The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1890-12-10
A HERO FROM THE NORTH

The sun was beating down upon the
head Of the unprotected earth, rs if to
settle once for all the long continued
struggle for supremacy, to crafty
never ending enmity against his victim,
who for ages had circled round and
round about him in vain effort to tear
away from his fiery embrace. The
defenseless earth smoked and quivered
under his continued blows, its sides
parched and cracked open in agony.
its life blood dried up and refused sus
tenance to the vegetation that chung
trustingly to it, and then in despair
dropped its head and reached its arms
in sympathy toward its stricken parent.
The streams murmured in subdued
tones, the crickets creaked a dismal re-
frain The old feud which had been
waged increasingly day after day, year
after year, seemed about to end; the
earth was conquered, and the remorse-
less sun triumphantly drove shaft after
shaft upon his fallen foe.
1t was a battle of giants into the
presence of which no smaller creature
she Id dare to venture. In this mighty
co.. ct weak humanity could hope to
taxi o part. Yet, crawling between
the h and the sun. one adventurous
mort ! was Drawing the elemental fury
Slowly he toiled over the low, rolling
hills their sides bronzed with EXPOS
ure, 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 outlines of
the distant hills, that danced like a
will-o'-the-wisp to the smoky atmos-
phere. The hot air scorched his nos
trils 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 CRATE
full moisture came. Yet on he strobe
with steady swinging pace, as if heat
and cold were alike Indifferent to him.
He was indeed well calculated to
withstand the Bullets of the weather or
the tiercer attacks of his fellow men
More than six feet in height, his broad
shoulders and well proportional figure
made him seem much shorter, and his
easy, graceful movements evidenced
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 ex-
posture 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 it 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 experience
ing. Upon his back was slung an old
fashioned muzzle loading rife.
Pausin5 on the crest q a small hill,
he glanced around him toward the
distant line of hills. and then turning hi,
course in the direction of their neares
point he resumed his journey. He hac
gone but short distance when he saw
the first signs of life that had greeted
him that day. AS he passed over
slight rise in the ground lie saw larg,
holioclz standing on the slope of tn,
hill. The animal saw him at the SAM
moment, end turning toward him stoo,
looking at the intruder Soon severa
more appeared, regarding him atten
lively, and then the whole band begal
moving slowly across his path, abou
one hundred yards in front of him
Pushing on lis course lie paid no atten
ten to them, until they again attracte
hi notice by the peculiarly of thei
actions. The whole band of abou
OF hundred cattle were now i
ST. t, and were circlmg aroun
him with steadily Increasing speed
1t 5 evident that he was til
obje Of their attention. and he a
temp ed to frighten them away b
shout ng and waving his arms, bl
these efforts were without avail. O
the contrary, the animals had draw
around him in circle and were no
approaching nearer and nearer draw
ing tie circle tighter about him ever
moment
He saw that it was practically impo
sible to break through their line an
yet to stand there and await their attac
was certain death. Their long, shar
horns cleaned viciously in the sunligh
CHANGING LASTLY around, he sougl
some tree or rock that might offer SON
shelter from their attack. But thef
was none within reach; nothing within
that fatal circle to relieve the monoton
OF the shining, slippery grass. Their
was no time to be lost, for the circl
was constantly growing smaller and tn
animals becoming more and still NOR
closely packed. Quick as thought h
formed his plan of action. Unslingin,
his rife, he prepared to shoot one 0
The animals in front of him, hoping il
the confusion that would follow t,
break through the line and find shelte
among some trees at the foot of th
hill Bringing the rifle to lis shoulder
he prepared to make his single shot a
effective as possible.
DO not shoot Por Dios. hombre
do not shoot"
The voice came from behind hin
and he turned in surprise in that. d
reetion His surprise was considerabl
increased when he saw horse a
preaching at full speed, and upon i
back young girl, whose long bla,
hair, loosened by her riding. W
streaming out behind her while 8
anxiously urged her horse onward.
he looked her horse dashed into t
f.f4so