The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-11-11
A BATTLE ON THE PLAINS.
The Mighty Bull Defeated by the
Goats Generai.hfp.


capital accsunt Of a battle ksetseen q
bull spartacas. The king of .ua plains.
ana goat called 'sGhe General" The
conflict ~ thus described;
The General was !B 4 thoughtful mood,
as usual. and chewea obviously the
tough end OF & weed while a.s head Vas
coes@d wisely against tie breeze. or tGe
brow OF the Knoll, however he seemed 10
become conscious thai something OF IN
terest was taking place The plain ana
all the things upon 81 Re regarded Critic
ally from the corner Of his eye. Ills man
ner was serious, like that Of Few over
seer. Eis beard rose ard feis TeffectlFeIy.
nn'u re was given the expression az
sage
he had hesitated. and vas gazing with
curiosity at this small thing which had
come so uBcsFemonloussy upon MIS- VISION.
IL was not unlikely that he had never
80 every mile OF the grass laals. from
the BFazos 70 the Guadalupe ranges.
u was probable that creature o. this
Kind had never be or. crossed his pc tn.
Again fs started up the slant. and again
Re came TO a halt looking IN asEOuisil-
rnent at the beast before him The Gen
ersi, on the summit az the knoll tilted
ais head at a now angie. and looked ever
80 wise. SpagtacuS ruaFed softly. switch
Ing hts tail. and Mccormick suddenly
t@und himself aa outside party - al en-
baFrass.ng piece OF business. Some dis
lance away b. assumed q respectful at
'ttusia. with his chin in his hands. Spar
tacus rToa,rr,i again sulieuly. Perhaps Il
was the bcard that puzzled him 50.
Then he advanced slowly, believing,
His head swung lower IN the dust, and
his great hoof at intervals paved the
trail. Hitting the earth In thick clouds,
which Rtoserpd on has back, covering
the red and white spots. Whatever tbs
thing was-this beast with a beard ne
would aunihlate it Suddenly the Cen
erai stood on his rear feet, oleatiug Ike
q young bully unable longer tn restrain
himself Then he waitZed of al an
angle, and doubling sharply from a new
quarter. came plump against the big
brute side with the force OF n hattering
ram. We saw the King starger. and
heard Immediately his deep below 81
rage, then the battle was on with d swift
ness that seemed u take the power Of
motion from US. y gasp from the giant,
a cry from Hiubbins and myself and We
we're rigid with interest.
The General approached his adversary
at angles and from eli sides. In a man.
ner rapid and ingenious he eyaded the
rushes Of the King. who charged him re-
peatediy. believing and sweeping up the
earth I'm his frenzy. single thrust of
the horns would end the business. hut the
little beast seemed al ways In a safe place
lie wheeled and lodged in innumerabIe
circles and squares, calculating his time
10 a second. and al intervals went in and
established his forehead in the enemys
flank The sound, when he did this was
like a blow on an empty barrel And the
bun would below again furiously. and II
heap, so thick was the dust which rose
IN heavy rolling banks. choking the air
like fog until We could see hut dimly
the comb3tanta, catching family the red
CLEAN Of the Kings eyes. The General
seemed everywhere ia the comm oEiou
wheeling and lodging and keeling away
IN manner so rapid as to b. h. wilder
ing. and when lac landed on the King Ire
rebound was a. though ne were an on
iect Of India rubber. IL tented and fnu-
ed and countered with the certainty NJ
otte following planned line Of battle
There WAS ge0eralship and science Ola his
side. ana numbering OyeT~COnfidenCe on
tn. part 81 the bull. who finding his
great strength Of so little Importance. he
came disturbed In mind. ana 81 consc-
que1ce awkward His hluges were rairi-
Gus bat iil-flfned and the General lodged
IN q manner sp scientific as 10 nh US with
wonder. Again and again would the built
sweep at him. believing only 10 swing
into space. and in the same instant feel
the weight ot hi9 enemy against his ribs
Jhoss repeated bumps we're as violent a
the blows OF A Sledgc. They began 10 tel
upon him. Their unceasiag regularity be-
came fn"notonous His horns raked the
earth In fury, bat with less decisi Ver,ess
Unable 80 inspire terror In his autaE0n-
5@t- IT enraged him 50 THAT his ruShes
ranc hlindly- The General gave 10 sign
Of weakening In this tempest ri war ha
Was as fresh and unrufhpd AS when on
loNing froite with the calves nj dawn
He grew zeaiously aggressive. lest his
share Of the excitement should lag. SPAR
t3Cus hn8lIN grew tired. HIS body SWAY
al uncertainty through the dust clouds
and occasionally we gilmpsod the end of
his steAminc red tongue IN desperation
however. be waged the combat urtfl
presently the Generai took Ms persistence
ns 81 personal Irritation. ard doubling into
a ball, hurtied himself with the Velocity
IF meteor against the Kings betty
Tine below of the bull waa charged t. =
sruot "a this happened. bur H. @uiricl
hcro.caliy in a wofd .. white riust which
asd Tor moment the motions ~ tn com
Hitt From ont 81 the turiuit there CA me
the sound al a succession ~ thumpS
rapid and regular. H4d pair II lmmrrs,
hefns ami "a massive duSt-1ovtFcsi body
einerEed intu thu clear air and swung ~
faded gait over the plain
W looked after him until he tatl.st
hair az his hack had dropped behind
knoll and III the silence oT the prairie
were left u contemplate one another IA
the dust at conflict lifted. thu General
could h seen Inspecting the vegetation
along the siesr
We looked af BIN stupidity
View" v3ie iS,ubhius after "a rario1
with something like awe tn MS voice
The slant 1ncrpesi his brow
And seCh "a Gtnrc.sl.'' said Ire "Rslly-
| he'd ma deet"