The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1874-11-26
THAT BRUTE OF A BILL

20 W uTlNe IN cattle and horses that
had strnyed beyond the limits of the
run. This was very arduous work, in
yolvlng many times n ride of FORTY or
nifty miles over a rough, uncultivated
country, and was sometimes not alto
gether Tree from danger, as in the in.
stance am about to relate.
was driving home a mob OF cattle
one day that had got into a neighbours
run, some twelve or fourteen miles dis.
tant. had had good deal of trouble
with them on account of the viciDus-
ness OF an old brown bull, whose I'M
rulY conduct infected all the rest. They
had broken away from me several times,
and the old bull had once or twice at
tempted to rush me, and it was only by
the greatest exertion with my stock
whip that L was able to drive him of.
1t was getting pretty well on in the
afternoon when we drew toward the
station, and when we were still two or
three miles distant, feeling very fatigued
and the cattle now going on before me
quietly, dismounted by the side of
creek to rest for short time and par
take OF some refreshment. which hith-
erto had been too much occupied TO
do. / hobbled my horse and turned
him adrlft, and he was soon busy max
ing dinner among the scrubby fax and
tussocks-not luxurious feed, but the
best that was then to be had. For nv
own part, 1 made a hearty meal of some
mutton and damper had brought with
me, which l washed down with some
water from the creek and, when I had
lighted my pipe and stretched myself
down among the tussocks, began to
feel comfortable, for, before long, with
ont IN the least intending it, I fell
asleep.
l was awakened by the sound of a
struggle near me. / started to my feet,
and beheld a sight which filled me with
rage and indignGt, on. A few yards be-
fore me, on the ground, from which he
IN vain attempted to rise, lay my horse,
with the old brown bull goring and but
ting him fercely.
Without considering what I did, I
made rush at the bull to drive him off;
but instead Of retreating he turned up
on me. l had Just time to Jump aside
and avoid his first chBrge-which, had
received, would have made me perma-
nent settler in the colonies-when the
lnfuriated beast again made toward me.
This time / managed to get in among
some scrubby brush that grew near,
and lodged behind a fax bush. We
kept this game up for some time, and. I
began to feel it was growing serious
The bushes were disgustingly small and
stunted, and formed n most insufficient
protection. Once or twice / had been
grazed by the animals horns, and the
lodging business was beginning to get
monotonous, not to say fatiguinR. The
bull, however, was quite fresh, and
seemed determined to keep up the
sport, which he appeared rather to
enjoy.
had allowed him to get between me
and my stock-whip, so that I had no
weapon to defend myself, but man
aged to get hold of a killadie from
among the flax, with which hit him n
blow over the head, but for all the eff
feet 1t had, might as we'll have hit
him with a straw.
Clearly, this state of matters could
not last-I could not hope always to
dodge clear of the animal, and at this
game he was sure to have me in the
end, so began to look around for some
other means of escape.
About distance of half n mile on
one side Of me was high fence COM
posed of sod and post and rails, which
enclosed n large paddock, where the
sheep were driven in the winter season,
when the snow was deep on the ranges
and the gullies. If / could reach the
other side of this 1 was safe. An idea
occurred to mel pulled off my coat,
and when the brute made his next
charge l threw it over his eyes.
1 did not wait TO see the result of the
maneuver, but started Off for the fence.
The coat must have amused him for
some time but I bad not gone half the
distance before I felt that he was in
hard pursuit. He was gaining upon
me. j strained every nerve. Still he
seemed to come up. 1 did not dare to
look behind, but L felt he was close
upon me. was now within few yards
of tho fence-one desperate effort and /
was safe. l made tremendous spring,
and-found myself lying on my back at
the bottom of ditch by the side of the
fence, which ditch in my hurry I had
overlooked, while the bull was looking
down upon me with n puzzled and in
Jured expression upon his countenance.
IL was some time before could make
mp my mind whether my position was
now altered for the better. The bull
began 10 make frantic efforts to reach
me, but he came far too near success
for 1t to be pleasant.
Seeing that his attempts were vain,
he desisted, and contented himself with
u L
was safe. But my position was a most
ignOhle one. dared not try to regain
an upright position, for on the slightest
movement the bulls horns were throat
eningly lowered toward me. I tried, by
shouting ut him, TO drive him away !;
but as that only produced a renewal on
his part OF the attempt TO get me with
his horns l was soon obliged to desist.
had often heard Of the power of the
human eye to overawe savage animals,
and fixed my eyes upon him in a man.
ner that I thought ought to have the
desired effect. But either this power
has been Overrated, or the circumstances
were not favorable, for the bull regarded
my efforts with perfect contempt.
Finally, | made up my mind to remain
quite still, in the hopes that he would
soon get tired, and so leave me.
But the bull was a pertinacious bull,
and had evidently made up his mind to
see the affair out. NV position was
every moment getting more irksome
and, beside, it was humiliating in the
extreme; n fact of which the bull
seemed perfectly aware, for he regarded
me with contemptuOus look that was
very provoking.
However, there was nothing to do but
remain whore / was till something oc-
CURED TO relieve me Of the animals
presence. l should be missed ut the
station before morning, and the worst
that could happen was that might have
to remain as was all night, when some
OF the men would be sure to come and
relieve me.
There are few things I cannot make
mp my mind to when I know they are
inevitable, and though not a pleasant
alternative, 1 soon made up mine TO
this. even made an attempt to go to
sleep, when, TO aid my discomfort, it
began to rain. This was decidedly I'M
pleasant, but was getting reckless.
ooh, yes 7" / exclaimed, in a satiri-
cal tone, Grain by all means, do"
And it did.
My attention was now called to the
behavior of the bull. It began to sniff
the air, paving the ground and tossing
up his head IN n manner expressive Of
triumph and domoui % ioY. This
looked like bearing malice, and, to NOR
tify the brute, endeavored TO appear
as If found tho rain rasher pleasant