Ypsilanti sentinel. [volume] (Ypsilanti, Washtenaw Co., Mich.) 1843-1900, 1845-05-07

the wind over the plain, on my frantic steed--while
the mischevous rangers comforted me with the
assurance that we should probably catch up with
him in "day or two''! However, he came into
camp towards night, with the horse swelering IN
foam, and nea rly exhausted BY of some ten
miles and back: and assured me that he was 'muy
0ouno'-very good that is he had stood this ire.
menduous race without falling dead IN his tracks,
which constitutes the Mexican standard of excel
lence! was eager to mount him myself next
morning, for l did not fancy having his wind bro
ken by the Mexican process of training, and was
incauliously approaching him without paying any
attention to the guides reiterated "nadd! ndda!"
when he suddenly threw out his heels with such
devilish earnest that they ca,tered together just
above my forehead and reminded me that discre-
ton was the better part &C., as far as he was con-
cerned, yet awhile. | turned off with high feel
ing of indignation at this ungrateul reception of
my kindly intentions, and consigned him over to
the tender mercies of the Mexican, with the petu-
liant and unnecessary Injunction to kill him or
drive that devil out of himl'' have often thought
/ that the horse must have understood this cruel
speech and bided his time to avenge himself right
royalty, and no did it too, you will presently see!
| Our westward march was now resumed. We
soon recovered that careless buoyancy which had
night. The scenery was glorious, the air was de.
liciously fresh and bracing, the Doc and his po
ny irresistaby comic, and The grouse were soon
startled, wbirring up from their grassy couch, by
the joyous bursts of tameless merriment. That
same Doctor, and his better half on four legs was
enough to keep many in roar. ! say better part,
for Poney was as self-opiuonaied as he was cross
grained, and scarcely mile passed tina, he and
his rider did not have some misunderstanding to
settle, 10 the fihai adjustment of which "bob tail"
generally had the best Oft On the slightest mat
ter offence being given, he would stop and bite at
the Doctors short legs, when he of course would
jerk them back suddenly to avoid the suap his arm
ed heels would prick the poney's flank, who would
spring forward with several quick successive vaults
which would sadly dscomode his riders equillbr-
um; and not unfreq uently, he kept them up with
such rapidly, that the light round personalities of
the Doctor, after flying ascension over his head,
would plumb into the grass; but as that happened
to be very thick and the ground very soft. nothing
worse would come of it than sharp jolt which
the Doctor avered with most ndomitabe good
humor, assisted his digestion! POney never SEEM
ed to FEEL at liberty to desert his friend after he
had demonstrated his affection in this curious fash
ion. but stood perfectly still. aud with demdre
repentant look took the kick which the Doctor
always favored him with, before remountng.
have laughed till my sides ached at this quaint
couple. The Doctor was the strangest compound
of simplicity and humor that can be conceived.
The Rangers were most of them gentlemen, in
breeding at least, So that the days of our travel
gded by delightfully."-, enlivened by peasantries,
and tales of curious adventure, to which l was
a most untiring listener. | had in the meantime
received my horse at the hands of the Mexican,
and was very well pleased with his behavior.
| The character of the scenery was now entirely
changed. Ii had been agreaby diversified before
but now we had stretched around us 10 the hori
ION, the faigueing monolony of dead level, ster-
lie plain. covered with coarse thin grass, with only
once in fifteen or twenty miles. clump of stuned
bushes to relieve the eye. At last however, Just
as we were beginning 10 be excessively bored by
this, dim broken line doomed in the distance be-
lore US like great bank of cloud and this TO our
great relief was announced to be the San Saba
Hills Now said the little Doctor, who had been
looking somewhat dsconsoate. but who brighten
ed up when he heard this snow for the bear steaks!
and warn you. Gehtemen. that shall win the
first that eaten with this same spear of mine.
which has been the subject of much sport among
you all; you need not laugh, shall confound you
before night And saying this he plum
ged his spurs Into the sides of bob tail with such
unwonied energy, tina, he, feeling himself insued,
commenced series of capricomgs even more vi
vacious and complicated than usual, and persever.
ed in them with such determination that after a
hard struggle, the Doctor was fairly snlnmerseted
bear spear and all, amidst roar of laughter. He
got nimby to his feet again. dealt two kicks, this
time with little more zeal than usual and remouu-
ted.
By night we could clearly distinguish the differ
ent knobs and the shaded valleys between them.
We camped in high spirits, for no traces had yet
been discovered OF Indians, and we were near
enough the hills to reach them in time to begin
our sport in the morning. ,-
i Bright and early we were under way-our
arms all overhauIed. and in fine order, and with
keen appeiites for the rough work before US. As
we neared the hills, they presented singular feat
ures. They rose directly and abruptly from the
level of the plain we had been traversng. 1t
seemed to be succession of ridges marked ou'
like an army of Titans upon the meadows-the
lowest in front-risng higher and higher as the
eye traced each line back till it grew up into the
clouds; and from our level could look into the
deep, cool, green valleys that went winding among
them Those i'm front were nv no means DrecIDl