Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1893-01-03
CHAPTER II.
DON YuLANo.

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Ashe rode ne ,ohtried his lasso.
After hobnobbing with cracked tum.
bles Of the Mission Dolores wine, Ger.
rian and l mounted our mustangs and
rode toward the corral.
As we rode on. our ponies half hidden
In the dry. rustling grass Of hollow, q
tramp Of hoofs came to us with the wind
IA thrilling soundl with something free
md vigorous In IL that the charge Of
Trained squadrons never has.
"Thar they comer' cried Gerriau,
"tharis regiment wuth seeing. They
can't show you sight like that to the
old states"
"No indeed. The best thing to be
hoped there in the way Of stampede Is
when horse kicks througha dashboard,
kills coachman. skaters o carriage.
dissipates q load OF women and children,
and goes tearing down turnpike. with
sold to an omnibus awaiting him at the
end Of his runawayi"
We halted to pass the coming army Of
hderless steeds In review.
There they camel Germans whole
band Of horses In full careeil First, their
heads siddenly lifted above q crest OF
the prairie; then they burst over, like the
foam and spray Of q black, stormy wave
when blast strikes 1t, and wildly swept
by us with names and tails faring In the
wind. It was magnificent. Ny heart
Of horseman leaped In my breast.
"Hurrah!" cried.
"Hurrahi I Isl" said Gerrian.
The herd dashed by In a huddle. max.
Ing for the corral.
Just behind, aloof from the rush and
scamper Of his less noble brethren, came
the black, my purchase, my old friend.
"Ef you ever ride or back that cur.
wolyow," says Gerrian, "l'll eat o six
shooter. loaded and capped"
"You'd better begin then at once" !" re-
Joined I, "whetting your teeth on Der.
ringers. I mean to ride him. and you
snail Dc Dy when 10 u.
II was grand to see q horse that under.
stood and respected himself so perfectly.
One, too, that meant the world should
know that he was the very chiefest chief
Of his race, proud with the blood OF
thousand kings. How mastery he lookedl
How untamably he steppedi The herd
was gslloping furiously. He disdained
to break into gallop. He trotted after.
. hundred feet behind the hindmost, with
large and liberal action. And even at
this half speed easily overtaking his
slower comrades, he from time to time
paused, bounded In the air, tossed his
head, fung out his legs and then strobe
on again, writhing all over with sup.
pressed power.
There was not q white spot upon him,
except where fake Of foam from his
indignant nostril had caught upon his
flank. A thoroughbred horse. with the
perfect tail and silky name Of noble
race. His coat glistened, IN II the best
groom In England had Just given him
the final touches Of his toilet for can.
ter In Rotten Row. But II seems sin to
compare such free rover Of the prairie
with any less favored brother, who needs
= groom and has felt currycoinb.
Hard after the riderless horses came
Jose, the vaquero, on . fast mustang.
As he rode he whirled his lasso with
easy turn OF the wrist.
The black, trotting still and haltina
still to curvet and caracole. turned back
his head contemptuously ut his pursuer.
Jose took the hint. He dag cruel spurs
into his horse. The mustang leaped for.
ward. The black gave tearing bound
and quickened his pace, but still waited
the will Of his pursuer.
They were just upon rs, chased and
chaser, laundering down the slope. when
the vaquero. checking his wrist at the
turn, fung his lasso straight rs nm arrow
for the blacks head.
could hear the hide rope sing through
the summer air, for . moment breeze.
less.
VIII he be takeni Will horse or man
be victOri
The loop of the lasso opened like a
hoop. Il hung poised for one instant q
few feet before the horse's head, vibrst.
ing In the air. keeping It's circle perfect,
waiting for the vaqueros pull to tighten
about that proud neck and those swelling
shoulders.
Hurrahl
Through Il went the black.
With one brave bound he dashed
through the open loop. He touched only
to spurn its vain assault with his hind.
most hoof.
"Hurrah!" cried.
"Hurrahi I is," shouted Gerrian.
Jose dragged In his spurned lasso.
The black, with elated head. aud tail
waving like o 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
ths swells Of the prairie.
"Mucho malichoi" cried Gerrisn to
Jose. not knowing that his California
Spanish was interpreting Hamlet "He
ought to hev druv 'em straight to corral.
But don't feel 20 sharp cot on lettin yer
hev that black after that shine. Reg1ar
circus, only thar never was no sich seen
In no circusi You'll never ride him. al.
lowin he's cotchsd. no mors'n you'll ride
q alligator"
Meantime. Looping 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 hsads together - the manner Of 20
cial horsss 10 and going through hssing
mansuvsrs IN little knots. which pre-
entity werS BROKEN up BY the heels Of
some III hammered o. Jealous brother.
Thsy wszs very probably discusGng The