The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1886-01-29
A Grand SIGHT on the Plains.

A Grand Sight on the Plains.
had camped near the forks of the
Platte, and vas aroused just at day
light by footsteps around me. After
listening for a moment l felt sure that
they were the footsteps of horses. They
seemed to be circling around me-
hot at a canter-not at u
trot, but at a moderate walk. Ii was
well 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.
neighcd and snortcd and paved and
pranced, and it was his actions that
gave me i 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 4 post. Indeed, In
dams would not have approached me in
that manner
remained very quiet, hoping the
horses would remain in sight until day.
light should give me Il good view of
them. | had to wait for n full hour, but
when the light grew strong the specta-
Gle was enc to make Il mans blood tin
gle. The circle had been enlarged I'M
til it was half 4 mile across. and my lit
tie camp was the center. Every horse.
and there were 100 of them, stood with
his head TO this center, and soldiers
could not have taken positions on the
skinnish line in more precise order.
| pitied my own animal. He stood
with the lariat drawn taut and trembled
in every limb, and he was us wet with
sweat rs if | had gallopcd him twenty
miles. realized how he must long to
breakaway and join the wild rovers and
forever end his d~rudgery.
dared no rise to my feet for fear of
alarming the drove, but, nevertheless,
| had a clear view of each horse. Most
Of them We're magnificent animals.
Names down on their shoulders and tails
on the grass. They were of various
colors. and they ranged in age from
the ycaTling colt up TO the veterans
probably twenty years old. The bays.
prcdominated, but every color was pres
ent.
We had been Observing each other
about ten minutes, when a jet-black
stallion. who was tie leader of the herd.
gave q snort, threw up his heels into
the air and broke of ut 4 gallon, follow
cd by the drove in single file. They
ran in 4 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, o~r'.company 'front.'
Troop horses could not have done
better. | thought at first the line
meant to charge me. but at a signal it
made a left wheel and gallopcd straight
off OF tho plain for n 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 gal
Hoped oil for a mile or so, broke again
and returned in two ranks.
| had i'm almost irresistible desire to
kill the leader with n bullet. Indeed, /
reached for my rifle with that intent.
but then came the reflection that il
would be little short of murder. Such
another perfect horse ! had never seen.
His black coa shonc like silk, the limbs
and body were perfection. and he had
the speed and bottom OF Il race-horse.
Not Il halt was made for . full hour. and
then it WAS only preparatory TO taking
a swift departure. The last maneuvel
was q circle at = slow trot, and each
horse whinnicd in 4 c~oaxing manner to
my steed. Poor Selim! He struc-
glcd in the most frantic manner tc
break loose, and when finding all hi.
efforts of no avail he threw himself
down on the grass and actually groancd
his disappointment.
rose up then and waved my blank.
ct. Instead of rushing Off in alright, as
/ expected, the leader of the band dclib
e~rately approached me a few rods ant
stood and snorted and paved as if send.
ing forth a challenge. Then ] sat up 6
shouting. waved the blanket some more
and he took his place ut the head
ormed the band at company 'front.'
and they went OF at q gallop and main
tanned it rs long as could see the way
ing Ene. -Dctro1 Free Press.
An old negro wsiter in a Philadelphia hotel
thus ci.aracterizes the three classes Of Episco
| MI chrrchlnnu. Lsln low church Gala Gn Liz,