Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1888-10-26
RIDING A WILD BRONCO.
ft,!!ttins on the Saddle and Eridie-Capers
of an Angry Brute.

fu!t;ng on the Saddle and Eridie-Capers
of an Angry Brute.
See him jump; hear him snort and hawl:
even the thick post to which have fastened
the rope trembles. He will change his tao
tics soon. Seei He wavers, staggers; ahl
there he falls, choked down. Now. quick,
Bill, hand me the bride and blind. There,
loosen the rope. let him get some air; now
he's all right let him up. He rises with one
or two sonorous snorts and stands stock sill;
he will give me no trouble as long as he is
blinded Will one of you fellows hand me
my saddles GENTLY Ho, boyl Look out,
Charley, he'll kick your head off. Is he not
beauty. as he stands trembling in every
limb ready to strike down the first one OF
his hidden tormentorss
gently hand the rope and reins to one of
the fellows to hold while fix the blankets.
Bee him finch and tremble as they touch his
back, but, true to his nature, he will not
move as long as he cannot see. now take
the saddle and quickly but gently place it on
his back. This is almost too much for him.
He gives one little jump, but | hold it in
place and, be becomes quiet, then fish
for the 'cincha" tgirth,. Slowly but surely
it comes closer and closer to his body until
1t is secure at last.
As it touches him he crouches little closer
to the ground but will not move. He is sui
len now, but wait until the blind is raised,
then look out, for | tell you, stranger. it
will make your hair stand Then taking
a secure hold on the rope | throw up the
blind. Look out, boys, and let him CO. for
he is surely wild. See him jump. He can't
get up high enough; snorting and pitching,
striking and kicking, he goes around the cor
raj "Git thar, roaniel show these pilgrims
how the things done"
Roanie stops his wild capers for a minute
and stands trembling, covered with foam
ind sweat, by the corral bars. | walk slowly
up to him, talking as | go, and when | get
near enough | pull down the blinds and get
ready to mount. My ''quirt" whip is in
my hand and my spurs are on my heels.
grit my teeth, pull down my hat and in
q twinkling am on his back. Talk about
"pitching" before; why it was nothingl
Look at him now. SQUIRT him. kidd" "Gaf
him in the neckl" ''Stay with himf" "Where
do you liveg' and similar CALCULATIONS greet
Inc as / go on my mad career around the cor
raj, but pay no attention to anything but
The horse, and he requires it all.
'sTake down the bars and let him outT
gasp as pass Bill, who is seated on top of
them. Down they come, and in minute he
has changed his tactics.
Through the gate the bronco goes like an
arrow and across the prairie on dead run,
I''fanking" him at every jump, for l am
sure of riding him now. After keeping this
up for about mile he cools down and al
lows me to turn him toward the ranch. We
get there in short order, for l want to tire
him pretty well before l am done with him
for the night.
Well, Roanie, here we are at the corral.
You can rest until tomorrow, but the same
performance must be gone through then.
He viii be pretty weak by that time for he
will get no hay tonight and he is too angry
to drink. Well, l rode the ''bronc," but it
Eas close shave, for he was tough one,
sure enough. 1t was my first experience,
md was pretty proud of it, can tell you.