Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1899-05-25

| cattle, and particularly one OLD Dull,
called Eel Sacudidor' (the 'thrower' or
'tosserO.
"This bull had killed several horses,
and severely injured two or three
vaqueros; but Don Moreno wouldn't
hear of his being killed and even re-
fused to let them saw off his horns.
This was because the bull was pure
Spanish, like the don, who seemed to
think that miserable, half-breed Next
cans ought to feel highly honored If
real old Spanish bull found any pleas
ure in goring them.
"The animal generally pastured in
certain place at some distance from the
house; yet you never could tell when
he might take fancy to go charging
all over the ranch, attacking everything
that came in his way; for, though bulls
are not always savage, they have crazy
spells, during which they seem to en-
iov doing mischief, and would rather
kill man than not.
'NOne morning l was going through
long, deep ravine-a favorite walk OF
mine-when 1 heard sort of putting
noise, and great rafting of gravel.
Looking up, what should / see but Ell
Sacudidor coming around bend about
80 yards In front of me, head down,
tail up, and evidently just as full OF
upliness as he could hold. Good gra-
cious, what savage brute he lookedi
And what place that was to meet him
inI The walls of the ravine went up
almost perpendicularly, and, being OF
conglomerate-eart and gravel mixed
together-a monkey couldn't have
climbed them, while the path wasn't
more than six feet wide, if as much,
and right in the middle of it the bull
was coming down upon me at a quick
trot.
"Boys, to say that I was frightened
Is nothing. # anybody's hair ever
actually stands on end, mine did then;
and every drop of blood in me seemed
turned into pins and needles, was SO
terrified. I hadn't q weapon OF any
sort. not even a knife-though that
didn't matter, for nothing short OF
heavy rifle would have saved me, and
perhaps that wouldn't.
Fortunately, had sufficient pres
ence of mind left not to run. 1 stood
my ground, and thus gained few sec
onds, for Ell Sacudidor stopped short
on seeing me, and began believing and
tearing up the ground with his fEprns,
while he tried to make out what l was.
"You see he was not accustomed to
the sight of man on foot. and very
likely had never seen one before, which
slightly puzzled and made him doubt
full as to how he should act If had
been on horseback, he wouldn't have
wasted much time in accommodating.
81 tell you, fellows, he was most
ferocious-looking beast, with his red
eyes, great nostrils, and horns sharp as
spears, with the foam hanging from
his mouth in long ropes. The bulls we
have east are no more like him than a
house cat is like Bengal tiger.
"To see those horns dig up the hard
earth as if it had been cheese, and to
think that in another minute they
would be coming down on me like an
express train. with hundreds of pounds
IF solid flesh to push them along, was
something cant attempt to make you
realize. It twas simply horrible!
"suS2lly the bull threw up his tail,
.aysd Sud below and sprang forward
"; horns almost touching the
shut my eyes and given up all
en something struck me in tie
n moose of a lasso. Looking up,
FED bio Moreno checking his horse
Ahe, very brink OF the bank above,
I hat the animals feet crumbled
the lasso under your armsl
huickV screamed Pablo.
Gesture told me what to do, and
close to the wall, I passed the
found my shoulders.
II on to it'll called Pablo, and
lawn up into the air just as Ell
dor Numbered beneath me with
of his head which sent one of his
led horns along the sole of my boot,
y ling the tough leather like knife
one instant more Of delay would have
given that horn something softer to cut.
Before the bull could turn about to
attack me again, was sitting safe at
the top beside Pablo, who told me how
I he CHANGED to come to my rescue.
"Having seen El Sacudidor entering
the ravine he had galloped to the edge
TO watch his movements, and looking
over, discovered me.
81 don't believe you'll dispute me,
boys, when say that no one not
trained as he had been could have pos
sblv dared what he did. If he had
stopped single second to think what
plan he should pursue-if he had hest
lated the least bit in the world
should have been, gored to death or
trampled into jelly under the great
brute's hoofs.
"But he did exactly the right thing
exactly in the nick of time, and l was
saved. I had made great mistake in
despising him.
81 told him this, and much more,
when was able to speak again; and on
his side he acknowledged that ne had
often envied me what knew. So, with
out any particular agreement, we be-
came firm friends, and went to work 10
exchange knowledge.
'eThe result was that before left Los
Pueblos could ride horse, drive cat
tie and throw lasso in what I'm con-
ceited enough to say Is very sllillful
manner, while Pablo picked up Latin,
English and q dozen other things with
most surprising quicl1ness. He soon
found the use Of them, too, for ras-
cally Spectator would have cheated
his father out of half the ranch if Pablo
I /