The Forrest City times., 1892-02-26
 THE MAVERICK.

Gale Smelling averred that the crea- ture was at least as tall as a giraffe. with horns six feet long and hoofs which left footprints on the sands of time as big as sombrero '1t' was black as the interior of coal mine ct midnight with great eyes which flashed Tightening. Deponent further set forth that .it' charged upon him with more or less impetuosity stam- peding his horse and causing him to use much celerity in gaining access to the upper story of slender, swaying tree where the creature held him prisoner occasionally putting the tree with much gusto thereby causing Gales store-teeth to fall out and mak- ing his head ache.
 The story of the other chap. who claimed to have seen the creature on the same evening. fifteen miles away. did not dove-tail with Mir. SnelIings. According 10 this verac.ous gentle man. who was chief at Jim Harden's ranch. the maverick was quite a we'll behaved animal, although quite un- couth and freakish in appearance. It was very large, with 2 head as big as 8 barrel. and quite as long said the cook, and had big branching horns and fiery eyes. But it was not he said. black. as Smelling claimed. On the contrary. it was red, with white trimmings.
 But nobody seemed to see him by daylight and circumstances were against those who did see, or claimed to have seen him at all.
 One afternoon. however he figured in an incident which held consider able interest for the party of the sec ond part who was no less person than the veteran Hank Barr. Hank, next day. related in muffled tones, through several thicknesses of band- ages, the followin:
 How do I feel? Sa-ay, son. was ye ever kicked by q reel promp' muel. r toyed with by a buzz-saw. r hit by a pile driver? 'Mph! Wy, them's parlor games 'longside O that crooked faced maverick. He ain't no steer; he's a elyfant that's what. Nav. didn't git no good luck at tn brute. He's one O these here experimentation fellers. an don't vase no idle mo- ments sizin' folks up.
 Il was ridin' intuh camp bout snorin' in tn saddle and had jes' come out O that long coule b'tween them low hills ontuh tn crick bottom wen. all of a student Plug ugly shorts an rares up. an somethin' sez 'M-m m m : mf-oo -oo! You bet l wakes up, an here, bout two rod ahead. was tn ole Harry hisself. l reached f'r my gun an tried [ make Plug-ugly stan still, but tn dern gun was twisted in my belt an tn fool hoss was cranky; an tn fust thing knowed, streak O greased lightnin'. with full head O steam. hit me in bout forty six places, an when l come to I was lyin', all skun up with my dainty little feet an laigs a-soakin' in tn cricx. Then pulls tn gun an lets go few times. an you fellers comes out an picks me up. Sa-ayl I'm goin' [ ride in a waggin an kerry Gatlin' gun. after this here epysode.
 But before Hank was we'll enough to attend to business again there was a change in the affairs of the mlverick A few days after Hanks 'epysode Fleming and 1 heard tremendous row among bunch of the boss's blooded cattle, which he always kept near home away from the others. under special supervision. They had been driven in close to the ranch for water that day. for some reason or other. and one of the Flemings and a Mexican cowboy had started back into the hills with them short time since, so they were only mile or so away when we heard the disturbance. and it did not take nsslong to reach the spot
 As we turned a clump of willows and rode out onto the little level near the creek. where Hank had his en- counter with the monstrosity. thrill ing sight met our eyes In a crowded. huddled. terrified mass a bunch of cattle. bawling and snorting were gathered at the upper end of the fiat. and the two boys had their hands full trying to keep them from stampeding. In full view and only a couple of hun dred yards away. Jerry. the bull in whose glossy hide there was a small fortune invested. was engaged in deadly combat with the maverick.
 which had been seen only yesterday, at least twenty miles away.
 It was a magnificent fight Old Jerry had killed several scrub bulls and had much celebrity as strategist and a powerful fighter. but he evident ly had all he could take care of on this occasion. for the monstrosity seemed to be something of fighter himself As we appeared on the scene. the combatants withdrew from each other for a breathing spell. and we had good look at the maverick. He certainly was an odd looking creature. In color he was q curious mottled roan. with large spots Of yell [ lowish- white. His back curved up- ward at point back of the shoulders for several inches and he had long. sinewy legs and great hoofs And such nose. It was something like that of veteran moose. only more exaggerated in its curve. and less ac- centuated by the lower lip. which was not so prominent as the same feature in the moose He was sufficiently homely. however to frighten almost any animal but the redoubtable Jerry. Presently the two gladiators began to walk in circle which gradually diminished as they walked Both were bleeding freely from their