Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1891-05-01
"A BOVINE DON QUIX0TE,

- W III ANtrAa NAAt AAatF
1t was summer and / was camped
on the Upper Caliente, in New Mexico,
when ] witnessed a continued duel
a combat in two chapters, as it were.
Mountain cattle are a peculiar folk.
They have strange habits, do strange
things, and now and then betray a
strange intelligence not observable in
their lowing cousins on far-off East-
ern farms. l had been riding these
hills for over year, and was well
acquainted with their horned inhabl-
tants- saving the deer-for a square
of forty miles around Especially
were the fathers in this bovine Israel
know to me. All were sober, grave
fellows, Who went heavily though
decorously about, betraying in their
low, rumbling undertones wherewith
they generally accompanied their
walks, as well as in their dignity Of
face, a sence of the cares which rested
on them as leaders Of these mountain
herds.
These cattle have a strong home in
stinct and abide for years, and finally
lay their bones to rest IL Ecme bushy
nook Of the very vale they were born
in. Unless forced by storms or man
kind they seldom travel from their
home, and even then they come
stuTdiIy back as soon as the pressure is
removed. in Illustration Of the com
munlcation which exists between cat
Tic ! one day saw this:
Near my camp a 2-year-old bull had
residence. The bulls are much more
friendly, gentle and intelligent that
the other cattle-story books to the
contrary Notwithstanding and this
young gentleman was quite apet. He
appeared to enjoy the neaTness of my
camp and never went far away
The ponies, tool had tcn-were a
souce OF delight to him, and L have
seen him combing their coats with his
rough tongue for hours, playing, in
deed, the barber, while Tho shamp-
poocd one closed its eyes and dropped
its ahasged head in ecstasy.
One day at noon, while engaged with
coffee pot and frying pan, and busy
Godging the eager philippine fame of
my fire, whicE Tapped out n yard ia
all directions, as the wind was here
ard there, the low, deep note Of some
alien bull came swelling down The val
ley. looked up and saw at Il short
distance an animal Of considerable
size andabopt ) years coming briskly
towards us. This bull was looking for
trouble. lie was not an unusual
character among these mountain
cattle, who now and Then become er-
rant and warlilc, and rove the hills
far ana near, ninging the glare to all
whom they meet, sort Of boTinc Don
Quixotcs.
My bull was in n0wse loath to the
encounter, and, although not half the
size Of the invader, strobe promptly
forth to battle. A bull fight is neither
desperate nor bloody. 1t is more a
trial Of strength and endurance, and
generally is confined to strong, per-
sstent pushing, the pates being in
conjunction 1 suppose, however, this
pushing is only preliminary, and should
it go on until one sunk in exhaustion,
the victor would gore him to death.
did not interfere with the tour
nament, but installing myself as pro-
vost Of the tests, threw down my
warder and commanded the fight to
proceed.
Wen, it did proceed right gallanty,
with the deep Callente as
amphitheater and myself as spectator
and master Of the games. For three
long hours IL went stubhoruly on, with
neither particularly ADVANCED In
the melee the rivals tore up half an
acre Of ground, At times they would
separate to recall their breath and
then to gore and pnsh again with vast
lust and relish. As time went by il
appeared that my champion was
doomed to be worsted He had
neither the weight, age nor strength
of Don Quixote, and it was as if some
STRIPPING had been set to Withstand a
grown and seasoned man. lie how
eyer, discovered failure as soon as l,
and without waiting until he should
be down and helpless, suddenly
separated from his adversary, and,
turning, started across the valley to-
ward the east.
The other did not pursue, and after
Jleepilly regarding his retiring foe for
minute repaired to a spring and
drank, which rather thin potation
he strolled about as IL in survey Of the
province he had won.
i watcked my bull clear across the
valley He kept straighton and never
sweryed nor turned, and climbing tho
mountain disappeared in, the pines
Which grew thick as plush on the
plateau IL impressed me at the time
that he seemed moving on some plan
or scheme for the redemption Of his
borders.