The Grenada gazette., 1889-01-03

match to be ridden under saddle and

match to be ridden under saddle and
Or barebackP'
Saddle, reckon; aint no man livin'
cud sit steer two minutes bareback,
skins too loose"
"Bri6lesf"
"We-e-ll-ll, no; more fun 'ithout, l
reckon. Might tie piece o rope to
the horns to hold on by"
"Spursp"
"Of course; want the thing lively,
| you know"
| SO the ARRANGEMENTS were made, and
On the appointed morning we all gath
cred to see the 'dooel."
Charley had saught d ''line- back
dark red with a streak OF white down
the back-bone-and Bob, a "magpie,"
or black and white snctted.
| Both were as wild as deer. ahd fiefca
| as hawks. By tho use OF lariats the
steers were stretched and the sad
dies, each provided With i'm estfa
rihche, Or broad horse-hair girth, were
put on; one cinche passing around the
chest and the other around the body
| just behind tho fore-le5s. Both tinthes
were drawn as tight as possible, and
both animals were blindfolded, 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 ready''
yes"
"fhen gor'
In the same breath, the lariats were
freed from the horns, the blindfolds
were snatehed ef, Ind the riders
vaulted into their saddles, Bob on the
limo back, and Charley on the magpie.
For minute. both the aiiihats
sttfned 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 butGlng broneho.
As | was Chv;"ley's referee, l stayed
to watch the antics of the magpie,
while Little set off at full speed to
turn the lihe-back, that We mi ght not
lose that part of the sport. 1t was
hot chase, but Little finally overlook
and headed him back in our direction.
Meanwhile, each rider was yelling at
the top Of his voice. and touching up
his vicious and already maddened ami.
NAL.
AS the liuc-back came racing down
on us. the magpie caught sight Of him,
and, ceasing his bucking, dropped
head, and, with a below of rage,
rushed straight for the incomer, who,
nothing loath, accepted the challenges;
and, with an answering below of def
ance lowered his horns, and put on an
additional burst of speed. In vain the
riders tugged and hauled at the rope.
bridles-they mightas well have tried to
hold a "rogue-elephant' with strand
of sewing silk! In vain the rest of us
Judge, referees and spectators 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 q
catapult, with 'thud!" that followed
the crash OF their colliding steeds as
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 atfectionately in each
others arms, they shot backward ovessa
line-back's tail, and rolled over and
over in the dust, an involved tangle OF
waving legs and arms! We rushed to
pick them up, while the two
chargers, their pugnacity complete
ly knocked out Of them by
the resounding impact, drew apart,
gazed stupidity at each for moment,
and then, with q frightened low,
numbered away across the valley.
When the two Jockeys had been
picked up and busted off, we were able
to ascertain the extent of their in
juries. 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
tremendous 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, decided
that inasmuch as the steeds were evil
dently 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 Binomial Rough-riderS
of The Sierra La Sal, II p Uford, IN
Youths Companion.
Mick" according to the New
York Sun, is a corruption Of Mike, in
its turn nickname for Michael. A
'.mick" is a rowdy, tough; we pro-
sumo the name was first applied