Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1888-09-06
,ould, still facing the oncoming multi

could, Stlll facing inc ONcOm0S MuitA-
tude.
The leaders of the advancing herd
were no more than two or three hum
dred yards in front Of me. and had
retreated some fifty yards. stepping
quickly backward, when the foremost
of my pursuers quickened their pace
into a slow trot, an example followed
by those behind, till, like wave. a
movement had communicated itself to
those furthest in the rear. And
now the trot, which had been gradual
ly quickening, broke into an awkward
gallop, and the whole herd charged
down upon me!
For moment-as I saw the semi
circle of converging columns, saw the
long horns sweeping the ground, like
marsh reeds before November gale,
saw the plunging shoulders and heav-
ing backs surging through the clouds
of white dust which rolled up before
them-I gave myself up for doomed
man. Then, abandoning all further
effort at caution, turned and ran for
my life.
The ground behind me trembled
under the tread of their myriad feet;
and the muffled thunder of their plung-
ing hoofs, mingled with the low, fitful
believing which filled the air, sounded
like the roar of an advancing tornado.
Gun and game were too much to carry
in a race where so much was at stake.
l dropped them both as I sped for
ward.
The ground was as level as floor;
and flew over it, taking the stunted
sage-brushes in my stride, till l reached
the arroyo. Then over the bank, and
down, at one flying leap, l went; and
now. noticing, to my right, q detached
mass of rocks. piled up in pyramidal
form. turned sharply, gained them.
and, clambering upward, stood in q
place of safety.
1t was only about three feet across,
but dearer to me, just then. than all
the broad acres of my fathers farm at
home!
From this, my ''coign of vantage" l
now marked the surging mob of cattle
come crowding to the brink Of the
arroyo; and then, as the hundreds in
the rear pressed forward, saw the
front ranks. by the dozen. pushed of
into the gully, slipping, sliding. plung-
ing one after the other, till the ravine
seemed half-filled with them, and the
| white dust rose like mist from the pit
of vast cataract
All around that little crag upon
which half-sat, halliday, like an ex-
hausted swimmer just escaped from a
hungry sea, heaved and billowed the
tempestuOus bovine maelstrom with
"A roar
Like Ocean on its wintry Shore"
their white horns flashing like the
foam on the breakers. The sight of
me, perched up there. seemed to mad
den them. The foremost, impelled by
the weight Of the swaying thousands
behind, were forced close against the
rocks. while those in the rear gored
| viciOusly with their horns at those in
front. Everywhere about me was a
tumultuous throng of clashing horns,
tossing heads and writhing bodies, seen
fitfully through clouds of dust.
| was safe for the time being, and in
no great physical discomfort; yet ]
could but wonder what the outcome OF
it all would be, or how 1 should ulti-
mately escape.
But suddenly, above the dull roar OF
the surging, believing throng, ! heard
the sound of yelling voices down the
arroyo. The cowboys were coming!
and in few minutes Little, bob. -"
Charlie and kid came in sight,
riding at full speed. their long cattle
whips cracking like pistol-shots as they
charged upon my besiegers, while
they whooped in true cowboy poly
glot:
"Hu hi!'' "Vaca! vaca!' 'sWo-haw"
''Git!" "Vamos pi-a-a-av' 'Br-r-r-r!"
''See-ah! See-ah" "G'lang there!'
| "Hoop-la-a-a-a!'
| At the sound of the voices and the
cracking whips, at the sight of the
charging vaqueros, the cattle on the
outskirts of the crowding herd became
panic-stricken. turned. and scampered
up the arroyo, or climbed the shelving
banks, and dashed away across the val
ley.
The fright soon communicated itself
to the rest, and in few moments all
this thronging mob of stock had melted
away and were coursing OF in all di-
rections across the plain = forming
what is known in cattle p arlance as
"blazing star"
The siege being thus raised I de-
scended from my little natural citadel
and looked up my gun. which had been
fairly trampled into the earth and had
both cocks broken short of. My bunch
of game had Jared still worse: and.
rather ingloriously, mounted behind
Charlie and rode down to the corrals,