Part 7 (1/2)
Dave did as requested, and his face became a study. He was half inclined to laugh, yet, having been brought up in the country, he well knew the seriousness of the situation.
The two automobiles stood side by side, about three yards apart. Between them was a big and angry-looking bull, tramping the ground and snorting viciously. The bull had a chain around his neck, and to the end of this was a small-sized tree stump, which the animal had evidently pulled from the ground in his endeavor to get away from his pasture. The tree stump had become entangled in the wheel of one of the automobiles, and the bull was giving vicious jerks, first one way and then another, causing the machine to ”slew around” in an alarming fas.h.i.+on.
”Sam, we'll have to get him out of there!” cried Dave. ”If we don't he may break that wheel--or do worse.”
”I'm afraid he'll run off with the car!” gasped Sam. He was almost out of breath from running and calling.
By this time the others were coming up. At the sight of the savage bull several of the girls commenced to scream.
”Oh, we'll be killed!”
”Can't somebody drive him away!”
”Look! look! He is dragging one machine into the other!”
”You girls had better keep back,” warned Dave. ”If he breaks loose he may come for you.”
”Oh, Dave, do be careful!” cried Jessie.
”Yes, yes, don't go too close,” added his sister.
”What do you suppose we can do?” questioned the senator's son, as the boys gathered in a group at a little distance, and the girls got behind them.
”If I had a hooked pole I'd soon fix him,” answered Dave.
”How?” asked Phil, who knew little or nothing about bulls.
”See that ring in his nose? I'd hook him in that and then keep him at the end of the pole. That always brings 'em to terms.”
”But we haven't got any hook,” said Ben. ”We might make one, though,” he added.
A small hatchet had been brought along--with which to chop firewood--and securing this the boys quickly cut two slender but strong saplings, and trimmed them of their branches.
”There is a hook in our car,” said Jessie. ”If you could only get that!”
”Don't you try it,” said Ben. ”I've known a bull to leap into a wagon, and this one might leap right into the auto and wreck everything--and hurt you in the bargain.”
”I'll use a tree root for a hook,” said Dave, and quickly found what he wanted, and bound it fast to one of the poles by means of a fis.h.i.+ng line he happened to be carrying.
”Now, Ben, you stand by to prod him, if he gets too rambunctious,” went on Dave, as he handed the second pole to his chum.
”All right,” answered Ben. He, too, had been brought up on a farm, and knew a little about bulls.
The animal had quieted down for a moment, and was grazing on some gra.s.s between the automobiles. But, as the lads approached, he raised his head, pawed with his hoof, and gave a vicious snort.
”He means to fight, Dave!” cried Ben. ”We've got to be on our guard.”
”Oh, do be careful!” cried Belle. To her this beast of the farm looked more terrifying than those she had seen on the ranch.
With great caution Dave approached the bull from one side while Ben approached from the other. The animal snorted again, and lowered his horns. All the girls began to scream.