Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1886-04-07
A GRAND SIGHT.
The Intricate EvOIutions Performed
by Wild Steeds.

1 had encamped near the forks of the
Platte and was aroused just at daylight
by footsteps around me. After listen
ing for moment felt sure that they
were the footsteps of horses. They
seemed to be circling around me-not
at acanter-notat at trot, but at Il moder
ate walk. 1t was well that / had Sc
cured my horse in a thorough manner
for l never saw him so excited. Ht
tugged and pulled at his lariat, stood VI
on his hind legs, neighed and snorteC
and paved and pranced, and it was hi:
actions that gave me a clew to the iden
tity of my visitors.
They were wild horses
Had they been Indian ponies my
trained horse would have remained Il:
dumb and silent rs post. Indeed, In
dians would not have approached me il
that manner.
l remained very quiet, hoping tn,
horses would remain in sight until day
light should give Inc good view o.
them. L had TO wait full hour, bu
when the light grew strong the spectacle
was one to make a mans blood tingle
The circle had been enlarged until il
was half a mile across, and my httl'
camp was the center. Every horse, and
there were one hundred and twenty-nin'
of them, stood with his head to this cen
ter, and soldiers could not have takeI
positions on the skirmish line in more
precise order.
| pitied my own animal. He stood
with the lariat drawn taut and trembleC
in every limb, and he was as wet will
sweat as if / had galloped him twenty
miles. L realized how he must long Il
break away and join the wild rovers anC
forever end his drudgery.
L dared not rise to my feet for fear Of
alarming the drove. but, nevertheless,
had clear view of each horse. Mos
of them were magnificent animals
Names down on their shoulders and tail:
on the grass. They were of various
colors, and they ranged in age from thu
yearling colt up to the veterans probably
| twenty years old. The bays predOm
mated, but every color was present.
We had been observing each Other
about ten minutes when a jet-black stal
lion, who was the leader of the herd
gave a snort, threw up his heels into the
air and broke off at 4 gallop, followed
by the drove in single file. They ran il
a true circle, and they made the circuit
five times before stopping. Then, al
another signal from the leader, the circle
broke and the horses wheeled into 6
long, single line, or company 'front.'
Troop horses could not have done
better. l thought at first the line meant
to charge me, but at signal it made g
left wheel and galloped straight off or
the plain for a mile. Then it broke, as
sumed the shape of triangle and re-
turned. When the leader was within
pistol-shot he wheeled out and the horses
| formed in a square, with the four year
lings in the center. They galloped of
for a mile or 50, broke again and re.
turned III two ranks.
had an almost irresistible desire to
kill the leader with bullet. Indeed, j
reached for my rife with that intent, bui
then came the reflection that 1t would bt
little short of murder. Such another
perfect horse | had never seen. Ill.
black coat shOne like silk, his limbs anc
body were perfection, and he had the
speed and bottom Of race-horse. Not
a halt was made for 4 full hour, anc
then it was only preparatory to taking c
swift departure. The last maneuyei
was a circle at slow trot, and eact
horse whinnied in q coaXing manner tt
nv own steed. Poor Seliml He strug-
cled In the most frantic manner to breal
loose, and when finding all his efforts OF
no avail he threw himself down on tn,
grass and actually groaned his disap
pointment.
rose up then and waved my blanket
Instead of rushing off in alright, as ]
expected, the leader of the band delib
erately approached me few rods ane
stood and snorted and paved as If send
ing forth challenge. Then L 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 gallop and maintained it a:
long as could see the waving line.