Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-04-19
s. A KANGAROO HUNT.
CONFLICT OF THE DOGS WITH A
SAVAGE "CLD MAN." ,.

Uncertainties of an Unknown Mount-A
Rider Hurled ipto Mid Afr-An Old
Kangaroo Leaping Eighteen Feet at
Jump-The Finish.
By the time had regulated my stirrups
looked into the curb chain, and taken that
last general survey which man usually does
before trusting himself to the vagaries of an
unknown mount, Cameron rode up on q
rakish chestnut, surrounded by his pack OF
kangaroo dogs. These dogs, by the way, are
cross between a fee, hound and a stag
hound bitch. or vice versa, the former, how
ever, being the more generally sought after.
Glentworth had chosen quiet little mare,
who, to all appearances, had nothing to
recommend her but the beauty OF her shout
der, and certain look about her quarters
which meant jumping. Wallerton was vainly
endeavoring at the same time to retain bis
seat and to keep his long shank spurs away
from his horses ribs. The piebald gave one
or two smaller bucks, and then, gathering all
his force. lifted himself high in the air, all
four feet at once burst the girths, and as he
struck ground Wallerton and the saddle gave
q twist to the left and came down with q
crash. The horse, having accomplished his
intention, gave grunt OF satisfaction, and
with i'll concealed contempt for his PROSTATE
foe leisurely strolled away toward the stables.
Wallerton slowly sat up, with the saddle
still between his legs, and gazed at his con-
querer; then with admirable self possession
he took his flask from the saddle bag, uncork-
ed it, toasted his piebald in due form, and
having replaced the flask, stood up with a
comparatively unruf1led exterior.
put my hand on my tat's withers, and a
groom giving me knee, flung myself across
the pig skin; before, however, had put my
feet into the irons, the brute's head and fore
hand disappeared as if by magic. isquar-
tiers struck me in the back, and / was hurled
into mid air, dropping with my usual luck
into the midst of the dogs, who showed an
evident desire to give up breakfast OF
kangaroo and partalle of the meal thus I'M
expectedly provided for them.
At last we got started, and had not ridden
more than two miles when we viewed three
kangaroo, one of which, by his immense size,
gave promise of being an sold man."
Having held back for moment to let the
hounds get fairly away, we gave our eager
horses their heads and followed. On we
swept, through the clear light of the long
Swallowed dawn with the quarry and hounds
in view Just ahead was a heavy log fence
which we all cleared easy, my horse, how
ever, taking off at such distance that |
thought we were on it. We landed though,
with lots to spare. This gave me confidence,
and 1 began to work him to the front; with
the music Of the pack ringing, peeling, rising
in ecstasy and the trees shooting backward
as if on wings; past Wallerton, Glentworth
and Cameron, over flight of rails and into
an open where the hounds were tumbling
over the two smaller kangaroo The old man,
meanwhile, head erect, leaping, bounding
away, covering at least eighteen feet at a
lump, was gaining good lead. passed the
hounds at full speed, with cheer, and they,
leaving the dead, sprang on i'll chase of the
living, their throats wetted with their kill
and eager for the nobler game; so eager, in
deed, that they outstripped lie, although my
horse was running as if in finish. A short
distance ahead saw the dark line of dried
water course At this the old man went and
with gigantic bound cleared it and leaped
on undaunted. At it went the hounds-some
over, some in and out As my turn came
steadied my horse and sent him at it with a
shout; he rose clear, and in a seconds flash
saw the rocky bottom far below me. We
struck with slide in front, a scramble be-
hind, and a stumbling recovery, but safely
over, and as l threw myself back in the
saddle l saw the old man standing high
against a gum tree, at bay, or, as the Aus
tralians have it, "stuck up"
| sat down and set my horse going, con-
graduating myself on being alone at the
death, when Glentworth shot past me with
the immovable seat that had ever character
lied his dreaded run in, and dismounting
billy in hand, made his way through the dogs
and stood before the kangaroo. l followed
his example, and for the first time enjoyed a
struggle with game old man" He stood
with his back firmly pressed against the tree,
his head up and his eyes cleaning; he kept
his short forelegs moving somewhat after the
fashion Of q nervous boxer, and as the hounds
pressed upon him he would strike with one Of
his long hind legs a blow SO hard that thu
hound it reached ran fair chance of never
again responding to his huntman's call; for
that swift, clean reach would strike him in
the throat as he rose to his leap, and the sharp
claw. tearing through rib and snew, would
leave a wound so deep and jagged as to be far
neyOnQ tDc IedCH VI tue pI dt
hand
During the time that Glentworth and had
stood inactive, three dogs had been put hors
du combat, and now Don Juan, the pride of
the pack, had reached the kangaroo's throat.
and unmindful of the blow that partly dis
ENDOWED him, refused to loosen his hold
Selling my opportunity, ran in, and with a
fierce blow Of my loaded club, or billy, de-
livered on the head OF the kangaroo,
dropped him, and the dogs finished him in
short order.
Cameron and Wallerton now rode up, and
Cameron, dismounting, looked to the wounded
dogs, two of which were found to be be-
yond recovery. These were mercifully dis
patched. and he. taking Don Juan over his
saddle bow, whilst l took the other, we
started toward home. The run had been ex-
ceptionally good, and the kill perfection, as
il is not often that hardened old man will
prove game when stuck up" -Hallett Asop
Borrowe in Outing.