Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1891-10-30

Needed-Tbe Animals Followed Leis-
urely Until They Become Docile-The
Lasso Business II Myth.
OF all the sports peculiar to the plains
none are endowed with greater attractions.
by the imagination of the average youth,
than that of catching wild horses
To make success of it one must possess
an iron constitution, unlimited patti nee,
good judgment and the ability to take
events as they come. All that is needed in
the way of an outfit is blackboard and
team, three or four saddle horses, "A camp.
ing kit and enough supplies for twenty
days. The wild horse is a great lover of
home, and unless constantly disturbed will
range in the same locality for years. It is
by taking advantage of this trait that the
hunters--they always work in pairs-cap.
ture them.
The first duty is to locate a band; then
find out the extent of their range, their
various watering places, study them
through a field glass, noting any popularity
of gait or any odd colors among them;
above all get the correct number. The OBJ
ject of this is to so fix the bunch in mind
as to readily distinguish them from others
running in the same country.
THE CORRAL.
These prelimnaries attended to- the next
question is locating the corral. On this IA
good deal depends. Generally some arroyo
or draw that extends well out into the
plains is selected Care must he token that
water is convenient and that there is suf-
ficient growth of timber to hide the in
closure from two sides. The better to re
sst the frantic efforts of the captives the
pen is built in the form of circle. The
posts, deep set, lean slightly inward, and
as further precaution are braced from the
outside. Each panel is then bound with
green rawhde. Wings made of brush ex.
tend out in front for 100 yards
Whatever underground there may be be
tween is left standing, the more efectually
to hide the trap. All evidences of labor in
the way of chips and clods of earth are
carefully removed. If bars are used in
stead of a gate they must be placed where
they can he quickly thrown into position
Some spot close by, yet out of sight, is Sc
lected for camp, and preparations are
made for the start.
Bread sufficient for few days is baked,
coffee ground, and in fact whatever can
be done to relieve the hunter of all labor
while on the trip is attended to. The next
morning one of the partners starts for that
portion of the range where observation has
shown the band most likely to be.
WALKING THEM DOWN.
At sight of the outfit the mustangs hud-
die together for few moments, the more
wary walking nervously around the
others. Then off they 90, the stallion al
ways behind, Ieeping between his charges
and the threatened danger. A mile or
more away they stop and face around, the
/ leader with arched neck trots back IA few
yards, paws the ground as he gazes long
/ and earnestly at the strange object plod-
ding slowly toward him. Then, as if he
had solved the mystery, he gives IA neigh of
alarm and the whole band go laundering
out of sight.
The hunter notes their course fills his
pipe and settles back for IA long ride There
is no hurry here. His is the waiting race
carried To the utmost bounds of patience.
! The chance, are he will See nothing of his
quarry for an hour or more. and even then
it may be only a column of dust far ahead
which tells him that the watchfUl leader
has been on guard and again has his harem
on the run.
So the morning passes, the mustangs
keeping the same general direction in
which they started. At noon the team j.
embarrassed and allowed To craze for an
hour, when the chase, if such it can he
called, is resumed. During the afternoon
at every favorable point the glass l. used to
see whether the pursued are still on ahead
BY shutdown it Is likely the limits of the
range have been reached and the band is
crcling back The hunter makes camp
waters his animals from the key, gives
them plenty of picket rope and turns IL
early.
As it is by wearing them out that he
hopes to accomplish his end, he is on the
move as soon as there i sufficient light t.
be of any service. The days work is he
gun by cutting for sign" If the trai
shows they have returned, he joys along
keeping a sharp lookout in ell directions
II he sees nothing of them he shoves on tc
the watering place.
SECURED AT LAST.
Likely enough the band, thirsty from
yesterdays run, are ahead of him, and
having drank their fiji, are stretched out
on the grass that grows thick and soft as
Il robe around the lake. On the contrary
if the mustanger is there first, so much tn,
better. The team is watered, ne key is re
filled and he waits. Nor is the vigil :
long one, for that line of animals, strun-
out in Indian lille along an old buffalo trd
leading to the water, are he objects of Ai'
search. At sight of the hucknuard they
are gone again. and Yesterdays experience
Is repeated today.
So il continues, with many trials anC
disappointmenIs, for Il week. BY that
time, if the hunter il up IN his cuisines