Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1890-07-19

Polly had recovered from her first con-
fusion OF terror now. and was able to
reason about things rather calmly. As
a result Of this she felt partial return
OF confidence in the horse that had PLAYED
her this trick. She began to suspect
that he was not frantic at all, but only
in earnest. He seemed to know per-
fectly what he was about and TO be sat
istied that II was the right thing exactly.
Ii seemed as though he fully understood
what Dick Mayhew was working for,
and was trying his best to help him.
But why Dick Mayhew or anybody
else should risk his neck in race with
that herd of cattle was thing that puz-
zied the girl. Nothing could stop them.
An army Of horsemen could not make
them turn back. Yet all the time her
cowboy friend rode close beside the lead
ers OF the herd, now firing pistol in the
air, now waving his arms franticaily,
now uttering sudden wild shouts.
And at every fresh surprise the leaders
nearest the cowboy edged little away
from him and showed the inside cattle in
the same direction. So, little by little,
the man was forcing the head Of the mad
procession farther and farther from the
straight line of march.
All at once Polly understood the whole
thing. She had heard her father and his
men talk about winding up" stam-
peding herd. The thing to do was to
push the leaders gradually around in a
circle. The others would follow, and as
L.. . L.
front Of the column would overtake the
rear, and finally the cattle would be so
helplessly wound up that they would
stop in sheer bewilderment. This was
what she was helping Dick Mayhem to do.
Suddenly her horse swerved little
and thrust his head fairly against the
side of one Of the maddened cattle. A
pair of red, angry eyes were turned in
Polly's direction, and they seemed to see
Cor the first time this meddfesome out
rider. With below Of rage the cres-
ture lowered its wide spreading horns,
and without further warning straight
way charged upon the horse and its help
less rider.
Polly did not scream. A tightening at
her throat made her voiceless. Her dan
ger was fearfully great and she knew it.
In an instant the terrible enemy was
upon her. tie had dashed away from
the herd beyond her horse, and then
turning with lowered head was making
his onslaught. The girl saw that even
If she escaped death on the points OF
those dreadful horns she was likely TO
be cast headlong upon the bristling
horns of the galloping herd.
I But the wise old horse saw the danger
as quickly us she, and knew far better
how TO manage il. just as the lowered
horns almost touched him he swerved
suddenly, turned sharply about and gal.
loped to the rear. So the horns aimed
at the horse struck a member Of the herd
and aroused great anger in him.
I In moment the horse had turned
again and was in full career toward tn.
front once more. With difficulty Poll,
had kept her seat through these swift
and surprising evolutions. Now, wher
she faced about, she saw two furiou,
members OF the herd detached and il
hot pursuit, not of her. but of Dick May
hew. II one horse could not be over
NHIONn stttptHtE Wbutu hfINt4
In one awful second the girl realizet
both the peril of her faithful friend an,
her own inability 10 even warn him. II
another instant the shock would be npoi
him and he would he killed before he
eyes. IL only he could be made to know
OF his danger! IL only she could attrac
those furious creatures to herself ono,
more.
With a fash Of inspiration Polly saw
faint possibility of rescue. With erie
and with blows from her small fists SIN
urged the horse 10 a swifter run. 50 tina
the distance between her and Dick be
came less aud less. And then. laughin,
aloud at the absurdity of her device, sh,
bent down and unslung her umbrella
from the saddle.
As She grasped the handle she was clos
behind the cowboy. But 30 were tn
pursuers she strove 10 rescue him from
Before she could cry out both the en-
ragged creatures had struck Dick MAY
hew's horse, and the poor animal la,
bleeding aud disabled on the ground
while his stunned rider struggled 10 FIRE
himself from the ENHANCEMENT whicl
held him.
The force of the collision threw bot
the assailants backward toward tn
herd. Before they could recover fron
the recoil and renew their charge tn
horse which had begun the disturbanc
swept, with his plucky young rider, be
tween them and their victim.
As Dick Mayhew struggled 10 his fee
he saw the amazing apparition OF Poll,
Danvers flying past him like the wind
She had something in her hands, and a
she passed the two brutss, which wer
about 10 charge upon him for the secon
time. he saw them both dash backward
in alright. In the sudden rebound the,
were caught beneath tine hoofs Of thei
companions and in a twinkling the liz
was trampied out of them.
Polly had found her weapon at last
and il had done good service; for it ha
enabled her to save the life OF the frien
who, in another moment. would hav
been mangled corpse beside his horse.
As she rode forward she had graspe
the handle of her umbrella with on
hand, while the other hand was on tn
spring Of this extraordinary implemen
OF warfare. IN dashing past the tw
threatening creatures she had suddenly
and with wild scream, spread the um
brella in their astonished faces, with th
result already described.
And a. he looked. Dick Mayhem SAY
the umbrella at the head OF the stan