The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1897-09-17
dust and heavy fall, and then the colt

| helpless. Down went the bars again,
and the three chosen men rushed in.
Two at once sat down in firm and un-
concerned manner upon the head OF the
fallen one, while Joe and Ezekiel Yates
proceeded to strap upon his back
saddle and bride, brought in by the lat
ter. This operation was delicate one,
for the PROSTATE colt struggled and
lashed out desperately. But the men
seemed utterly Indifferent to the pros
pect of being kicked into eternity, and
accomplished their work in a very few
minutes. Joe frightened his belt.
"Git, boys!"
Away they went, scurrying across
the corral and through the gate like
rabbits to a hole, the mare having
trotted out before this of her own ac-
cord.
l watched Joe breathlessly. The
broncho, free now of lasso and men. lay
still moment, then raised his head and
sneezed. Two seconds passed; he did
not move. but sneezed again. Was he
hurt? Not he. Now, with a sound
| like the scream of maniac, he leaped
| to his feet in one bound and spun
around open-mouthed to find the man,
and seize him in his teeth. But Joe was
raised by the colts quick movement had
subsides we saw him firmly planted in
the saddle. as if he meant to stay.
Ezekiel rejoined me now, and laid
hand upon my shoulder.
Yer have 'em before we, lad. Two
devils. Which is the stickiest? All,
ah-h! bet on the man this time"
l cannot give just idea in pen and
ink of the excitement of the scene.
The little horse, with a wild eye and a
big head. was now fiend incarnate. He
was not trying to rid himself of his
rider SO much as to destroy him. His
eyes glowed like live Goals, and a inter-
vals he repeated his shrill scream of
rage-a challenge to the man. His first
movement when he felt the pressure of
Joe's limbs was to rear erect, and at
tempt to throw himself backward. A
blow between the ears with the butt
end Of a quirt (MeXican riding whip
brought him quickly down again. Then
he arched his back like an angry cat,
gathered his feet under him and "let
fly"-as 1 never saw horse buck be-
fore or since. The strain upon the
girths of the saddle was tremendous,
but they were new and bore it well,
while the rider, resting lightly in his
stirrups, held his balance with beau
tiful skill and GOODNESS, and throughout
every twist and turn and jump of the
broncho kept a firm grip upon the
bride, which he wound round the horn
of the saddle as sailors secure rope
to belaying-pn. The bucking con-
tinued without respite for several min
utes. and ended by the horse rearing
second time. and in this instance over
balancing himself and failing heavily
backward.
'Trick number one" muttered Eze-
lliel. in grim whisper, while shud-
dered and cried out. expecting to see
Joe crushed by the fall. He had slipped
aside in time. however. and was on his
feet in a moment. The colt was unhurt
also. and, rolling over the ground, set
Joe dancing this way and that, to es-
cape his heels. Another moment passed,
and then the broncho was upon hisfeet
again, and for the second time the man
just saved his life by extreme agility.
More kicking now ensued, andclouds of
dust rose up which made it very difficult
to see exactly what was happening.
All at once heard Ezekiel give an ex-
clamation and swear a deep and Wig
orous oath; and presently I saw that
one of the girths. the thinner of the
two. had split across. The dangling
ends ut the broncho's sides seemed to
infuriate him and his leaps and kicks
sensibly increased. Now came sharp
click on either side of me, and Col. Jen-
son spoke.
DRAW, boys. and cover him. We
must not lose another life. Fire when
give the word, every one"
There was a quick movement on the
stable-roof, and ten revolvers flashed
out of their sheaths, and ten fingers
were pressed upon the trigger, waiting
for the word.
1t was a death-struggle now. If there
were flaw in the remaining girth, if
strap or buckle failed, the saddle would
go and Joe be at the broncho's mercy,
unless these pistols did their work in
time. But the girth held gallantly, and
at last the broncho began to tire and
we began to breathe again. could see
Joe clearly now. The signs of battle
had begun to appear. He was one
mass of dirt from top to toe. His right
arm had received deep cash, either
from the colts teeth or heels, and was
smeared with blood from elbow to
wrist. His face was pale and worn, his
head bent wearily, as if he were in
pain; but his eyes were clear and vigil
liant, and he sat the enemy as firmly
as ever. began to hope that the worst
part of the struggle was over, for Joe
had gained a tighter hold upon the
bride and the broncho's head was we'll
drawn in, as if he were yielding to con-
troll. He paced backward, slowly, until
he touched the side of the corral, and
there he stooda moment, panting-as if
exhausted.
This was magnificent, and was just
about to say so to Ezekiel Yates when the
wretched creature threw up his head
with one of his horrid screams, drew
himself together, and bounded forward
at a tearing gallop. The walls of the
corral were six feet high, made of
strong cedar posts planted side by side
in deep trench, stout saplings lashed
| across them with tough raW-hide Was