ch. 2 Stampede

The day fell to dark, and the herd began to feed. It was better to feed at night during the summer, and sleep during the day. It was cooler at night, and easier to get around without getting too hot. The night went along as it almost always did. The herd grazed up the hill, chewing, chatting and taking in a full summer moon. The young moose scampered and scurried. When tired they would lie down for a bit. When they got hot they would wade into a lake, river or creek. Occasionally deer and elk would pass and Deron would watch them come and go, always checking to make sure none had antlers as great as his. They never did. A coyote or two passed, but the herd hardly noticed. A few would glance in the general direction and the young ‘uns would scamper a little closer to the rest of the herd. But really there was no commotion. The moose herd had little to fear. All were in good health, and all were in good humor.

As the night climbed toward day break Deron started his herd toward thicker cover. Here they could spend the day in the shade, hidden from most passer bys. Deron yawned and hollered at his heard.

“Pick up the pace guys! Daylight is coming, and we don’t want to be caught in the heat!” To make his point Deron galloped out ahead to the top of the ridge. He turned to look behind him. The entire herd was a mile behind! Not a single moose had broken stride to keep up with him. They still all had their heads down and were feeding. Deron shook his head, and laughed to himself. What a hungry, lazy bunch. Oh well. It would cost them a little sweat was all. He’d wait for them in the shady trees. He eased off of the ridge into a large patch of aspen.

The sun was just about to crest when Deron lifted his head, and looked toward the flat. He could hear a distinctive rumble. He could smell dust. He watched intently, perking his ears. As the dust neared he could hear mooing. Domestic cows, headed his way.

Deron despised domestic cows. Always allowing men to push them around, telling them where to go, and what to do. And what a dumb lot! He’d seen domestic cows starve to death because they couldn’t cross a barbwire fence. He decided he’d show them who was boss. He’d let them know that Moose were the best animals in the woods.

Deron stood in the path between two large trees, knowing that he would be directly in the cows’ path. He lifted his head high, puffed out his chest, and put on his most stern expression. The only movement he made was to glance toward where the herd should be cresting the ridge. He hoped they’d see this.

It wasn’t long before the first cow came around the bend. Deron began to let out a mighty bellow, but cut it short. Around the bend came maybe two hundred cows and they were coming fast. Deron noticed the spooked look in their eyes, and realized, about the same instant the first cow ran right by him, that he couldn’t hold his ground, not against that many cattle. He turned and began to run in the same direction as the cows.

At first Deron wasn’t too concerned. He ran up behind the first cow that had passed him, and tried to pass her, but he couldn’t. Her big old rump was too hard to get around.

“Excuse me madam!” He yelled, “Excuse me; could I please get around?!”

The stubborn old cow never even looked back, but Deron did, and two hundred cows were quickly gaining ground on him. Tongues hanging, eyes wild, Deron was beginning wonder what in the world must have been chasing them, and his heart began to pound wildly.

With fear building, and now running full speed, (Deron might have been wrong about cattle. They were a lot faster than they looked!”) Deron tried to dart off of the path. The trees and bushes were too thick, and the hill too steep. He’d likely break his neck if he jumped off. His only chance was to keep running.

Deron weighed his options, looking side to side. To his dismay he was now running right in the middle of the herd. Dust and sweat in his eyes, he suddenly saw a widening in the path, and tried to turn to his left and leave the herd. He was making ground, about to be running on his own when suddenly a man on a horse was riding right beside him. Deron startled and darted back to the middle of the herd. Men were the one thing moose had to fear. Deron looked around and saw men on horseback every where. This must have been why the cattle were running.

Suddenly the herd took a left, and started into a small canyon. Deron didn’t want to be here, was afraid, but had no choice but to keep running. The canyon narrowed until the entire herd was running single file. At the end of the canyon Deron could see some sort of a shiny cave. The front of the herd was running into it. “Escape!” Deron thought, as his turn came to enter the cave.

He hit the entrance full speed, but only took a few steps before crashing with a thud into a solid wall of hamburger. The cows couldn’t go any further. He turned to run out, but was smashed by another wall of furry meat. The entrance to the cave snapped shut, and everything turned dark. Deron knew he was in real trouble now.