The Press., 1892-10-06

through the open loop. He touched only to spurn it's vain assault with his hind most hoof.
 ssHurrahr' cried.
 "Hurrahi t is," shouted Gerrian.
 Jose dragged in his spurned lasso.
 The black, with elated head, and tail waving like banner, sprang forward, closed in with the caballada; they parted for his passage, he took his leadership, and presently was lost with his suite over the swells of the prairie.
 'sNucho malichop' cried Gerrian to Jose, not knowing that his California Spanish was Interpreting Hamlet. "He ought to hev druv 'em straight to corral But don't feel so sharp set on lettin yer hey that black after that shine. Reglar circus, only thar never was no sich seen in no circus! You'll never ride him, al- lowin he's cotched, no more'n you'll ride a alligator"
 Meantime, loping on, we had come in sight of the corral. There, to our great surprise, the whole band of horses had voluntarily entered. They were putting | their heads together as the manner of so- cial horses is and going through kissing maneuvers in little knots, which pres ently were broken up by the heels of some i'll hammered or jealous brother They were very probably discussing the blacks act of horsemanship, as men after the ballet discuss the first entrechat of the danseuse.
 We rode up and fastened our horses. The black was within the corral paving the ground, neighing and whinnying. His companions kept at a respectful dis tance.
 "Don't send in Jose!' said 1 to Ger rian. "Only let him keep off the horses, so that shall not be kicked, and will try my hand at the black alone" | "Pll hev 'e1n all turned out except that black devil, and then you ken go in and take your own resk with him. A1kee Josev' continued the ranchero, "fwarer toethosel Dayher hel diablol''
 Jose drove the herd out of the staked inclosure. The black showed no spe- cial disposition to follow. He trotted about at his ease snuffing at the stakes and bars.
 I entered alone. Presently he began to repeat the scene of our first meeting on the prairie. It was not many min utes before we were good friends. Ht would bear my careSses and my arm about his neck and that was all for an hour. At last, after a good hours work, I persuaded him to accept halter. Then by gentle seductions induced him to start and accompany me homeward.
 Gerrian and the Mexican looked on in great wonderment.
 "Praps that is the best way" said the modern patriarch, 'ef man has got patience. Locker here, stranger, ain't you a terrible fellow among women!''
 confessed my want of experience.
 "Well, you will be when your time comes. allowed from seeing you handle that thar hoss that you had got your hans, in on women-they is the wust devils to tame ever seed"
 had made my arrangements to start about the first of September with ,i:, Sacramento mail riders. n brace of jol;' dogs, brave fellows, who. with thair scalps as we'll secured as might be, ran the gantlet every alternate month to Salt Lake. That was long before the days of coaches. No pony express was dreamed of. A trip across the plains without escort or caravan had still some clements of heroism. If it have not today
 Meantime one of my ardent partner! from San Francisco arrived to take my place at the mine.
 "I don't think that quartz looks quite so goldy as it did at distance" said he
 "Wen," said old Gerrian, who hat come over to take possession of his share of our bargain; 'it Is whiter'n it's yaller It does look about as bad off fur slugs as the cellar of an Indiana bank. But bleeve in luck, and luck is olluz comir at me with it's head down and both eyes shet. Pm goan to shove bullocks dow1 this here hole, or the price of bullocks until make it pay.
 1 My wooing of the black occupied al my leisure during my, last few days Every day circle of Pilkes collected te see my management. hope they took lessons in the law of kindness. The horse was well known throughout the country, and my bargain with Gerriar was noised abroad.
 The black would tolerate no one but me. With me he established us close { brotherhood as can be between man and beast. He gave me to understand, by playful protest, that it was only by his good pleasure that I was permitted or his back and that he endured saddle and bridle; as to spur and whip, they were not thought of by either. He did not obey, but consented. I exercised no con. trol We,were of one mind. We became Centaur. loved that horse as have loved nothing else yet, except the other personages with whom and for whom he acted in this history.
 I named him Don Fulano.
 had put my mine into him. He rep resented to me the whole visible. tangible result of two long, workaday years, drag ged out in that dreary spot among the Pikes, with nothing in view except barrer hillsides ravaged by mines, and the un beautiful shanties of miners as rough a: the landscape.
 Don Fulano, horse that would not sell, was my profit for the sternest ant toughest work of my life! looked a him and looked at the mine, that pile oi pretty pebbles, that pile of bogus ore and did not regret my bargain. never have regretted it. My kingdom for { horse"-so much of 9 kingdom as I had S~s~se ee@aa~~saasaAaeaaaa $ WORTH A GUINEA A 1ox."$