Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1898-09-24
"THE BLUE RAT"

a xlondi1ke Episo1e.
rY HAMIlN GARLAND.


folding him we got him started on the
trail behind the train.
81 suppose that simple. e.hearted
Dutchman is looking at us from across
the river, said to partner, 'but no
matter; we are Victorious
This singular thing / noticed in the
Blue Rat His eye did not roll nor
his ears fall back. He was neither
scared nor angry. He still looked
like roguish, determined boy. He
was alert. watchfnl, but not vicious.
He seemed not to take our stern meas
ureS i'll bad part. lie regarded it as
fair contract, apparently, and consid-
cred that we had won. True, he had
lost both hair and skin by getting tam
gled in the rope, but he laid up nothing
against us, and as he followed meek
ly along behind, my partner dared to
say:
"He's all right now. presume he
has been running ont all winter and is
Il little wild. He's satisfied now.
Well have no more trouble with him."
Every time l looked back at the
poor, hnmbled little chap, my heart
tingled with pity and remorse. "We
were too rough" I said. "We must
be more gentle"
"Yes, he's nervous and scary. We
must be careful not to give him sud
den start. "
An hour later, as we were going
down a steep and slippery hl,l, the
Rat saw his chance. He passed iuto
another spasm, opening aud shutting
like self-acting iack-knfe. He bound
ed into the midst of the peaceful pack
horses, scattering them to right and
left in terror.
lie turned and came up the hill to
get another start. Pal tner took IL
turn on II shlmp, and all unnindful of
it the Rat whirled and made mighty
spring. He reached the end of the
rope and his handspring became II
vaultiug somersanlt. He lay, unable
to rise, spatting the wind, breathing
heavily. Such annoying energy
have never seen. We were now mad,
muddy and very resolute. We held
him down till he lay quite still.
Any well-considered, properly bred
animal would have been ground to
honedust by such wondrous acrobatic
movements. He was skinned in one
Or two places, his hair was scraped
from his nose, his tongue bled, but all
these were mere scratches. When we
reuncked him he walked off compare
lively unhurt.
The two days following he went
along like faithful dog. Every time
] looked behind 1 could see the sturdy
little chap trotting along. His head
hung low, and his actions were meek
and loyal. For week he continued
thus. Partner became attached to
him and began once more to make ex-
cuses for him. ''He will never make
MS trouble again" he said.
Rain came, transforming the trail
into II series of bottomless pits and
greasy inclines and we were forced to
lay in camp two days. The Blue Rat
stuffed himself OH pea-vine and bunch
grass, and on the third day "pitched'
with undiminished vigor. This settled
his fate.
] made up my mind to sell him.
Once I had determined upon his mo-
tives | could not afford to bother with
him any more. He delayed us with
his morning antics, and made us the
amusement of the outfits which over
took and passed us by reason of our
sessions with the Blue
Rat
He must go and I selected my pur-
chaser. He was a Missourian from
Butte. He knew all there was to be
known about trails, horses, gold, poll
tics, and few other things. He con-
sdered all the other men on the trail
merely tenderfeet out for a picnic
Each time he passed us he had some
drawling remark indicating his sur
prise that we should be still able to
move. Him I selected to become the
owner of the Rat
I laid for him. When he had eaten
his supper one night sauntered care.
lessly over to his tent. "edged
around by talking of the weather, the
trail, and 50 on, and at last I said
"We'd leave you tonight if it weren't
for the blue colt. He delays u.s."
Chow so?"
go, he pitches"
"Pitches, does he?" He smiled.
"I'd mighty soon take that ont of him
if l had him. "
81 suppose an experienced man like
YOU could do it, but we are unused to
these wild horses. Id like to sell him
to some man who knows about such
animals. He's fine pony, strong as
lion, but he's terrible bucker. 1
never saw his equal
He smiled again indulgently. "Let's
take II look at him.
The pony had filled his hay basket
and looked as innocent as a worsted
kitten.
''Nice little feller, shore thing"
said the Missourian, as he patted the
Rat. "He's young and cOltish.
What'll you take for him?"
Now, see here, stranger. lam
fair man. don't want to deceive any
one. That pony is a wonder. He
can outbnck any horse west of Sell
kirk range"
The old mans eyes were very ag.
gravating. "He needs an old hand,
that's all. Why. could shoulder the
little kid whilst he was a pitchin' his
blamedest. What'll you take for him?"
'I'd throw of s5, and you take the
rope; but, stranger. he's the worst"
He refused to listen. He took the
pony. As the Rat followed him of he
looked so small, so sleepy, so round
aud gentle you would have said.