Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1890-07-19
P0LLY'S STAMPEDE.


Polly!" shouted Dick Mayhew, riding
hastily up to where Polly Danvers sat
watching the restless cattle There's
going TO be stampede sure, and you'll
be in danger. Ride hack 10 the ranch as
fast as you can 20, won't you? Give the
word there. I'll need help with thisr'
The cowboy dashed away again as fast
as possible, and Polly prepared to obey,
but not 80 promptly as her trusty friend
expected. just for a moment she could
not leave the fascination OF that expected
stampede. Il would be delightful to see
the whole performance, for it bade fair
to be the most interesting thing that had
happened since the beginning Of her visit
TO her fathers great cattle ranch ON the
plains.
But she must go. She had promised
her father, when he reluctantly gave his
consent to this her first visit to the herd,
that she would do exactly what Dick
Mayhem said
Well, at least she would have the wild
delight Of a free gallop across the prai-
rie alone. There was rapture in that for
a girl whose fifteen years had all been
spent in an eastern city. She had learned
TO ride like an Indian since coming out
here and had become almost as fearless
and self reliant as the cowboys
"Dick will need help, sure enough" ("
said Polly, looking after the cowboy. ''If
It only weren't for that promise to father
I'd stay and help him myself. | would,
indeedr'
Her blood danced at the thought, but
with much firmness she put il to one side
and prepared to depart She made sure
that her equipments were all right, even
to the umbrella her thoughtful father had
slung to the saddle in case of sudden me-
cessity, and reluctantly gave her horse
the long delayed signal to go.
The animal obeyed the signal and went;
but the manner of his going took his rid
er's breath away. The horse had grown
old In the cattle business, and il now be-
came evident that his interest in that
business amounted TO enthusiasm.
Under protest he had stood tolerably
still until now, notwithstanding things
were going on which demanded his ac-
tive attention. But when he was re-
quired to turn and gallop away from a
stampeding herd Of cattle, he simply re
fused TO obey such a preposterous com
mand. So. instead of going in the direc-
tion suggested TO him, he bolted and
dashed after Dick Mayhew in fine style.
Polly had her wish in spite of herself,
but she felt more dismay than exultation
In the fact. This was very different
thing from sitting at a safe distance and
wishing she could join in the chase. But
she had no time for vain regrets now.
The terrible predicament into which she
was forced demanded all her thoughts
and would require all her courage and
self possession.
and il she managed to keep her seat in
the saddle and to keep safely out of tn,
way of all those tossing horns and thun
dering hoofs, she would have something
to be thankful for so long as she nigh
live.
The crisis had developed with wonder
nnl rapidity. When Dicks warning wa
given the herd had been restless and un
ruly; when Polly's horse bolted with hel
he raced after a great crowd of pani,
stricken creatures sweeping like tor
nado across the plain. The stampede ha,
fairly begun. And, as is always the cas-,
In cattle stampedes, there was no appar
ent reason whatever for the commotion
II Polly could have remained quietly
In her original position and watched thu
affpir at leisure. she would have enjoyed
su1 an exhibition as sine had neve
dreamed Of All the cattle of the grea
herd had become solidly massed togethe
and were rushing at headlong speed ovc
the level ground.
From distance great dark strean
would have been seen pouring onwar'
with the swift undulaiions Of a rnpi,
that Polly was forced TO accept. more de
tails were visible. and some Of them wen
not pleasant To look upon.
Everywhere throughout the mass ter
rible white horns tossed and rippled lik
the froth of the angry current. Her
and there, as one head after another wa
reared upward, the red CLEAN of mad
dened eyes WAS visible. Tongues tina
dripped with foam began to appear.
IL beast was crowded from its feet !
never knew what it was TO take anothe
step. Ia an instant II was ovcrthrown
trampled upon BY hundreds Of hoofs an'
left dead upon the ground.
And the noise of the living torren
was fearful. The thunder of the gallop
ing hoofs sounded necessarily; there wa
q perpetual roar from the hellowinI
throats; the rattling clash Of horns a
the tossing heads struck together wa
like the beating of hail and the pantinI
of the hurrying brutes sounded like tn
rush of wind.
Aud close upon the edge Of this horne
army-so close il seemed sometimes tina
pair of waving horns must catch i
her habit skirt-the frightened city gin
was being hurled along by her unmau
ageable horse.
But though frightened now in GOO
earnest Polly kept her wits about hei
With one hand she held her flying Skin
away from those threatening horns an
the steady firmness Of her hold on th
bride kept the horse from crowding int
actual contact with the outside cattle.
II was fearful race. None of tn
maddened creatures pald the slighte'
attention to horse or rider. But the sitl
alton was bad enough without that. A
any moment her horse might dash int
the midst of the herd, and then neithe
horse nor rider would have anoths
minute of life to hope for.
A misstep at the terrific pace the