The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1886-12-24

about the bridge prevented us from
seeing him.
The attention Of the Holstein, how
ever, was toy me moment engrossed by
the stage; and he began to move to-
ward it, bringing his dust cloud with
him, and stopping at every yard or two
to paw, with n power that sent showers
OF gravel stones into the adjoining
fields.
| Had th9 case been less serious, q
spectator ssight have laughed to see
the driver wheel his four-horse team
an operation favored as well by the
width Of the road as by the slowness OF
the bulls movements.
The stage ratified back around the
corner and out of sight, while his boz
vine majesty stared after it as if won.
dering how it had vanished.
Then for few minutes he again be-
took himself to the task of scraping
the highway; but presently, with head
erect, he started off toward the bridge,
believing in one unbroken peal as no
went.
The cause of this decided movement
was at once apparent, and it was with
startled feelings that we recognized
what had taken place.
The believing from the other side Oh
the river was getting nearer. A cloud
of dust showed itself on that side of
the bridge. Mr.. Wilson's big Jersey
was out! A moment more, and we
could see his short horns and strong
back under the sand and gravel that he
was throwing into the air.
1t was right in the middle of the
bridge that the two inwerful creatures
met. We heard tie horns clash to-
gether and their struggling hoofs grind
the planks. Both heads were lowered,
and both sinewy frames were pushing
with all their might.
1t was such an exhibition of strength
as l have never seen equaled. Those
thick, short necks seemed made Of
solid iron.
For time it seemed as if neither
would be able to obtain any advantage
over his antagonist; but at length the
Jersey was forced to step slowly back,
although still disputing the ground
with many desperate rally to recover
what was lost.
Presently, while the two furious
combatants were braced against each
other, crosswise to the road, the fanka
of the inferior bull struck the old, rot.
ten railing of the bridge, and we heard
it crack loudly.
The Holstein was pushing with ire
mendous vigor; the Jersey lost another
foot of ground, and there was no chance
for him to regain it. Crashl went the
old wood behind him; and sheer off the
bridge, and down into the river, tum-
bled rail, bull, and all.
OF course, the attention of the spec.
tators was fixed upon the vanquished
animal, in some anxiety for his safety.
But he did not seem to be injured in
the least. Turning his broad, curly
head toward his pasture, he swan
strongly for the shore, only some thirty
yards distant, and quickly scrambled
up the bank.
In the meantime che Holstein re.
NAMED upon the bridge. For some
minutes he stood motionless, exactly in
the position he had occupied when his
enemy disappeared. His head was
down, at a "charge bayonet" depres-
sion, and his tail remained lifted Just az
it had been in Che fight. He seemed
but the figure of bull, cut in black
and white marble.
The catastrophe was evidently be-
yond his comprehension. What had
become of his adversary, who was SO
suddenly and so unaccountably gomez
Presently he began to back straight
across the bridge, taking up one foot
after another very slowly, and OCCASION
ally paving the planks with his fore
hoofs. Back, back, back he stepped,
all the while in an attitude of sullen de-
tiance, with lowered head and threat
ening below.
The rail behind him was rotten and
weak. Its condition had long been
reproach to the town. 1t broke instant
ly, as his weight pressed against it, He
did not seem to notice the obstruction
in the least, or even to know that he
had touched it.
Back, back he pushed. Both hind
feet went over the edge of the bridge.
His head flew up, his fore hoofs scraped
the planks, and there was great splash
in the water below.
For few moments the big Holstein
was entirely lost to sight, while the
waters eddied and surged above the
spot where he had gone down. Then
he rose and turned his curly pate
toward the shore, landing in his own
pasture precisely as the Jersey had
landed in the other.
Neither of the animals had suffered
any injury, and the amount of below
ing and scraping with which they filled
up the remainder of the day showed
that both We're as sound as ever in lung
and limb.
The town forthwith voted to fix
good, substantial railing upon that
bridge; so that, after all, the meeting
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