The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1888-01-05
md hand hold. so that we clambered


up with comparative ease.
Having so far tiistanced our enemies
we proceeded more Ieisurely, but had
not reached the first branch before
some of the infuriated animals below
bntted SD violently against our refuge
that, had it been of simmer growth
than it was, we must have been shaken
down. Happily it was as immnyabie
as a rock, and in spite of the danger OF
our situation, we actually laughed at
the impotent fury of the cattle.
We climbed up carefully until we
reached tie lowest branches, where we
settled ourselves each securely in IA
fork, with our backs against the trunk
and pelted the cows with hits of the
rugged bark, an indignity they rc>cnt-
ed by staring at us, and lashng their
h;tnks, as they lowed their regret that
We had escaped their vengeance.
Nevertheless. our predicament was
an awkward one, although it had its
comic side. and we laughed at this. but
not for very long, for the night was
cold, bitterly cold, and we bat lightly
clad; we were hungry, too, and thirsty,
which was rather worse.
The leaves of the ironbark afforded
neither meat nor drink, and we began
ere long to entertain serious anticipa-
tiOns as to the ultimate result of our
adventure.
Would the animals go away when it
was morning? And if they did, would
that wretched COW and her abominable
white calf go with them?
What if We were to fall asleep dur
ing the night, and tumble from our
perch upon the uplifted horns of the
watchful herd below? We should be
transfxed upon horns as formidable
as any pointed stakes, be tossed mp
and down by our infuriated jailerS.
and finally trampled into pulp beneath
their cloven hoofs.
The prospect was by no means a
pleasant one, and to prevent as far as
possible its realization we strapped
ourselves with our belt to the branches
upon which we sat.
The night was cold, bitterly cold. as
have said, and towards morning
there was frost. Our guards had lain
down all round the tree, so that we
had not even chance of creeping
down silently, and stealing quietly
away while they slept. We were al
most famished, yet l believe we dozed
for few minutes occasionally, for
recollect starting now and then, think
ing l was falling, but happily we were
able to maintain our position i'll the
tree.
Our clothes were saturated with
dew, and 1 partially quenched my
thirst by sucking what had collected
on the few leaves within my reach; but
the cold! Our forced inactivity made
us feel it more keenly than we should
have done had we been able to move
about, and SO keep our blood in astate
of more active circulation.
AT last the morning broke, and the
dawn quickly broadened into day; then
the COWS began to move.
The mother of the calf was evidently
uneasy at the thought of being left
with her offspring while we vet re-
manned alive, if in the tree, for she
beloved again and again, and rubbed
noses with some of her friends. Her
entreaties were disregardcd, however,
for after few minutes consultation
the entire herd trottcd off, leaving the
old COW at the foot of the tree, where
she still kept careful watch OF her pris-
Oners.
There was plenty of grass in the
gully, and an abundance of succulent
herbage, so that she was able to satisfy
her appetite without moving far from
our sheitering tree.
What were we to do? Our only hope
was that someone might pass by with
in hearing, and we shouted coonee
every now and then as loudly as we
could, without any result.
At last, when we were almost ex-
hausted with cold and hunger, thirst,
and want of sleep, as well as cruelty
cramped by the constrained position
we had been compelled to maintain for
so many hours, we heard Il joyful
sound, the most musical and delight
full we had listened to for many hours,
namely, the short, impatient yelping
of a dog in pursuit OF. game.
We shouted till we were hOarse, COO
heeing and calling Rover" Dash"
and Tinker" and every other canine
appellation we could think of, but no
answering shout responded, though
the dog was evidently fast approach
ing.
Our jailer heard the dog as soon as
as we did, and showed manifest signs
of alarm, for she Immediately went to
the clump of bushes where her calf
was lying, and pushed her offspring
with her nose to make it get up, but it
would not stir.
Presently kangaroo came in sight,
and was followed closely by a dog,
half collie, half greyhound. T tere
was a water hole at the foot OF the
gully, into which the hunted marsup-
ial leaped at once, unnoticed by the
COW, which rushed furiously at the
pursuing dog, and a sharp conflict en-
sued.
We did not wait to see the result, for
we took the opportunity. and, descend
ing from our elevated perch, ran oft
at top speed, and reached our camp in
safety.-W T. Greene, IN Golden -Ar-
goSy.