Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1908-10-09
Copyright. BY shortstory Pub. Coz
BY j. o. FAGAN


At least 800 huge OK wagons
containing more than thousand won
en- and girls. together with a mike,
assemblage of two or three Thousand
Boer horsemen, were gathered togeth
er near Jansen's Mex, in the Komat
district of the Transyaal, to witness!
a remarkable contest between Red
Dirk Uys of Wakkerstrom and Crook
ed Dirk Breydenbach of Komati, ri
walls for the hand of the acknowledged
beauty of the Boer republic.
Al monster church meeting, held {
few days before at Middleburg, the
exciting diversion of voting for the
prettiest girl in the country had dam
pened the usual fervor of the religious
services to marked degree, and
finally, when it was announced that
little Rosie Van Wyk had been elect
ed by handsome majority, the jubi
lation of the contingent from her dis
trict was simply boundless.
But, when later, according to Gus
tom, the maiden nominated a hus-
band and named Crooked" Dirk Brey-
denbach as her choice, much dissatis-
faction was expressed by a number of
disappointed rivals. Privileged by
the rules of the competition. one of
these ambitious young fellows, Dirk
Uys of Wakkerstrom, surnamed the
Red on account of his fiery dispo-
sition, Immediately challenged the for
tunate winner and called upon him to
uphold his claim and prove his man
hood and horsemanship by competing
in the celebrated contest known all
over the country as Heading the Os
trich.' But if the disgruntled and hot
headed youngster had any idea that
little Dirk Breydenbach would tamely
surrender his beautiful bride he was
much mistaken.
Dirk, it is true, was small, and had
a bad figure, but nevertheless, he was
one of the most popular young Beers
in the Komati, and for very good rea-
sons, too. When a mere boy he had
made for himself glorious record
by. successfully defending a party of
women and children during a night
raid by an impi of murderous Kaffirs,
and his deformity was the result of a
wound received on that occasion. He
was not only brave but amiable, quiet
and unobtrusiye, and universally be
loved for his cheerful disposition
From childhood his name had been
coupled with that of Rosie Van Wyk,
and "a the boy grew up his sweet
heart seemed 10 think less of his de-
formity and more and more of his
sterling character and of his renown
as the cleverest horseman and hunter
in all the wide, game-covered
Consequently, when it became
known that his right to marry
the girl who had chosen him
had been challenged by an upstart
from another district. universal inter
est and much Indignation were
aroused. and the Beers of the Komati
were outspoken in behalf of their
favorite.
A well-known ostrich hunter was
busy for nearly week arranging the
details of the contest. Fortunately,
he found an ostrich nest in a splendid
situation. The next morning. he gal |
loped suddenly upon the scene, where !
upon the male bird which was acting |
as sentinel, rushed at top speed away |
from the nest, hoping in this way to !
deceive the hunter and draw him /
away from the group of females /
crouching in the grass among the
eggs.
The Boer chased the bird vigorous
ly for some distance. and then retired /
from the pursuit as if beaten. On [
three successive mornings the hun
ter played the same trick, and the /
ostrich. satisfied with the success of
its tactics. took exactly the same
course. almost stride for stride, on
each subsequent occasion.
Having made certain of the birds
exact course. the old hunter sent
notice far and wide that on the fol-
lowing Saturday morning magniti
cent male ostrich-"a terrific runner"
he wrote-would be started from the
northwest corner of Hans Bothas
farm. The blrd, the Duiietln Sald,
wonld run to the edge of the plateau.
then down through Jansen's Mex and
out over Prinsloos flats as far as
spruit, where. baking at
the running water and afraid to
cross it. as the ostrich invariably is.
ne would swerve suddenly and sharp
II to the right. and take course as
straight as an arrow to the westward.
The eventful morning came All
lorsemen and wagoners wee warned
o keep well to one side and leave
he course to the rival horsemen. The
.uIes of the contest itself were very
simple The rivals We're permitted to
axe any position they chose ahead
# the bird, and await its approach.
,ut were required to keep at least
90 yards 10 the right of the expect Z
d route. to give the bird plenty of