Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1866-03-03
IEWs AND MISCELLANY.
ru,srn RY MILD sTALIIONs.

mnNnT1
9oble cohrser on his launches
ssWbo-what-Ind hastily. qIies-
4;,,,a5 his eompanions, Baldwin, hing
IL Cooner. of the train, and who nap
,anod to he riding over the grass cover
Il ,,rairie at a canter, by the side OF the
tavan ouide, Buxton.
ssu;stI 40 Won not hear them?
Loud neighings and shril cries OF
-, oan,e to the ears of the listeners,
Ppccomnanied by the regular and heavy
th,,d ~ a cavaIcade, wild with passion
m this their ruttinS season. me very
Garth on which the guide ana eompah-
ions stood, although perhaps nan aoz-
on miles from where the hot biooded,
angered and fighting beastswer destroy
inc each other as they flew over. the
pIain. shook under them, as If an earth
quake was spreading and vibrating IN
the rock-ribbed globe, and was about 10
omen great assures and swallow them on
the instant.
e.They are moving this way--for the
Uaterr' cried Buxton, while shade OF
anxiety overspread his manly, sunbronz-
as there danger?'' asked Cooper, in
n low nervous voice.
ssDanrerP' echoed Buxton, ''aye, Is
there. and we must meet It, LII these
mustangs should continue at their pre-
sent course. not only Our own but the
lives of the women and children IN the
trains will be sacrificed. These animals
- this season are more terri BILE than the
same number of tigers hungerlng Tor
human blood!
1--WE must If possible, avert all danger
from the women and children, said
Kinp. who. except the guide, seemed to
be the most self-pOssesSed of the four
horsemen, what shall we do? How pro-
coed?
These questions we've addressed to the
,uida a noble specimen of mankind
taII and erect as an Indian, with the dark
piercinn eyes of the eagle-eyes that
coI,ld look sduarely at the sun in its mer-
idian glory without being dazzled.
While King was yetspeaking, Buxton,
the puide. slid from his horse, and shann-
"a fine ground closely. For upward of
, miuute-an hour it seemed to his COM
1anions. he looked at the ground; aIfd
then suddenly returned to his DlOOded
bav and Sprang on his back
s.Wbat shall we do? How prOceed?
echoed the guide; ''Our position IS
,Jsnoerous. hut we must lose no time in
iJIe coniertures. There Is an arroyo
within two miles of the traln-the only
one that can now he reached. If we can
cross I'm season. before the incensed dew
iIscan reach 1t, and by placing the wagons
around the women and their young ones
rs a harricade, we may avert the danger.
Harki hear We the thunder Oftheir hOOfs.
There must he "A thousand of them! yes
they are making for the MATES! You,
CoODer and Baldwin, ride back to the
train-remember the lives of all that are
dear to Won may depend on your driving
home your rOwels into your horses Hanks
and turn their heads toward the arayO.
Gross II without delay. Leave a wagon
transversly in the crooked path ON this
side. 1t will interrupt the progress of
fine beasts. Away" The men indicated
turned their animals heads to the east
ward. and the next moment were flying
over the prairie as If on the wings OF the
wind.
King" cried Bnxton, "a herd of
mares 1assed this way this morning.
They have deserted the stations, as Is
their want at this season, and must have
crossed the arrayo Mt sunrise. The stall
lions are following them, mad-so mad
that they are even now fighting each
other unfortunately biting and tear
inc each other to pieces. Look at your
rifle. YOu have cool head, steady
hand AMI clear eye. We must If pos
sible. although the task is but hopeless,
endeavOr to check their progress. Tho
beasts are led by captains, so to speak,
whom they instinctively obey. You may
remark them readily. They are the larg-
est. strongest and nOblest looking OF the
herd They take the lead. When the
herd appear in sight shoot the one down
that shall indicate, while i do alike ser
vice the other. Do not stop to see him
fall but turn your animals head towards
tbe train. and make him fly. In this L
will follow your example. DO not forget
to load your weapon as you go. LII We
succeed in shooting down the leaders We
shall gain a minutes time; and when
tbey resume their course, if they gain
anon us before we reach the arroyo,
YOUR horse must take the gulch on the
hv. Tt is not more than fifteen or SIX
teen feet In width Once on the other
side, We may calculate on Sifety, If not,
God alone can help us, as the wind Is
now against our firing the grass.
Il will obey implicitly, replied King,
in quiet tones.
Hardly had these words been uttered,
when there appeared on a rise in the
prairie a GREAT back moving mass, the
vanguard Ofthe Infatuated beasts-snOrt-
ing and shFieking, their teeth meantime
snappina with rage. They We're gallop-
ing at a tremendous pace, and as Bux-
ton had predicted, in a direct line for
them
Had we none bnt ourselves to take
care Of, said the guide with forced calm
ness. as he put fresh cap on the nipple
81 Of his rife, 'swe could very easily avoid
his avalanche of madness by riding to
The northward or southwark, and so by
i IN Odhque course get to the Rear. Ha!
they see u.s. he suddenly exclaimed.
what magnificent sight See, King,
see They arc in line, and ready like
trained cavalry horses to charge upon US!
NomOre fighting among themselves now!
They have an enemy In 'front.' Are you
ready? They are about to plunge upon
Us. Take that great sOrrel one ON the left
will kill this white one. What splen-
did ANIMAL There is not such another
IN Texasl / would not take a thousand
dollars for him. Fire!'
Simultaneously the explosion of the
caps followed by the report of the rifles,
broke upon the Stiffness of the scene.
The next moment the magnificent
creature so enthusiastically spoken of by
r II II w.-1AN.