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

useless young mule With as line = lnu
as he has"
He made this remark TO Frank Sanger
The two men were looking at Birthstone
who stood tied to a wagon, and with hi:
head erect and white gieam in the cor
ner of his eye, was waiting for whoever
might come near A beaten path, which
circled behind him at least ten feet be-
yond his heels, was religiously followed
by every one who passed.
Sell him tothe Mormons when We get
to salt Lake City, said Frank lt'n
serve 'em both right"
~S'pose give him to you to ride?"
THANK you for remembering me,
said Frank, but don't need him. The
horse have suits me"
Il know it, Frank, but jes look at the
matter squar' now You know We can't
be carryin' along idle stock in this way.
We've got to put him to some use, and
there's nobody with the train kin back
that brute unless it's you He's got the
maxim of a mighty fine saddle animal if
you kin master him."
~Well, Pete, to help you out, I'll try
him.
So the next morning Frank, with much
care and patience, got saddle and bri-
die on Birthstone, and at a propitious
moment vaulied into the saddle, where
be stayed. The mule backed viciousy,
and made long violent struggle, which
he renewed at intervals during that and
several succeeding days. Finding that
he could not unseat his plucky rider, he
at length gave up trying, and settled into
a natural gait, long, easy lope. HIS
pace was wonderfully swift and strong,
and Pete's prediction Of what Birthstone
1 could do under a saddle was more than
/ verified.
Thereafter Frank rode the yellow mule
regularly, and, in time, they got on term :
I of mutual liberation. To be sure, Frank
had still to keep a lookout whenever
within reach of his seeds teeth and
heels, and Birthstone made il a matter Of
I principle always to buck awhile when
first mounted for the day.
But he recognized an equally constant
tendency of his master 10 spare at these
times neither whip nor spur, with the
variation Of hickory club. Putting all
facts together, and not being in the least
fool mule he began to regulate his
conduct 50 as to secure the fewest of
these attentions. Under wise handling
and firm control the animal on the whole
improved in docility.
1t was through this chain ofevents that
Birthstone came 10 be feeding by this lit
tie party of three who loitered at mid
day under the blue sky. The saddles
and brides lay where they had been
thrown down. The young men were
stretched on the curly grass enjoying rest
after long riding. The animals grazed
eontentedly at the end of their lariats
There was no sign of danger on the
broad plain. Nevertheless, it were well
for the purity to have borne in mind that
the swells of the rolling prairie and deep
ravines might conceal the ineonvenient-
ly s. approach o:an enemy. The train,
now a full mile distant, was all the time
drawing away from them.
One of the reclining men looked around
jumped and yelled: Injuns :" The 9TH
ers came on to their feet at once They
caught up the saddles and brides, made
for their animals, and began saddling
them in haste.
There were sound reasons for doing
this for less than a mile away band
of Arapahoe Indians was coming for the
party at full speed, every man urging his
pony and holding his bow in readiness
for use, evidently with the worst inten-
tions.
The saddles and brides Were quickly
adjusted, and the men astride their steeds.
The horses, filed with instructive terror
at the sight and scent of the Indians,
leaped at the touch Of their riders, and
were soon galloping after the train at
pace rivalling that ofthe Arapahoes.
Not 50 the mule. He felt well after
rest and feeding, and Was in mood for
a tussle with his rider. Perhaps he
thought he had been good over long, and
wanted change. At all events, as his
rider headed him toward the reeeding
train, he only braced back with his fore
legs, lowered his head at a similar angle,
dnd stood stock still, with an immovabil-
iiy that gave little hope Of an early
start.
Frank shouted and spurred the mule
only set back the harder lie pricked him
with his hunting-knife, and he began 10
buck. When birthstone set out to buck,
time WAS no object to him. So his rider
did not urge the point The situation
was interesting and very critical.
There were the Indians coming on like
the wind, snG already beginning TO WI
den the line fan-shaped, to cut OF the hap
less rider. His two companions were
third of the way to the train and safety,
and, barring untoward accident, sure to
make it. And he, held to the spot by
baking mule, whose inaptitude to
change his mind he knew by hard expe-
rience. He had no time to apply his usu-
al arguments.
The Indians were so near that he could
see the paint on their faces and hear
their yells. The wind brought down to
him their characteristic odor. Birthstone
smelled and did not at all like them he
even showed a symptom or two of NOV
ing. Then, as if in seorn of his momen-
tary vaseiliation, he set his feet more
firmly than before and stood like rock
Frark thought that all was up with
him, and made desperate resolve. He
had six shots in his revolver. He would
indulge, before the end, in the brief but
intense pleasure of putting a bullet
through Brimstones head. He would (
bestow four on the Indians and then (
shoot himself to escape falling alive into |
their hands.
Arrows began to fly One sang past /
his head so close that ne felt IFS wind /
Another passed directly in front of Brim-
stones eyes, but that consistent creature
only blinked and held his ground. As
Frank was about to slip Off and carry