The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1886-02-06
A Troop of Wild Horses.

A correspondent of the Detroit Free
Press says: had camped near the forks
of the Platte, and was aroused just at day
light by footsteps around me. After lis
tening for a moment, felt sure that they
were the footsteps of horses. They seemed
to be circling around me-not at a canter
nor at trot, but at a moderate walk. Ii
was well that | had secured my horse in a
thorough manner, for never saw him SC
excited. He tugged and pulled at his
lariat, stood upon his hind legs, neighed
and snorted, paved and pranced, and it was
his actions that gave me clue to the iden
tity of my visitors.
They were wild horses!
Had they been Indian ponies, my trained
horse would have remained as dumb and
silent as a post. Indeed, Indians would
not have approached me in that manner.
1 remained very quiet, hoping the horses
would remain in sight until daylight should
give me good view of them. had to
wait for full hour; but when the light
grew strong the spectacle was one to make
a mans blood tingle The circle had been
enlarged until it was half a mile across,
and my little camp was the center, Every
horse, and there were 129 of them, stood
with his head to this center, and soldiers
could not have taken positions on the skir-
mish line in more precise order.
I pitied my own animal. He stood with
the lariat drawn taut and trembled in every
limb, and he was as wet with sweat as if
had galloped him twenty miles. Irealized
how he must long to break away and joir
the wild rovers, and forever end his druid
gerry.
l dared not rise to my feet for fear Of
alarming the drove, but, nevertheless,
had clear view of each horse. Most Of
them were magnificent animals. Names
down on their shoulders and tails ON the
grass. They were of various colors, and
they ranged in age from the yearling colt
to the veterans twenty years old. The
bays predominated, but every color was
present.
We had been observing each other about
ten minutes, when jet-black stallion who
was the leader of the herd, gave snort
threw up his heels into the air, and broke
off at gallop, followed by the drove in
single file. They ran in true circle, and
they made the circuit five times before
stopping. Then, at another signal from
the leader, the circle broke and the horses
wheeled into long single line, Or Company
'front.'
Troop horses could not have done better
| thought at first that the line meant to
charge me, but at signal it made a left
wheel and galloped straight off on the plain
for a mile. Then it broke, assumed the
shape of triangle, and returned. When
the leader was within pistol shot he wheeled
about and the horses formed in square,
with the four yearlings in the centre
They galloped off for mile, broke again,
and returned in two ranks.
had an almost irresistible desire tC
kill the leader with bullet. Indeed,
reached for my rife with that intent, but
then came the reflection that it would be
little short of murder. Such another per
feet horse l had never seen. His black
coat shone like silk, his limbs and body
were perfection, and he had the speed and
bottom of pace horse. Not halt was
made for full hour, and it was only pre-
paratory to taking swift departure, The
last manuevre was circle at slow trot
and each horse whipued in caoxing manner
to my own steed. Poor Selim He strug.
gled in the most frantic manner to break
loose, and when finding all his efforts of nc
avail he threw himself down on the grass
and actually groaned his disappointment.
I rose up then and waved my blanket
Instead ofrushing off in alright, as l ex-
pected, the leader of the band deliberately
approached me few rods and stood and
snorted and paved as if sending forth a
challenge, Then I set up shouting,
waved the blanket some more, and he took
his place at the head, formed the band at
company 'front.' and they went off at Q
gallop, and maintained it as long as could
see the waving line.