Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-11-06
A HERO FROM THE NORTH.

head of the unprotected earth as If to set
tie once for all the long continued strug-
gle for supremacy, to crafty an ever-end-
ing enmity against his victim, who for
ages had circled round and round him IN
the vain effort to tear away from his fiery
embrace The defensless earth smoked and
qulvered un1er his continued blows, its
sides parched and cracked open in agony,
its lifebloOd dried up and refused susten-
ance to the vegetation that chung trust
ingly to it, ard then in despair dropped
It's head and reached its arms In sympathy
toward its stricken parent. The streams
murmured in subdued tones, the crickets
creaked a dismal refrain. The old
fued which had been waged I'M
ceasingIy day after day, year after year,
seemed about to end; the earth was con-
quered, and the remOrselesE sun triumph
antly drove shaft after shaft upon his fall
Ell foe.
It was battle of giants into the pres
ence of which no smaller creature should
dare to venture. In this mighty conflict
week humanity could hope to take nc
part Yet, crawling between the earth
and the sun, one a lventurous mortal was
Drawing the elemental fury. Slowly he
toied over the low rolling hills, their
sides bronzed witt exposure, unprotected
as they were by tree or shrub. No green
thing IN sight to rest the eyes from the
glare of dried earth and grass; nothing to
relieve save the hazy and uncertain out
lines of the distant hills, that danced like
d will-o' the-wisp in the smoky atmos-
phere. The hot ar scorchcd his nGstrils
as he inhaled it, and then came back from
his lungs with increased heat; his face
was dry and burned, and through the
gaping pores no grateful moisture came.
Yet on he strobe with steady, swinging
pace, as if heat and cold were alike mdif-
ferent to him.
He was indeed well calculated to with
stand the Bullets of the weather or the
fercer attacks of his felow-men. More
than six feet In height, his broad should
ers and weli-proportioned figure made him
seem much shorter. and his easy, grace
full movements evidenced a control of
every muscle that could come only from
constant and active exercise. A long,
reddish blonde beard covered his face,
which was bronzed by exposure almost
to the color Of his beard, and his long
hair fell In waves upon his shoulders. His
whole appearance was striking. yet the
most striking feature was his piercing
blue eyes, which seemed to look you
through and through, and announced
plainly that their owner could not shirk
danger or hardship in whatever form 1t
might come. His costume Was that OF a
hunter and indicated--as did his small
cap made of the skin of an animal even
more strongly = that its purpose was to
withstand much colder climate than that
which he was now experiencing. Upon his
back was slung an old-tashioned muzzle
loading rifle.
Pausing on the crest of a small hill, he
glanced around him toward the distant
line of hills, and then turning his course
In the course of their nearest point he re-
sumed his journey He had gone but a
short distance when he saw the FIST 81 gns
of life that had greeted him that day.
As he passed over slight rise III the
ground he saw a large bullock standing on
the slope of tie hill The animal saw him
at the moment, ard turning toward him
stood looking at the intruder. Soon sew
eral more appeared, attentively, and then
the whole band began moving slowly
across his path, about 100 yards in front of
him Pushing on his course he paid no
ed his notice by the popularity of their
actions. The whole band of cattle were
now in sight, and were circling around
him with steadily increasing speed. 1t
was evident that he was the object of at
tention, and I've attempted to brighten
them away by shooting and waving his
arms, but these efforts were without
avail. On the contrary the animals had
drawn around him in circle, and were
now approaching nearer and nearer, draw
ing the circle tighter about him every mo-
ment.
He saw that it was practically impossible
to break through their line, and yet to
stand there and await their attack was GER
tain death. Their long sharp horns gleam-
ed viciously in the sunlight. CHANGING
hastily around he sought some tree or rock
that might offer some shelter from their at
tack. But there was none within reach;
nothing within that fatal circle to relieve
the monotony of the shining, slippery
grass. There was no time to be lost, for
the circle was constantly growing smaller
and the animals becoming more and still
more closely packed. Quick as thought he
formed his plan of action. Unslinging his
rife he prepared to shoot one of the animals
In front of him, hoping In the confusion
that would follow to break through the
line and find shelter among some trees at
the foot of the hill. Bringing the rifle
to his shoulder he prepared to make his
single shot as effective as possible.
DO not shoot! Por dos, hombre, do not
shoot"
The voice came from behind him, and he
turned In surprise in that direction. His
surprise was considerably increased when
he saw horse approaching at full speed,
and on his back a young girl whose long,
black hair, loosened by her riding, was
streaming out behind her, while she anxi-
ously urged her horse onward. As he look
ed her horse dashed into the circle and the
nearest cattle were turned and headed down
the hillside. With dexterlty that aston
ished him she rounded up the herd, and
soon had them all started down the side of
the hill after the leaders, and then halted
her horse alongside of him.
The situation was an embarrassing one
for him, and for once in his life he felt un-
comfortable and i'll at ease. To require as.
sistance in getting out of a bad scrape was
no new experience, but to have the whole
matter taken out of his hands, and to be
rescued from his peril while he stood idly
by was unpleasant; to have this done by {
woman was humiliating. He stood looking
at her awkwardly, while she sat shyly re
turning mis- glance. Indeed, she felt as I'm
comfortable as he though he was too con
fused to notice it. Finally he recovered
himself sufficiently to speak.
Il have to thank you, he said. THE.
would probably nave killed me- Their,
was no trace In his voice of the excitemen
OF the situation from which be had jus
been rescued
She looked at him curiously; for evident
L. i