Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1895-10-06
UN UNEVEN RACE.
The Desperate Run OF a Bravo
California Bronco.
He Keeps Ahead of n Thoroughbred Race
.horse Until He Falls from Exhaus-
ton = A Thrilling Maria
tive.

IN SASllIhR ohoAy - NOAN
well Galpin, in st. Nicholas, of q race
between n bronco and u big thorough
bred horse. The former was ridden
by n mere boy, n Californian, who had
to file u certain paper in court before
noon in order to retain possession OF a
farm. The writer says:
There was still wal ing the n
thing that stirs u racer to his utmost
endcavor. Felipe had almost forgot
ten the horse behind him. Two-cyes
had not. lie had been on the alert,
horse fashion, with n ear now and
again turned, and increased his speed
Us the thoroughbred drew Felipe
turned his head with n sick feeling
that in a minute more he would not be
obliged to turn his head to see. One
sidelong glance showed him Il bay
horse with his head in the air, his
dainty ears upright and his frothing
mouth wide open. The rider stood i'll
his stirrups, leaning over his horses
neck with the reins wound around his
hands. White foam had gathered ut
the saddle girth, and sweat dropped
from the horses body us 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 II
was a r race horse. and the man 4
steady and Il skillful rider.
And Two-cycs? Two-eycs heard the
quick hoof-bcats, and the ''huh-huh,
huh-huh' of n horse NJ speed, and felt
hot breath ON his tanks us 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-ncitllcr beating
with knotted rope, nor cruel stroke %:
sharpcst spur-could have gained from
the bronco horse the response hc 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
nostrils, the horse sucked in the strong
salt breeze.
So far the race had been run over level
ground; but rs the riders approached
the city, the country became hilly and
the road roughcr.
1t was no for nothing that Two-cycs
had spent five wild years in the Sierra
Madrcs, where the gray wolf and the
mountain lion are always swift and al
ways hungry: nor was it without adj
vantage that Fclipc's tomboy sister,
lgnacia, had raced the pinto horse over
this road till it was as familiar to him
rs the stablcyard at home. To the
bronco horse, used to the mountains
from colthood, the hilly road appeared
to be rather 4 relief. lie gallopcd la
b~oriOusly mp the little hills and rushed
do%n the opposite sides with n speed
that took away his riders breath; he
jumped from hilloclt to hollow, and
across the little gulchcs; he lodged the
spots where rcCdiiSe grass showed that
the ground was wet and soft; and
whether running Oh trotting or pro-
grcs5inG ~ irregular jumps, he went on
his way Hili scarcely lcsscncd speed.
TAr thoroughbred had never been al
lowed 10 run except on Il smooth and
| level track. lie refused to leap the
iirst gully which crossed the road.
though i; was scarcely n foot wide.
When larry made him face il again, he
jumped ten feet farther than wa nee.
csa!"y, and stopped stock-still upon the
opposite side. Then he boltcd side.
wise and ran in the wrong direction;
Harry Irlt rs if his arms were he.
ing pulled OFF as lie forced his horse Ia
return to thc road.
As for TwU-cycs, he did what he
could. He was old, rs horses years are
counted. lie had run many races fOr
Apache masters w.:o jcrlScd his head
from side to side, and threw him out OF
his stride. in their ignorant and Zero.
ciOus efforts To make him 20 faster. In
all his lifC there had been but one year
III Which his feed was regular and good;
Of ail IL" casters he had ever known
this WIS TAG only one who had cail.l
upon him FOR speed, riding with stcaoy
hand aad wutrhful eye and inspiring
voice, spaviug him needless pain.
II - romeo nature to respond
heartily To these things, and TwO-cyc.,
tried desperately to keep away from
the entering hoofs behind him. Iii,
brcii!, came in gasps; his mouth wa
dry. and his sight was dim; his trcui-
bling icga grew weak as side by side the
horses raced down the street leading tn
the courthouse, now hardly n mflo
away
AS in II nightmare, Felipe saw the
thoroughbred forge ahead, the bony
head outstrctchGd and down TO the
level OF the withers, the dainty ears
laid flat, the crimson nostrIls widely
spread, and the eyes glaring with fierce
caGcrncss.
The bronco ran on, but unstcadilv.
Felipe drew his legs out from under the
rope. and as he did so the broncO's feet
sank in the soft earth where a little
stream crossed the street. The horses
courage was greater than his strength.
He plunged forward half II dozen
stumbling strides, and fell just Mt the
edge Of the little stream.
Felipe slid over his horses head into
II patch Of tulcs, ana lay, half stunned
but not hurt, while the thoroughbred
horse passed out OF sight and hearing,
and the dust his flying feet had raised
settled down upon the quiet street.