The San Francisco call., 1896-08-16

fore any search was started on the farm.
Cold, dampness and hunger caused me to
become very drowsy, but tried in every
way to keep from falling asleep, fearful
of losing my hold or of missing any one
that might come near the pasture in search
OF me.
BY and by lights appeared on the
marsh, lanterns moving here and there,
following apparently the line OF the creek
and bay. They must have found my
shoes and stockings on the dixie and sup
posed that l WAS lost in the tide.
All night long sat in the tree, shifting
my position now and then as / became
cramped. All night long my guardian
stood underneath, alert on my slightest
movement. The damp. chill air of early
morning set my teeth chattering, and my
benumbed limbs were almost unable to
keep their place.
Then came the glorious sunrise, and the
awakening of bird and beast. With loud
camorings the crows flew over my head
on their way to the beach in search Of
their morning repast of clans. Mush-
rooms glitsered like little knobs of silver
in the dewy grass. Away in the distance
men were still moving to and fro by the
marsh bank.
Taking off my light blouse, hung it
out on the tree, in the hope that some
keen eye might see the signal. Then
crept cautiously back into my former safe
position beside the trunk; hunger and
sleeplessness had made me so giddy that l
dared not look down, but knew that the
mad creature with red eyes and boiling
tongue was watching my every move
ment.
On, that the men would leave the dixie
and make search of the uplandi Again
and again shouted, but the only answer
was the echo of my own hoarse voice.
Suddenly the bull began eagerly snutfing
the air, then with snort OF rage he
started off to the opposite side of the field
and furiously charged against the fence.
A howl OF terror came from the ad-
Joining pasture. From my perch could
see Robin, the choreboy, flying with
outstretched arms toward home. With
all my strength I shouted his name. He
stopped and looked wildly round in every
direction, but not seeing whence the voice
came he turned and fed. felt sure that
when his story had been related, speedy
relief would come, and 1t was in an incred-
ibly short space of time that large party
of farmhands, headed by father with his
rifle, came hurrying into view.
Their appearance seemed to lash the
bull into a frenzy OF rage. His howis
were terrifying, but well-aimed bullet
laid him dead beside the fence.
1t is needless to describe their delight,
or mine, over the fortunate ending OF such
a night OF anxiety. My shoes and stock
ings had been found on the dixie, and
these. with my tracks on the beach, had
led to the belief that had been caught in
the tide and drowned. The creek and
marsh had been carefully searched in the
hope of finding my body. The weary
searchers were breakfasting, when Robin
burst into the kitchen with his incoherent
story. All started up and uncle, knowing
the calamity he feared had befallen the
BULL called to father to fetch his rifle.
This is the first day that have been
outside since my adventure. Lying here,
in the sunny calm and security of the
farmhouse garden, it seems almost impos-
sible that such events could have hap
pened, but when move my weakness and
nv stiff limbs recall my narrow escape
from death, and I mentally register VOW
for future obedience.
THE END.