The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1902-07-03


lusion, and is peculiarly characteristic
Of Australia "
Tor McCurdy drew the crowd back
into its business mood by yelling;
"Coo-ee-ey!"
Hear m, Tome" asked Mcintyre.
Yes; ct the corner.
Thu cali seu',ae3 again and the echo
came lestitaef along the bluff.
"MNVe down a stretch, ans soon's
Fishers line roun's til point n line
off, dash at the beggars out there With
a YELL get 'em frightened, get 'efn on
tn go, an keep 'em at it 'ntil they
call halt on us. Then, look out!"
Carl Fishers squad cantefea Over
the wooden mound, down the rubble
slope at the gap and strung out along
the palisade of the abrupt face Of the
mountain, and then swung ont jaa the
prairie facing the wiraged brumbys
at a fvelV eanter.
McCurdy's men loped leisurely cut
to line off from Fishers end. The
long cavalcade of horsemen then gall
| loped abreast over the HRdUlatlng
plain as quietly As tae aull tiaump OF
the speeding animals would permit
them Ia,
+ When the nearer test Of the gallop-
Ing horses started tae grazing brum-
iayss ai.y. they threw up their heads,
McCurdy knew the time had come.
"Giv'm a dash, whoop, an reuR'=
up ford" he commanded, giving his
own steed more rein, With a terrific
yell the drivers dashed in upoa the
affrightea wild animals; the dogs
rounding the ehas; and turning the
scattering oBes to tie center
The startled horses punched, hud-
died IN uhaeeided confusion, made a
momentary stand, aad then a spas
modic lunge against the whooping yell
lers, who beat against the circling
maze of agitated wild animals to break
the corral, and head out leader for
drive forward.
Burnahy mayer saw a livelier or a
r;,jSiaT piece of work than this reck-
! less charge and manipulation of an
untamed mob of bush horses by these
daring frontiersmen. Men rode around
and fought the sraphing, paving
brutes, fencing hoofs and gnashing
teeth with their stock butts as though
It were athletic play. Finally, Tom
McCurdy and big Bill Lindsay wedged
into the mass, and kneaded through to
the opposite side. when a furious stall
lion gave them chase.
This made an opening. With anoth-
er showing Whoo1, and the furry OF
the big stallion's chase, and the dogs
nagging at their heels, the disconcert-
ed bunch headed o,it after Tom and
the pulsuing steed. The riders in the
rear kept Up a fearful din of yells,
which, with charges and clubbing,
soon stampsded the let toward the
creek.
It vas how a pelEmell chase-heet,
unhampered steeds of nature, against
the hardened weight-bearing hcrses Of
| industry.
Carl Fisher rode at the head Of the
rignt wing, Tom McCurdy and Bill
Lindsay in the lead, while Mcintyre
guided the left, riding wide, in a kind
of a bow, so that the extreme ends
would easily cover the flanks Of the
pursued mob, The drive was held
! we'll in hand. until the creeks was
reached. Here they baked and made
trouble. McCurdy took one ford while
Lindsay took the other. The wild
horses divided also.
AS McCurdy leeped down the Steep
embsnkmeHt; the stallion tore patch
OF hair from his half-brceds tail, and
slued around up the incline, turned at
bay with several others. and gave bat
tie against the high banks, While the
great bulk Of the mob pushed and
crowded themselves into the ravines of
the beaten trail and crossed.
Come ON, lads" McCurdy called
back across the stream; there's nd
time t. divide or stop. Keep tn beg
gars r movin'."
Small punches were abandoned here
and there as they broke through, and
pursuit forced after the main body.
BY good generalshiR; hard riding
and with the aid of dogs the gallopine
bruahys we're rushed up the laps OF
tie muster yard, before they halted
in their eight-mile race across the
prairie into the friendly forest which
they felt sure would shelter them:
So long as this delusion lasted it
lent speed 10 their heels, but when it
was dispelled rhc leaders, feeling the
strong panels of the narrowing wings
of the muster yard, showed disposition
to jib and contest the ground: The
forward ones being blocked by The in.
cfeasing jam, the rear ones were left
to battle. The stockmen pressed for
ward and precipitated the fray by at
tacking the stubborn ones, which were
raridiy worked into m5od for any
sort Of encounter.
IN less than ten minutes from the
first halt and onslaught. terrific Dat:
tie was being fought in which brumby
assaulted and fonght horse and rider
The prairie-bush steeds bit, kicked
stood upon their hind legs and with
their frcat feet paved with a deter
minstion and intelligence which seem
ed human, These We're critical TIMES
which impcrilea the lives Of the at;
tacking party, but nfter an hour o1
this mixed combat, the bulk Of the
fracttouS quadrupeds We're crowded in
70 the stockpen ard safely yarded.
"Ttree hundred and forty-two,' an
nounced Tom McCurdy and he stoot
on his saddle and counted the herd.
Then me company took stock o.
accidents and bruises. Elsas SaWye,
had q fractured thigh; three horse:
were Injured about the neck and shoul
ders. and oae dog-a worthless cur
trampled beyond recovery. Mino1
bruises and sprained limbs made W