New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-12-14
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
A wnMAN,s MOUNTAIN RIDE.

I'm military life bcwtcnlng the WORTH WIN iV"'S VI
noble hcrssmauship. the fair Amazon who rides
Ike a ccntaur over the rouGhest passes OF the
H,eky Mountains will certainly bear away the
nalm. She appears to be an English Tor Scottish
lady of good connections friend of the family of
Charles Kingsley and favorably known in the world
of books by her graphic volume of " Six Months III
the Sandwich Islands" Everything IN the present
work inspires confidence i'm her talents and respect
for her character though when her foot is once in
the sirrup she is an unmtIgated daredevil fearing
no hors, flesh. aud defying the wickedest mule
Miss Bird left san Francisco in tho month OF
September for Wyoming by the Pacific Rail-
road, leaving the tram after "A journey
of more than $50 miles at Trnckee rough moun-
tam town. at the centre of the numbering region OF
the Sierrls. Though past II o'clock at night. she
reused up the negro factoium OF the primitive
Western hostery TO ask about the chance OF pro-
cnripc a horse man soon came in from the BAR
room who said he conld supply her needs. lie
proved TO he the very type of Western pioneer
and something of a character IN his way. Upon
entering the room he bowed iothe lady, threw hini-
self into a huge rocking-chair, drew M spittoon
10 his side and began TO chew with all lis might
upon fresh quid of tobacco. putting bis high
muddy boots into which his trousers were tucked,
ON the top of the stove. He said ne had horses
which she could safely ride alone with a Mexican
saddle aud a bargain ut once struck Tor the
use of a suitable animal for two days Early the
next morning the plot began 10 thcken. sac ioiis
the story IN her own perfectly explicit manner
'Putting a minimum OF indispensabes INTO
bag. and slipping on my Hawaiian rdins-lress
oyer "A silk skirt. aud dust cloak over all,
s+ealthilv crossed the plaza to the hvcry-stable.
ibc largest building in Truckee, where twelve hne
horses were stabbed in stalls on each side OF oIoad
drive. Nv friend of the evening before showed me
his rig three velvet-coyercd sdc-saddlcs. almost
without horns Some ladies, he said, used the horn
of the Mexican saddle, but none " IN tins part
rode cavalier fashion. felt abaShed. could not
ride any distance in the conventional mode, ana
was just going to give up this splendid 'ravage''
when the man said, Ride your OWN fashion,; here,
at Tmckee If any where III the world, people can do
as they Ike, Blisslu TIuckee! In no time large
gray horse was rugged ont in Il handsome silver
bossed Mexican saddle. with ornamental leather
tassels hanging from the stirrup-gu1rds. ana
housing of black bcal's-skin. / strapped my silk
skirt on the saddle. deposited my CLOAK III the
corn-bin, and was safely housed on the horses
hack before his owner hal time II devise any way
of mounting me- Neither he nor any of the loafcrs
who had assembled showed the slightest sign OF
establishment. but all were as respectful as pos
sbe."
Once on horseback. all embarrassment disap-
peared. She rode through the town of Truckec,
looking like an encampment with It's stecp-roofed
houses and its rude shantes, and followed the
winnings of the river ut an altitude OF 5000 feet
for abont twelve miles. On each side of the Iruckee
great sierras arose like casteatod walls, skirted
aud crowned with pines of enormous SIZE, the walls
now and then breaking apart to show some snow
slashed peak, rising into heaven of intense. I'M
clouded sunny blue The track was soft natural
roadwhich she found very pleasant to ndc on The
horse was much too big for the rider and had plans
of his own She met nobody, and passed nothing
on the road hut freight wagon, drawn by twenty
two oxen, guided by three hne-lookng young
men. who had some difficulty in making room TO
pass their awkward convoy. After she had ridden
about ten miles further the road went mp steep
hill IN the forest turned abruptly, and through the
blue gloom of the great pines which rose from the
rayinc in which the river then ND, came
rlimpses of two mountains, about 1000 feet IN
height whose bald gray summits were crowned
with nnre snow Here the fearless trooper meets
with her first adventure on the mountain ride
The forest was thick and hadau underground of dwarf
cey and scary ON the track turned on IN the Idea
OF taking short cut. ard was SIT tug careessly short
enne INV stIrrup when a great dark hairy beast rose.
crashing aud sncrtne out OF the taugis s III front o.,
me- had cny glimpse OF MN ana thouSht thal my
Imagination mad magnifod Wild boar. mt II was Il
would 90 down TO The river and then turned. sill plum
ing, up steep bank, when HIDING that mus, come on
considerably so thai had not far TO ia GOT n
covered with dust put neither shaken me, nor olseu J.,
one dTeetIon and the horse in auOlher hurried after
me me a dn round and catTcd AWAY Alter walking
about fnc In deep dust. picked up first The saddle
blanket and next my bag, ana soon came upon me nor
standing facing me, ana shaking all over though;
should catch HIM then. but when went up 10 MN ne
turned round threw Up his heels several tine> rushed!
G the track, gdopped I'm circles, bucking kcSlng ana
plunging for time, aud thea throwing up ms hees
act # final defiance. went on at fll speed IN thc
direction OF TiuCkcc. with the saddle over MS shoulders
and tie great wooden strlups thumpns his sides
wAile Indscd ispoinSnsy aionS ~ mn s9e aust '"'o'
walk
20 my Joy saw tue ox-ieam nailed across tue op o Il
gorge Of the teamstcrs leading the morse To-
ward me- The young man said that, seeing tie morse
cOming they had drawn the team across te ROAD
hm. and remembering that he had passed them Win
lady ON they feared that there had been an accident
and had Just sadded one OF their own HORSES 10 90 III
search OF me lie brought me some MatsF 20 W s nc
maj snOrted and plunged for time before ne would
let rue mount, and then sided along IN such nervous
tance by me that was all right He said that
the the neghboraOOi oi Tahoe had been full OF
was any danger from them. took long gal,op be-
You'd the scene u my tumble 10 quiet INC hoise"no was
most restless and troublesome.
As this was only pleasure jaunt TO appease the
cravings Of curiosity prior to her more perouS ex
cursons in Colorado she returns to Truckee, and
greatly enjoys the glorious ride. " The road was
rot as solitary as the day before. In deep part
Of the forest the horse snorted and reared, and l
saw a cinnamon colored bear with two cubs cross
the track ahead of me- j tried to keep the horse
oniet that the mother might acqnit me of any
designs upon the lollopng children. but was glad
when the ungainly. long-haired party crossed the
river. Then l met team, the driver OF which
stopped and said lie was glad that | had not gone
to Comedian Bay II was such n bad trail, aud
hoped had enjoyed Tahoe. The driver of another
team stopped and asked if had seen any bears.
Then man heavily armed, hunter probably,
asked me if l were the English tourist who had
al o,,oI sorivzi ill., Sa "A