Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1874-01-16

"A momentary relaxation Of the tremendous
strain only resulted in the shaggy heads
coming together ayab with dull tbump,
and n renewal of the digged pushing which
might have moved freight train. 1t was
a matter Of lungs and endurance, and the
white freth began to drop in long tenacious
strings from their lips. and the red eyes to
glare dimly through what seemed clots of
blood. / could hear the labored breathing
from where | lay, end sec the tendons
stand out across the thighs and along the
| thick necks.
But this dead set of strength could not
last always. Every moment Of time was
telling disastrUusly upon toe shorter wind
and decaying strength Of the old crusader,
who still ipu4iit tor the loves ot his youth.
Hissfoot slipped and the intelligence of this
slight disaster seemed 60 reach his anita
gonist quicker than flask of lightning.
No gladiator ever urged his advantage
more suddenly. There was huge lunge,
and sound of horns slipping upon each
other, n spring forward, and the horiis of
the younger bull had made raking up
ward stroke through his antagonists flank.
The fight now became brisk. Again and
again the old one turned and tried to make
the old stand head TO head, and as oite,
his more active antagonist caught him be
hind the shoulder. " ith the red agony Of
defeat in his eye, and the biood l.iCklin';
from the long wounds in his il..pl,. h. still
refused to be conquered. With faihng
strength and limbs which refused and long
er to serve him, he finally stood at bay.
with open mouth and hanging tongue, un-
able to fight and disdaining to retreat
His antagonist pushed him, and he Welded
doggcdly. He made no al tempt to shield
his TANKS. and pitifuly endured all that
came. The original plan of nou-interier-
ence was abandoned, and the young lords
gathered around him, and snorted, and
shc' k their heads. and gave lin an Occa-
sional dig in the ribs by way of expressing
their contempt for him. The cows came
aud snutied AT him, and INDUCED in spite
ful feminine butts. and walked away
Their manner implied that they had always
regarded him as a disagreea bic old muff.
and they were glad he finally understood
their heartfelt sentiments in regard 10 him.
Through all this the old fellow stood un.
resisting. Wiped. but still obstinate. Grad
ually they all left him TO himself. and the
herd wandered further away. He did not
even look around; he was probably forced at
last to accept his sentence Of punishment
and go and live as long as he could alone,
and fight his last fight with the coyotes,
and die
But that calf came out to see him again.
l say that calf, because it seemed to me the
same that brought on this last unpleasant
ness, though for that matter they are all
alike. The calf came and arched its neck,
and paved, and elevated its nine inch tail
in front of him and gave him to under
stand, by the plainest kind OF language,
that il held itself in readiness to give him
a most terrible drubbing, if he had not al.
ready had enough. 1t was comcal to see
him i'm mitate the actions OF his senior, while
the poor old bull did not so much as look
at him. But his calfship was inclined to
push matters, and tinally made pass
which PLACED his foolish head with cons!d-
cradle thump against the soft part Of The
old mans nCse. Then he stood moment
with the aii of having hurt himself little,
and toddled Oft To his mother, ,,o,, ,a
The old one dia -: si','o ,,' au lnGn, ano
-.'un. But l suspect it broke his heart.
He wandered, limping, and slowly, down
toward the sedse. and lay there, forgetfui
OF the long army musket beside me, re-
GREETING that there had been no one else
there tO bet with during the bate, or stand
up like man and confirm the story after
ward. The sun rose high over the prairie,
the wind veered, there was n sudden panic,
and the herd vanished beyond the hills,
leaving me to plod back 10 camp.