Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1900-03-02
RlplNe A nuckINe MulE
A "Punchers" Adventure From the
indian Territory.


indian Territory.
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 Irdl-
an Territory, and whose blood is part
" Indian. "Only the Master Shall
Praise" Is its title; and one OF its
scenes is a description of a ride on d
bueking mule.
Out of knot Of excited men Hammer
went straight to the waiting, restless
mule. With a mock air of brayado, he
struck the excited mule across e
flank with his sombrero, after roughly
seizing the reins. No one who has not
learned by experience how to mount
plunglng horse can understand how
Hammer lifted himself out of the chaos
of rearing mule and struggling aiten-
dants into the saddle before he 81 ned
to the men to turn the animal loose.
When the mule found itself free to
act there was a mOmentary pause.
rhen began the short nasty jumps
straight into the air, with the anina's
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, but then began the twisting
series which is the second eXpedlent Of
bucking animal. A jump high into
the air. with seemingly impossible
twist to the side, landed the mule with
its head turned almost half round Be
fore the rider caught his breath an
other jump and another half-turn were
made. These are the motions that
make a brOnco-buster's 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
vet 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
ties aud Hammer thwacked its sweaty
neck with his open hand. The next
motion was a sudden rearing by the
mule. AS 1t rose on its hind legs, the
rider yanked iercely 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 a moment before it 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 n rae
ing yacht. Hammer brought his craft
about before it sailed into the fence,
and beat it fore and aft with flour
ishing hand. He was wild with tri-
umph now, his hair blowing in the
wind. He leaned forward as in a 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 a
four-barred gate. At the opposite side
| of the track no fence barred its way
and it ran, frightened and quiverina
under the awning of a lemonade-ven.
| der's stand scattering glasses and con
| fections to the Winds and wreckine
| the stand. Hammer slowly dismOunted
| stroked the sweaty flank of the sub
| dued mule then turning and picking
| up an unbroken bottle of soda, pro
posed a toast ''to our gentle old fani
| ly-buggy hossP