Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1880-04-28
and raising bis cabbage.tree, allowed .he

and raising his csbbage-tree, allowed the
chin-strsp TO drop to its place.
Standing close to the horses shoulder,
and catching the stirrup-leather in his right
hand, he was about TO make a spring when
a violent plunge from Harlequin prevented
him.
This was repeated two or three times,
until Fitzgerald. shortening the reins, and
slipping them up the horses neck until his
hand reached the animals head, seized and
held the near-side ear along with them in a
grasp of iron, declining all offers of assist
snce from the on-loollers. This plan ans
wered. Placing his toe in the stirrup, he
was on Ha-lequin's back in an instant-a
proceeding which that noble creature in
stantly resented by making furious plunge
half way across the yard, alighting with all
four feet on the ground at the same time
close TO each other, his head between his
fore-legs, his tail well IN, and his back bent
like boomerang. A series of similar
movements followed with the rapidity of
lightning, the vicious brute squealing all
the time like pig and confining himself 10
small corner of the yard.
Round and round he spun like top to
the right, then with a sudden drop he LASH
ed out, and bucked round and round in the
opposite direction. Now he flew partly
across the yard, bucking from side to side,
and leaning over so much in doing SO that
it appeared to John a miracle how he re-
covered his gravity. Well did he maintain
the title of his appropriate name, for sell
dom did horses buck harder than did the
gray that day. Fitzgerald sat leaning well
back, his legs rigid, his body above the hips
swaying TO the motions OF his horse. After
the first violent shock, which shifted him a
little in his seat, he recovered his balance,
and John could hear him mutter between
his set teeth as he passed near him once ::
''No, no, Mr.. Harlequin, We don't get on
the like Of you to come of.
But, alas , the best of riders sometimes
come to grief. The next time he passed
John the latter noticed strap flying loose
about the cantlc of the saddle, and heard
the native remark "The crupper has
broken; he's bound to come oil now.'
And 50 he did but not ingloriously. Each
succeeding buck shifted the saddle further
and further on 10 the horses withers, now
that nothing held it back; still the young
man kept as firmly to his seat as ever; at
last furious buck aud rear sent the plucky
rider to the ground, still clasping the saddle
between his legs and holding the reins of
the bride. which had also been dragged off,
in his hand; and away few the horse,
smashing the saddle with kick which was
intended as parting salute for his owner.
Loud applause and much encouragement
had been bestowed during this scene on the
young man, who. now picking himself up,
examined his tackling. Not strap was
broken, not buckle uDdone; the mischief
had all been caused by the animal nlanag =.
ing to slip his tail out of the crupper.
This saddle IS done for, = be said ''who
can lend me one;'
Four or five were instantly at his service.
Now then, old man" he observed
coolly, turning to the horse, who stood
watching the proceedings from corner of
the yard, 1--WE will try another dodge this
time
This dodge, which was put into cxccu-
ton upon the animals being saddled the
second time, consisted in tying the crupper
TO the horses tail with piece OF twInc.
Once more sprinsing 10 his seat, the con-
test recommended. Fitzgerald, whose tenn
per WAS rufiled, freely used whip ard spur.
This fierce paroxysm lasted about as long
as the former one; then gradually subsid-
ing, the exhausted bleeding steed achnOwl-
edged his efforts as useless, dropped into
an ordinary canter, and came 10 stands;ill
at his riders bidding.
John gazed with admiration on the hand
some, graceful horsenIan as he leaned back
on the saddle, patting carelcssly those hind
quarters to approach which had been so
dangerous few minutes before, and lis
tening to the remarks of the spectators.
well said one, ''that fellow went TO
market like bird"
"Yes," echoed another. 'Buched a
blessed hurricane"
Buck town down. cried third.
Never seed horse strip himself quick
er," muttered fourth.
Good job for You, you didn't catch that
kick" congratulated Jack. 1T was as
close thing rs ever saw
''Well, miss is as good as mile"
laughed the young man.
So saying, he unsaddled Harlequin, and
turning him into the paddock, walked
down to the house with John.