San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1878-04-13
Hunting Wild Horses.

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IIr Ha"lffp p ..gI1 --I .H #u.le I
The wild horse can run away from a
man; but this protection fails at times.
The Observation-Disclosures "vaqueros," as
they are called-are famous riders, and
tossee them capture a wild mustang is
better than to 60 to circus. The va
quero puts 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 raw hide, braided by hand into a
smooth, hard and very pretty rope.
One end is secured to the saddle, and the
other end has slip-knot making slid
ing moose. =, ,,.,.f.
The vaquero has not long to wait, for
there are droves of horses cantering or
walking about over the swells and hol-
lows of the prairie, with here and there
smaller group looking on, OF watch
ing a 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 squadron of cavalry, except that it
has grand, wild rush and swing such
as no cavalry ever had, and a cloud of
dark heads rises over swell of the
land. The leader sees the vaquero,
and he halts suddenly, and the Others
pull up in a confused crowd, and toss
their heads, and snuff 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 bar
ley. Presently they become frightened,
and away they fly in a 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 dash after the mustangs. Away
they 90 pell-mell, in a panic, and the
tame horse galloping swiftly after them.
Down they tumble-some knocked over
in the confusion, snorting and flinging
great fecks 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 sad
die, and the lasso swings round and
round in a circle over his head. Swish!
1t sings through the air with a whirring
sound, and opens out in great rings,
while the loop spreads wider and wider,
and at last drops plumb over the head
of mustang. The yaquero'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-knot, and he rears up
and plunges in wild and frantic terror.
The rope strains terribly, but the va
quero watches his chances, and takes in
the rope every time it slackens. 1t is
of no usel 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, exhausted 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 tina: man is his master, and,
perhaps, in one or two days he submits
I 10 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 for
get that terrible l2sso, and If he sees the
vaquero again, he will stand, trembling
and frightened, too much terrified 70
even run awAy.-CbarIes Barnard, IN
81. Nicholas for Aprl.