New Ulm review., 1901-09-11
That Persistent Bull.

/ When was stock rider in New Zea.
i land, was once chased by an infuriat.
ed bull. made for fence, but before
4 getting over it fell into a ditch that /
had not noticed. The bull followed me
and stood glaring down on me. My
position was most ignoble one. l
dared not try to regain an upright po-
sition, for on the slightest movement
the bulls horns were threateningly low
cred toward me. I tried by shouting
at him to drive him away, but as that
only produced renewal on his part of
the attempt to get at me with his horns
I was soon obliged to desist.
had often heard of the power Of the
human eye to overawe savage animals,
and fixed my eyes upon him in man
ner that thought ought to have the
desired effect. But either this power
has been overrated or the circumstances
were not favorable, for the bull regard
ed my efforts with perfect contempt.
Finally / made up my mind to remain
quite still, in the hope that he would
soon get tired and go and leave me, but
the bull was pertinaeious bull and
had evidently made up his mind to see
the affair out. Ny position was every
moment getting more irksome, and, be-
sides, it was humiliating in the ex-
treme, fact of which the bull seemed
perfectly aware, for he regarded me
with contemptuous look that was
very provoking.
/ However, there was nothing to do
but remain where was till something
occurred to relieve me Of the animals
presence / should be missed at the
station before morning, and the worst
that could happen was that l might
have to remain as l was all night, when
some of the men would be sure to come
and relieve me.
There are few things l cannot make
/ up my mind to when know they are
/ inevitable, and, though not a pleasant
4 alternative, soon made up mine to
| this. l even made an attempt to go off
to sleep, when, to my discomfort, it be.
gan to rain. This was decidedly un-
pleasant, but was getting reckless.
"Oh, yes,'' I exclaimed in satiricai
tone, "rain by all means, do.'' And it
| did.
My attention was now called to the
behavior of the bull. He began to sniff
the air, paving the ground and tossing
up his head in asmanner expressive of
triumph and demoniac joy. This look
ed like bearing malice, and to mortify
the brute endeavored to appear as if
| found the rain rather pleasant and
refreshing than otherwise. But 1 did
4 the noble animal an injustice He was
above any petty feeling of qualification
at my mere physical discomfort, for he
knew that the rain would place me in
his power.
1t was some time before could real
ize this fact. The ditch was beginning
to fill with water, and my discomfort
was becoming intense. But looked as
cheerful as could in order to deceive
the bull. Suddenly 1t flashed upon me
J that the ditch would soon be full of
water. and that must either remain
at the bottom and be drowned or come
out and fall a victim to my enemy.
| To say that this discovery filed me
with dismay is but feebly to express
my feelings. turned my eyes despair
ingly to the sky. There was no COM
fort there. The dull, leaden hue which
it presented showed that there was no
chance of the rain abating. had been
in some desperate and disagreeable sit
uations during my life, but they all
, appeared easy and agreeable in COM
parison with this. What was to do?
The ditch was filling up rapidly, and
the question demanded an Immediate
solution. A dozen wild and impossible
projects flashed through my brain; but.
after all, there was but one thing to be
done.
must face the bull.
looked up at him.
He was waiting for me.
| He was paving the ground inpa-
tiently. his tail was erect, his head
slightly lowered, and there was a wild
look in his eye that was appalling.
1 My heart sank within me. But there
was no help for it. 81 must screw zny
courage up to the sticking point"
said. And / smiled grimly and with
some self admiration at this mild and
harmless but, alas. obvious witticism.
What welcome sound is that which
meets my ear?
"Coo-o-ey, coo-o-eyw shrill, clear and
distinct and at no great distance.
! "Coo-o-ey, coo-o-eyp' respond at the
utmost stretch of my voice.
The next moment have sprung
from the ditch. the bull has charged
me. He has missed. and have caught
hold Of his tail. Round and round we
go, / holding on with desperation and
he vainly striving to get at me. But
two horsemen suddenly appear upon
| the scene. There is a great deal Of
] shouting and imprecations; the bull re.
ceives three or four heavy blows upon
the head with loaded whip, and in a
few minutes he lies bleeding upon the
ground.
An hour afterward am snug in the
Il l.. - l. IL