Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1891-02-28
A Ride on the Prairie.

"Speaking of riding, said the colo
mel, as reported in the New York Tri.
bune, "there is only one horse in the
world that can carry 160 pounds on
his back all day at a clipping gait,
and that's mustang. A mustang
would rather run than eat oats.
You can't kill one of them, and, as
for firing him, it's no use to try. |
remember little ride which | made
once in Colorado. l had been in
charge of the old mans cattle camp,
and got one of those insane notions
into my head that wanted to go to
Denver. / made up an excuse that
the old man had sent for me to come
to Denver to see about driving in a
thousand head. and slipping into my
saddle, turned my mustangs head
toward the railroad ninety miles
away, and let the little rat make his
own pace. When reached the rail-
road / put up my mustang and
boarded the first train for Denver.
81 hadn't been in the town thirty
minutes before / met Sam Wilson,
who always staid in Denver with
the old man"
"'Hullo! What are you doing
here?' he said.
| "The old man sent for me. an
swered promptly.
1.-the deuce he did, said Sam,
with a twinkle in his eye He took
the 10 O'Clock train this morning
bound for the ranch
"'See here, Sam said, making q
breast of it, don't say anything
about this, and it will be a fine din
ner for you when he does send fol
me. can get train in two hours
that will give him only five hours til,
start OF me. and with hard riding
can beat him into the ranch, taking
the upper trail,
$50 it. my boy answered Sam
) and my blessings be with you
when / stepped off the train tn
night was like pitch, and har
+; .sleet was driving across the prairie
! i was in my saddle within ten mir
: ntes. and sinking out the reins toucl
I ed my mustangs TANKS with m
Y spurs. He shot away like an arrow
( and then settling down close to til
> ground dug along beautifully. III
:, .sleet stung like pin darts, but m
= mustang climbed alongin the darl
ness without a word or touch otti
4 la1r hn EhnN
ed any fight, and TINT was when
turned him into the upper trai
There was a climb here, and ii
S going was bad, and the mustan
= seemed to think | was crazy to tai
! the trail. After got him into
however, he slipped away and wei
: scurrying along like a nimble ra
n bit.
If "Along the trail We went, tai
II ing to the mustang all the time.
!, times the sleet burned my face al
+" hands and neck and ears so that
Is pulled down the mustang and
% my face lie against his warm, dri
" ping neck under his heavy maj
!. Then we were off again on anoth
!; race.
! II don't know how long we w
- on that ride, for | took no time
- either end oil it. But when | reach
- camp there were no lights burnin
=, ~ and / knew that / had beaten t
ir old man.
- {" See here, boys | said, stalk
y inside and wringing the wet fro
i. my beard, the old man is co mir
- and you needn't say anything abe
g my going to Denver l heard
: chucEle under the blankets. Th
- understood me in minute, a
-, were laughing at my ride,
~ 90 I'll sit up for him. said.
nc ought to be along in an hour, a
10 way, and it is almost daylight nc
ne Another chuckle, and then peace
,as snoring.
Nd "When did the old man re;
-, camp? He didn't come. 1t was
he trick played on meby that s
Wilson -