The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1888-08-30
A NARROW ESCAPE.
BY H. P. UFFoRD.

Ouo moTulHS III huSusI, nhe0t Wo hou
been at the Sierra La Sal about five
weeks, set off to shoot "cotton tails"
l took double -barrelled shotgun, and
proceeded on horse back as far as the
corrals and log cabin of a squad of cat
tie men, three miles below our camp.
Four cowboys and herd boss named
Little, were here patrolling the upper
line of an extensive range, on which
were grazing fifteen or twenty thousand
head of the half-wild Texas cattle of
these western ranches.
As it was already past 'sun-up,' !
was not surprised to find no one at the
corrals; the boys were all out on the
range. Dismounting and tying my pony
inside tho horse-pen. first arranged my
cartridges and other equipments for
rapid loading, and then started forth
on foot over the rough ground beyond
the corrals.
Furrowed in zigzag course across
the plain was dry, shallow arroyo, at
this time of year we'll stocked with the
small game l was after, and in the
course of an hour or so I had as many
birds as could comfortably carry. And
then, after short rest, climbed out
on the plain, and took short cut for
the corrals. My course led mo along
the upper edge of the cattle, who were
grazing in scattered "bunchc all over
the lower end of the valley.
had gone perhaps half mile, when
became aware of strange commotion
among the feeding Thousands. For it
Glanced that had now come upon a
little swell of land, somewhat higher
than the surrounding plain, and had
stopped for monet to watch the pas
toral scene. Presently noticed that
the cattle were no longer grazing
quietly in groups, but seemed, as by a
common impulse, to be moving up the
valley. could SEQ bunch after bunch
lift their heads, and, after watching for
short timo tho movements of those in
front, join in the slow procession.
My first thought was that the cow
boys, for some reason or other, were
driving them toward the corral; but
then I reflected that if such were the
case, those in the rear would be the
first to start, instead OF, as was the
case, following tho lead of those in
front. Besides, instead of stopping to
snatch an occasional mouthful of grass,
as they would do if they were being
driven, they came on with heads in the
air, as though attracted by some curious
sight.
1t was not long before the whole
drove was in motion, and, as watched,
I noticed that the drift was not il
parallel. but in convcrgent lines, as
though they were attracted to COM
mon centre, and in another instant il
flashed over me that that centre was
myself
| A very strange sensation stole ovel
me at this discovery, and now remem
bered Little's saying once that whil'
these Texas cattle do not mind a man
on horseback, it would be o dangerous
thing to go amongst them on foot-th
sight of dismounted man being almos
unknown to them, since the cowboy
invariably ride.
As Hooked at the slow-moving thou
sands, could we'll imagine that evei
II curiosity was the only motive impell
ing them, yet the momentum of thos
in the rear might SO press the forwar
ranks that o man would have littl
chance to escape being trodden to deaf
by the pushing throng.
But there was strong reason to sus
pect that less innocent motives tha
mere curiosity might actuate them, 70
I knew the untamed, violent nature @
, his half wild stock, and that they wcr
not to be trif1ed with.
Az yet the distsnt red brown throng
were only slowly drifting toward me bu
! ! thought that detected symptoms Q
/. uneasiness in those in front, and .
. once concluded that 1 had better, i
! the plains vernacular, 'hustle mysel
and hunt my hole"
The distance to the corrsls was tw
miles or more. KNEW that / could ne
reach that point and at once decided I