Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-08-15
.'Spurs?"
''Of course, want the thing lively,
ror,

''Of course, want the thing lively,
you know"
So the arrangements were made,
and on the appointed morning we all
| gathered to see the s'dooel."
Charley had caught stline-back," "
dark red with streak of white down
| the back-bone.-and Bob, a ssmagpie, -
| or black and white spotted.
Both were as wild as deer, and fierce
as hawks. By the use of lariats the
steers were stretched" and the sad
| dies, each provided with an extra
| cinche. or broad horse-hair girth, were
put on; one cinche passing around the
| chest, and the other around the body
just behind the fore-legs. Both cinches
were drawn as tight as possible, and
both animals were blindfolded, and led
out on the plain where a fair start
| might be had.
The riders took their places by the
sides of their respective steeds, waiting
for the word to mount and ride.
care you ready?"
"Yes."
'Then go,'
In the same breath the lariats were
freed from their horns, the blindfolds
were snatched off, and the riders
yaulted into their saddles, Bob on
the Hne-back and Charley on the mag
pie.
For minute both the animals
seemed dazed at the sudden change
from darkness to light, till the riders
touched them with the spurs and
shrieked ''Hoop-la-a va-ca-ar Then
they both started, the line-back hori-
zontally, striking down the valley at
the top of its speed. and the magpie
vertically, doing some straight up
and-down jumping and plunging that
would have done credit to the most
vicious bucking broncho.
As was Charley's referee I stayed
to watch the antics of the magpie,
while Little set off at full speed to
turn the line-back, that we might not
lose that part of the sport. 1t was
hot chase, but Little finally overlook
him and headed him back in our di-
rection. Meanwhile. each rider was
yelling at the top of his voice and
touching up his vicious and already
maddened animal.
As the ine-back came racing down
on us the magpie caught sight of him,
and, ceasing his bucking, dropped
head and, with a below of rage, rush
ed straight for the incomer, who, moth
ing 10th, accepted the challenge, and,
with an answering below of defiance,
lowered his horns and put on an addi-
tlonal burst of speed. In vain the
riders tugged and hauled at the rope
bridles-they might as well have tried
strand of sewing-silki In vain the
rest of us Judge, referees and specta-
tors dashed forward to prevent the
colliSiOn-we were too late The
shock was terrific. The two riders
were hurled into each others arms, as
If launched from catapult, with a
''thud!" that followed the crash of
their colliding steeds as the stspati" of
ball against the target follows the
report of the gun.
AS Charley was the heavier weight,
his momentum overcame that of Bob,
and clasped afectionately in each 9TH
er's arms, they shot backward over
ine-back's tail, and rolled over and
over in the dust, an involved tangle of
waving legs and armsI
We rushed to pick them up, while
the two chargers, their puknacity
completely knocked out of them by
the resounding impact, drew apart,
gazed stupidity at each other for a mo-
ment. and then, with a frightened low,
IumDered away across the valley.
When the two Jockeys" had been
picked up and busted off, we were able
to ascertain the extent of their iniur-
les.
One of Bob's front teeth was gone
and his nose was bleeding. Charley
had several square inches of skin
rasped off his forehead, and a tremen-
dous bump over one eye. Each had
the breath pretty well Knocked out of
him.
Leaving them in my hands for sur
gical aid, the rest of the boys set off
hastily after the fugitive steeds.
Brought back painting and sullen,
the rivals pluckily insisted on riding
out the match; but John, as Judge, de-
eided that inasmuch as the steeds were
evidently unfit for further duty that
day, it should be decided a drawn
game; and that the two contestants
should each be given medal of sole
leather. and be hereafter known as
''the twin champions and binom1al
rough riders of the Sierra La Sal."-I
Youths Companion