Nevada County picayune., 1886-04-07
A RIDE FOR LIFE.
BY CHARLES ROLLIN BARNARD.

CA 1sLES hOLLlN IhAlNAkD.
 l left the timber for an all days ride across the prairie. The esti. mated distance was sixty miles tc the next timber. My horse was freah, and as the sun looked over the eastern horizon, l mounted ana turned his head m a southeast. erly direction. Selecting a group of flowers in Inc distance as my first objective point, l set off at an easy gait, and expected to camp at sunset at the foot of some of the giant trees that lined the banks of the Missouri. My horse had been my constant companion for three years. He had formerly been an exceedingly vicious creature, but our long companiopship had made I'uS inseparable friends. l was kind 10 him anu he was kind to ne. He never bit me bot once, and when he found he was not kicked for 1t, he manifested surprise. Spurs were on my boots, for they were part of mr riders outfit. but l never so much as scratched my horses side with them. We had been in many a storm together both in winter and summer; and we had been ill many rugged place. He had act, ed as my guard at night, when l slept with the prairie flowers for my couch, and the stars for my covering, and he never failed to give ne timely warning of danger. With him and my trusty rifle l could feel secure, and always did. It was a magnificent day in June when we set out on oar way fer the sixty mile jaunt, the last we were Icver to take together. The verd- urc of the great area before us was rich in the extreme with the varied lines of cornr'ess flowers, blendin. imperceptibly as they receded III the distance, until lost ill the com mon line of green that boIdered the horizon.
 One crest after another in the long line of unduatiors lad been passed, the sun had reached the zenith and not a stream had yet been met, no living thing of any kind had been seen. Neither but falo or antelope, neither coyote or rabbit had crossed my vision in all these hours. At occasional in. tervals l alishted from my faithful horse and walked along beside him, talking to him as if he were a human being. He surely was a companion in whose judgment l had most implicit confidence, and 1t was pleasure to see his con sciousness of appreciation. We were both thirsty, for since leaving i our morning camp we had met no water. We conld not expect to
 
 until night. Sixty miles across a prairie is long way, and required good nature as one of the elements of su uccessful accomplishments, So we both kept it, for we believed in each other most thoroughly.
 We were lightly loaded. My horse carried nothing but saddle light bridlc and my blanket. For my part, l was drossed in shirt, trousers, hats and boots; but these all told, weighed less than my rifle and ammunition.
 While watching my trail and scanning the horizon to right and left, l became suddenly aware oi an object on the horizon, directly at right angles to the route l was pursuing.
 I must appeal to my horse "Here. Cub, look" and ] whirled him to the right face. l leaned forward, with one had shading my eyes, the other extended, and pointing to the distant line of earth and sky.
 The pfcad neck arched, the ears darted to tue front, and long and careful look was given, with rider and horse in statesque attitude, straining every power of vlsion,' in stinct and reason in the direction of those specks on the horizon. It was enough. There was a snort, a sudden wheeling away, and Cub began to paw.
 "Steady, boym I leapod from his back, stripped off the saddle; tore rn Son,a eod and with the moist