The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1859-01-04
Adventure Ia California,

cd California by Lassen's cent off," which
had this pcculiarity for "cut of" that
It was about 500 miles larger than any 9TH
er road. During the latter part Of my
journey had poncy TO side--s poney
Of Indian stock, and one Of tho very hard
est In the mouth, the toughest in the hide,
and tho slowest in tue gait Of all hard.
nnouthed, tough-hidei and slow gated la.
dian poni0s. He was dark iran gray in
color, with white star In his forehead,
and horizontal black stripes down his thighs,
from brands put on by his Indian owners.
These black stripes gave him tgerish
look, ann attracted attention, so that tho
man who had once seen him could not for
. get him. usually had large pair of
bright sc rlet blankets fastened upon tho
saddle, 10 servo me as couck whichever I
might wish to stop; and these served 10
distinguish the animal till more.
i La following down Pit River wo csme
about the frat Of September 10 wide and
barren plain. The day was pretty warm
one, and determined to try whether I
could not force my poncy to 60 across tho
hot expanse, at a gait little faster than n
walk. ] borrowed spur before lcaveing
camp, AVID whom got upon the plain, DO.
gan to use it vigorously. But all my spur.
ring did not help the poney along at all,
on the contrary he would turn round to
bite at the place, 80 though fly was
pricking him; thong at the very time tho
spur was covered with blood, SO furiously
hod ! used it. Finally ] broke tho spur,
or bent il, so that could strike ith the
edge Of the rowel out, only with the side.
Unable to use the spur with any effect. I
took it off, and fasten,d it on the pommel
of my saddle.
l was just then at the point where tho
road was about TO leave the river, and
along the voters edge were number Of
bushes. got down and cut four or fvo
long switches of a tough bush, and mount
cd again. / could overlook nearly the
whole plain, and thore was no person or
living thing in sight before me, and there
was no object to break the monotony Of
the plain, save hero or there littlo clu,nps
of willow far in the distance.
After making guess at the distance to
be travelled over, and the timo to he occu-
pied 10 il, drew from it's fastenings ono
Of my best switches, and began TO use it
most industriously, applying il to the ten
derest part Of the flank. At the first :oucl,
he started into lively trot, but toon slack
ened of into slow trot, and all tho force
and .rapility which ] could give 10 my
blows would not induce him TO 90 ani fast.
cr Before long my switch was used.up,
and was 80 tired that had to rest; and
poncy at oi.co PIT himself upon a slow
walk. The same process was repeated
with every switch, the last one being worn
out in less than half an hour from the
time Of starting.
Now, it happened that habitually car
ried butcher,kn;fe that yas butcher
knife--a long, heavy and bright weapon,
that BODIED no good t, tho animal it was
to be used upon. After my arm had got
rested, l drew my knife, aud commenced
to punch pony with its sharp point. The
blood flowed freely, but be took no other
notice Of it than TO look around, os il to
ask; what the d arc you doinu there
! couldn't stand that and drawing back,
gave him long anu deep cut with tho
blade across the buitock. The blood spirit
ed from the cash and poncy gave jump,
ard then went on as before. l became des.
perate, and began 10 utter emphatic exple.
tives, which recognized an infinite exist
enco as Of great aid in the expression Of
discomfort. / could not afford to inHct
auy more cuts on pony, 50 gavo up the
attempt 10 get him into Il trot rs badjob,
and wiping my knife on his hide, was
about to return it to its sheath. when 1
noticed the motion Of the bones at tho hip
joint, and gave nhe tip end Of tho thigh
bone hearty whack with tho back of tho
knife. had found tho teuder spot; po.
ney jumped 81 quick as nearly to throw mo
of, and at once started Of on quick gal
lop. ! was wonderfully pleased, and gayo
an Indian yell ofdelight This was a kind
of music to which he had been familiar in
colthooJ, aud il seemed to help him along.
So continued to sell and hoop in tho
most approved style, meanwhile brandish
ing 10y knife anil bringing its back down
frequently on the blessed hip joint. ! went
on thus for soinc time at frs rate speed,
wonderfully tickled ut my discovery Of tho
tender spot, aud al the sound Of my voice.
While iacing along, yelling, brandishing
my knife, raiSing greet Dust in the road,
with my red blankets flying, saw four or
five mon, from their dress evidently emf
grants like myself-run out from a littlo
cump Of willows, about hundred yards
in front OF me, and level their rifles at me.
| rened up at once;' ponoy stopped with
waldclful sudjdnness, add / stared at the
fellows, wondering what their ccnbuct
meant. AS soon as had stopped, they
dropped their guns and said: why, il'
b..nsc!f" aud 6urst into hearty laugh
recognized them as party OF Kcntutki
Gus. whom had met frequently on tho
road and knew TO be first rate fellows
When they laughed, startod again, AMI
/ was soon amopg them. or course I ask
cd what they uneadt by aiming at me at
4 ~ had done, and theo replied that they
ecoguized my yony and my blankets, but
could not sec me on account OF my holding
my head down, and they supposed from
the sell and knife -brandshing, that an Iu-
dian had killed me, and was running of
with the poney! We bad hearty laugh