UNDESERVED WORRIES. 55 



period of his life a cow-puncher in Texas. With his 

 help, we got a patent ring inserted into the animal's 

 nose; and it was almost incredible with what ease and 



absence of bustle Mr. pierced the nose and 



inserted the ring. Of course, the bull did not like 

 the trinket, and grew restive under the pain it inflicted. 



Having snapped a strong chain into the ring, and 

 securely tied an equally strong cord to the same, we 

 let the beast pass quietly out of the stall. By dint 

 of pulling and humouring and driving we got him 

 on to the railway track, along which we had to travel 

 for nearly half a mile. We had chosen a time when, 

 as a rule, there was no train to be expected. Still, 

 the trains, especially the freight trains, run so irregu- 

 larly on the Canadian lines that no reliance could be 

 placed upon precedent — it was quite possible that we 

 might either meet or be overtaken by a train before 

 we covered that critical half-mile. The task before 

 us was one that I had not the slightest relish for. 

 Part of the way along the railway we should be in a 

 deep rock cutting; part of the way on a high narrow 

 embankment, with a sheer drop of twenty feet on both 

 sides. 



Well, as I have said, we got down on to the rail- 

 way track without any serious difficulty; but no sooner 

 did we get clear of the railway station than trouble 

 began. If the cows' escapades in my potato and 

 tomato fields were comparable with a ladylike game of 

 hockey, the game we were now compelled to play was 

 little different from the toughest scrimmage of an 

 American football match. 



The bull would race along for ten yards or so. 

 Then he stood stock-still, and could not be hauled or 



