St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1889-02-16

match to be ridden under saddle and
or bareback"
''Saddle, I reckon: amt no man livin'
cud pit q steer two minutes bareback;
skins too loose"
''Bridles?"
''We-e-ll-l. no; moro fun ithout l
reckon. Night tie piece o rope TO
the horns to hold on BY"
''Spurs?"
"Of course; want the thing lively.
you know"
So the arrangements we're made. and
on the appointed morning We all gath
cred to see the ''dooel."
Charley had caught . ''line-back"-
dark red with . streak OF white down
the back-bone-and Bob. . ''magpie."
or black and white snotted.
Both were as Wild - deer. and fierce
Is 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 tho
chest aud the other around the body
just behind the fore-lexs. Both cinohes
were drawn as tight as possible. and
both animals were blindf0lded. and led
out on the plain where . fair start
might be had.
The riders took their places BY the
sides OF their respective steeds. wait
ing for the word to mount and ride.
"Are you ready1"
..Yes."
Then 60"
In the same breath. the lariats were
freed from the horns, the blindf0lds
were snatched OF. and the riders
vaulted into their saddles. Bob on the
line back. and Charley on the magpie.
For q 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-a! Then
they both started, the line-back hori-
zontally. striking down the valley .,
the top of its speed. and the magpie
vertically. doing some straight up-and'
down jumping and plun&ing. that
would have done credit to the most
vicious bucking broncho.
As 1 was Chc:ley's referee. stayed
to watch the antics of the magpie,
while Little set of At full speed te
turn the line-back. that we might moi
lose that part Of the sport twas
hot chase, but Little finally overlook
and headed him back in our direction
Meanwhile. each rider was yelling Al
the top OF his voice, and touching ny
his vicious and already maddened AMI
NAL.
As the line-back came racing dowr
on us, the magpic caught sight OF him
and. ceasing his buckins. droppet
head, and, with below of rage
rushed straight for the incomer. who
nothing loath. accepted the challenge
and, with an answering below Of def
ance lowered his horns. and put on n
additional burst of speed. In vain thu
riders tugged and hauled 1t the rope
bridles-they mightas we'll have tried 4
hold . "rogue-elephant" with . strant
of sewing silk! In vain the rest Of u
Judge, referees and spectators dashet
forward to prevent the collision-w'
were too late. The shock was terrific
Tho two riders were hurled into eacl
Others arms. ~ il launched from ,
catapult with q ''thud!'' that f0ll0wet
the crash of their colliding steeds ..
the ..spat!" OF . ball against the tar
get follows the report Of the gun
As Charley was the heavier weight
his momentum overcame that Of Bob
and clasped anectionaaely in eacl
others arms, they shot backward ove
line-back's tail. and rolled over an
| over In the dust, an involved tangle o
waving legs and arms! We rushed =
pick them up. while the tw'
chargers. their pugnacity complete
Ily knocked out Of them b.
the resounding impact. drew apart
g.zed stupidity at each for moment
and then. with . frightened low
numbered away across the valley
When the two jockeys" had bce'
picked up and busted OF. We were abi
to ascertain the extent Of their In
juries. One OF Bob's front teeth va
| gone and his nose was bleeding
Charley had several square inches o
skin rasped OF his forehead. and
tremendous bump over one eye. Eacl
had the breath pretty we'll knocked on
Of him.
Leaving them in my hands for sur
gical aid. the rest Of the boys 81 ol
hastily after the fugitive steeda
Brought back painting and sulleu. tn
rivals pluckily insisted on riding ou
the match; but John, as judge. decide
that inasmuch as the steeds were evi
IDENTIFY unfit for further duty that day
it should be decided a drawn game
and that the two contestants shoul
each be given q medal OF sole-leatheI
and be hereafter known rs The 7sCi
Champions and Binomial RoWgh-sidev
of TIE Sierra La Sok-H r. U0ord, 1
YoMth's Co,npoSion.
| Mick" according to the Ne
York Sun. is . corruption Of Mike.
its turn q nickname for Michael.
'.mick" 10 . rowdy. tough; We pr
| s,svua tha mama ~Aa frat annlie