Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1871-02-08

? of the hoOf, and a snort that was anything
but encouraging to the man who proposed
= to ride him.
looked at my watch; it was fv,
+ o'clock.
t Could l reach Fort Hooker in foul
hours
could do it in three, with this horse
if l escaped the Indians.
Slip OF the halter when | say now,' l
said to the man, laying M hands lightly
on the long silver mano.
Now "
The halter came off; with a quick
bound, such as l had often practced l
was on the horse, and sent both spurs into
his hanbs. tie gave one load snort Of rage
and terror, and sprang clear Of the ground.
He came down and reared ] hung fast
by the name, and gave him both spurs
again. He gave a yell, or a noise such as
= never before heard from a horse, and was
off and away with frightfui jumps.
| was not a bit mistaken; | knew Just
what [ was doing and what L was astride
Of. lie was an untamed, Untamable horse :;
a mustang that had never been bitted nor
sadded, and that had thus far defed all
attempts to break him. He was caught
In New Mexico. and had been in the hand,
Of Indians, NeTicaus and Americans He
would not kick or bite, and would follow
when led he would take fodder and water
from mems hands, and this was all. No
man had yet ridden him, and it was thought
he could not he ridden. lie had killed
one man. and broken several legs. arms,
and ribs of those who had tried to subdue
him lie was now the property Of the
United States, having been put off on some
unsuspicioUs contractor by his last previ-
Gus owner. His uutamable nature not
appearing to the Inspector, he was passed
and accepted at Fort Hooker some eighteen
months before, when it was discovered that
he could not be saddled and that nobody
would back him.
What could be done with him ? He was
so exceedingly handsome, so grand 70 look
at that the colonel was anxious to do all
that could be done toward subduing him
and he had ordered that the horse should
be led back and forth between Hooker and
Belknap a. often as the trains went, with
the idea OF tamiHarizing him with the
command and the horses of the regiment.
There was 10 trouble about that be would
follow a lead with docility, and was per-
tcctly companionable with the other horses,
but only show him a saddle or bride, and
he seemed possessed Of a spirit Of rage and
mischief at once lie had made the jour
ney to and from Fort Hooker In this way
a dozen times, and l knew that if lcft TO
his own guidance he would 20 straight
there
I did not attempt to control HIM my
efforts We're simply directed to keeping my
seat, for knew be would DO the rest;
twisted my hands in his name, bent my
knees in and held him with an experienced
horsoman's pressure Of the thigh. lie
reared and shook himself. dug the spurs
Vigorously into his sides, and tuaming and
suortDg with rage and pain he bounded
away. I won't say that be went with the
speed Of al arrow, or the swIitnes> Of the
wind J was never astride of either, 1arc-
back and without bride but | will say
that lie went faster than [ bad supposed
horsedesh capable Of going He made no
more attempts 70 uuscat me, but settled IN
to a pace as steady as 1t was fleet, while
kept my seat about az easily as though
there was 4 saddle under me.
BY JOye. how we did fly, It makes my
blood tingic to think Of IT, I've ridden
that noble beast often since that day bat
[ think he has never stretched cut into
such a gait as that lie had taken the
military wagon road, and he kept i stead
ily while the forest and every object along
the way went by ike fash. ia an as
tonishing brief time l saw that We were
nearing Fort BisscI. We were upon it
and past il, leaving me only an imperfect .
glimpse Of men running out Of the gate,
and the sound Of a familiar voice or two
shouting my name The whole scene van
Ished in an instant, and on we sped, with
out the least Stacking Of that tremendous
pace.
The road through the woods began 90 .
grow dusky, and the open places were
shadowed. Splash We went through
stream which / knew to be ten miles from
Belkuap; quarter Of the way devoured al .
ready Through the woods again, on, on
out into the opening, over hill, and
on, On. \ dusky figure suddenly started
up and a hand ciutched for the bride
the horse rave a wild bound, and the In
dian was trampled under his hoois. For
ward again with new speed l closed my
ewes a moment to keep my head from dIz-
zIucss. We We're in the woods again and
trayersiDg it at the same pace, when
flight Of arrows sang round my ears, and
a savage who0p from q chorus Of throats
sounded close to the road. carried
pistol in my right hand since riding down
the first Indian seif-cocking revolver,
carving q heavy ball; and as the horse
suraug away with new speed from tho !
friehtiul outbmst, [ fired it six times into
the woods. One redskin at least l hit, if
| may nudge from the painful howl that
followed the second shot; but you may
be sure that I stopped to make 30 inquiries.
l was carried along at mad furious
uace. such as [ don't think | should care
to rush again. One such ride ought to
content any man, and | shall not be so un-
reasonable as to desire another.
l met no more Indians, nor obstacles of
any kind chung to my scat and spun
along. The horse never once relaxed his
pace in the whole distance, but he often
increased it by sudden dash. And If
You'll believe me, l was not frightened
bit from the first, and | thoroughly enjoy
ed the novelty Of the adventure. Still, as
l have said, one such ride Is quite enough.
As rode into the gate at the fort,
shouted my name, as l feared the sentry
might fire on me if his challenge was not
obeycd. The horse came to a halt on the
parade-ground, trembling and painting,
ftreaked with sweat and foam. The Off
GERS and men gathered round me as dis
mounted, with exclamations Of astOnish-
ment at what they saw. Foremost among
them was Capt. Barker, who seized me by