The Virginia enterprise., 1900-11-30

the river which I was anxious TO 500 and
describe. and it would take good work
to. get there and back in a day.
L passed few houses, and these were
mostly one-storied affairs, roughly built
Of the native white stone, and tenanted
by a low class of immigrants, known, or
rather unknown to fame as "Rooshians.'
1T was about II o'clock when my re-
frlgerated self descended the steep bluff
which borders the Smoky Hill river The
miles to the eastward, down the stream
Turning, off the road | passed through
one Of those inventions of Satan, a wire
gate, drove swiftly over the crisp buffalo
grass along the level river bottom, and
III hfteen minutes more was just at the
desired point. | sketched the bend in the
river as carefully as my benumbed con-
my closed fist. One break that entered
the river on the other side | could not
see to my satisfaction. l was too con-
sclentlous to guess at it, so began looking
for. suitable place to cross
Now, the Smoky at that point, is not a
very formidable river. In summer it dries
up entirely, and in winter it's depth aver
is a stretch of sand quarter of mile
VIDE. while of actual water there is not
third Of that width. It is possible, with
care, to cross in safety at frequent points.
especially in pasture, where the cattle
keep the sand we'll packed down.
AS I skirted the stream, looking for a
place where it was possible to descend
the bank to the river-bend itself, / heard
a sound as OF the rolling Of distant thun-
listened. Louder and louder it grew. \
roar and rumble that seemed to shake
the earth. \ little swell in the ground
cut off any extended view in the direc-
tion from which l had come, Waiting,
I listened.
Suddenly on the crest Of the swell out
lined against the sky, looking like a giant
OF its kind, appeared one of those wild.
long-horned Texas steers. Seeing me he
gave surprised snort, turned his majes-
TIC head and uttered 4 below OF instruc-
ton to his followers and then. as if de-
clded that l was not Il sufficient Obstac Gle
to cause embarrassment, started on Il
run down the slope straight toward me.
Then the whole herd came into view
one solid, tossing mass Of lowered heads
and waving tails piunging in the lead
thousand Of them, but to my excited
mag gination. they seemed to darken the
whole horizon, and they were coming
with an impetus that apparently nothing
could withstand.
Certain death stared me in the face.
The river was before me, and, at the
point where [ stood. a precpitous bank,
four or five feet high. said as plainly as
a signboard mo thoroughfare" Right
in the bend Of the stream as | was, es-
cape seemed impossible. The cattle were
closing in as in a funnel Their sharp
horns | could already see red with my
blood, and could picture to myself the
mangled mass of horse and man their
mad stampede would leave behind.
Of the danger. With the open bride
much as I, and he began to rear and
plunge. uncertain as | in what direction
safety lay.
Could divide that living stream, caus-
ing 1t to pass me as an island? | had
heard of such things in buffalo days.
Still in my confined position OH the seat
Of the blackboard, fettered by my many
and holding my frightened horse with
one hand, | took off my gloves with my
teeth and drew my reyolver from the
jlitte pocket in the dashboard where |
always carried it-for l sometimes
amused myself popping at jack-rabbits:
My fingers were so stiff with the cold
even this excitement not having warm
Gu HE up-tudl L ucSpdlItu W UelNS dU1e
to pull the trigger.
The leader was almost on me, his horns
lowered, his wicked blazing eyes taking
in this intruding and unfamiliar comb-
nation with a most terrifying effect.
With a supreme effort of will my numb
finger pressed the sensitive trigger.
Bang, the report rung in my ears. Did
hit him? l never knew. Chesapeake,
nervous and excited already, le:ped at
the sound of the pistol like an arrow
from bow. Entirely beyond my control
he flew over the bank with me and into
the icy water. The pistol was thrown
from my hand and l from the vehicle.
l struck face first and went complete
~ under. My, but the water was cold.
1t went to my very marrow. But with
grim determination I held onto the lines.
Not a moment did chesapeake pause, but
plunged through the freezing river, drag
ging in his wake the front wheels and
myself, the remnant of his disintegrated
load, until we reached the sandy shore
opposite. Then, for wonder, he
stopped. Not such a wonder. either, for
to drag by the bit through that soft