The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1896-07-31
ON THE PLAINS.

a number of officers We're amusing
themselves with games, races, shoot
ing and boxing.
Suddenly an Indian mounted upon
a splendid stallion, was seen gal
Iopiug towards them along the bank
of the Arkansas, close to the edge of
the stream. lie checked the smoki ing
animal near the group which soon
gathered around him, admiring both
horse and horseman. He had caught
the beast only two days before upon
the prairie, where it waS roaming III
native wildnesS, and he was, riding as
he said, towards the settlements i'll
order to barter if for the commodities
with which the savage had once been
uuacquainted, but which now are in
dispensable to him.
What To the settlements :? said
n captain of dragons named Brown.
You are going TO the sett emeutS,
Kolibri? What would the people
there do with such IL noble animal ?
Come here Indian. | will buy HIM OF
you, but you must first shoot me an
antelope from his back without losing
your seat. Ii you can do that, | will
give you the half of what you ask ard
my gun into the bargain"
IA vi iIiOShVIN pa tNl over Illt
Indians lips as he listened 70 thes e
conditions. Lose his seat. The
thought was an insult.
Let the longknife,n he replied,
ride this mustang only a single time
before that skin that is spread out
yonder, and if he does not then kiss
his mother will try what | can do
upon the skin that covers the live
animal.
Good ~ cried the bystanders, and
Brown, with Il laugh, accepted the In
dams challenge.
The Indians beckoned to one of the
soldiers TO step forward and directed
him to hold the horses head while, in
spite of his kicking and plunging,
lie put saddle and bride upon the
animal.
In the meanwhile Brown, who was
an excellent horseman, having salts
fled himself that everything was in or
der, grasped the bride and leape;l
into the saddle.
The Indian mt once set the suortins
beast at liberty, and it bounded away
like the wind, leaping and plunging as
if resolved to unseat its rider. But
the bride was in the hands of a mas
ter. 1t was in truth Il charming spec.
tacle to see the prudence, firmness and
deXttrity with which the captain iui-
tiated the noble but FESTIVE animal
into the mysteries OF the snafile. AT
ter its headlong fire had somewhat
ahated and before he touched it will
the spur, he rode it slowly and quietly
back and forth across the prairie, and
holibri watched with admirlng salts
faction.
After having ridden the horse
around N wide circle. Captain Brown
galloped back toward the spectators
and then turned the animal head
suddenly and sharply toward the
frame pointed out by the Indian. uDon
which hung Il fresh and still bleeding
buffalo skin. A Slight elevation of the
soil as yet prevented the horse from
seeing it, but he doubtless, scented it,
for he stopped short, snorting and
stamping, and drew in his finely arch.
ed neck. But a horseman like Brown
cared but little for the fear of the
foaming stallion. A slight touch of
the spur sent him leapinS furiously
forward, and at the third bound he
found himself close and directly be
fore the object of his terror.
For moment a cloud of dust hid
man and horse. When it disappeared,
Captain Brown was seen as firmly
seated in the saddle as ever.
Laughing, lie galloped back to his
comrades and gave the bride into the
hands of the Indian.
The savage has acquired a good
idea OF your horsemanship, cap
TAIN" said one of the officers. "He
was astonished to see you manage the
beast so well"
Yet it is singular" replied Brown.
that so shrewd an Indian does not
seem to understand how to anticipate
the movements of his horse as we'll as
white man. All he thinks of is to
guide and restrain his beast, to keep
his seat and to shoot game from the
back of the animal when at full speed.
while perhaps at the very moment
that he leans to one side for this pur-
pose the horse starts toward the other,
and then he is almost sure to be
thrown.
II do not quite comprehend, said
the officer, who had but lately been
transferred to the distant western
regions.
well" said Brown, when. for ex
ample, you bend sidewise from the
saddle to take aim at any object while
riding at full speed and the horse SHES
backward, it is pretty plain that man
and horse must part"
But how do you explain that |
do not understand-n
A sudden exclamation from Kolibri
interrupted this grave dissertation.
lie was pointing toward the horizon.
The officers had scarcely looked in the
objection toward which his arm was
extended when the joyous cry, BUT
ialOes ~ echoed from mouth t0mouth.
ut is impossible" cried Captain
Brown. by heaven, it can't be! SO
near, at this season? My horse here,
my lad Glorious And, in fact, the
cloud of dust yonder is almost too
thick for band of traders. What say
you TO it kolibri :"
The warrior had in the meantime
removed the saddle and bride from
his animal, and before replying he
leaped upon it's back and gaZed atteu-
lively across theprairie.
Speak, Indian, speak What sees
KOlibri 20
"He sees Captain Browns gun in
his wigwam and buffalo meat before
shutdown"
Away, then - exclaimed Brown.
sprnging quickly into the saddle.
The Indian slackened the bride to
his wild horse, and Captain Brown
who was admirably mounted, spurred
closely upon the traces of the chief.
Followed by the remaining officers,
they soon reached the herd, which on
perceiving their assailants at once
took to flight. The horses gained
upon them, however Kolibri seemed
at first to have selected IL fat Young
cow for his victim, but from feeling
of pride he scorned the easy prey and
spurrel fnriOusly after the leaders of
the butfaiOes, an enormous bull. BY
thus aiming Mt the head of the herd
he caused the beasts to dispense in
wild confusion over the plain, and the
chase became scattered. But in the
midst of this disorder koIibri still pur-
sued the victim that he had selected
He spurred his steed along IFS TANKS,
waiting for favorable opportunity to
shoot. Three times he had InGiln
wise, refrained, seeking IL sure and
deadly aim.
The herd now plunged across
marshy spot OF ground aud the horse
although not wenried, had lost some
what of its wild mpptuosity and obey
ed more willingly the suie hand of its
rider. Dashing through the break ing
reeds at the side vi the enUruous ami