Edgar Rice Burroughs

The Girl from Hollywood Edgar Rice Burroughs

THE man bent his lips to hers again, and her arms stole about his neck. The calf, in themeantime, perhaps disgusted by such absurdities, had scampered off to try his brand-new legs again, with the result that he ran into a low bush, turned a somersault, and landed on his back. The mother, still doubtful of the intentions of the newcomers, to whose malevolent presence she may haveattributed the accident, voiced a perturbed low; whereupon there broke from the vicinity of the liveoak a deep note, not unlike the rumbling of distant thunder. The man looked up."I think we'll be going," he said. "The Emperor has issued an ultimatum.""Or a bull, perhaps," Grace suggested, as they walked quickly toward her horse."Awful!" he commented, as he assisted her into the saddle. Then he swung to his own. The Emperor moved majestically toward them, his nose close to the ground. Occasionally hestopped, pawing the earth and throwing dust upon his broad back."Doesn't he look wicked?" cried the girl. "Just look at those eyes!""He's just an old bluffer," replied the man. "However, I'd rather have you in the saddle, for youcan't always be sure just what they'll do. We must call his bluff, though; it would never do to runfrom him-might give him bad habits."He rode toward the advancing animal, breaking into a canter as he drew near the bull, andstriking his booted leg with a quirt."Hi, there, you old reprobate! Beat it!" he cried. The bull stood his ground with lowered head and rumbled threats until the horseman wasalmost upon him; then he turned quickly aside as the rider went past."That's better," remarked Custer, as the girl joined him."You're not a bit afraid of him, are you, Custer? You're not afraid of anything.""Oh, I wouldn't say that," he demurred. "I learned a long time ago that most encounters consistprincipally of bluff. Maybe I've just grown to be a good bluffer. Anyhow, I'm a better bluffer thanthe Emperor. If the rascal had only known it, he could have run me ragged