The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1901-07-06

more away, was a line of long horns
the horizon. al. -
Mr.. Darling's knees shook. He had.
heard the stories of the viciousness OF
Texas cattle in stampede and he real
lied their danger. He looked around.
Not tree Or fence in sight. s
I'VE are lost said Sylvia. 1--WE can
not get away "
q Let's rum quavered Mr.. Darling.
They would soon overtake us, :
sobbed Sylvia. I'VE cannot escape. Z
"A shout ringing across the prairies
from behind them caused them to turn
A horse urged. to its greatest speed
was coming down the, swell toward
them. "Tom," screamed Sylvia.
Come" and she ran to meet him, fol-
lowed by her companion.
Tom reined in his horse and flung
himself from the saddle.
"Quick,' said he to Darling. Cup
with you,'' and he helped him into the
saddle. Then seizings Sylvia, he lifted
her up behind her escort. ride for
the ranch,' he said, "and don't spare
the horse. You'll be all right =
s.But you, Tom?' screamed Sylvia. =
Never mind me-" was the reply, and
giving the horse a cut with his whip
he started the animal with his double
burden bounding across the s prairie.
Only for short distance, however, for
Sylvia, reaching around her compan-
ion, seized the reins and bringing the
horse almost to a standstill, slipped to
the ground.
'I'll not leave Tom," she cried.
Mr.. Darling hesitated for an instant.
chen loosening the reins, the horse
tore across the prairie like. mad.
Tom drew his revolver and took aim
at his rival but he did not fire After
an instant's hesitation he returned his
weapon to his belt and said to Sylvia,
who had run up to him.
keep cool and We'll come clear
Their position was dangerous one
but Tom knew his business. They
were in sort of valley between two
vast swells of the prairie. At the bot
tom Of this valley ran a Slough" a
wide boggy strip of land showing oc-
casional pools of water, but made up
mainly Of stiff, wiry mud, several feet
bunch grass They were but twenty
PAGES from this slough, and coming
toward them on the other side Of it
was the vast drove of cattle thunder
ing down the hill with a tread that
shook the earth.
Stand behind me" yelled Tom in
SylVia's ear as he took his stand fac
ing the slough and the approaching
herd. She obeyed him.
The first line of animals rushed into
the slough. Of these but few succeed
ed in crossing. They sunk to their
bodies in the mud. Those behind,
urged on by the weight of the herd,
tumbled over them in every direction.
Soon the slough was bridged by their
sinking bodies and the first animal
succeeded in getting across almost op-.
posite Tom and Sylvia. Toms pistol.
cracked and the animal rolled over.
dead Another and another till the
six barrels Of his revolver had piled up
a barricade of six struggling steers in
front Of them. Five seconds fitted the.
empty cylinder with cartridges, and
getting closer to the barricade, Tom
continued his deadly work.
A dozen dead q dying steers were.
NOW piled up in front Of them, and
1.-The herd, dividing at this point, passed
by on either side.
Tom continued Shooting at intervals
and the gap in which they stood grew
wider and wider. Finally the last
steer passed by and 3disap ppeared over