Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1886-03-21

l had oznped near the forks Of the
Platte. and vas aroused just II dsyliRhs
by foofsfeps around me. After iisleuinG
for moment. felt sure that they were
the footstsps Of horses. They seemed
20 Be circiing around me; net st . can
ter. mot - . trot, bat at Q nodetate
walk. Il was we'll that bad secured
nay korse in . thorough manner, for
never go him % excised. He tuRRed
ahd pulled ct his iariAt, stood up On his
hind legs, neiRbed and snofsed and
paved aud prAncsd, and Il uas his %
lions that gave me cline - tbs identify
Of my visis0rs-
They were Wild hoFsssi Had they
bean Iadsan ponies, ny trained hosDe
would have remained - dumb and silent
a. Q post. Indeed. Indians would mot
have approached me IN that manner.
I remained very quiet, hoping the
horses woaid remain IN sight until day
light should give me . good view Of
them. had TO wait for . full hour; but
when the light grew strong ths spectacle
was one 10 make q mans blood tinRle.
The circle had been enlarged until 1t
Vas half q mile scross, and my little
camp was the ceater. Every horse, and
there were l23 Of them, stood with his
head to the center, and soldiers could
line 10 more precise order.
/ pitied my own animal. He stood
with the iariat drawn taut and trembled
in every limb. and he was a. vet with
sweat as If l had Rslloped him twenty
miles. realized hos be must locg 10
break away and Join the Wild r0yers and
forever end his drnogery.
l dared not rise TO my feet for fear Of
alarming tie dfovs; but, nevertheless,
had clear view of each horse. Most
OF them we're magnificent animals, with
names down on their shoulders and tails
on the grass. They were of various col-
ors. and ranged in age fren the yearlinQ
cola up 10 Veterans probably 20 years old.
The bays prtdomiBated, has every color
was present.
We had been observing each ether
ab ut ten inmates when q jet black
stallion, who WAS the leader OF the band,
gave snort, threw his heels into the
air and broke of at a gsiloe. followed
by the bsnd In single fiie. They ran 10
| a true circle, and made the circuit five
times before stopping. Then, At anotl Ell
signal from the leader, the circle broke
| an5 the horses wheeled into long single
iins or &c mpsny front"
Troop horses eeuid not have done
better thought a. fir-t TIE liae meant
to charge me, but at a signal IL made q
lief, wheel aud galioped straight of on
the plsin for q mile. Then il broke as
sumei the shape OF q trisuRle and re
turned. When the leader was within
pistol shot be whsel>d ont and tue
oorses formed IN square, with the
four yeaFlinRs Ia the center. Tses
gslioped of for a mile or 80, broke
again and returned in two ranks.
had az almost irresistible desire Il
/ kill the leader with bahet. Indeed,
reached for INV rife WITH that intent,
| bat then came the reflection that II
would be little short of murder. Such
another perfect horse bad never seen
| His black coat sh one like silk. his iimbs
| and body were perfection, and be had
| The speed AMI bottom Of q race horse
Not halt was made for full hour. and
then II was only preparatory TO takins
swift departure. The last maneuvel
VAS circle at slow trot. and eaci
horse vhinnied in q eoaxing manner Il
my own steed. Poor Seiimi He strug
Ried in the most frantic manner q
break loose. and when finding all hi
efforts of no avail. be threw himself
down on the grass and actually eroanee
his disappointment.
rose up then and waved nv blanket
Iastead of rushing Of in alright, as
expected. the leader OF the band de-
liberately approached me a few rod,
and stood and suorted and paved as II
seeding forth q challenge. Then / Gel
up q shouting, and waved the blanket
sone more, and he took his place at the
head. formed the bssd % company
'front.'" and they vent Of at q gsliop
and maintained 10 a. long as couid
see the waving line.