The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-01-30
A RIDE FOR LIFE.

q parb OF G1o Day o. y uuuy WAcHo eAiC 1AdoS
are especially high. OF course you all
know something of the high tides and per-
haps of some of the other peculiarities of
This bay, but if you have never been near
it you can't realize its grandeur and
power.
My grandfather's pasture land sloped
down to the flats of the bay, and when the
tide was out, the cattle often wandered
down on to them in search of mussels and
other small shellfsh, but when they would
hear the first low, distant rumble of the
approaching water-for you. can hear 1t
coming before you can see it-they would
run as fast. as they possibly could, and
sometimes would scarcely reach their
pasture when the great wall of water
would have covered the place over which
they had been running.
Well, my grandfather had some very fine
horses, and beautiful colt that was old
enough tc have left behind it its youthful
caperS, was given to me as q birthday
present. What youngster of my age would
not have been proud of gift like that?
certainly was and spent many pleasant
hours riding horseback over the long coun-
try roads. named him Alexander, and
on all my long rides he seemed to be docile
and obedient and in no way inclined to
play tricks.
One day decided to take a ride down
on the flats of the bay for q change and
to be found there. AS I was mounting
Alexander happened to mention the d.
rection of my ride to Pat, my grandfather's
hired man.
''Be ye goin fur down the hatsP' he
asked.
sob, a mile or two" answered.
''Sure, an if was ye, wouldn't be
after a-goin down there wild tibet pony,
thin. Take, Black Bess, because tibet
schmall critter moight play thricks on ye
there an it's moight dangerous, kin
assure We, to be caught whin the toide is
a-comin in, was the answer received.
But laughed good naturally at his
warning. why, Pat,'' said I, "A1exan-
der is as easily managed as can be.
There's no danger. I'll start back before
it's time for the tide to turn and will be
all right, never you fear" And started
off, leaving Pat with a troubled look on
his honest face.
reached there safely, and without the
occurrence of any incident worth mention
ing on the way. The water of the bay
was nowhere in sight, but the fats were
covered in most places with damp, red
sediment of mud which the 6ercely NOV
ing waters had torn up and then left in
part on the fats as they receded from the
land. But in other places the walking
was firm, and had gone at least u miles
down the fats when at last finished fill
ing my basket with specimens of various
kinds of seaweed which 1 intended to
press, meanwhile laughing inWardly at
Pats anxiety.
Alexander, during this time, had been
roaming at will near by on the sand, but
now, as approached him and was about
to lay hold of his bride, he suddenly flung
his heels high in the air and started on
brisk run. was astonished at this freak,
but started efteS him, calling at the Same
time, "Whoa, whoa, Alexander"
Suddenly he stopped as quickly as he
had started, and I hurried up to catch
him, but no sooner had come within two
feet of him than he repeated his former
action.
looked at my watch and found it was
nearly time for the tide to come in. Feel
ing Desperate called to him coaxingly,
then threateningly, and then chased the
frisky colt till felt could scarcely stand,
but each time 1 drew near him, thinking
I had him that time sure, my hopes were
dashed to the ground, while the way he
kicked his heels and shifted tho salt air
seemed to show his appreciation of the sit
uation, and that he was not fatigued at
all by his exercise.
When 1 saw I could not catch him, I
started to walk toward home as fast as my
tired feet would carry me, though knew
very well that, unless help should chance
to arrive by some means, l could not go
far before being overtaken by the PREACHER
Gus water.
I had not gone far when my ear caught
q sound like distant thunder, and 1 felt
my fate was sealed. Alexander was far
ahead of me, and be evidently had heard
the same sound, which must have carried
fright to his stubborn mind, for he COM
menced to gallop at full speed homeward.
1t was no use to call. I tried TO run, but
my feet seemed unable to carry me.
1 had just given up all hope, for the
rumbling was getting louder, when, to my
great joy, saw Black Bess coming swiftly
toward me, with Pat seated on her back.
In an incredibly short time they were
beside me, and 1 was ordered to 'git on. -
Then away we started. We knew it was
short but dreadful race for life.
Once, when looked backward could
| plainly see a great rolling, tumbling mass
| of waters, white with foam, coming swift
| ly shoreward. Soon 1 looked again and
saw it was gaining on US with alarming
rapidity, although the noble steed that
| carried US was straining every muscle, as
| if she realized the danger as well as we
did.
But, thanks to her swiftness of foot, we
! at last gained a safe place upon a small
| rise of land near the pasture, and we knew
| we were safe. 1 watched in a Mortified
way the red, muddy waters as they tum-
bled and foamed and thought how near
had been to being buried by them.
Pat explained that he had felt worried
and had started to find me. Alexander
| was safe and sound at the barn door when
we reached home, but I learned that day
that it is often best to take the advice OF
older and more experienced persons thar
! oil Noll Sc