The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1889-05-30
His backward Land ears came suddeniy

His backward-laid ears came suddenly
forward as for a moment his head faced
round with an expression Of deep and
reproachful surprise. His body bumped
together until IL scsmed as IL the saddle
at the apex must go over the neck or
crupper. Then he headed toward the
wagon-t train, Strengthened out and went.
And how he went His first jump was
so sudden as nearly to leave his rider be-
hind on the prairie. His next was longer
and his pace kept improving all the way.
A line of dust explosions marked the spot
where his hind feet struck. AS his body
heightened in long bounds the saddle
cinch fairly swept the grass, and all
Frank could do was 20 hold on, save his
breath and try to keep his toes from
striking the prairie-do mounds.
His two companions when halfway TO
the train suddenly became aware that
Frank was not with them. Without
stopping they looked back They after
ward told him that they saw something
coming, ON the dead jump, behind them.
Il went so fast that they couldn't well
make out whether il was mule or n
panther that was making such surprising
speed, but could only see that il was
gaining headway at every leap. Il over
hauled them in no time, passed them as
yellow streak and directly they saw, u
thousand yards ahead, commotion
among the wagons.
In their narration something Is 20 bo
allowed for the exaggerated form Of ex-
preston in vogue ON the plains in that
day, and which is even yet not wholly
extinct II is certain that the mnle went
very fast, and in the race to the train
| badly beat the two good horses which
/ had a long start.
The pursuing Indians never got nearer
/ the mule than when he started, and were
/ quickly left far behind. They were not
numerous enough to attack the train, and
/ stopped we'll out " rifle range. Those
/ who watched from the wagons said that
the redskins had followed Frank hut a
short distance. when they stopped and
sa; motionlcSS in amazemcnt watching
his mules performance They gathered
in circle and remained long time pow
wowing over the prodigy which had
manifcstly impressed them rs "big mcdi-
cine
Frank tried to rein in his mule
near the wagons. but could not. Fear
ing. he afterward said, that the mule in
tended to keep straight ON to salt Lake
City, and meant to get there that night,
he. rs last resort, pulled him into ON,
Of the teams "hcad on" and BrimSton,
came to full stop in tanglc OF
mules
Frank KEEP; on a dozen or fifteen yard
farther, sailing, like frog TO water, owe
the wagon mules and describing para
bola which met the prairie with a thump
a ricochet and a roll He got up, SHOOK
himself. reached behind TO make sure hi
revolver had not been thrown out, anC
walked back TO his mule as coolly aS il
that were his ordinary way OF diSmount
| ing.
when Birthstone was finally oXtricated
, the inspiring cause OF his Jealous run wa
, fully revealed. Sticking from his hin'
quarters was the long shaft and feather
, of an arrow, the head Of which was i'm
beddcd some three inches in the flesh.
have 20 say that the mule got no sym
: pathy; on the contrary, his plight wa
' looked on by all hands with unconceale'
{ satisfaction. His past conduct had no
y endearcd him TO the outfit
The question Of getting out the arro1
y head was not easily met. For, while ther
4 were plenty of advisers in the matter
O. there was no one so little in love with liz
q as to offer 10 operate surgically in the VI
p. cinity Of those lightsome heels. Tn
. operation was a heroic one, rs the bloc
had softened and loosened the deer sine
that fastened the shaft to the barbed arro
. head SO that they came apart at the fin
y. pull, leaving the latter in the wound.
However, as il needed 10 be done, Pet
= Ouruy and Frank Sc, 10 work with g
;rcme cure. their instruments c0n,istin
Of q sharp knife and pair Of pinccr
., To the astouishmcut Of all. Birthstone r
4, muiued as quio. a. lamb. a cut wt
u, made. wide and deep enough 20 allow Il
u arrow head 20 be caught with the pince
! and pulled out. The mule WINGED und
T., the steel bu, did not kick.
- The wound soon healcd-there was,
. fact no loss Of Brimstone's valuable Sc
!, vices He was rather sensitive 10 a
=, proach Tor time, bat remarkable eiIe
of the wound appeared in his dispositio
Strange TO say, this effect was fayorah
'v one. From that date ON he was diiIe
~ ent and better mule. II is not 10
e wondered at three inches Of arrow in /
" hauuch should have wrought painfully
% his feelings, and for Il time reversed
le usual habit Of thought; but the gratif
~ ing fact remained that the change "
A' marked and permanent. .-Y Youths C~
?" yaHiOH.