American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1880-04-10

But the little mot h brought me your love.
And then was glad
-Suruh o. Jepstt, IN Apra atlantic.
BREAKING HORSES IN AUSTRALIA
Fitzgerald's attention was dire cted by
one of the men to a particular horse in
the yard, which he at once recognized.
"Pve not seen that gray horse these
two years. / made sssxe some one had
stolen him." Going into-the yard, he
endeavored to drive the gray into a
corner by himself and catch him. In
vain; round and round flew the mob like
wild deer, the gray as wild as any of
them.
Getting light, long, green-hide rope,
and asking two or three men to help
him. the young man gathered up the
slack in one hand, and holding the moose
in the other, whirled it two or three
times around his head, and sent it cir
cling in the air after the excited horses,
who kept flying around. lowering for
: . portion of q second over the gray
head, it settled round his neck with won
derful precision. the rope was tighten
ed, and. after plunge or two, the horse,
obeying his old education. made toward
them, still straining slightly on the rope
The rest of the mob were drafted into
another yard Fitzgerald sent for his
bride and saddle, and had his horse
turned into the paddock. With long
stick he now rubbed the gray gently
over the head and body. then, gradually
approaching, he slipped on the bride.
The rope was taken of and laid on one
side. Giving the bride to one of the
men to hold, he approached the horse
carefully from the shoulder, and endeav-
ored (vainly for some time) 10 put on
the saddle; but it was not until the
animals foreleg was strapped up that
this could be accomplished and
firmly. secured. The crupper now
caused some delay owing to the
plunging of the animal; but all was
satisfactorily managed at length, the
men all left the yard, and, seating them
selves on the top-rail of the st0ckyard
fence, prepared to enjoy the coming
scene with true bush zest. Fitzgerald.
after fixing the reins to the saddle, un-
Mid the strap which held up the GREAT
res foot, and allowed him to run
ose, in order that, il disposed to buck,
might do SO before being mounted.
g Harlequin, as the grey was
z91Dd did not seemed inclined to
wast n1s energies on pigskin merely.
and moved about very stifiy, with
slightly bumped back, and his tail held
closely to his body.
You better mind that fellow, Mr..
Fitzgerald" said the Native; "he's
sure to buck a docker.''
s.An right. jack" said Fitzgerald;
'he looks ugly. I'll give him few
turns round the yard before getting
on"
Accordingly the horse was driven at
q canter half a dozen times round the
enclosure, occasionally testifying his
disapproval of the unaccustomed har-
ness by humping his back, or lashing
out with his hind-legs.
WAY, Harlequin, way, old boy"
said the young squatter, stopping him
at last. and catching him. 'sWen try
now whether you or 1 can hold out
longest"
Leading him into the center of the
yard, he gathered up the reins in his
left hand. and raising his cabbage-tree,
allowed the chin-strap to drop to its
place.
Standing close to the horses Shout
der. and catching the stirrup-leather in
his right hand. he was about to make a
spring when . 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 q grasp of iron, de-
Ginning all offers of assistance from the
on-lookers. This plan answered.
Placing his toe in the stirrup, he was
on Harlequin's back in an instant-a-
proceeding which that noble creature
instantly resented by making furious
plunge half way across the yard, alight-
ing with all four feet on the ground at
the same time close to each other, his
well in, and his back bent like q boom
erang. A series of similar move.
ments followed with the rapidity of
lightning. the vicious brute sqIealing all
the time like a pig and confining him.
self to q small corner of the yard.
Round and round he spun like a top
to the right. then with sudden prop
he dashed out, and bucked round and
round in the opposite direction. Now
he new partly across the yard, bucking
from side to side, and leaning over SO
much in doing SO that it appeared to
John miracle how he recovered his
gravity. Well did he maintain the
title of his appropriate name, for seldom
did horse 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 little in his seat,
he recovered his balance, and John
could hear him mutter between his set
teeth as he passed near him once:
mo, no, Mr.. Harlequin, we don't get
on the like at you to come of"
But. alasi the best Of riders some
times come to grief. The next time he
passed John the latter noticed a strap
flying loose about the cantle of the
saddle, and heard the Native remark:
a. The crupper has broken; he's bound
to come off now" And so he |
did. but not ingloriously. Each suc-.I
eeeding buck shifted the saddle further !
and further on to the horses withers, |
now that nothing held it back; still the !
young man kept as firmly to his seat as |
ever; at last a furious buck and rear
sent the plucky rider to the ground.
still clasping the saddle between his !
legs ndhofding the reins of the bride, |
which had also been dragged of, in his
hand; and away flew the horse, smash
ing the saddle with kick which was
INTENDED as a parting salute for his
ownd Loud applause and much en-
couragement had been bestowed during
tins scene on the young man, who, now
picking himself up, examined bis tack |