Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1907-05-15

his revolver, he. struck the mustang
q quick, light blow on bhe Vulnerable
protuberance Just back OF the ear.
Pinto settled down into 4 loose heap
on the trail, and the rider saved him.
self from being crushed against the
wall by leaping lightly to a standing
position on the saddle.
1t was the same as raising his hand
against a grandfather, Gotta declared.
thus to strike down the venerable
friend who had helped to raise his
family; but-The narrator. with the
odd facial and shoulder contortion Of
the Mexicans, depicted hisi horror OF
the yawning abyss below and the ne.
cessity OF immediate, desperate action
with a vividness that required no am
plification. Gotta had been careful not
to kill the mustang, and his care add.
ed still another to the perils that
crowded upon him. For Pinto imme.
diately showed that he was not quite
stunned, and his master barely es.
u = a a.
capped being pitched over the cliff
as he leaped astride the struggling
animals head, and with two quick
turns a wooden scarf bound the eyes
tightly. Once blinded, Pinto sub.
sided Into a quiyering heap, and the
Mexican assured himself that he
would make no further move, even
I II the bear should approach and de.
your him.
During the travellers fracas with
his animals the pig-brained foe had
shuffled of about half of fifty yards
that had at first separated them, and
he was now bearing down on the
horse and rider with eager ferocity.
Only year before Gotta had been
clawed by a grizzly, and had solemn,
;ly vowed never again to attack one
of the dangerous brutes. But on this
occasion 1t was different, far different
and here the Mexican recapitulafed
the fox-trotting, brush.eating excel.
lences5 OF the ebest horse in Mexico, n
No, he could not leave him: he would
rather fight grizzly.
Turning to reach his rifle from the
horn OF the saddle he was confound.
ed by finding it jammed firmly against
the rock wall. There was nothing for
1t but to get the gun out or to 7f1ee,
Gotta, true to an Interchangeable deter.
imination, risked a plunge over the
precipice on the belief that q Next
;can-trained mustang inyariablv lies
motionless when bjindfoldod po,anc
ing himself warily. he stepped I'M OF,
his auivering MONT took Arm foot
ing on the saddle and wrenched and
tugged like mad nntil ha- a. last snc,.
ceeded IN extricating the flrearm.
With hasty glance to assure him.
self that the weapon was In working
order. he clambered hack ovar pinto,s
r,,mn and made Stand against tba
grizzly
But when he raised the tr,stv RIA
for a shot. he fonnd bis heart nnlsat,
ing with thnmn, .+hnnnI +hnnnt
that Jared him All over whila N.
hands shook like tho stremn,ons 7Ieoyo.
of the cottonwood 81 affacted was
he by the strain Of hard lifting IN a
high altitude that as Gotta declared
he could not have snatterad tho ant
NAL. steer-sized though Il was with
a shotgun Several lines IN he ne, ~,
the Mexican had faced death without
a moments cessation Of clear think.
ing. but this last comn1icat,on nm
neryed him. and nointinp bis wahbl;nr
gun in the direction 81 TIC erizzly
he opened Are
To add to his confusion the s,,o,,a
lifted slnreishlv Ont IN tba ana ,,,s ,,e