Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1895-12-13
UN UNEVEN RACE.
The Desperate Run of a Brave
California Bronco.
He Keeps Ahead of a Thoroughbred Race"
.horso Until He Falls from Exhaus-
tion A Thrilling Nara
tive .-.M

An exciting story is told by Crom'
well Galpin, in St. Nicholas, of a race
between bronco and big thorough.
bred horse. The former was ridden
by mere boy, Californian, who had
to file a certain paper in court before
noon in order to retain possession OF a
farm. The writer says:
There was still ming the one
thing that stirs a racer to his utmost
endeavoc. Felipe had almost forgot.
ten the horse behind him. Two-eyes
had not. He had been on the alert,
horse fashion, with one ear now and
again turned, and increased his speed
as the thoroughbred drew near. Felipe
turned his head with a sick feeling
that in minute more he would not be
obliged to turn his head to see. One
sidelong glance showed him a bay
horse with his head in the air, his
dainty ears upright and his frothing
mouth wide open. The rider stood in
his stirrups, leaning over his horses
neck with the reins wound around his
hands. White foam had gathered at
the saddle girth, and sweat dropped
from the horses body as he ran.
Felipe shut his teeth, and turned his
face toward Los Angeles. He did not
need to look long nor to know very
much about horses to see that this one
was true race horse, and the man a
steady and skillful rider.
And Two-eyes? Two-eyes heard the
quick hoof-beats, and the ''huh-huh,
huh~huh" of horse at speed, and felt
hot breath On his TANKS as the thor
oughbred drew alongside.
Not the unmusical cry of Tomas, not
the fierce shrek of the savage who in
the old days rode him-neither beating
with l1notted rope, nor cruel stroke Of
sharpest spur-could have gained from
the bronco horse the response he gave
to the challenge Of the thoroughbred.
The big head came down closer to the
ground, the hairy ears were laid back
till the name concealed them, and the
deep lungs labored as, through blazing
uostrils, the horse sucked in the strong
salt breeze.
So far the race had been run over level
ground; but as the riders approached
the city, the country became hilly and
the road rougher.
1t was not for nothing that Two-eyes
had spent five wild years in the Sierra
Madres, where the gray wolf and the
mountain lion are always swift and al
ways hungry; nor was it without ad-
vantage that Felipe's tomboy sister,
lgnacia, had raced the pinto horse over
this road till it was as familiar to him
AS the stableyard at home. TO the
bronco horse, used to the mountains
from colthood, the hilly road appeared
70 be rather relief. He galloped Ia
'oriously up the little hills and rushed
down the opposite sides with speed
that took away hi riders breath; he
jumped from hillock to hollow, and
across the little gulches; he lodged the
spots where re edlike grass showed that
the ground was wet and soft; and
whether running Or trotting or pro-
crossing by irregular jumps, he went on
his way with scarcely lessened speed.
The Thoroughbred had never been al
lowed to run except on smooth and
level track. He refused to leap the
first gully which crossed the road,
Tough it was scarcely a foot wide.
When LARRY made him face it again, he
jumped ten feet farther than was nee.
csslE:v, and stopped stock-still upon the
oi7poilte side. Then he bolted side
wise, and ran III the wrong direction:
and Harry felt as if his arms were be-
ing pulled off as he forced his horse to
return 70 the road.
as 'ioT I'wo-eves, he did what he
could. He was old, as horses wears are
counted. lie had run many races for
Apache masters who jerked his head
from side to side, and threw him out of
his stride, in their ignorant and fero-
Ions efforts to make him go faster. IN
all his life there had been but one Year
Il which his feed was regplat and good.
Of al the masters he had ever known
this was the only one who had called
upon aim for speed, riding with steady
hand ard watchful eye and inspiring
voice. sparing him needless pain
Il IS bronco nature to respond
heartily to these things, and Two.eyes
tried desperately to keep away from
the Gathering hoofs behind him. His
Breath came i'll gasps; his mouth was
ary: and his sight was dim; his treu1.
ping legs grew weak as side by side the
horses raced down the street leading to
The courthouse, now hardly a mile
away.
AS in a nightmare, Felipe saw the
thoroughbred forge ahead, the bony
1ead outstretched and down to the
eTel OF the withers, the dainty ears
aid fat, the crimson nostrlls widely
spread, and the eyes glaring with fierce
Ihe bronco ran on, but unsteadily.
felipe drew his legs out from under the
ope, and as he did so the bronco's feet
ank in the soft earth where a little
tream crossed the street. The horses
ourage was greater than his strength.
re plunged forward half dozen
tum bling strides, and fell just at the
dye of the little stream.
Felipe slid over his horses head into !
patch OF tules, and lay, half stunned |
ut not hurt, while the thoroughbred
OrSa naSSo1 o,,< ~ e:olA