The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1848-08-19
Issiasgsr.e..a--hip.


Franconi Offered ihem an engagement on
condition that they were good riders, which
Mr.. Catln ASSURED him they were.--"As the
best proof, however. he proposed to bring
out horse, and let one of them try and
show what he coHld do. This we agreed to
at once; and hating told the Indians before
we started that We should make no arrange
ment Cor them there unless they were pleas
ed with i. and Heferred it, they had decided,
on entering the grounds, that the exercises
would be too cooperate and fatiguing to
them, and destructive to their clothes, and
therefore not 70 engage with him. How
ever, the horse tas led into the area. and
placed upon ihf track fer their chariot "a
ces, which is nbrly quarter Of a mile in
circumference; inl, the question being put,
"Who will ridev it waf soon agreed that
Jim should try j FIRST. 'Wal. me try 'em,"
said Jim; ''me fo-ride good, but me try 'em
little" He wS already prepared, with his
shield and quiv.r upon his back, and his
long and shinire lance in his hand. The
horse was held; Iaough with all its training,
it was some TIDE, with its two or three
grooms about before they could get the
frightened creatEe still enough for Jim 10
mount. In the fist effort which they thought
he was making p get on, they were surpris-
cd to find that be was ungirthing the saddle,
and, throwing his buffalo robe across the
animals back, and himself astride, the horse
dashed of at hi highest speed. Jim saw
that the animal was used to the track, and
the course being clear, he leaned forward
and bfandished bis lance, and every time ht
came round and passod US, sounded charge
in the shrill nctis Of the war-whoop. The
riding was ple,slg, and surprised NJ. Fran
conf exceedingly, and, when he thought i
was about time to, stop, he gave his sigma
for jim to pull up; but, seeing no slack &c
The animals pace. aud Jim still brandishine
his weapons ia ,Ee aiS-and sounding tn;
war-whoop i heSpaSsed,he became all al
tionce alarmed Esdge hssiih Of his horse.
\ The lndiansss this time were all in a
roar of laughter, and The old gentleman
, was placing himself and .his men upon tn,
track as jim cameround with uPlilted arms
to try to stop the animals speed, Just find
, ing at that time that Jim had rode in tn,
} true prairie stylss without using the bride
, and which BY hisheglect or it had got on
: Of his reach, whn he would have used i
to pull up. Jim sill dashed by them, bran
dishing his lance @ they came in his way
when they retTeatd and they ran to heat
him off in another place, he there passet
them also, and passed thea and menace'
them again and again as he came round
The alarm Of thelpoor old gentleman 70
the life OF his hore was very conspicuous
and, with additional efforts with his men
/ and little pulling up by Jim, who had a
$ length found the rein, the poor affIighte,
: and halfdead animal was stopped, and jim
: leaping off. waikid to the middle Of tn
area. where We wae in a group, laughin
to the greatest excess at the fun. The poo
) horse was near dose over and led away b
the grooms. N. Pranconi came and mere
ly babe us good-ty, and was exceedingl
! obliged to US. Whether the poor animal di
5 or not recover, wenever heard, but Jim wa
T laid up for several days. On asking hin
why he ran the hose so hard, he said ths
: il was the horses fault, that 1t ran ava
: with him the moment he was on his bach
that the creature was frightened nearly t
' death; and he thought, il il preferred rur
$ ming, he resolved to give it running enough
tl-[ Catlin,s Notes Of Ten Years Trauel.