The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1886-01-22

so that we must look elsewhere for mo-
tivcs to their consumption.-Ntmetenth
Century.
A Grand Sight on the Plains.
had camped near the forks of the
Platte, and was aroused just at day.
light by footsteps around me. After
listening for moment felt sure that
they were the footsteps of horses. They
seemed to be circling around me-
not at canter-not at a
trot. but at a moderate walk. 1t was
we'll that had secured my horse in a
thorough manner, for never saw him
so excited. He tuggcd and pulled at
his lariat, stood upon his hind legs,
ncighed and snorted and paved and
pranced, and it was his actions that
gave me clue to the identity of my
visitors.
They were wild horses!
Had they been Indian ponies my
trained horse would have remained as
dumb and silent rs post. Indeed, In
dams would not have approached me in
that manner.
l remained very quiet, hoping the
horses would remain in sight until day.
light should give me q good view of
them. I had to wait for full hour, but
when the light grew strong the specta-
Gle was one to make mans blood tin
gle. The circle had been enlarged I'M
til it was half a mile across, and my lit
tie camp was the center. Every horse,
and there were 12O of them, stood with
his head to this center, and soldiers
could not have taken positions on the
skirmish line in more precise order.
lpitied 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 gallopcd him twenty
miles. I realized how he must long to
breakaway and join the wild rovers and
forever end his drudgcry.
1 dared not rise to my feet for fear of
alarming the drove, but, nevertheless,
1 had clear view of each horse. Most
of them were magnificent animals.
Names down OH their shoulders and tails
on the grass. They were of various
colors, and they ranged in age from
the ycarling colt up to the veterans
probably twenty years old. The bays,
predominated, but every color was pres
cnt.
We had been observing each other
about ten minutes, when q jet-black
stallion, who was the leader of the herd.
gave snort. threw up his heels into
the air and broke off at gallop, follow
ed 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
a long, single line, or''company front"
Troop horses could not have done
better. thought at first the line
meant to charge me, but at signal it
made left wheel and galloped straight
off on the plain for mile. Then it
broke, assumed the shape of triangle
and returned. When the leader was
within pistol-shot he wheeled out and
the horses formed in a square, with the
four ycarlings in the center. They gall
loped of for mile or SO, broke again
and returned in two ranks.
had an almost irresistible desire to
kill the leader with a bullet. Indeed, 1
reached for my rifle with that intent,
but then came the reflection that it
would be little short of murder. Such
another perfect horse had never seen.
His black coat shone like silk, the limbs
and body were perfection, and he had
the speed and bottom of q racc-horsc.
Not a halt was made for full hour, and
then it was only preparatory to taking
a swift departure. The last maneuver
was circle at a slow trot, and each
horse whinnied in coaxing manner to
my own steed. Poor Selim! He strug-
glcd in the most frantic manner to
break loose, and when finding all his
efforts of no avail he threw himself
down on the grass and actually groaned
his disappointment.
rose up then and waved my blank
ct. Instead Of rushing off in alright, as
l expected, the leader of the band DELHI
erately approached me few rods and
stood and snorted and paved as if send
ing forth a challenge. Then sat up a
shouting, waved the blanket some more,
and he took his place at the head,
ormed the band at company 'front.'"
and they went of at gallop and MAIN
tanned it as long as could see the wav-
ing line.-Dctroit Free Press.