The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1890-10-09
A NATURAL TRAP.
GY FRANK GILLETTE.

I had been riding several hours
through the hot dust of a Southern Ari
zoDa plain on the trip from Antelope to
the home ranch. l had not seen a liv-
ing thing except the scurrying lizards,
when I noticed ahead man on horse
back, riding rapidly toward me.
At that point the trail led across
great cactus plain known as Lonesome
Valley. 1t was not a valley ut all in the
usual sense of the word, but broad,
level sweep of sandy desert stretching
between two abrupt ranges of mount
ains. There was not tree on it more
than ten feet high, but 1 will venture to
soy that there were more varieties of
cactus, and more of those villainous
plants to the square yard, than could be
found in any other spot on the globe.
Southern Arizona is the garden of the
cactus, and this desert must have been its
own particular hot-bed. l lad been in
the country scarcely six months, but 1
had already acquired horror of cactus
thorns, and guided my horse along the
trail with care which did not admit of
great speed.
The rider whom saw approaching Inc
in Lonesome Valley evidently had no
such fear. His animal, which he was
urging forward OF q rapid lope, swerved
easily to the right and left, threading the
mazes of the cactus growth with the
trained sense OF q Mexican pony.
AS they approached I made out that
the rider was Mexican. At q still closer
view saw that he was rather good
looking Mexican, but poorly dressed,
and that evidently he was on journey.
He had with him canteen, pair of
worn, grcisy blankets, aud a lightly
packed gunny sack. His horse was a
homely, sharp boncd animal, built for
speed and endurance, forced marches,
and long stages without water; but at
present he was certainly tired. will
not say "tired out" for these ponies are
never tired out until they arc dead.
The man checked his rapid pace as we
ncared each other, aud l thonght, was
about to pass with the customary buenos
dias, when he cast quick glance at my
horse, and reined in his own. I halted
also.
"You haf vera fine hoSS there, senor,"
he said, iu tone Of the utmost polite
ness.
My horse, which I called Montezuma,
was, in fact, q larger and better shaped
animal than is often seen in that coun-
try. l had picked him out for that reason
on my first visit to Antelope, and at the
time prided myself not a little on my
choice. He was, indeed, q horse of ex-
cellent appearance and action, but he
had some defects. His very build showed
that he was Northern or az Eastern
horse, and not native born, and I found
that he was hy no means equal to the ma
tive breed in endurance or wiry strength.
He could not travel as far nor go SO long
without water, nor was he as sure footed
However, he made an imposing ap-
peaIance, and served me very we'll in my
rides, which were chiefly for pleasure.
He pricked up his ears, and the polite
Mexican said again, "You haf vera fine
hoss, senor."
"Yes, he's very good hcrsc," re-
piled, not very cordially, but still with
courtesy, for it seemed to ME polite to be
courteous to man who was probably the
only human being within ten miles.
"He no born in thecs countree? Isec
no hoss lika heem in Arizona, nevare.
But, senor," with a glance at his own
sharp -boned, painting beast, ''there is
one vera eggscellanta MeXicana hoss. 1
rida heem now one, two, three day. 1
rida heem vera bard, and scc!"
lie touched the animal lightly with
his spurs, lifted the hand with which he
held the reins, and leaned forward The
horse spraug instantly into furious lopc,
as if he had but just been saddlcd for the
first time. The Mexican wheeled him
gracefully in long circle through the
cactus plants, and drew him in again on
his launches by my side.
"Ah, senior, he is the one hoss of one
meellionl He go and go and go, and
nevarc stop. He drink only the one time
a Gay, and he eat, ah, so leetlc! In one
year he no eat so mucha as o burro. But
perhaps the scnor," and here his face
wore most persuasive smile, "will lika
to cggschange3 The senior will yif to
to me hees hoss, and will gif to teem
my magnitico Chihuahua"
"No; do not wish to trade horses at
all, said, with less cordiality than be-
fore, as l began to feel decidedly uneasy
in the presence of this smiling for
eigner.
"No9" he said, in a tone of regret.
Then, after moment, his face lighting
up, he added: "Ah, but the sepor has
nevare tried heem! He docs not know