The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1897-08-05
N a leep trench, stout sapl.nrs lushee

the colt going to leap the corral in a
TT OF despair. or would he dash himself
bodily against il? On he vent, his
speed increasing at every bound. until
he reached a point from whence
with another leap he would have
impaled himself upon the top of
the corral. Here he stopped dead
Ii his tracks, his feet thrown out in
front of him stitiy. blowing up the
earth, and his nose almost touching the
ground.
Another trick" growled Ezekiel.
at was that way he sent Bob scootin',
10 dash his brains agin that hard log
wall"
Joe Startling never moved. He had
lost all hold of the pony's head. out he
chung to him with long, powerful limbsj
and held OIL like a barnacle,
At this piece OF Craftsmanship we all
vociferously cheered, The sound
seemed to raise the horse afresh. His
head sank lower, and he lifted his
heels with a sudden extraordinary jerk,
which very. very nearly uuseated Joe.
But for the horn of his saddle he must
have gone. This saved him. and he
slipped back securely into his seat.
Now a new phase in the struggle began.
All this time Joe had played IA passive
part, allowing the broncho To take him
where he would, and how he would,
feeling at the bride now and then, but
without making any determined at
tempt to check his mad ~froIics, At this
point, however, he suddenly seemed TO
wake into life and action. He drew in
the bride with "A powerful wrench.
twisted the broncho's head from the
wall of the corral. and then. for the first
time, drove in his spurs with a viii. The
answer was a violent ft Of bucking. and
| expected every moment to see the see
ond girth split. 1t held, however, and
the bucking presently subsidized. But
there was to be no rest now. In went
the spurs again, and away went bron-
cho capering. twisting, spinning round
this way and that; leaping, kicking,
rearing, as actively as ever. The sane
process was repeated several times, and
iII'l 'htll ia " = Nv ~ i'NNt
over his saddle-bow, and a look of weari-
ness and pallor crept into his face very
painful to see. But he never faltercd,
and at length the time came when the
touch of the spur drove the colt round
the corral instead of into the air. and
we began TO feel that an end would
come some time. Once Joe even
stopped TO stroke the foam-fecked neck
of the pony careSsingly; and. as he did
so, the animal stood still. his ears
pricked forward, his eyes free from
vicious devilment. Soon after this,
when the colt had been guided right
round the corral without bucking once,
Joe turned to look at us, and spoke for
the first time. His voice was so weak
and faint that it made me start.
Hell do. Drop the bars"
There was a rush and scramble Of
cowboys to the gate, and a clear way
was made. The last critical moment
was now at hand. Joe guided the bron-
cho gently toward the gate. At first
the animal sweryed from it perrersely,
but one through Il new life seemed to
rush into his limbs, and he began to
prance and chafe at the bit. Once again
Joe drew himself together. "A spasln of
pain passing over his face. as he
Strengthened his back; then he loosened
the bride, and lightly tlicked the bron-
cho OH the flank. The pony shook him
self and bounded forward; he did not
try TO lower his head and buck. An
other touch of the quirt and a word Of
encouragement. He reared, gave one
last caper, and then swept into a long,
stretching gallop. The cowboys gave a
loud cheer. Joe waved his hand as he
sped away, and in a few minutes horse
and rider had disappeared behind a roll
Of prairie.
Col. Jensen heaved a huge sigh Of re-
lief.
of now for 20 miles. and the job
well done, By thunder, that cuss is
sandy to the backbone! What say to
it, friend" turning to me. Two hours
ago I'd ha' took ten dollars for that
pony. and given boot. Now. he's worth
a hundred. Come in, the whole crowd
Of we, Wen have drinks round for this"
We spent u merry time for a couple
Of hours, and then sailed out In a body
to meet the hero on his return. We had
not to &c far. ice had run the broncho
until his pace was spent, and was now
retracing his steps at a walk. He said
he was not hurt, but when questioned
owned that every joint and muscle of
his back and limbs seemed to have been
twisted ont of shape. Ezekiel described
the sensation to me afterwards:
at Is" he said, "as if all yer nerves
had been laid out one by one. upon a
wire and grilled. \ queer feelin'!"
As for the broncho, when Joe had rid
den to the ranch, and had been lifted off
and carried into bed. for he. could not
walk. l was ordered to mount-being
the worst horseman present-and ride
70 the stable. This ] did with fearful
inward qualms, and no cab horse could
the afternoon.
1t must not be supposed, however,
that with this the breaking was COM
pleted. The broncho was ridden daily
for many weeks by an experienced
rough rider. and more than once the old
spirit of devilment flashed ont and en-
dangered his riders life. But Joe Star
ling earned his $50 well. Before six
months had gone that broncho was the
best saddle-pony in Jack Jenson's
stable.-Leslie's Monthly.
h Must Have Been Very Had.