Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1898-11-16
THE BLUE RAT. :"
a. Rlondike Bpasoa.
EY HAMLIN GARLAND.

+, Even in the Klondike life is not al
together simple or always free from
guile. Were proof of that nature
needed it might be found in the his
tory of cur experience with the Blue
Rat,
We came to know him through our
need Of pony We had two service
able pack horses, but we needed lit
tie poay to run along behind and
carry the tent and few little traps
like that.
A citizen of Quesnelle possessed
such steed. This citizen was a
German and had hairlip aud q most Sc
ductive gentleness of voice.. His name
was Dippy and I gladly make him
Historical He sold me the Blue Rat
and gave me chance to study new
type of horse.
ie.. Hippy Dutch Dippy) was not
81 Washington Irving sort of Dutch
man; he conformed rather to the mod
ern New York tradesman. he was
small, candid and smooth, very smooth
of speech, He said: eyes, the pony
is gentle. He con he rode or packed,
but you better lead him for day or
two till he gets quiet.
/ did not see the pony till the morn
ing We ':hit the long trail" Oh the
west side of the Fraser river, but .ly
side partner had reported him to be a
<'nice little pony, round and fet and
gentle" On that I rested.
In the meantime Mr.. Dippy joined
us at the ferry. He held horse by
the rope and waited around to finish
the trade. L presumed he intended
to cross and deliver the pony, which
was in corral on the west side, but
be lisped out hurried excuse. 'The
Serryis not coming back today and
so--a
Well, paid him the money Oh the
strength of my side partners report;
besides it was Hoeson's choice.
Mr.. Dippy took the s25 eagerly and
vanished into obscurity. We passed
Co the wild side of the(Fraser and en-
tered upon long and intimate study
of tue Blue Rat. .s,5.3 &, Z :85
e shaekets oles ef ellogstablesa
smooth, round, 1.-the bodied little cay
use of blue-gray color, He looked
Like child's toy, but seemed sturdy
and of good condition.
His foretop was 'tbanged," and he
had the air of a mischievous, resolute
boy, His eyes were big and black,
and he studied US with tranquil but
hnquiring gaze as we put the pack
saddle on him. He was very small.
''He's not large, but he's gentle
little chap" said 1 to ease my partner
of his dismay over the pony's surpris-
ing smallness.
'<I believe he shrunk during the
aight,' replied my partner. 'He
seemed two sizes bigger yesterday"
We packed him with hundred
pounds of our food. We put small
bag of oats on top and lashed it all on
with rope, while the pony dozed
peacefully. Once or twice I thought
/ saw his ears cross; one laid back, tue
other set forward bad signs-but it
was done SO quickly I could not be
sure of it.
We packed the other horses whilst
the blue pony stood resting one, hind
leg, his eyes dreaming.
flung the canvas cover over the
bay pack horse some
thing took place. I heard bang,
ciatter, a rattliug of hoofs. 1 peered
around the bay and saw the blue pony
performing some of the most finished,
vigorous and varied bucking it has
ever been given me to witness. He
all but threw somersets. He stood on
his ears. He bumped up his back till
he looked like lean cat on grave
yard fence. He stood on his toe calks
and spun like weather vane on q
livery stable, and when the pack ex
ploded aud the saddle slipped under
him he kicked it to pieces by using
both hind hoofs rs gently as man
would stroke his beard.
After calming the other horses I
faced my partner solemnly.
go, by the way, partner, where did
you get that nice, quiet little blue
pony of yours?"
Partner smiled sheepishly. ''The
little imp. Buffalo Bill ought to have
that pony"
"Well, now" said I, restraining my.
laughter, "the thing to do is to put
that pack on SO it will stay. That
pony will try the same thing again.
sure
We packed him again with great
care. His big innocent black eyes
shining under his bang were q little
more alert, but they showed neither
fear nor rage. We roped him in every
conceivable way. and at last we dared
him to do his prettiest.
He did it. All that had gone be-
fore was merely preparatory, blood
warming, so to say; the real thing
now took place. He stood up on his
hind legs and shot into the air, alight-
ing Oh his four feet as if to pierce the
earth. He whirled like bowling der
wish, grunting, snorting, unseeing and
almost unseen ina nimbus of dust,
strap ends and pine needles.
His whirling undid him. We seized
the rope and just as the pack again,
slid under his feet we set. shoulder to
the rope and threw him. He came to
earth with thud, his legs whirling
uselessly in the air. He resembled
beetle in molasses.
We sat upon bis head and discussed
him.
"He is a wonder" said my partner.
"He is tiend." 1 painted.
We packed him again with infinite
pains, and when he began bucking
we threw him again end tried to kill
him. We were getting irritated. We
threw him hard aud drew his hind
legs np to his head until he grunted.
When he was permitted to rise he
looked meek and small and tired, and