The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1889-07-03

crupper. Then he headed toward ,h
wagon train, straightened out and weni
And how he went His first jump wa
so sudden as nearly 10 leave the ride
behind on the prairie. His next wa
longer and his pace kept improving al
the way. A line of dust explosion
marked the spot where his hind fee
struck. As his boiy heightened in lonl
bounds the cinch fairly swept the grass
and all Frank could do was to hold on
save his breath and try to keep his toe
from striking the prairie dog mounds.
His two companions when half way
TO the train suddenly became aware thai
Frank was not with them. Without
stopping they looked back. They after
wards told him that they saw something
coming, on the dead jump, behind them
It went so fast that they couldn't vel
make out whether it was mule or a
panther that was making such surpris.
ing speed, but could only see that it was
gaining head Say at every leap. 1t over.
hauled them in no time, passed them as
yellow streak, and diFectly.they saw, a
thousand yards ahead, a eommosion
among the wagons.
In their narration something is to be
allowed for the exaggerated form of ex-
preston in vogue on the plains in that
day, and which is even vet not wholly
extinct. Ii is certain that the mule went
very fast, and in the race to the train
badly beat the two good horses, which
had long start
The pursuing Indians never came
nearer the mule than when he started,
and were quickly left far behind. They
were MT numerous enoug 10 attack the
train, and stopped well out of rife range.
Those who watched from the wagons
said the redskins had followed Frank
but a short distance, when they stopped
and sat motionless in amazement, watch
ing his mules performance. They gath
cred in a circle and remained a long
time pow-wowing over the prodigy
which had manifestly impressed them as
=" big medicine"
Frank tried to rein in his mule near
the wagons, but could not Fearing, he
afterward said. that the mule intended
to keep straight on to Salt Lake City, and
meant to get there that night, he, as a
last resort, pulled him into one of the
teams head on" and Birthstone came
to a full stop in tangle Of mules.
Frank kept on dozen or fifteen yards
farther, sailing, like frog to water, over
the wagons, mules, and describing u
parabola which met the prairie with
thump, a ricochet and roll. He got up,
shook himself, reached behind to make
sure mis- revolver had not been thrown
ont, and walked back to his mule as
colly as if that were his ordinary way of
dismounting.
When Birthstone was finally extrica-
ted, the inspiring cause of his Jealous
run was fully revealed. Sticking from
his hind quarters was the long shaft ami
feathers Of an arrow, the head of which
was imbedded some three inches in the
flesh. ! have to say the mule got no
sympathy; on the contrary, his plight
was looked ON by all hands with uncon-
eealed satisfaction. His past conduct
had not endeared him to the outfit
The question of getting out the arrow
head was not easily met. For while
there were plenty of advisers in the mat
ter, there was no one so little in love with
life as to offer to operate surgically in the
vicinity of those lightsome heels. The
operation was heroic one, as the blood
had softened and .loosened the deer
sinew that fastened the shaft to the bar
bed arrow head 50 that they came apart
at the first pull, leaving the latter in the
wound.
However, as it needed to be done
Pete Ouray and Frank set TO work with
extreme care, their instruments consist
ing of sharp knife and pair of pincers.
To the astonishment Of all, Birthstone
as quiet as a lamb. A cut was
made, wide enough to allow the arrow
head to be caught with the pincers and
pulled out. The mule WINGED under the
steel but did not kick.
The wound soon healed-there was, in
fact, no loss of BrimstOne's valuable SER
vices. lie was rather sensitive to ap-
proach for a time, but remarkable
effect Of the wound appeared in his dis
position. Strange to say, this effect was
a favorable one. From that date on he
was a different and better mule. 1t
is not to be wondered at three inches of
arrow in his haunch should have wrought
painful, on his feeling, and for time
reversed his usual habit of thought; but
the gratifying fact remained that the
change was marked and permanent.