had proccr'ied Iour
: lyc miles when discovered had becoi
an object o: curiosity to Il large herd
cattle, which were closing in upon l
. with 10 very friendly intention.
,r had lived i'll Texas long enough
,bt know how hostile prairie cattle alwa
7ho are to tootmen, though a horsenan ml9
:, ride close to them unregar,!ed; al
" knew how helpless | was when oppo.
l. to such Tremendous aggregation OF brt
,, force aS the three or four hundred W
r.1 cattle possessed which were now rlslll
- b3llowing toward me. The herd oi GO
tho and yearlinyS was led by q fierce Old b'
,;- ,yho occasionally stopped 10 tear the ca
nf and shake hi. horns; then agaln
would advance, the mass crowdinc toge
~, cr, switching their tails high i'll the {;
Lo uttcrnr fearful beIlowings, while ii
tossed their EoIn>, staring wildly in N
nl, g.ed rage and wonder.
There was no time to hesitate | |
%a. M only Just perceived my enemies in til
nc" 4 herd of wild cattle rushin9 turiou>ly
,Io SIn a man upon an open plain soon assist /
';no ~ in coming TO 4 decision. -Four Or
~ hundred yards behind me was tree VIII
had lately passed, and just behind
SON AGAIN some bushes along the margin o
con- little creek. | determined 10 make
,pl;- the tree, and climb that i! possible :;
ness not, and was too closely pressed by