The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1900-03-15


foot slipped. He made a couple of quick
steps to recover his balance. He more
than recovered it, He threw it the other
way and fell backward at full length
between the cattle '".E.-r e.:
Hollis struggles to rise probably
frightened the cattle even more than his
fall had done. They heaved and surged
frantically to clear themselves of their
burden, and in an instant had opened a
space between them through which
Hollis dropped with a scream that !
heard, distant as was, far above the
noise of the cattle and the shouting
Then the space closed over his head
Not for moment did 1 suppose that
should again see Hollis alive-not once
in thousand such occurrences would !
have had an opportunity. AS it was, by
a miracle of good fortune, he came up
near the heads of the cattle between
which he had fallen. I saw his hand
clutching at a horn. The head to which
the horn belonged beloved and tossed
in its efforts to free itself. Twice it
broke his hold, and twice Hollis reap
peared, grasping for his life at the
nearest support. ;
Spider instantly turned his horse and
spurred straight into the press of cattle
striking and shouting and trying to
scatter it. Only on the edge of the herd
did he succeed. The rest of the cattle
were packed too closely, and there was
not time for them to move Still spur
ring, Spider snatched his lariat from
where it hung on his saddle, closing the
loop in order to increase its length. He
swung it and cast. The rope fell fair
and true across the neck of the steer to
which Hollis was clinging Hollis grasp
ed it instantly.
The cattle heaved and pushed as they
felt the strain of the frightened line over
their backs. Spider tried desperately to
bring the end of his lariat to the saddle
horn, where he could secure it, but he
was forced away by the cattle until the
rope would not reach Then the cattle
slack afforded by this movement, and
opening the loop with one hand, tried
to get it over his head and shoulders.
lie me have It'll shrieked Spider.
lie me have the slack--I can't get the;
rope t. the horn less you do. i cam t:
pull TOUT with jus my han Lee me
have it-qnick!'' s'5:@. II.
Hollis strained the rope harder than
ever: Though he could not get the loop
over his shoulders, he did get one arm
through, and then, clutching the lariat
in his hand, he jerked the line danger
ously as he struggled to rise between
the cattle.
'*Slack off till en- fast the roper
called Spider despairingly TT can't
hol ter my saddle else
The rope was strained until it sung
like a harp string. With a quick turn
CT his wrist Spider wrapped the end of
the lariat around his hand and held on
with all the strength of his tough little
body. Clinging to the horn with his left
hand, he was dragged farther and far
Their out of his saddle. Finally his hold
on the horn was broken, his pony dashed
riderless up the bank, while Spider
hung by the rope, counterbalanced by
Hollis at the other end
''Let go!' roared to him as pushed
my horses down the bank in order to
attempt the assistance that I knew l.
could not give. 'Let go the line and
get out while you can! Don't you see
they re closing around you? Let go!''
Spider heard and shook his head. He
had no intention whatever Of letting
go. Dragged upward by Hollis superior
weight, he was hanging with his feet
just touching the water. In spite of his
desperate hold the lariat was slipping
through Spiders hands. His face was
getting white under it's tan, but his
teeth were set and still he held fast.
''Let go! Let go, now!" l called
again. Spider did not let go, and then
it was too late. A bunch of cattle, con-
fused by the stir, that were numbering
aimlessly about, crowded against him
and hemmed him in. AS 1 rode drew
my pistol and fired three shots in rapid
succession. It is a distress signal that
is universally known, and if it was
heard it could not fail to bring the men
back to Spiders aid ..4..
For moment no one answered.
There was no time for an answer. But
I did not realize that then. I rode at
the cattle and fired three more shots
this time straight into them, and three
Of them rolled over into the muddy wa
ter. I was SO close that I could not
mise. and i would cheerfully have sacri-
feed the whole herd just then if it
would have helped Spider out. But my
pistol was empty, and all could do
was to try, with the able assistance Of
the little bay mare I rode, to scatter
the cattle that held him into the herd.
Indeed the mare did far more than I in
theeminute that followed. Seeming to
realize . the situation, she plunged,
kicked and even bit as she tried to force
her way.
The press got thicker and thicker.
The little mare could only struggle
family against it. was quite close to
Spider now, but might as well have
been mile away, for could not reach
him. caught sight of his red head
only once. The rest Of the time could