The Morehouse clarion. [volume] (Bastrop, La.) 1874-1904, 1886-08-27

my holsters, and was wearied to death,
rs only chance consisted in lodging him
round the trees until he should be tired
out. Deeply did regret having left my
faithful dogs Broomer and Bounder behind
The bull charged again and again, some
times coming with such force against the
tree that he fell upon his knees, sometimes
bending the saplings behind which stood
until his horns almost touched me. There
was not q branch l could lay hold of to
climb up. How long this awful game of
" "touch,cooG" lasted, / know not. 1t sened
hours. After the first excitement Of self pre-
servation passed off, uneasiness again took
possession of me- and it required all the in
stinct of self-preservation to keep me on
my feet Several times the bull left me for
few seconds, pacing suddenly away, bel
lowing his malignant discomfort; but before
l could cross over to better position,
he always came back at full speed.
My tongue Glove to the, roof of nv
mouth, my eyes grsw. hot and misty, nv
knees trembled under me, asi I felt it
impossible to hold out until dark. At
length grew desperate, and determined
to make rnn for the opposite covert. The
moment the bull turned toward the water
hole again, I felt sure I was doomed, and
thought of it until grew Indifferent. The
bull seemed to know l was worn out, and
grew more fierce and rapid in his charges,
but just as was going to sit down under
the great tree, and let him do his worst, I
heard the rattle Of q horse among the rocks
above, and shout that sounded ike the
voice of an angel. Then came the barking
of dog, and the loud reports Of a stock
whip; but the bull, with his deyiish eyes
fixed on me, never moved
Up came a horseman, at full speed :;
crack fell the lash on the black balls hide
out spirited the blood in long streak The
bull turned savagely-charged the horse
man. The horse wheeled rounl just enough
to battle him-no more-again the lash de-
scended, cutting like long, flexible razor,
but the bull was not to be beaten off by
whip. He charged again and again but
he had met his match right and left. as
needed, the horse turned, sometimes pivot
ing on his hind, sometimes on his forelegs.
The stockman shouted something, leaped
from his horse, strobe forward to meet the
ball with an open knife between his teeth.
As the beast lowered his head to charge, he
seemed to catch him by the horns. There
was struggle, cloud of dust, stamping
like two strong men wrestling II could not
see clearly; but the next mo,fSent the bull
was on his back, the blood yelling from
his throat, his limbs quivering in death.
The stranger, covered with mud and dust,
came to me, saying unconcernedly, as if he
had been killing calf in q aslaughter-house.
He's dead enough, young man ; he won't
trouble anybody any more"
l walked two e- three PAGES toward the
dead beast; my senses left mel tainted.
When / came to myself, my horse was
saddled, bridled, and tied up to bush
My stranger friend was busy faying The
bull.
should like to have pair OF boots out
of the old devil, he observed i'll answer to
my inquiring look, before the dingoes
and the eagle-hawk dig into his carcase"
We rode out of the flats, up 9 gentle as
cent as night WIS cfossng IN. Was In no
hssxex Il Xaaa-.-haya4
Well, rather think hays - br,t taf-
was muttered III an undertone it's not
the first ! have saved, or taken either, for
that matter"
was too much worn cut for thanking
much, but | pulled out silver hunting
watch. and put it into lis hand He push
ed it back, almost roughly. sayirg g No.
sir. not now: shallnt take money or
moneys worth for that, though I may ask
something some time. Its nothing. after
a.. owed the old black devil grudge
FOR spelling a blood hlley of mine ! besides,
though / didn't know it when | rode up
FIRST, and went at the beast to take the
devil out of myself, as much as anything
| rather think that you are the young gen
.lelnan that ran through the Bush at night
20 Manchester Dams hut, when his wife
vas bailed up by the Blacks, and shot one
eyed Jackey, in spite Of the Governors
proclamation"
You seem to know me" answered,
pray, may ask who you are, if it is a
fair question: for I cannot remember ever
having seen you before"
''Oh, they call me Two Handed Dick
ia this country"
The scene in the road side inn flashed
on my recollection. Before I could say
another word, sharp turn around the
shoulder of the range we were taversing,
brought US in sight of shepherds hut.
Hhe dogs were out barking; we hallooed
and cracked our whips, and the hut-keep-
er came to us with fire brick in his hand.
Lord bless my heart and soul Dick,
Is that thee, at last Well, l thought thee
weren't never coming" cried the hutkeep-
er, little man, who came lmping forward
very fast with the help Of crutch- handle
stick
: say. Missis, Missis, here's Dick, here's
Two Handed Dick. z"
This was uttered in shill, hysterical
rort Of scream. Out came Is Missis" at
the top OF her speed, and began hugging
Dick as he was getting off his horse; her
arms reached a little above his waist,
laughing and crying both at the same time,
while her husband kept fast hold Of the
atockman's hand, and mutjering, Lord,
Dick, I'm SO glad to see thee" Mean
while, the dogs barking, and flock of
weaned lambs just baa'ing, made such a
rot, that / was fairly bewiIdered So,
feeling myself one too many, / slipped
away, leading botr Of the horses - ..--
--.I-- --x sLsshut, where found .
shepherd, who showed me grass paddock
TO feed the nags bit before turning out
FOR the night. I said to him, "What is
the meaning OF all this going on between
your mate and his s-wife, and the big stock
mann"
''The meaning, stranger; that's Two
Handed Dick, and my mate is little Jenny
that he saved, and Charley Anvil at thu
same time, when the blacks slaughtered
the rest Of the party-near dozen OF
them"
On returning, found supper smoking
on the table, and we made regular
/" bush meal. The sockman then told
my adventure, and when they they had ex-
changed all the news, had little difficulty
in getting the hutkeeper to the point
wanted; the great difficulty lay in prevent
ing man and wife from telling the same
story at the same time. However, by ju-
dicious management, was able to gather
the following account Of
Two-HANDED DICKS FIGHT AND RIDE.
ssWhen first met Dick, he was second
stockman to Mr.. Roland, and took
shepherds place there; it was my second
nIaco Il, fh;n no,,ni.-u for rnn aae Iaft the