Weekly graphic. [volume] (Kirksville, Adair Co., Missouri) 1880-1949, 1883-12-21
KING AGAINST KING.

KING AGAINST KING.
From this grove Of cottonwoods shell
tering the spring across to that PENN
sula Of thicket running out from the
forest is q clear space Of ten miles.
Call It valley and you will not be far
wrong. Write that it is almost as level
NJ floor and covered with rich green
grass. and you will give the reader a
true picture.
The grove contains not over dozen
trees and in the center spring bub-
bles up and throws of a stream which
steals away through grass and weeds
and Is finally soaked up by the parch-
ed soil. In the spring time the stream
becomes rivulet and runs its course
for fifty miles. In the hot summer the
thirsty wolf must cool his tongue at
the spring or cross to the forest and
Jap NJ the creek.
Skeletons? Yes. Two-three-five.
Not of men, but Of large animals. Three
of them rest on the ground almost with
in the shade of the trees; the other two
are out in the sunshine, and the grass
is shooting up between the bleaching
ribs and concealing the hideous skulls.
You look about expecting to see the
rusting iron-work Of an emigrant wag-
on, and there is a sudden fear that the
grass may be hiding the story of Il ter
rible butchery.
Look out! There is gurgle-a growl
"a warning of danger which sends the
chills creeping over you, and from the
high grass springing up around the
skeleton furthest away head is lifted
into view. II is the head of the Amer
lean lion-the puma of the plains! Its
CLASSY eyes are watching you-its yell
low fangs work as if they were tear
ing your flesh! Is he crouching for a
spring. Has he been waiting and
watching for this last half hour?
Now there is a whine of hunger and
pain. and as you watch for that horri-
BILE head to be raised again tawny
form crceps out Of its hiding place and
pulls itself out upon the short grass
and into the full glare of the sunshine.
So no! The king is cripple! He is
dragging shoulder and leg after him
rs he moves, and he is willing to vacate
without fight.
ANOW lou navy th' AhO
key is FIVE miles up the valley. where
you see that band of wild horses COM
ing down at a round trot. The king
has had q fat thing of il. The grove
was his palace. That big cottonwood
with his claw marks showing by the
hundred Was his throne. The wild
horses came here to drink, and his roy
al highness has Toasted rs becomes .
king. A fat horse on the grass
spring at his heels-no one to modest |
him at his meals or during his slumbers |
who wouldn't oe nabOb?
These skeletons are clean-picked. |
That proSes much. 1t was weeks ago
that the last horse was borne to the
ground in terrific struggle for life.
He did not save himself, but he inflict-
ed such damage that his royal highness
has been plebeiar cripple ever since.
Pain and hunger have made him whine
and beg, and the coyotes have dared to
invade his realm ahd gnaw at the
bones within hundred feet of his
bed. In his strength they feared
and respected him; in his distress
they mock him and exhibit con-
tempt.
Tho palace of his royal highness has
been invaded, and he must go. He who
has never shown mercy can expect
none. The forest will give him hid
ing place, II not food and drink. and he
will drag himself across that weary ,
stretch Of grass to secure = cover. He
moves slowly. Every foot of progress !.
gives him pain. and at every ten feet
he pauses and looks back and seems to :
Wonder If it would not be more in keep .
ng with his record to limp back and g
AVE it out with the invader. y
Let him alone and watch the horses.
The whole band have halted. Every g
'ead Is mp. every nostril is shifting the =
ir, and every eye is watching the s
rippled king as he slowly increases =,
is distance from shelter. He is growl- :. -
ng and complaining and has eyes only - y
Or you. Now he hobbies on three legs,
ttering short barks-now he draws ~ =.
imself along on his belly and growls - -
. II he had victim within reach of :
Is fangs. r.
Watch the horses! They stand stock -,
Ill, every head thrust out and every :.
70 marking of the distance between :,
10 crippled king and the grove In q a a
larter Of an hour there is half n mile "A
open ground between the first cot -,
nwOod and the spot where the fugi- ",
70 has halted for long look back =, =,
ard, He has turned his face toward h, h,
e forest, when there is a sudden i,
ovement among the horses. The u, u,
md divides A portion rush to the or ar
yht TO cut of retreat to the grove 3D.
. rest bear straight down upon the -,
az. He hears the rush Of fect-he ="
ises his head for one swift glance. and
en- there Is roar of mingled defiance
d despair. hu
His royal highness is cornered; his ma
,ape is cut Of. He makes dozen Sis
unds forward. forgetting for the in aa
mt his broken shoulder, aud then he Al
IL and faces the rush. whining, beg I'M
q, growliug-a coward in the face an
danger. A coward? No! He weak oi
I'd h the first moment Of despair, iat
! now his courage returns and he lh'
~ da6ance Hhe must die 1t shall SCI
lie death of . king rel
Watch the horses! They have form Say
. circle about him and re closing oo'
not WITH . rush. but sls-ly and CO. y"
etjahly-pawing 1t The esrth-snort- :
h slarn-tosslsg their heads 10