Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1886-03-13

runaways started to follow, when sud
denly the grass tree broke into animated
life. 1t threw off its crown of pendant
grass and ran like deer in front of the
truant herd, where it tossed white mass
upon the ground The stockman's horses
stopped as by one impulse, and crowded
about the mass of salt which the astute
Guido had brought for this very purpose,
allowing him to tether them where they
stood. Meanwhile the wild herd, with
their great white king at their head, was
laundering up the valley toward a
heavy coppice which guarded the upper
entrance.
'If nothing frightens them" said my
companion, "they will only put that
brush between ourselves and them, and
then we can steal up on them and let our
rifles talk"
But something did brighten them. 1t
was Guido. He suddenly left the tethered
horses and ran in the direction of the fly
ing herd. yelling at the top of his
lungs and firing his rifle repeatedly,
although the distance was so great
that there was no possibility
of the bullets hitting the animals
aimed at The reports of the gun, how
ever, were plainly audible to the now
frantic drove, and it dashed up the plain
at redoubled speed. The front rank
seemed to faultcr when the coppice was
reached, as though unwilling to enter it :;
but the rear guard pressed on, and
whether they would or no the leaders
were force into the jungle. Before half
the horses had passed through, however,
wild commotion was observed among
the Ctlers They separated and ran
along the edge of the bush in two con-
verging lines like the waters parting be-
fore rock, and finally disappeared in
the open country at each end of the cop
pee.
"You black hound" roared the stock
man, shaking his fist at the PARKWAY fig
ure of the black, who was coollv trotting
toward us, dragging his smoking gun by
its leathcrn shoulder strap. 'what was
the use of frightening those horscs2 We
can never shoot them now; they will run
for the next twelve hours"
Peter not run no more" came the as
founding answer "Cudio make him
budge;y. Boss give Cudjo two bull
locks
He held UP two black fingers and
pointed to the tethcred horses and then
to the coppice, as a reminder of the bar
gain made earlier in the day that when
the horses We're rccaptured and Peter
was killed, Cudjo was to be rewarded
with two bccvcs.
A couple of horses were struggling out
of the coppice. One of them was milk
white A second glance showed that it
was Peter. His head dropped; his tail
dragged on the ground. and he staggered
like a drunken man. The other was in
an equally sorry onlit;on, and presently
the whole plain in the region of the jun
gle was covered with PROSTATE and stag
gering horses.
The coppicc was a growth OF nettle or
singing trees. so well known 20 the Aus
trailian settler as prolific cause of death
among the horses which touch it.
The doomed Peter staggered for a few
minutes and then fell heavily, where he
lay painting, only presently to start up
plungng and rearing furiously. He fell
again arose, and dashed like Il Malay
running muck across the plain, crash
ing into the heavy gum trees, plunGlng
his head against their trunks. as though
frantic and seeking death by suicide.
We ran to the scene of the tragedy,
and with our rifles put as many of the
victims ont of their misery as was posi-
bic, but for two hours the plain was
dotted with mad horses plun@ing in the
throes of death. Then it was all over
and the last victim gaze his last 9aspand
the carcasses of more than ninety horses
lay under the hot sun. Peters lately
beautiful form was swollen into shape
less mass: his white coat was torn by
the branches through which he had
dashed, and his forclock was Clabbied in
blood from his forehead.
1t was good day for the stockmen in
the Macquaric valley; but although con-
WINGED of its utilitarian value, | never
again want to witness a slaughter of
horses. Free Press.