The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1900-01-26
RIDING A RUcKINa MULE.
A "Puncher's" Adventure From the
Indian Territory.

HioidH iSTFttOTJs
The Century Magazines prize for the
best short story submitted by college
student has been awarded to John
NJ. Oskison of Leland Stanford
University. whose home is in the Indi-
an Territory, and whose blood is part
ly Indian. only the Master Shall
Praise" is its title; and one of its
scenes is description of n ride en-
bucking mule.
Out of knot OF excited men Hammer
went straight to tine waiting, restless
mule. With mock air of bravado, he
struck the excited mule across tie
flank with his sombrero, after roughly
seizing the reins. No one who has not
learned by experience how to mount
n plunging horse can understand how
Hammer lifted himself out of the chaos
of rearing mule and struggling atten-
dants into the saddle before he signed
to the men to turn the animal loose.
When the mule found itself free to
act there was a mOmentary pause.
Then hegan the short, nasty jumps
straight into the air. with the animals
back bowed, its legs stiff, and its head
lowered. 1t was the first powerful eff
fort of the angered beast, made with
devilish confidence. Hammer was
scarcely shaken by these first straight
jumps, hut then began the twisting
series which is the second expedient Of
a bucking animal A jump high into
the air, with seemingly impossible
twist TO the side, landed the mule with
oil hol
fore the rider caught his breath an
other jump and another halfturn were
made. These are the motions that
make bronco busters life shorter.
Hammer was bleeding at the nose in
half minute. The twisting jumps
were continued until the strength of
the mule was almost exhausted and as
yet only the hat of the puncher had
been dislodged. A short pause followed
placed upon the paper-covered plate
during which the mule changed its tao
tics aud Hammer thwacked its sweaty
neck with his open hand. The next
motion was sudden rearing by the
mule. AS 1t rose on its hind legs, the
rider yanked fiercely on the reins, and,
slipping to the ground on one side al
lowed the brute to fall on its back
The saddle horn buried itself in the
earth. and the mules hoofs beat the
air moment before ii scrambled to its
feet.
Hammer was cooler than the mule
now. and swung himself back into the
saddle with the first long leap of the
desperate animal. This was the easy
part of the trial for the rider. and the
spectacular part for the world. The
mule ran straight away for the oppo-
site fence of the fairgrounds with
long, lunging jumps. rising and pitch
ing forward with the speed of rae
ing yacht. Hammer brought his craft
about before it sailed into the fence,
and beat it fore and aft with a -four
ishing hand. He was wild with tri-
umph now, his hair blowing in the
wind. He leaned forward as in n race,
urging the thoroughly tired and con-
quered mule straight for the crowd. A
particularly vicious dig with the spurs
made the beast plunge into the scatter
ing knot of spectators and rise to
four-bared gate. At the opposite side
of the track no fence barred its way,
and it ran, frightened and Quivering
under the awning of a lemonade-ven-
der's stand, scattering glasses and con
fectiOnS to the winds, and wrecking
the stand Hammer slowly diSmounted,
stroked the Sweaty flank of the sub
ducd mule. then turning and picking
up al unhroken bottle of soda, pro-
posed a toast ito our gentle old fami-
ly-buggy hoss!'