Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-08-21
ONE NIGHT WITH A BULL.
An Adventure That Befell q Man
From the City in the Wilds
of Pennsylvania.

From Round Table.
Summer before last 1 went into the
wilds of Pennsylvania with a friend who
had cabin in the woods. One day. after
we had been at the cabin about two weeks,
my companion had to go to a town a few
miles distant on a business errand, and /
was left alone. I decided to go fishing.
So I dug the bait. put the rod over my
shoulder and started on my way for the
brook where We usually fished.
It was a good three mile walk from the
ca bin, on a path that lay mostly through
the woods. The great beauty of fishing IN
this stream lay in the fact that the pick
erel were SO abundant that very little skill
was required to insure success. In fact
was go successful that / took little or no
note of time. and before l was aware of 1t
the sun was dropping out of sight. So with
my pole and string OF FISH started home
ward. this time avoiding the wood path,
and taking short cut.
After l had walked perhaps mile had
to cross a large field: When halfway
across il I was startled upon being con-
tied hide like that of circus horse. and an
eye whose onlinous glare filed my soul
with dire forebodings. There was not q
tree near strong enough to hold me, and
it was probably thousand feet to the
nearest fence. I discovered that 1 was
close to a small pond. and when l had
neared the edge of the water discovered
a flat-bottaned boat. Into this quickly
tossed the pole and string of fish. and pushed
the craft quickly out. Then / grabbed the
'fence-picket, which was the only thing
|. could find in the boat for an oar. and pad
died to the middle of the pond.
1t was very small pond. and thought
that if the bull should follow it would be
very difficult to keep out Of his reach. !
had thought of poking him in the eye If he
came too close, and OF many other expe-
dients in my fright. He seemed perfectly
satisfied to wait upon the shore, tire me
out. and destroy me at his leisure.
My temporary security seemed to fi!l him
with rage. and fancied that he was often
on the point of disabusing my mind Of any
feeling of absolute safety that 1 might en-
tertain, for he frequently advanced into
the water. and then suddenly retreated as
if from a dread Of the chill. knew that
my companion at the cabin would not
think that 1 was in any kind of danger.
and consequently would not make q search
find me. AS the bull continued to roar there
was straw for me to grasp at: mis- roars
might be heard by the farmer who owned
hir,. and might cause him to think that
But when I realized that 1t was
o'clock and that the farmer had been
sound asleep for an hour. soon abandon
ed all hope of seeing him appear upon the
scene, and of my safe deliverance at his
hands.
felt certain that the bulls intentions
were not of a kindly character, because he
remained upon his feet and never Thought
the water. and thought he was bent upon
capturing me: but after 1 had grasped the
paddle. determined to make the chase as
lively as possible discovered that he only
wanted a drink. When he had slaked his
thirst, 1t seemed to me that he had only
done so to moisten his throat for fresh
effort after the manner of a lecturer. for
he began believing again more furiously
that before. and left no doubt in my mind
relative to his general attitude towards
| me. Still I could stand the below IL
could but escape the horns.
| And 80 the dreary. dismal hours Jagged
| on heavy leaden wings. and the damp.
misty air made me think of malaria. and
| the suilen attitude of the bull upset my
nerves and filed me with a prescieuce of
innumerabie awful things. I don't know
how long sat bent over in the boat with
| my coat collar drawn over my ears. But
do know that finally fell asleep-into
| a sort of dead dreamless sleep-from sheer
exhaustion.
"Hi. therew was the shout heard when
! I first opened my eyes and looked about.
wondering how in the world I could have
fallen asleep in such a situation. Been
| a-bohbin' eels all night out thers?' contin-
ued the farmer. on the bank.
! I was still rubbing my eyes In half
dazed sort of way.
| "Waal" ne replied. with bubbl!nr
hucolc chuckle. you're nice sort OF
/; city chap to get away from hull by
| fioat!n' around out there all night,''
| How else could I get away from him?''
! asked with emphasis.
How else?'' said the farmer, laughing
| it all very hugely, How else? Why. By
walking away from him. of course: didn't
Won see that the crttter is tied fast to a
stake to keep him from gettin' lost?''