The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1869-07-23
How Nike Rode the Bull.

Mike took n notion to 20 in swimming,
aud had Just got his cloathes off when he
saw Deacon Smiths bull making at him.
The bull was a vicious animal, and had
come near killing two or three persons,
consequently Mike felt rather jubus"
liz didn't want to call for help, for he was
naked, and the nearest place from whence
assistance could arrive was the meeting
house, which was at that time filled with
worshippers among whom was the " gal
Nike was paying his devours too" So he
lodged the bull, as the animal came at him,
and managed to catch its tail He was
dragged round till nearly dead, and when
he thought he could stand it 90 longer he
made up his mind to boller. And now we
will let him tell his own story:
" So, looking at the matter in all its
bearings, | cum to the conclusion that I'd
better let some one know whar was. So
gin yell, louder than a locomotive
whistle, aud it warr't long before l seed
the deacon's two dogs a coming down like
as if they were seeing which could get
thar first. kuow'd who they we're arter
they'd iine he bull agin me. So, sez [,
old brindi9, as ridin' is as cheap as walkin'
on this rout, if you've no objections, I'll
just take deck passage on that ar back
of yours So | warn't very long getting
astride Of him. Then, if you'd been thar,
you'd have sworn that thar want any
thing human in that ar mix," the sle
few so ortully as the criter and | rolled
round the feld--one dog on one side, and
one on the other, trying to clinch my feet
I prayed and cursed, and cursed and
prayed. until couldn't tell which I did
last, and neither warnt Of. no use, they
were so orfuly mixed up.
Well, reckon l rid about half au
hour this way, when old briudle thought it
time to stop to take in supply of wind
and cool off little. So VIXEN we 90 rolnd
to a tree that stood thar, be naturally
halted, SO sez I, old boy, you'll lose one
passenger sartin, Sc l jist olum up a
branch, kalkerlating to roost ill | starved
before I'd be rid around that ar way any
longer | war d making tracks for the top
Of the tree, when heard suthin' maxim
an orful buzzin' overhead. | kinder looked
up, and if thar wasn't well, thar's no use
swcarin--but it war the biggest hornets
nest ever bilt. You'll gin in now reckon,
Mike, 'caus thar's no help tor you. But
au ide struck me then that | stood heap
better chance q ridn' the hpll than vhsr
I was. E,z /, old feller. if you'd hold on
il'n ride to the next station anyhow, let that
be vhar il will.
SO | jist dropped aboard him ogin, and
looked alof to see what had gained by
chapein' quarters, and, gentleman, I'm a
liar. + tLat warp't nigh half bushel of
the s,ingip' varuints ready to pitch iuto me
when The word 90 was Gin. Well, |
reckon thew cot it, for all hands
started for cur company Some on EN- hit
the doys. about : Quart struck nc. and the
rest charged GA brindle.
.. This time the dc..s led OF fust, dead
bent fur the old deacons, and as soon as
old brindle and { could get under way we
follered, and as was only deck pas,en-
Ger, had nothin' to do with steerin' the
craft if had, we shouldn't have run
that channel anyhow. But, as I said be-
fore, the d og: took the lead--lrindlo and
| pezt, and the hornets drekly after. The
dcas yeIin'-briujle holiolin,' aud the
hornets buzz and stipgiu'.
Well we had got about two bundrcd
Yards from tie house, and The deacon heard
US and cum out. [ seed him hold up his
hand. and turn white. I reckon he was