The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1905-02-04
Y v " v Y v U v v
! Pluck, lSomance |
and eAd0enture. |


myself rode out on our wheels to snap
a few pictures of the old Thomas place,
a deserted country house built years
back by a wealthy bachelor. He had
laid out private race track and had
astonished the natives in his day, but
now the house is seldom visited and
the little track is almost forgotten. We
had wheeled along grass-grown road
hunting for the place, when big
bull moose jumped out into the road,
and Kinman thought it would be funny
to scare him by ringing his bell.
The result surpassed expectation.
With one snort Of rage the moose
jumped into the road, and after stamp
ing his sharp hoofs into the turf for
few seconds, sprang toward us. /
picked up the pace set by Kinman, who
was a rod ahead. We each had mar
row rut, burned iron hard by the sun,
and in these we spun along, bending
low to keep our eyes open for obstacles.
We made a turn in the road careening
over to an abominable angle, and then
Strengthened up for the straightaway
stretch. My heart sank as / saw 200
rods ahead that the road led up hill,
with zen country on either side
james, shouted Kinman, under his
left arm, and l caught glimpse of a
big, tumbled down structure cut out in
the skyline.
Il overheard my friend as | felt the
moose almost upon me, and We jumped
our machines for all we were worth.
A spill would cost us ali. The dead
grass hung over the ruts In places so as
TO render our pathways unseen, aud at
any minute / expected to strike a rock
or washout and go down In heap.
ITO the rlghtr screamed Kinman,
letting out kink and jumping his
wheel over a narrow ditch to pass
through an opening in a ragged board
fence.
"Instinctively | followed him, and
before knew II found myself skim
ming along on smooth speedway.
The old race track, painted Kin
man. as we few by the low bushes
THE moose had paused when we
took the field, but now was hot on our
trail. II the roadway was better for
us, so 1t was for him; looking over my
shoulder at the first quarter | saw him
hugging the pole and bearing down like
an express train. Fortunately for us,
we had won some renown as sprinters,
and gripping the handle bars we began
10 show the moose fancy pace. Soon
we were at the opening, but Kinman
cried out, Keep OIL and ] knew wit'ty
out being told, that to take the road
again meant suicide Besides. | think
we both began 10 enjoy the situation a
bit The moose, while doing his best,
tould not catch up with us. although
be held his own nicely. The only ques-
lion was. would our endurance outlast
bis tenacity:
4 don't hear him, i cried, and we
both slowed up.
"Guess he's got enough, gasped
Klnman. wiping the sweat from his
eyes. Then he shrieked, Turn turn"
and | caught the thunder OF hoofs
ahead.
"The moose had turned and had gone
around TO meet us.
Just as he 'comed in sight we swung
about and flew for life. His little trick
nearly succeeded, for his momentum
was SO great that he nearly had us
before we could get back into our old
form. For quarter Of a mile II was
nip and tuck whether be would end the
race or we should get clear. Then he
grew disgusted and losr ground and
we drew away But the fun Of the
thing was gone now He wasn't play
Ing fair His tricky disposition to cut
bases and lay ambuscades made us
sweat with a new fear. and no more
did we try TO draw out Of sight.
He's turned again. warned,
After hinIg cried Kinman, and
wheeling about we caught back until
we caught sight Of his fianks
1T was grimiy humorous, this new
deal, and again did our spirits rise.
Kinman wanted to hoot at the animal.
TO make him more angry, but l OBJ
jected. The moose was matching his
cunning against ours, and just now we
Mtlc OuA-IpihAillS uliits ulu Hot tdIt
to lose the advantage for the sake of
evincing our derIsion But as he cir
cled around and met no bicyclists he
became more enraged He shook his
antlers and woofed' in anger Our
wheels made only a faint burning
sound, as If some one were tearing off
innumerable yards Of cloth Suddenly
the moose paused. plowed up the gravel
and caught sight OF us Quick as a cat
he pivoted, ana away we went again,
this time in the lead
"Then he stopped, and we cautiously
wheeled back to find him. We crept
half way around the track, and yet we
could not hear him. We began TO grow
nervous.
Wonder what he's got up his hoof
n0wr muttered kinman.
Easy, | gasped, he's hiding in the
bushes somewhere.
Just as | said this there was crash.
and the moose was fairly upon us.
Kinman swerved his wheel and kept
dead ah, d, and the moose chased him.
This saved me, as l had time to com
plete my circle and race back. / should
have kept on after my friend and the
enemy, but l was too dazed to think