The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1895-11-22

-1e p 49, = --t - Z - =. = 7 I-f 2 s-1f
By "a silk muller. Then cane the big
overcast, tightly buttoned. 4 wooden
scarf was drawn over my hat and ears,
and, after rolling into the blackboard,
wrapped myself carefully into a horse
blanket and then put on big fur gloves
over a lighter pair of 5ogskin. You
might suppose all this would be enough
to keep me warm. but I tell you there
are not clothes enough made to protect
a man from those prairie winds on an
all day drive in an open vehicle.
After I was arranged to my satisfac-
ton, Jake, the teamster. let 60 the head,
aud in moment had forded theoreek
and was striking southwark on an angl-
/ ing road across the prairie toward the
Smoky Hill river.
Ididn't seem to get any warmer. A
sort Of mist had come up and obseured
the sun, and the wind was sharp and
cutting. Gradually the cold penetrat-
ed layer after layer of my apparel, and
when it reached me it didn't stop there,
but went right on into my very bones.
My feet we're perfectly numb, my fingers
we're entirely beyond the jurisdiction of
my viii. ] shiveEed and shook con
stantly, and my face, all that was visi-
BILE of twas probably ultramarine
blue. But I kept on. There was a Ger
tain bend in the river which Was anx-
ious to see and describe, and it would
take good work to get there and back
in a day.
| passed few houses, and these were
mostly one storied affasrs, roughly built
of the native white stone and tenanted
by a low class of immigrants, known, or
rather unknown to fameas "Rooshians. q"
1t was about IL o'clock when my re-
frigerated self descended the steep bluff
which borders the Smoky Hill river.
The point was aiming for Wasa couple
Of miles to the eastward, down the
stream. Turning off the road, 1 passed
through one of those inventions of
satan, wire gate, drove swiftly over
the crisp buffalo grass along the level
river bottom and in Is minutes more
was just at the desired point. sketch.
ed the bend in the river as carefully as
my benumbed condition would allow,
holding the pencil in my closed fist. One
break that entered the river from the
other side could not see to my salts
faction. I was too conscientious to
guess at it, so began looking for suit
able place to cross.
Now, the Smoky at that point is not
a very formidable river. In summer it
dries up entirely, and in winter its
depth averages not over two OF three
feet. The bed is a stretch of sand a
quarter of mile wide, while of actual
water there is not a third of that width.
It is possible, with care, to cross in
safety at frequent points, especially in
a pasture, where the cattle keep the
sand we'll packed down.
AS 1 skirted the stream, looking for a
place where it was possible to descend
the bank to the river bed itself, I heard
a sound as of the rolling of distant
thunder What could it beY Istopped
and listened. Louder and louder it
grew, a roar and rumble that seemed
to shake the earth. A little swell in the
ground cut off any extended view in
the direction from which had come.
Waiting I listened.
Suddenly on the crest of the swell
outlined against the sky, looking like
giant of its kind, appeared one of those
wild, long horned Texas steers. Seeing
me, he gave a surprised snort, turned
his majestic head aud uttered below
of instruction to his followers, and then,
as if decided that I was not a sufficient
obstacle to cause embarrassment, start
ed on run down the slope toward me.
Then the whole herd came into view
one solid, tossing mass of lowered heads
and waving tails, plunging in the lead
er's wake. There must have been a
thousand of them, but to my excited
Imagination they seemed to darken the
whole horizon, and they we're coming
with an impetus that apparently no
thing could withstand
Certain death stared me in the face.
The river was before me, and at the
point where I stood precipitous bank.
four or FIVE feet high, said as plainly as
a signboard, "NO thorOughfare." Right
in the bend of the stream, as I was, es-
cape seemed impossible. The cattle
were closing in as in a funnel. Their
sharp horns I could already see red
with my blood and could picture to my
self the msngled mass of horse and man
the mad stampede would leave behind.
Chesapeake was by no means unaware
of the danger. With the open bride
which I always used he could see as
much as I, and he began to rear and
plunge, uncertain as l in what direction
safety lay.
Could I divide the living stream,
causing it to pass me as an island? I
had heard Of such things in buffalo
days. Still in my confined position on
the seat of the blackboard, fettered by
nv MANY gsFmeT;tS and sWaSdIad in tha