Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1890-07-25

POlYi shouted Dick MAyheW, riding
has ilv M to where Polly Danvers SIT
watching the restless cattle. There's
going 70 be a stampede sure, and You'll
be in danger. Ride back to the ranch as
fast rs you can go, won't YOU'D Give the
word there. I'll need help with thisg'
The cowboy dashed away again as fast
as possible, and Polly prepared to obey,
but not so promptly as her trusty friend
expected. just for a she could
not leave the fascination of that expected
stampede. IL would be delightful to see
the whole performance. for it babe fair
10 be the most interesting thing that had
happened since the beginning OF her visit
10 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-
RE alone. There was rapture in that for
a girl whose fifteen years had all been
spent In az eastern city. She had learned
70 ride Ike 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. III
it only weren't for that promise to father
I'd stay and help him myself. would.
indeedi'
Her blood danced at the thought, but
--ssL a.4e4afa 1ra,-,~r -t.. .,t.e d 10 .,AnnsT.I
and prepared to depart. She made sure
that her equipments were aIl right. even
90 the umbrella her thoughtful father had
slung to the saddle in case of sudden ne
cessity. and reluctantly gave her horse
the long delayed signal to 20.
The animal ubeyed the signal and went;
hut the manner of his going took his rid
er's breath away. The horse had grown
old in the cattle business, and it now be
came evident that his interest in that
business amounted to enthusiasm.
Uuder protest he had stood tolerably
still until now, notwithstanding things
We're going or 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
lnand. So, instead Of going in the direc-
ton suggested to him. he boltcd and
dashed after Dick MAYHEM in fine style.
Polly had her wish in spite of herself,
but she felt more dismay than exultation
in the fact. This was a 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.
It was a terrible predicament, indeed
and if she managed to keep her seat IL
the saddle and to keep safely out of the
way Of all those tossing horns and thun.
dering hoofs, she would have something
To be thankful for so long as she might
live.
The crisis had developed with wonder.
full rapidity. When Dicks warning was
given the herd had been restless and un
ruly; when Polly's horse bolted with her
he raced after a great crowd Of panic
stricken creatures sweeping like a tor
nado across the plain. The stampede had
fairly begun. And, as is always the case
in cattle stampedes, there was no appar-
n reason whatever for the commotion.
If Polly could have remained quietly
in her original position and watched the
affair at leisure. she would have enjoyed
such an exhibition as she had never
dreamed Of. All the cattle Of the great
herd had become solidly massed together
and were rushing vt headlong speed over
the level ground.
From a distance a great dark stream
would have been seen pouring onward
with the swift undulations of a rapiC
river. From the nearer point of view
that Polly was forced to accept. more de
tails were visible, and some of them wer'
not pleasant to look upon.
Everywhere throughout the mass ter
rible white horns tossed and rippled likl
the froth of the angry current. Herr
and there, as one head after another wa
reared upward, the red CLEAN of mad
denod eyes was visible. Tongues tina
dripped with foam began to appear.
If a beast was crowded from its feet i
never knew what it was to take anothe
step. In an instant it was o%verthrown
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
a perpetual roar from the believing
throats: the rafting clash Of hOrns a
the tossing heads struck together wa
like the beating Of hail and the painting
ri the hurrying hrutes sounded like tn
rush Of wind.
And close upon the edgeof this horne'
army-sO close il seemed sometimes tina
n pair Of waving horns must catch il
her habit skirt-the frightened city CIR
was being hurled along by ner unman
ngeablc horse.
But though frightened now in goo'
earnest Polly kept her wits about her
With one hand she held her flying Skin
away from those threatening horns an'
tile steady frmness Of her hold o tn
bride kept the horse from crowding int
actual contact with the outside cattle.
It was a fearful race. None Of TN
maddened creatures paid the slightes
attention 10 horse or rider. But the stu
alton was bad enough without that. A
any moment her horse might dash int
fha midst Of fhQ herd and then ueithe