Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1878-04-24
Hunting Wild Horses.

The wild horse can run away from man
but this protection fails at times. The
horse-catchers-or vaqueros,' as they are
called-are famous riders, and to see them
capture wild mustang is better than to go
to a circus. The vaquero puts a Spanish
saddle on tame horse, and starts out TO
see what he can find. In front, on the high
pommel of the saddle, he hangs in large
coils a leather rope, about hundred feet
long, and called lasso. 1t is made of strips
of rawhide, braided by hand into a smooth,
hard and very pretty rope. One end is Sc
cured to the saddle, and the other end has
slip-knot making a sliding noose
The vaquero has not long to wait for
there are droves of horses cantering or walk
ing about over the swells and hollows of the
prairie, with here and there a smaller group
looking on, or watching battle between
two horses who wish to be captains of their
bands or companies, Presently, there is
strange sound of tramping hoofs, like the
sound of a squadron of cavalry, except that
it has a grand, wild rush aud swing such as
no cavalry ever had, and cloud of dark
heads rises over a swell of the land. The
leader sees the vaquero, and he halts sud
denly, and the others pull up in Il confused
crowd, and toss their heads, and sniff the
air, as if they scented danger near The
leader does not like the looks of things, and
turns and slowly canters away, followed by
all the rest, tramping in confusion through
the yellow grass and wild barley. Pres
emily they become frightened, and away
they fly in dusty throng.
The vaquero's horse seems to think his
chance has come, and he pricks up his ears
and is eager for the glorious fun of a dash
after the mustangs. Away they go pell-
nell, in panic, and the tame horse gallop-
ing swiftly after them Down they tumble
some knocked over in the confusion,
snorting and finging great iecks OF foam
from their dilated nostrils, trampling over
each other in mad haste, each for himself,
and the American horse sweeping after
them. Now the vaquero stands up in his
saddle, and the lasso swings round and
round in a circle over his head. Swish 1t
sings through the air with whirring sound,
and opens out in great rings, while the loop
spreads wider and wider, and at last drops
plump over the head of mustang. The
vaquero's horse pulls up with sudden halt
and sinks back on his launches, and braces
his fore feet out in front. All How the
dust flies The mustang is fast, held by
the slip-kuot aud he rears up and plunges
ia wild and frantic terror. The rope strains
terribly, but the vaquero watches his chances,
and takes in the rope every time it slackens.
1t is of no use The poor mustang is hard
and fast. Perhaps another rider comes up
and filings another lasso over his head. Then
they ride round him, and the mustang is
twisted and tangled in the ropes till he can
hardly move. He falls, and rolls, and kicks
furiously, and all in vain. Painting, ex-
hausted and conquered, he at last submits
to his fate, His free days are over, and he
seems to know it. A few more struggles,
and he recognizes that man is his master,
aud, perhaps, in one or two days he submits
to a bit in his mouth, and becomes a tame
horse for the rest of his life. If, by any
chance, he escapes before he is broken in
and runs away TO join his wild companions
he seems never to forget that terrible lasso
and if he sees the vaquero again, he viii
stand, trembling and frightened, too mucl
terrified to even run away.-SL Nichola
for april