Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1888-09-20
Mark Twain's Story
Mexican Plug.

had never seen such wild, free, magnif'
icent horsemanship outside of circus
as these picturesquely-clad Mexcans,
CaIifornians, and Mexicanised Amerl-
cans displayed in Carson Streets every
day. How they rode Leaning Just
gently forwad out Of the perpendicular,
easy and nonchalant, with broad slouch-
hat brim blown square up in front and
long riota swinging above the head
they swept through the town Ike the
wind The next minute they were on.
ly sailing puff Of dust on the far des-
ert. If they trotted, they sat up gal
lantly and gracefully, and seemed part
of the horse did not 60 jiggerng up
and down after the silly Miss. Nancy
fashion Of the riding schools had
quickly learned to tell a horse from a
COW, and was full of anxiety to learn
more. l was resolved to buy a horse.
while the thought was ranking in
my mind, the auctionear came scurry-
ing through the plaza on black beast
that had as many humps and corners
on him as dromcdar., and was neces
sarily uncomely but he ''as going, go
ing, at thenty two horse, saddle and
bride at TWENTY-FIVE dollars, gentle
men " and | could hardly resist.
"a man whom | did not know Che
turned out to be the auctloneer broth
er) noticed the wistfu look in my eye
and observed that that was very re
markable horse to be going at such a
price and added that the saddle WAS
alone worth the money. 1t was a Span
ish saddl,, with ponderous topiduoS,
AID furnished with the ungainly sole
leather covering with the unspellable
name. said | had half a notion to
bid. Then this keen-eyed person ap-
peared to be talking my measure but
| dismissed the suspicion when he spoke
for his manner was full of guileless can.
dour and truthfulness. Said he:
81 know that lorSe--know him we'll
You are a stranger, take it, and so
you might think he was an American
horse, maybe, but | assure you he is
not. He Is nothing of the kind but
excuse my speaking in Il low voice,
other people being near-he ls. without
the shadow of doubt, a Genuine Mex.
lean Plug?
"I did not know what a Genuine
Mexican Plug was, but there was some
thing about this man 5 way Of saying it
that made ne swear inwardly that |
! would own Genuine Mexican Plug or
die.
"'Has he any Observation-Disclosures
ages ?'' | inquired, suppressing what
eagerness could.
He hooked his forefnger in the
pocket of my army shirt, led me to one
side, and breathed in my ear impress
lively these words
"'He can out.buck any thing in Amer
lea T.
'Golng, going, going-at twenty.
four dollars and a half, gen
"'Twenty.seven + shouted, in a
frenzy.
"'And sold said the auctioneer, and
passed over the Genuine Plug to ne.
"I could scarcely contain my eXulta-
ton. l paid the money, and put the
animal in a nabouring liverystable to
dine and and rest myself.
"In the aiternooa brought the Great
ure into the plaza, and certain citizens
held him bv the head, and others by the
tail, while | mounted HIM. AS soon us
they let g, he placed all his feet in Il
bunch together, lowered his back, and,
then suddenly archcd it upward. and
and shot lie into the air matter of
three or four feet. | came as straight
down again, lit IN the saddle, went in
stantly up again, came down almost on
the high pommel, SHOT up again and
came down on tile horses neck all in Il
space of about three or four seconds.
Then he rose and stood almost strai ght
up on his hind feet, and |, clasping his
lean neck desperately, slid back into
the saddle, and held on. He came
down and Immediately hoisted his heels
into the air, delivering vicious kick
at the sky, and stood on his fore feet.
And then down he came once more, and
began the original practice of shooting
me straight mp agaln. The third time
| went up I heard a stranger say
"'Oh, don't he buck though y
"While | was up, somebody struck
the horse sounding thwack with a
leathern strap, and when | arrived
again the Genuine Mexican Plug was
not there. A Californian youth chased
him m and cauuht him. and asked ii