The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1899-06-22


road!
Our hired men came running to the
scene, but they were powerless in the
premises-no one of them having the
least inclination to penetrate that
thundercloud, or ''head it off, from
whatever direction it might happen to
take.
Just then the old stage coach, which
ran regularly past our place. made it's
appearance around curve of the high
way. and was jogging along toward the
river, when the driver suddenly drew
rein.
He knew our old thoroughbred by
reputation, and governed his conduct
accordingly. The inside passengers,
startled by the bovine thunder, craned
their necks out of the stage windows
to get a view of the road ahead.
The bull had at first started to 60
toward the bridge, attracted, no doubt,
by the bellowings of his old enemy
over the river. which in the meantime
we could distinctly hear.
1t seemed as if Mr.. Wilson's Jersey
must know that something unusual
had taken place on our side, for the
sounds indicated that he had come to
the road fence, although the height of
the land about the bridge prevented us
from seeing him.
The attention of the Holstein, how
ever, was for the moment engrossed by
the stage; and he began to move to-
ward it. bringing his dust cloud with
him, and stopping at every yard or two
to paw, with a power that sent show
ers of gravel stones into the adjoining
fields.
Had the case been less serious, a spec
tator might have laughed to see the
driver wheel his four-horse team-an
operation favored as well by the width
of the road as by the slowness of the
bulls movements.
The stage ratified back around the
curve and out of sight, while his boz
vine majesty stared after it as if won
dering how it had vanished.
Then for few minutes he again be-
took himself to the task of scraping the
highway; but presently, with head
erect, he started off toward the bridge,
believing in one unbroken peal as he
went.
| The cause of this decided movement
was at once apparent, and it was with
startled feelings that we recognized
what had taken place.
The believing from the other side
of the river was getting nearer. A
cloud of dust showed itself on that side
of the bridge. Mr.. Wilson's big Jersey
was out! A moment more and we could
see his short horns and strong back un-
der the sand and gravel that he was
throwing into the air.
It was right in the middle Of the
bridge that the two powerful creatures
met. We heard their horns clash to-
gether and their struggling hoofs grind
the planks. Both heads were lowered
and both sinewy frames were pushing
with all their might.
It was such an exhibition of strength
as I have never seen equaled. Those
thick, short necks seemed made of solid
iron.
For a time it seemed as if neither
would be able to obtain any advantage
over his antagonist, but at length the
Jersey was forced to stop slowly back
although still disputing the ground
with many desperate rally to recover
what was lost.
| Presently, while the two furious com
batants were braced agaisst each other
4 L a. 1,o Aau 1,cn ~ hS
inferior bull struck the old, rotten rail.
ing of the bridge, and we heard it crack
loudly.
The Holstein was pushing with tre
mcndous vigor; the Jersey lost another
foot of grouid, and there was no chance
for him to regain it. Cash! went thu
old wood behind him; and sheer of thu
bridge, and down into the river, tum
bled rail. bull and all.
OF course the attention of the specta
tors was fixed upon the vanquished an
imal, in some anxiety for his safety
But he did not seem to be injured in thu
least. Turning his broad, curly from
toward his pasture, he swan strongly
for the shore. only some 80 yards dis
tant, and quickly scrambled up thu
bank.
In the meantime the Holstein re
manned upon the bridge. For SOM
: minutes he stood motionless, exactl.
, in the position he had occupied whel
his enemy disappeared. His head wa
down, at charge bayonet" depres
: sion and his tail remained lifted just a
it had been in the fight. He seeme'
J but the figure of bull cut in blacl
: and white marble.
The catastrophe was evidently be
I yond his comprehension. What had be
come of his adversary. who was so sud
denly and SO unaccountably gone?
Presently he began to back straigh
across the bridge, taking up one foe
: after another very slowly, and occasion
3 ally paving the planks with his for
: hoof. Back, back, back he stepped. a
e the while in an attitude of sullen d.