Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1888-06-02

onds. Every hoof hit something solid,
but the iron shoes of our horse scored
a point in his favor. When they separ-
ated we could see that the sorrel had
been badly used, especially about the
legs.
When the horses wheeled for the third
time both were bent on mischief. As
they came together they reared up like
dogs and struck at each other, and for
five minutes they were scarcely off
their hind feet. Some hard blows were
exchanged, and our horse had the best
of the round. Indeed, when the sorrel
wheeled and ran away he had his head
down and he seemed to acknowledge
defeat. He ran off about twenty rods
before wheeling, and as he stood for q
moment looked at him through field
glass which one of the men handed
me. His ears lay flat, his eyes looked
bloodshot, and there was bloody foam
nhis lips. He had been severly handled,
but was by no means defeated. Indeed,
he had run away for the moment to
adopt new tactics. When he moved up
again he was the picture of ferocity.
He came at full speed, reared, and struck
right and left, and the second blow
knocked our horse fiat on the ground.
It was a Knockout blow. The victor
stood over him for a moment, watching
for movement, but as none was made
he joined the herd, and all went off at a
gallop. 1t was five minutes before our
horse staggered to his feet, and he
wanted no more fighting. He had three
bad bites on the shoulders, and his legs
were skinned in dozen places, and it
was week before he got his spirit
back.
Two or three times during the next
ten days saw lone wild horses, and one
of the old hunters with us was asked for
an explanation. He said they were
strogues" stations which had been
driven from the herd in disgrace-and
that they were always considered ugly
and dangerous. BE had known of their
attacking a single horseman, but the
presence of a large party like ours would
of course frighten them off. Two days
after this explanation we were strung
out for three miles along the river, on
the march and survey. Something was
lost by an officer, and one of the troop
ers was sent back to recover it. Ten
later the article supposed to be
lost was found in one of the ambulances,
and was sent back to notify the troop
er. He had galloped back to camp, a
distance of two miles, and was searching
around on foot when I arrived in sight.
I was about to fire shot to attract his
when from the cottonwood
grove beyond the camp horse came
charging out. He was strogue," and
bent on mischief. The soldiers horse
was grazing, and the soldier had his
eyes on the ground, and I was so aston
ished by the sudden charge OF the rogue
that I made no move to stop him or to
warn the trooper. Indeed, warning
could have hardly reached him in time.
His back was to the approaching horse,
and the rogue seized him in his teeth
by hold between the shoulders and
dragged him twenty rods before finging
him to one side. Then he started for
the cavalry horse, which stood with
head up facing him, and got out my
revolver and spurred forward.
was yet quarter o mile away
when the rogue reached his second VIC
tim. He ran at full speed, with his ears
back and lips parted to show his teeth,
and the sight was too much for the do
nestle animal He was on the point of
turning to fly when the other colided
with him. It was as if locomotive had
struck him. He went down in q heap
and rolled over and over four or five
times before he brought up, while the
rogue took half circle to bear down
upon the trooper again. The man was
on his feet and limping off; but he
would have been q goner had I been
further away. I rode across the rogue's
path and opened fire on him, and after
shaking his head in an ugly way he
galloped into the grove and disappeared.
The troopers horse did not seem to have
suffered any by the shock, but soon
after noon lay down and died. The man
was actually crying when I rode up to |
him, although he had taken q hand in |
several Indian fights and was reputed . |
brave fellow. The danger had come up
on him so suddenly as to overcome his |
nerves. The horses teeth had not bro
ken the skin through his thick clothing,
and he d ID not have Q bruise to show.