The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1878-03-30
Cur @liu.
Hunting Wild Horses.

The wild horse can run away from n
man; but this protection fails at times.
The hoEse-catchers-or ''vaqueros," as
they are called-are famous riders, and to
see them capture a wild mustang is better
than to go tc circus. The vaauero puts
Spanish saddle on a 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 a
lasso. 1t is made of strips of raw hide.
braided by hand into smooth. hard and
very pretty rope. One end is secured to
the saddle, and the other end has a slip
knot making a sliding moose.
The vaquero has not long to wait, for
there are droves of horses cantering or
walking about over the swells and hollows
of the prairie, with here and there n
smaller group looking on, or watching
battle between two horses who wish to be
captains of their bands or compauies.
Presently, there is a strange sound of
tramping hoofs, like the sound of squad
ron of cavalry, except that it has a 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 sniff the air, as
If they scented danger near. The leader
does not like the look 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 vanquero'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 90
pell-mell, in panic, and the tame horse
gallopping swiftly after them. Down
they tumble-some knocked over in the
confusion, snorting and finging 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 vaouero
stands up in his saddle, and the lasso
swings round and round in circle over
his head. Swish 1t sings through the
air with whirring sound, and opens out
In great rings, while the loop spread wider
and wider, and at last drops plump over
the head of a mustang. The vaouero's
horse pulls up with a sudden halt, and
sinks back on his launches, and braces
his fore feet out in front. Ali 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 vaquero
watches his chances, and takes in the rome
every time it slackens. 1t is no use
The poor mustang is hard and fast. Per-
haps 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 fu-
riously, and all in vain. Painting, exhaust
ed aud conquered, he at last submits TO
his fate. His free days are over, and he
seems to know it A few more struggles.
and be recognizes that man is his master.
aud, perhaps, in one or two DAYS he sub
mits to 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 COM
panlons, he seems never to forget that
terrible lasso, and if he sees the vaquero
again, he will stand, trembling and fright
ened, too much terrified to even run away.
From 81. Nicholas for April