The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-12-18

heard the sound of horses hoofs, and
presentlyiTeddy and Miss Carnahan
rode up. Unable to speak, pointed TO
the scene among the mounds. Miss
Carnahan nearly fell from her saddle,
and her eyes started Teddy's face
blanched, but his nerves did not desert
him ! saw him measure the distance
with his eye, and look to see if his sad
die girths were all right. Then he
spoke hastily:
There's only one chance, but I'll try
/ it."
There was a bound and a rush, as
/ the bucl1skin flew toward the mounds;
! then we saw Teddy reach down-there
was fash of white, and in another
! second the baby was safe in his arms,
/ and the knowing bronco was carefully
/ picking his way out of the prairie dog
/ village. One chance, Teddy had said
( Yes, that was all, and he had won. If
his horse had stumbled-if he had
missed his grasp of the child, or if she,
frightened at the sound of his APP
proach, had started to run, the result
would have been very different
As we rode thankfully homeward, I
could not help seeing the chances Miss
Carnahan occasionally cast at the fg-
ure of the gallant Teddy, who hurried
on ahead with the child; and / was
glad, for Potter's sake, that Teddy did
not also see them.
But this incident was not the only
one that gave Teddy a chance to raise
himself in everybody's estimation
Fortune is understood to favor the
brave; certainly she favored Teddy,
and that, too, the very next day.
Maj. Carnahan and his daughter,
Potter, Teddy, SUIT and the scribe had
ridden up the creek to see a bunch of
choice cattle; and, having plenty of
time to spare, and wishing to show the
guests some pretty scenery, we extend
ed our trip several miles further
Miss Carnahan and Potter had ridden
up the slope on the right to investigate
some buffalo wallows and Teddy had
fallen behind a bit to rluck some
flowers, when suddenly SUIT started
and listened intently. From the hills
on the east, beyond where Miss Carna-
han and Mr.. Potter were, rumbIing,
rushing sound came, mingled with con-
fused believing.
''Stampede"' gasped Sutley. "Hi-i-i!
Come away, quicl1l' and he motioned
to the couple on the slope, but they did
not see nor hear him We started
toward them, full speed, yelling at the
top Of our voices, just as the head of
the herd of wild, thirsty cattle APP
peared, bearing directly toward the
unconscious couple at the buffalo
wallows. They were coming as only
stampeded cattle can come, and there
were but few seconds of time in which
to escape.
Presently Miss Carnahan heard US
and glanced up, then seemed to call
Potter's attention to the coming cattle
We rode out of the way, noting as we
did so that the engaged couple we're
doing likewise. Then something hap
pened that has cost more lives than
one. Miss Carnahan's horse was STAN
peded'-he baked and fought the bit
but would not stir an inch out of his
tracks, while Potter's, on the contrary,
took the bit in his teeth and tore away
at fearful speed, resisting all his riders
efforts TO hold him.
Miss Carnahan was just out of the
track of the rushing cattle. but every
man of US knew that before we could
reach her side they would be passing
her, and her horse was almost certain
TO dash into the herd. She did not at
tempt TO dismount, but we could see
h. sEa
making every effort to control her
horse, but to NO purpose.
What we had expected happened.
As the stream of cattle Numbered BY
Miss Carnahsn's horse leaped forward,
almost unseatlng her, and raced direct
ly into the edge of the herd, heading
for the thickest part. Then,
while we gazed, too far away to sid,
few across the slope in front
of us, and Teddy, forcing his splendid
buckskin to his top speed, followed the
stampeded horse.
II seemed hours, but it was only a
minute or 80. when it was all over.
Teddy, guiding his horse beautifully,
overlook the gray before he reached
the center of the herd We saw 5iss !
Darnahan look up in response to his
shout, evidently understanding that
she was TO slip her stirrup; we saw /
Teddy reach her and encircle her with
his arm; and, presently, guided by
naster-hand, the buckskin, carrying /
double, gradually worked his way out !
If the crush and to a place of safety /
lot twenty yards from the bank of the /
,reek, where Miss Carnahan's pony |
ind score of cattle were crushed TO
ieath.
1t was a very thankful party that
vent home, carrying Miss Carnahan,
who, of course, tainted promptly when
he danger was over. The major
ripped Teddy's hand in silence, too
much overcome to speak his thanks,
md we embarrassed him frightfullv
With our admiration, the last one of
he party to shake his hand being poor
otter, who, from the top of hill half
mile distant, had seen the whole af-
air, and whose God bless you, Thav-
r." came from the fullness of a re-
ieved heart If any more agonizing
ituation can be conceived for an ador-
ng lover than must have been Potter's,
elplessly watching his sweetheart be-
ng carried to almost certain death, l
ave yet to know it And then, that
light, l heard her tell him. meaniEgly,
hat she despised q coward!
She understood, next day, that he
vas not 10 blame, but the words had
'een said, and other words, too. I
on r l-0Ov- what thaSa latter xUara for Z
eddy probably spoke them as he car
led Miss Carnahan away from the
herd-but 1t is quite certain