Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1846-02-12


equalling these natural strawberries in beauty and
symmetry. In the morning and evening especially
when surrounded by sort ofight grayish MIST and
with the horizontal beams of the rising or setting
sun cleaning through them, they offer pictures
which il is impossible to get weary of admirng.
Mr. Neal was jovial Kentuckian, and he receiv
ed US with the greatest hospitality, only asking ID
return all the news we could give him from the
States. Ii is difficult to imagine, without having
witnessed IT, the cverish eagerness and curiosity
with which all intelligence from their native coun.
try is sought after and listened to by these dwellers
IN the desert Men, women and children, crowded
round us: and 1t was near sunrise before we could
escape from the enquiries by which we we're over
whelmed, and retire to the beds that had been pre-
pared for us
had not slept very long when | was reused by
our worthy host. lie going out to catch TWEEN
~ or thirty oxen, which wanted for the mar
ket at New Orleans. As the kind of chase which
takes place after these animals is very interesting
and rarely dangerous we accepted the invitation TO
accompany him, and having dressed and breakfast.
ed in all haste, got upon our mustangs and rode off
into the prairie
The party was half dozen strong, consisting of
Mr. Neal, my friend and myself, and three negroes.
What we had 10 do was to drive the cattle which
were grazing on the prairie in herds of from thirty
to fifty head, to the house, and then those which
were selected for the market to be taken with
tue ldSSO anu SSnt OH 10 DtdZOTd.
After riding four or five miles, we came in sight
of drove, splendid animals standing very high,
and of most symmetrical form. The horns ofthese
cattle are of unusual length, aud in the distance
have more the appearance of stays antlers than
bulls horns We approached the herd first to with.
in quarter of mile. They remained quite quiet
We rode round them, and in like manner got in
rear of second and third Drove and then began to
spread out so as to form half circle, and drive
the cattle towards the house.
Hitherto my mustang had behaved exceedingly
well, canterng freely along and not attempting TO
play any tricks | had scarcely however left the
remainder of the party couple of hundred yards,
when the devil by which he was possessed began to
wake up. The mustangs belonging to the panta-
tons were grazing some three quarters of mile
off; and no sooner did my beast catch sight of
them, than he commenced practising every species
Of jump and leap that it is possible for horse to
execute, aud many Of nature so extraordinary
that should have thought that no brute that ever
went on four legs would have been able to accom-
pish them. He SHE'D, reared, pranced leaped
forwards, backwards, and sideways; in Short play
ed such internal FRANKS, that, although practsed
rider, found it no easy matter TO keep my seat.
began heartily to regret that had brought no lasso
with me, which would have tanned him at once, and
that, contrary to Mr. Meals advice had put on my
American bit instead OF Mexican one. Without
these auxiliaries all my Workmanship was useless
The brute galoped like mad creature some FIVE
hundred yards, caring nothing for my efforts TO
stop him; and then finding himself close to the
troop Of mustangs, he stopped suddenly short threw
his head between his iorelegs and his hind feet in
10 the air, with such vicious violence that | was !
pitched clean out of the saddle Before | well |
knew where was, had the satisfaction of seeing |
him put his fOrefeet on the bride, pull bit and bril-
doom out of his mouth and then, with neigh of |
exutatlon sprung into the midst of the herd of mus
tangs.
got out ofthe long grass in a towering passion
One OF the negroes who was nearest to me came
galopiug to my assistance e. begged me TO let
the beast run for awhile, aud when Anthony the |
huntsman, came, would catch him. was
too angry to listen TO reason and ordered him TO
get off his horse, and let me mount. The black
begged and prayed ofme not to ride after the brute;
and Mr.. Neal, who was some distance off, shouted
TO me, as loud as he could for Heavens sake. to
siop-That did not know what 1t was TO chase
Wild horse in Texan prairie and that | must not
fancy myself in the meadows of Louisiana or Flor
ida. paid no attention to all this-I was in too
great rage at the trick the beast had played me,
and, jumping on the negro's horse, galoped away
like mad
My rebellious steed was grazing quietly with his
aud he allowed me TO come within
couple of hundred PAGES of MIN; but Just as | had
prepued the lasso, which fastened TO the
negroes saddebow, he gave start, and galloped off
some distance further, | after him. Again he
made pause, and muuched mouthful of grass
ihon off again for another half mile This time |
hld great hopes Of catching him, for he let me come
within a hundred yards but Just as was creeping
up to him, away he went with one of his shrill
neghs. When | galloped fast he went faster
when rode slowly he slackened his pace. At
least ten times did hecet me approach him within
a couple of hundred yards, without for that being
a bit nearer getting hold Of him. 1t was certainly
high time to desist from such mad chase but
never dreamed of doing so; and, indeed the longer
It lasted the more obstinate got. l rode on after
The beast who let me come nearer and nearer, and
then darted off again with his loud laughing neigh
1t was this Internal neigh that made me so savage
here was something spieul and triumphant in
il, as though the animal knew he was making fool
Of me, and exulted in doing. At last, however,
got so sick of my horse hunt that determined
10 make last trial, and if that failed, to turn back
The runaway had stopped near one OF the Islands
Of trees, and was grazing quite close to its edge
thought II were TO creep round the other side
Of the Island and then steal across it, through the
rees should be able to throw the lasso over his
head, or at any rate, to drive him back to the
house. This plan put in execution-road round
The island, then through it, lasso in hand, and SO
softly as II had been riding over eggs To my
CONSERVATION however on arriving at the edge ofthe
lrees and at the exact spot where, only few min
Ites before, mad seen the mustang grazing, no
signs of him were to be perceived. i made the cir
cult the island, but in vain-the animal had dis
appeared With hearty curse, put spurs TO my
horse, and started off to ride back TO the plantation
Neither the plantation the cattle, nor my com
oanons were visible it is true; but this gave me
no uneaslness. felt sure knew the direction in
which had come, and the island which had lust
eft was one which was visible from the house.