River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1894-05-31


When it fully dawned on my be
numbed brain that ] was not bitten.
gave one wild, joyous whoop. and then
broke out into a series of Indian wells.
lea ned forward, or rather fell. on my
horses neck and began TO laugh, and
r03red in a drunken way until ! was
almost exhausted, as the reaction from,
as I supposed. almost immediate death
to life on the prairies, and horseback,
was almost too mu ch happiness for my
shattered nerves.
/ very soon got into an argument
with myself I seemed to be two fell
lows The sober lieuten ant was say
ing to the lieutenant who was drunk
something TO this effect: ''You are a
oretty fellow. you are: scared TO death
because pieces of the stone broke of
when you drove the picket-pin in the
ground, struck your hand. and made
the blood come, but you ought to-be
court-martialed for eowardice:" and II
suppose you think You Dug ht to nave a
brevet for this days work Pretty soon
you will fall on your horse and lose
your hair
die out feeling of pathos crept over
me wanted TO weep. and felt re
ligiOus. IL had had friendly breast
on which to lay my head. I think
could have sObbed with pleasure. But
my horse would allow no fooling of
that kind about his neck; consequently
was forced TO sit up" and did not
enjoy myself as much as one who had
suffered so greatly ought to have done.
A few miles farther brought me close
to some pOlcs, within five or six miles
of the post. and discovered there was
a small flock of wild geese on them
thought perhaps I was near enough &c
my normal condition to get the better
of goose, so ] rode off to the right
(wesu of the road, dismounted with
some difficulty and made my horse
fast to some volcanic rocks: but had
not gone far towards the geese before
discovered that he seemed very much
excited, and was dashing about from
side to side and straining hard at the
lariat. | knew there was some unusual
cause for this, so l turned about and
watched. In a few minutes three or
70 the west, showed themselves for a
second and then disappeared. The sur
face of the ground between me and
these men was rough. ana although
there was no timber. a party, with
care, could have approached me with
out attracting attention under ordi-
nary circumstances; but fortunately
looked in their direction just in time,
for. when the nature of the ground
compelled them ~ show themselves
again. they were much nearer, and on
their third appearance were still
nearer. and evidently trying TO get be
tween me and M horse.
WAITED for no further developments,
but returned to my impatient ard
frightened horse as rapidly as possible.
/ knew the men were either Mexicuns
or Indians, and from their manner of
riding l thought they were Indians; il
so, should be on horseback, as | could
then fight or run away. whichever
should prove 10 be best
lost no time in unfasteniug my
horse and putting up the lariat and
making an attempt to mount For some
minutes IL was only an attempt, for
Just as soon as raised my foot to put
il in the stirrup he would give a plunge
and try to be off /. however. garh-
cred the reins up short and tight in the
left hand. and at the same time grasped
a portion of the name with the same
hand, threw my right hand (which
held the rifle and arm well over the
saddle. quickly placed my left foot in
the stirrup. and made a quick spring
and threw my right leg over the cantle.
but failed to take an upright position.
as the horse gave a bound forward at
the same time | made the spring TO
mount, which left me hanging on his
side like a monkey who was trying TO
dodge the whip of the ''ring-master'
on the other side With me hanging in
this ungraceful position my horse went
laundering across the plain TO he east,
in the direction of the road. as il Old
Nick was after him, and it was a run
of nearly quarter of a mile before |
got into the saddle. If had been in a
circus ring and had performed such a
feat of riding on my horses side,
would have brought down The house. -
AS soon as got well into the saddle
regained control of the horse and
brought him down to a walk. and al
most Immediately was in the road lead
ing TO the post. Looking back. ! saw
the men occupying the position had
just left.
had had what one might call "a full
day'' ] had ridden over thirty miles,
been bitten, as | supposed. by rattle
snake, got drunk and sober, was at the
point of death and had recovered. and
all this within twelve hours Of the same
day.
! rode quietly to my quarters dis
mounted. sent my horse to the stable,
and went to bed, feeling thankful that
! had back and a comfortable place
TO put limited Service Magazine.