The Spanish Fork press. [volume] (Spanish Fork, Utah) 1902-current, 1906-01-11

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free him from the pillow, mount and
ride away from the donkey to place
OF safety; but whea l reached the |
horse the donkey was not ten yards
away, and instead of trying to free
Gray I tried to drive back Jack by |
pelting him with clods. But clods |
were not severe enough to turn his |
course. On he came, openmouthed, |
and attacked my horse. Donkeys do
not often use their feet in fighting |
but seize their antagonist with their
teeth.
Seeing could not drive the donkey
away with clods. I ran to the neigh
boring fence, took off large rail,
balanced it upon my shoulder and
then ran against the donkey with all
my force, guiding the rail so that
the end would strike him in the side.
But the struggles of the horse and
the nimble movements of Jack render
ed this ponderous weapon almost inef->
fective.
Old Gray became entangled in his
harness and fell to the earth. Jack
dropped upon his knees and secured
a better hold upon his throat.
again tried my rail, but Jack only lay
down fiat, shut his eyes and contin-
ued choking poor old Gray. ! had
good pocket-knife, and thought OF try
| ing to sever the large artery In the
donkeys neck, but l feared fathers
displeasure, for the donkey was of
much greater value than the horse
Gray was struggling feebly and
breathing hoarsely, and l knew that
his time was short unless something
was done to relieve him; so ! drew
my knife, and instead Of striking to
kill, gashed Jack across the nose.
| The blood collected in his nostrils.
| He snorted, released the horse, and
with savage bray leaped at me.
avoided his teeth as best / could
and used my knife with deadly in
tent, but he soon tripped me down,
and seizing me savagely by the chest,
tore away my clothing and inflicted
slight wound.
I regained my feet and fought des-
perately but was soon thrown down
again. This time the donkey knelt
upon me, and selling the fieshy por-
ton of my right shoulder, crushed 1t
between his powerful jaws. 1t was
the ram with which | had used the
knife, so l was now PROSTATE and
weaponless, at the mercy of the en-
ragged brute.
Though | had called for Trusty and
True at the first sight of the donkey
in the field, and at intervals during his
assault upon the horse, they had not
been in sight when last looked for
them. Now I loudly called again, but
could not see anything, for my eyes
were filled with blood from the wounds
my knife had made in the donkey
head. was fast losing my strength,
but was savagely beating the donkey
with my able hand.
Suddenly seemed to have Knocked
him completely from my body, and UP
sat, blinded by dust and blood
There was the sound OF a struggle
near me; but could not realize what
had occurred until l heard Trusty's
attacking "whoof!" Thank heaven!
my dogs had come. 1t was the feet.
err True's silent assault that had driv.
en- the donkey from my PROSTATE
form, and Trusty's one bluff bark an
nounced his later arrival.
| cleared my eyes till could see
the combat. Jack was on his feet
doing his best to escape the dogs
He seemed to have lost his courage
His muffled braying had ceased, and
he was trying to return to the stable
lot. The dogs threw him again and
again; but he was large and strong
and would rise, shake them loose and
rush onward.
Trusty fell behind in the race, and
trying to seize Jacks heels, received
him upon the earth. l thought him
dead, and while l followed the donk
ey l called off True.
AS the donkey entered the lot
closed the gate, which had been open
ed in some unaccountable way, anG
then looking toward my horse, | saw
, him up and dragging the plow across
the field
, Grieving over poor Trusty's fate
. l went to the horse, and freeing hin
from the plow, mounted him and rode
toward home. But before ! got out
/ of sight of the stable lot | heard
Trusty's savage "whoof!" and behold
the dogs were again in battle with
the donkey!
, Trusty, having been only stunned
I had rallied, pursued his enemy, ant
joined by his brother, was fighting az
an angry bulldog will. l rode in gal
I. lop to the lot, and with some trouble
beat off the dogs and took them will
me to the house.
Mother tainted when she saw m,
torn and bloody clothing, but l wal
not much hurt,--only one, severe bite
!, and revived her and soon calmet
! her fears. Then l went out to exam
, inc old Gray and Trusty before
, dressed my own wounds.
. Neither OF them was seriously in
jured, and we were all soon wei
again; but poor old Jack almost starv
, ed before he could use his lacerate,