The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1894-06-14
Creole aDdPQpital
A Character Study in
Three Parts.
By T. G. DE LEON.
By T. G. DE LEON.
PART lin THE SOUTH.

What need, indeed, of warning to the
man who had SO often ridden calmly in
the race of death?
Laundering on, his blood now aflame
his terrible hoofs not five yards away
almost already trampling PROSTATE man
and beast-on, closer, faster, thundered
the massive black!
And checking him neither by word
nor bit-no, urging him hotly with voice
and spur-his rider was as one blind to
the dread mischance before him.
CHOW, boy! Up, boy! up"
The bold, CHEEKY cry rings out above
tramp of hoof and shout of maddened
men. Clear and strong it floats back to
them with message of cheer. And with |
the words the firm hands steady on the |
reins; the 1.-the body swings back in the
saddle, and as it sways forward both
spurs go cruelty home.
Up goes the gallant horse, five feet be-
! fore the leap is reached-up into a ire
mendous bound that straightens beauti-
fully and sends him over PROSTATE horse
and rider-well beyond the water He
clears the leap gallantly, but he lands in
the very tracks of the Mexican mare
The heavy hind hoofs are well up on
that treacherous brink, but the pounded
earth slips beneath them-once!
The horse has done its best. Now for
the mans turn! Again that quick intui-
ton, fostered only in discipline and in
active warfare, called upon sure agility,
bred only in the training of the cavalry
school, and even as the horses forefeet
struck the bank Dale Everett cast loose
his stirrups and braced himself lightly
to the left.
AS Jonathans hind feet touched his
masters hand pressed strongly on his
; neck, we'll forward, and with wonderful
uuickness the man had landed on the
bank, his left hand grasplng the name,
his right the cantel of the saddle. Thus
lightened, the horses instinct urged an
other trial, the mans strength and
> weight thrown into the scale and,
+ quicker than can be told, with scarce a
i break in his stride, the gallant black
Y gathered for his next bound and took 1t
a Just as the practiced hurdler swung
s lightly from the ground, using his rise
e for leverage, and dropped into the saddle
!, he had quilted but the second before.
" No stopping for stirrups now, nc
=. finesse of hands or head, no ear for the
d roar of voices, the distant clapping OF
e hands-meed for that grand leap!
One thought only was in Dale Everett's
j. brain-a thought that seemed to flasl
d down the feathers and magnetic ni'
l. horse. He must win that race! He hat
70 risked too much for others and himself
g to lose it now! And, answering thu
~, thought, the black Strengthened his grea
az neck, stretched his lean muzzle level out
lie and strained every muscle to overtak
rk the mare, flying along full forty yard
," ahead.
RS Scarce quarter of mile to do it, toe
but man and horse were as one, and tn
81 longer stride told with every JUMP
~ Voice, hand and spur drove the blac
!, along now as he had not gone before
,r' The gap was closing fast, three length
|e. -two-scarcely one! Once more La Veg
ai called upon his mare, with voice and spr
Ill and whip. With final effort she answere
nd grandly, mending the great pace alread
L made.
IT. Had Everett misjudged the stay an
ia, fleetness of the Mexican2 Had he waite
-" too long,
Nv, A trifle pale, he shakes the rein loo
20 and gives the black the spur. In ru'
be like the wind the steeds tear on towa1
DIV the stand, hundred yards away. Clos
m. FORCES the black; he reaches the mare
)st flank, her girth, then laps her, nose al
nose, for twenty yards!
les The silence of death hangs upon t
lot crowds. With bated breath and strai
~, w. ing eyes women and men hang ON tn
, iv, gallant trial Suddenly the silence brea
with wild yell.
rod Just as the corner Of the long stand
be- reached the little mare slips inch by in
err away from the black, almost showi
md daylight between!
| is Thirty yards to hold that lead, a
to the race is hers Everett never moN
n'h his eyes from the mares head. Ere
81. easy and calm, he presses the spur lgh
. Io ON the noble horse under him. Jonath
are is doing his best! So they tear alol
and half the stands length is passed, a
an Jonathan only hugging the white maj
leir girth.
ace Again the wild yells rise from sta
are and stretch. IT'S plain now that
ms race is won, and that the Yankee
- lost It'll
pose Suddenly white flash Of the whip
Cne Eyerett's hand rises high in air. On
of So twice, it comes down with full force
and that timber wrist full on the blat
t bv neck. Never before has he felt the la
ON With culver of the nostril and w
human appeal in the eye, Jonathan g.