Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1883-09-27
OUTWITTING A BULL.

Sn1re, named John Grant, who was
factor to a gentleman in the county.
He had lately married a cousin of mine,
and resided in a cottage picturesquely
situated near the river Tav. He was a
Sood-natured, kind-hearted fellow, and
q great favorite with all who knew
him.
Twas, and still am. engaged i'm bust
ness in Glasgow; but on receipt of nv
cousins invitation-I usually called
John 'cousin'--I hurried away from
its smoky purlieus, and was soon in
stalled under his hospitable roof We
were both fond of fishing, and the prox-
unity of the Tay afforded every facility
for its indulgence. Some days after my
arrival | accompanied my cousin to see
a recent purchase, a magnificent bull,
brought home. All the people about
the place had turned out to see the ar
rival. 1t was large, powerful animal
of a brownish-red color. with pair of
splendid horns. Two men led it with
ropes. as it had already earned a repu-
tatiOn for tiercenesS. 1t was let loose
in a field near the river, the fences of
which were deemed sufficiently trust
worthy.
One day not long after, my cousin
had occasion to visit Il neighboring
markct-rown, promising to be back
early in the afternoon; and having seen
him canter off on his favorite chestnut
mare. repaired to the riverside witt
my rod, intending to kill time ut all
events, whether | managed to kill any
thing else or not. Sauntering down
the footpath which skirted the field in
which the bull had been quartcred, |
saw the animal quietly browsing at
some distance. Having heard or read
somewhere that bulls had an antipathy
to the color red, determined to prove
by experiment whether it was true.
Standing on a projecting stone of the
fence. on the SAFE side Of which / stood,
/ unfurled my red silk pocket -handker-
chief, and waved it in the breeze 1t
was some time before his bovine majesty
noticed it; but alter little. he
raised his head and looked at
the fluttering rag. Presently,
curiosity impellcd him TO take a closer
view, and on he came at Il smart walk,
finally breaking into a run. When
about fifty yards distant, he paused to
recOnnoiter; then, having apparently
made up his m nd he beloved loudly
and charged at full speed. Not wait
ing the actual onslaught, l put the
dangerous piece of silk into my peck
ct, and continued my walk. The bull
followed me rs far rs the limits of the
field would allow, and when interrupt
ed by fence, stood gazing at me as l
retreated.
A short saunter brought me TO the
river, where Twas soon engaged watch
ing for indications of n;bble At
that point, the river was about fifty
yards wide, and quite deep enough to
drown one; while the rapid ty with
which leaves and bits of stick hoated
past indicated a considerable current.
About two hundred yards from where |
s.Ood was 4 boat-house. in which were
usually kept few skiffs. for fishing or
crossing to the other side. | whipped
the water rs l slowly sauntered in that
direction, but with small success.
Lighting cigar. l was about to make
myself comfortable in a grassy nook of
the bank, when a noise caused me
to look round. To my surprise
and dismay, / saw that the bull had
somehow or other broken out of the
field, and was moving towards me.
Fortunately. he was yet ABOUT four
hundred yards distant, and only walk
ing, but evidently highly excited. |
thought at first he did not see me,
owing to the swell of the bank: but be-
fore l could conceal myself, a loud bel
low warned me- that | was recognized.
Not wishing to excite the brute by a
precipitate retreat, l began to walk
slowly in the direction of the boat
house. MY dreadful pursuer followed
slowly at first, but, gradually augment
ing his pace. broke into ran | saw
at once that unless | ran also, my
chance of reaching the boat-house first
was small. |, therefore. set off at full
speed. thinking. in such circumstances,
discretion was the better part of valor.
was, however, well aware that my
hasty fight was certain to draw the en-
ragged beast after me with even greater
vigor than before; but l calculated on
reaching my goal first. and jumping
into the boat which usually Law, there,
push off. and thus escape being impaled
on his cruel horns. CHANGING over nv
shoulder. found. to my dismay, that
the brutew rapidly gaining on me;
with couched head and elevated tail.
on he came like whirlwind. Fling
ing away my rod. bent all my powers
TO the attainment of speed. Not dar-
ing to hook round again, heard the
rapid thud of his hoofs gradually GET
ting louder. Eighty yards from
the boat-house. Frantic with apprehen-
sion, l strained every nerve. Fifty,
twenty yards, and the enraged demon
is close at my heels! reach the, Boat
house painting and breathless. The
door is shut-locked! There is no well
come boat lying at the side. in which l
might have escaped. Having no choice
and no time for deliberat;on, | plunged
into the river. ] waded in till it reached
my neck, then turned. ard looked at the |
bull. To my great relief. he had not
entered the water. but stood glazing at |
what was visible of me. apparently as
tonished at the sudden diminution of |
my bulk. After giving vent to his dis
appointment by paving the ground and |
believing iercely, he stood eyeing
me, evidently conscious that 1 was in
a fix.
Thus we stood looking at one another
for some time. the conviction growing !
stronger, as | felt the water. chill me,
that l could not remain long where l |
was. i trusted that some one might |
discover the escape of the brute, and,
giving the alarm, come to my rescue.
But minutes passed slowly without help
appearing. and was getting desperate
" cold. Once or twice fancied the
Brute was about 70 enter the wstes and |