The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1896-07-11

! ''''N
with his horns. His white head was so far
advanced beside the rock that he did not
see bod coming around from the other side
kept his attention, and it surprised the
beast prodigiously when bod, with yell,
| suddenly gripped him by the tail from
around the rock and whacked him with the
rod butt
He jumped forward and in a moment
was swimming out past me; so close, in
deed, that | was obliged to scramble lively
to get back around the rock and out of his
way.
"Hooray. can steer him now" were
the !st words | heard from bod, as |
cIambeie ed upon the rock. Then | saw that
h" was holding fast to the bulls tail with
one hand and thrashing him with the rod
butt in the other. He could actually steer
the brute, now that the animal was SWIM
ming; and never shall forget the spectacle
as they headed out into the pond.
The bull was forging away like a side
wheeler, his white forehead and horns car.
iicd well up out of water; while Dod with
only his head out of the water, was holding
on, and with every few plunges getting in
blow with the rod.
They swan out rapidly for fifty Or sixty
yards. The bull then seemed frightened,
and stopped short. bod pounded him
awhile, and then shouted to me to see how
easily he could steer him; and he really did
pull him half around. The animal, how
ever would swim no more.
Presently bod let go his tail and got
astride the bulls back.
''HoOray!' he shouted to me. "Don't
you want IA ride? Swim off, if you do, and
90 bullback with mel"
You had better come ashore" | called
back TO him. ''He may get you under
him."
He can't do it, replied bod, and he
can not go ashore unless let him."
Now that bod was on his back, the bull
was compelled to exert himself to keep his
head out of water He swan around in
circle. If he headed for the shore bod
would slide off behind seize him by the
tail and turn him around
stood on the rock and laughed They
swan up and down for five or ten minutes,
when the bull sank quite suddenly. 1t
frightened bod, and he struck out for the
rock with the rod butt in his mouth Be.
fore he had quite reached the rock | saw
the bulls white head rise again
Free from his prosecutor, old whitehead
now headed for the shore. and called out
to bod that the bull was up again He
turned. treading water, and after watching
him moment struck out diagonally and
attempted to head the beast off But the
bull made for projecting point below the
mouth of the brook, which he succeeded in
reaching.
When his fore hoofs touched bottom he
dragged himself heavily out of the pond
and at once sought to lie down. He was
completely exhausted. bod was close upon
him, and dashing out of the water seized
the distressed brute by the tail again
Water was running from the bulls nos
trils, and he had no more than enough
strength to stagger up into the pasture.
bod laid heavy blows on his sides, yelling
like wild Indian.
Up and down the pasture they coulsed,
old Duke nearly falling at every step, and
anxious now only to escape. At last he
beloved pitifully and lay down. Blows
failed to get him up again.
bod left him and came down to the rock
for his clothes. | had laughed until l could
laugh no more.
Il don't believe he will bother us again, -
said he, as he sat and picked the thistles
from his feet ~ wish the Batchelders had
seen me ride him in the pondn'
The Murchson boys were naturally much
interested in our account of Dod's adven-
ture, and they agreed with us that the bull
would be very unlikely to attack bod.
Two days afterward seven or eight of us
approached the pasture fence and shouted.
True to his nature, old Duke began to
below and paw, and advance toward the
fence, apparently as belligerent as ever.
"lou didn't scare him to last, guess, y
Ben said.
wait here a minuten' exclaimed bod.
Going back among the bushes, he took off
all his clothes except his shoes, cut a large,
green stick, and then suddenly hoped over
the fence with loud yell Old Duke
stopped paving, looked at bod for an in
slant, then bawled out suddenly, wheeled
around, and putting up his tail, ran as if
pack of wolves were after him.
bod gave chase, and whenever he could
come up with the beast or corner him, he
struck him, yelling all the while. | never
saw so heavy an an animal run so nimbly
or display such terror.
The boys screamed with laughter, some
of them rolling on the ground in merri.
ment, Still bod went on chasing and
failing the bull round and about, up and
down the pasture, more than dozen times
At last Alfred Batchelder heard the uproar,
and came to the top of the hill to see what