The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1826-10-26
[lyCssaes

our path across the prairie. I
had often seen great numbers If
them brfnre. mixed with other
inimals, apparentl, quiet, and grax-
ing like tle rest. Here there we're
thousands nmnixrd. nnefnnJtsrd !;
their molipns. il such compression
might be allowed. as dartiyg AID ~
wild as those of hummiuy. birds on
the ilowcrs--Fhe tremen,Io,s snprfs
with whiellt the front columns II tho
palanx made known their approach
to us.srcmfd 10 Lctbrir Wild X ener-
getic way ri expressing their pity
and disdam for the scr,ilc lot of
our horses. OF which they appeared
to be taking a survey. They were
oi all colonrs. mixed, spotted. aud
diversified with c.cfs hue from the
brightest White to clear aud SHINING
black sand Of every form aud siruc-
tnrc. from the long AMI SLENDER
racer. to these Of ilrtncr linbs and
heavier rotfl,l ;aad Of al. ages, from
The cnr'eting colt to the range oc
patriarchal stec IS. drawn mp IN Il
line. ard holding their high heads
fora survey of rs, IN the roar.
Sometimes thry carved their ncrke,
and made no more pr bgress lIni
just enough TO keep pace With our
advance. fhenll,crc was IA kiud Of
slow and walking mi,Iiel, IN witch
they performed various esouti1ns
with tile precision Of The lisures IL
n conn,ly dance. Tliea a rapid
movement shifted the front To tic
rear. But still. In All their e.aIn-
tons and movements. like Tie Hight
of sea-f0wl. their lines Mere regn..
lar. and Tree from all Indications of
c0nfIaion.--At times II spontaneous
aud sudden movement towards M,
almost inspired The apprehension III
an united attack upon us. AlrrM
momcnts advance, u short II IA
pid retrogadp movement seemed 10
testify their proud estimate III il,cir
wild independence. Tho ini,alle
variety Of their rapid mavrment-.
Their Happenings. and mane i,sfps
We're OF such wild * almosl terri
tic character. that i. required bit u
moderate street II nf fancy 10 snppaso
them The 81 il eltncsc grass. plains.
AZ one pfftd liey we're formed Tor
an immense delth ~ trout ~ ~. A
wiiccl, exreaied almost with he rl-
pldity Of thought, presented them
h9,cring pn our haoks. Then, a.
gam. the cloud Of ,lnsl hal enseln-
ped their movements cleared away.
aud presented them in oar rear.
they eti,leatly operated rs ii great
annoyance II HE nprses and inules
IpI oar casaacade. Me Irrigated
movemenfs.iln Increased indtiaiions
Of fatigue, srilielrnriy evincrd. with
their frequent nriglDgs, what uu-
pleasant neig,bors they considered
their Wild conipairiols 10 be. So
much did our horses appear 10 suf-
Ter from fatigue and Terror IL, ton
sequence nt their yIrinily. hat NO
we're tllinkllg Of so,nn way In which
10 drive them oii, wIfen on Sudden
a patieut md laborious donkey of
the establishments. who appeared 10
have regarded all their ma, elnenta
with philosaphic indifference. prick
ed az his long ears, and gave In.d
and must sonor0us bray from lis w.
cal shells. Instantly the prodigioaa
multitude. and there were thousands
OF them, took whatt Spalisi, cail
the .stompade.' Will, IL trxinpl,ng
like the noise of thunder, o. still
more like that ot M earthquake, q
noise that was absolutcl, appalling,
they took to their heels, and We're all
10 few moments invisible In the
tverdaut depths Of the plains, and
We SAW them no more