Daily Yellowstone journal., 1891-01-14
HERO R 0 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 supren icy, To crafty a
never ending enmity against his victim,
rho for ages had c.rcled round and
round about BIN in vain effort to tear
away from LIS 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 It's arms
in sympathy toward tsstricken parent.
The streams murHured in subdued
tones. the crickets creaked "a dismal re-
fraiu. The old feud which had been
waged increasingly day after day, year
after year. seemed about To end; the
earth Wa conquered, and the emorse
less sun triumph lntly drove shaft after
shaft u7 D his I lien foe.
II Wa q battle 81 giants into the
presence of W ich no smaller creature
should dare I, venture. In this mighty
conflict veal humanity could hope 10
take 10 par Yet, crawling between
the earth an the sun. one adventurous
mortal was Uraving the elemental fury.
Slowly he foiled over the low, rolling
hills. their sides bronzed with expos
ure. unprotected rs they were by tree
or shrub. No green thing in sight to
rest the ewes from the glare Of dried
earth and grass; nothing 10 relieve
save the hay 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 o
trils as he inhaled il, 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, rs if heat
and cold were alike Indifferent to him.
He was indeed well calculated 10
withstand the bullets of the weather OF
the fiercer 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 a
control Of every muscle that could come
only from constant and active exercise.
\ long. reddish blonde beard covered
his face. which was brOnzed by ex-
posure almost 10 the color of his beard,
and hi. 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 10 look you through and
through and announced plainly that
their owner could not slirk danger OF
hardship in whatever form it might
come. His costume vas 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 "A much colder climate
than that which he was now experienc-
ing. Upon his back was slung an old
fashioned muzzle loading rife.
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 direction Of their nearest
point he resumed his journey. He had
gone but a short distance when he saw
the first signs of life that had greeted
him that day. As he passed over &
slight rise in theground he saw a large
bullock standing on the slope of the
hill. The animal saw him at the sam
moment, and turning toward him stood
looking at the intruder. Soon severa
more appeared, regarding him atten
lively. and then the whole band began
moving slowly across his path, abou
one hundred yards in front Of him
Pushing on his course lac paid no atten
ton 10 them. until they again %attracte'
his notice 10y the peculiarly of thei
actions The whole band Of abou
one hundred cattle were now il
SHIT. and were e%ircling aroun'
him with steadily increasing speed
II was evident that he was tn
object Of their attention, and he al
tempted to frighten them away b
shouting and waving his arms, bu
these efforts were without avail. .
the contrary. the animals had draw
around him IN a circle, and we're no
approaching nearer and nearer, draw
ing the circle tighter about him ever
moment
He saw that It was practically mpo
sible 20 break through their line an
vet 10 stand there and await their attac
was certain death. Their long, sinai
horns cleaned viciously in the sunligh
CHANGING hastily around, he sougl
some tree or rockt that might oher sou
shelter from their attack But the
was none within reach; nothing Win
that fatal circle to relieve the monotoI
of the shining, slippery grass. The
was no time 10 be lost, for the err
was constantly growing smaller and I
animals becoming more and stn me