Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1891-08-22
MERcILEss rHUNDERBoLr.

ninoont CroaturosL
We were encamped in . valley about
. mile long and half . mile wide
cove, you might call it, which was sur
rounded on three sides by the walls Of
the Gaudalope Mountains Of Texas, and
the fourth side was open to the green
prairie which went rolling away to the
east . hundred miles without Q break.
It was bay off lake-a nook shell
tered from everything but the skies
above. It was summer time, and the
mountain sides were covered with green
to hide the ugly rocks; cascades of the
purest and coolest water poured down
into the valley at intervals, and the car
pet which nature had spread for our
feet was beyond the handiwork of man.
The grass was about six inches high, Of
. dark green. and mingled with it in
the darkest profusion were the flowers
OF the Western prairie in endless varie-
ty, while here and there the grass
blushed with patches of red ripe straw
berries.
One morning when we had been in
camp about week, and just as the sun
was rising out of the prairie and send
ing flood of golden light into the val
ley to kiss away the shimmering dew
drops. we were startled by q shrill
neigh and the sound of galloping hoofs,
and We turned out to behold one of the
grandest sights of prairie life-a wild
horse. He was all alone, and he had
come in from the open prairie to inves-
tigste US and treat us to such an exhibi-
ton as only the oldest plainsman ever
saw.
He was black as midnight sixteen
hand coal-black horse, with flow
ing name and tail, o perfect
model, with q blazing white star
on his forehead. This star, or
spot, was so white by contrast that
we at first believed it to be some artifi-
cial mark. He came laundering down
straight upon us until about two hun.
ared feet away, when he swerved to the
left with snort of alarm and ran across
the valley. Our horses were hobbled
behind the tent, and as one of them
neighed welcome to the stranger he |
came galloping back. The sight of hu-
man beings was no novelty to him. He |
came within hundred feet this time.
and then stopped suddenly and reared |
up and snorted and paved the air. No |
'ne thought of doing him harm, but
avery one settled down to enjoy the
light.
After q moment the horse began Q !
circuit about three times as large as .
circus ring. And for half an hour he
trotted, cantered and galloped
Is if he carried circus rider who de-
ired to show off his PAGES. With head
leld proudly erect, with name flying on
he breeze he created-with tail sweep
ng the flowers as he moved, he pre-
ented such picture of an ideal horse
hat we cheered him again and again.
low he rushed around the circle he
lad marked out as if under the whip
nd spur of q jockeY-now ambled and
reared up and shook his
ead in q playful way and challenged
IS to catch him. Our horses neighed
nd snorted and strained at their stout .
obbles, anxious to enjoy his freedom,
nd one would have thought from his {
ctions that he was taunting them with I
heir bondage.
BY and by, as We continued TO watch !
is antics, we became aware that q {
loud was rising off the prairie. It {
anne up, seemingly from the green !
rass, no larger than mans hand, and {
ven as it climbed up the horizon it !
rev in size very slowly. At sea it
'ould have been called an "ox-eye." or {
luall. There was q dash of rain in it,
nd it Lad that ugly green look which
Ills of bolt or two of lightning stored s
p to wreak vengeance upon something. q
We had no fear, however, and had 6
lrned again to the horse when he g
'opped his play and stood facing the 9
oud. His head was held high, his l
MS worked back and forth and his c
yes fairly blazed with excitement as he q
fled his right foreleg and paved at the j
rass. Nearer came the cloud, and the c
orse uttered q snort of defiance,
heeled around two or three times, and
lddenly reared up until we thought 8
3 would 60 over and paved the air. c
Crack! Crack! There was a flash /
hich blinded us-a shock which threw .
7ery man to the earth, and for thirty 8
'conds no one moved or spoke. Then +
9 struggled up, confused and Devil. Z
sred, to see the gallant horse lying c
zone on the grass. We went out to t
m and saw that he was quivering in d
70 agonies of death. The white spot 4
/ his forehead had disappeared-
orched and withered by the thunder.
Dit which had aimed for it and found
70 target.
We could have shot him down as he y
in front of us, but we would y
It even raise stick to brighten him. q
be thunderbolt had been merciless-p
ID more; it had selected one of na- v
res noblest type of animal life for its
ctim and smote him down at one fell G
ow-N. y World.
wSsley's Electricity. y
While the religious sect which he
unded has been celebrating the CEN v
nary of John Wesley, how many of