The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1908-09-10

In the thick skin of the bulls neck.
This was for a moment effective. He
stopped short, beloved furiously, and
tossed up a cloud of dust. She fired
again--and missed. Suddenly. in the
confusion, Just how she never remem-
bered-everything was different The
desperate horse had wheeled not
quite in time. The bull had caught
| him on one horn, a blow glancing but
| deadly. tearing a hideous cash in his
! sides The poor animal sank to its
| knees with a groan. Her face distort-
ed with terror, the cir kicked away
| the stirrup. clutched the saddle-horn
with both hands, and swung to her
! feet. At the same moment her horse
| lurched heavily forward and rolled
| over. The next instant lasso flashed
| before her eyes, and she saw the bull
swerve aside. A reassuring voice
called out to her, and he turned to
see Maxine Gomez making fast the
rope. But she was too frightened to
realize just what had happened.
"Oh, help me over she gasped
| II shall be killed."
i've got him," CALI the man.
Gle is tied fast Wait here. | will
come in and look at Your horse. 1t
seems to be badly hurt
He aismounted and climbed lightly
over the bars.
1T may not die" he said, after ex-
aiming the wound. 'lur 1t will be
quite useless for a lon time Have
you far to go?"
Il am visiting the family of Senior
| Benavente. | am STRANGER here. Can
you lend me some kind of an animal
to carry me home?"
"Assuredly Senorita Ne turned
again to the wounded h @. which lay
passively on it's side, br.lthing heavi-
ly. With several quick slashes the
girth I'll away, and the ran removed
| the saddle.
You must wait littin," he said,
spreading the small blanket on the
ground beside her. until l can get
! your saddle patched up. VIII you
rest here while | work at it?" He
crossed the fence again and presently
returned with the girth strap from his
own saddle. He seated himself on the
ground a short distanC. away, and
set about securing the slender leather
! thongs to the smaller saddle.
The girl, huggine her knees
watched him curiously. After awhile
.he asked: DO you not wonder how
it is that | came to be fighting a bull
in your corral?"
well. Senorita, ! will own that il
does not happen every day His keen
eyes rested on her in a strangely wist.
! full manner. You had "a narrow es.
cape ! came pretty fast when
heard the pistol shots"
The girl Airned her glance for an
| instant toward the wounded horse
and shivered 1T was fairly close.
was never so frightencd i'm all my
| life. Senior Benavente's yaqueros arc
rounding up the stragglers and have
| been on the hills with them every day
( IL IL Sltdl spur io-bdN l''l 'lI' E'l
away. | saw him 90 through a break
in the fence and ! followed, but lost
track of him for awhile i'm the thick
undorbrush by the river Then | heard
your cattle and knew he must have
come over here"
Gomez fingers were sill busy witt
the saddle straps, but his eyes scarce
~ left the fair young face before him
When he had repaired the sad
die Gomez stood mp. Il am going tC
put your saddle on my horse now,
he said. A few moments later he lee
his animal into the corral.
He helped her mount and she gath
| cred up the reins, bca'ning upon him
You will receive your horse to-mor
rOS when We send for the bull
leave for New York in a very few
| days, but ! shall never forget that yOr
saved my life this afternoon; and /
you ever need a friend hope you viii
write to me to the address | will sonC
YOU" She held out her hand. Good
bye."