Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1898-09-01
THE CINCHING
OF 90 BLANCO
By CELIA LYNN.

monials, but was the victim of the dam
gerous and inconvenient habit of turn
ing back handsprings. Perhaps some
OF the readers of this narrative will
wonder why horse may not indulge
with impunity in this harmless amuse-
ment, which is encouraged and APP
plauded in the festive boy.
Without question our faithful friend,
the horse, should be allowed to follow
his own tastes and inclinations, pro-
vided only that these do not conflict
with his business engagement with his
owner. This was the difficulty. 0jo
Blanco did not enliven his leisure mo-
ments by turning elephantine somer-
saults. 1t was only when he was sad
died, and bridled, and his Woodworking
master mounted him, preparatory to
long days ride over the range, that he
showed any inclination to execute gym
nastic feats. At such times, when his
master was fairly in the saddle, he rose
on his hind legs and threw himself for
ward, with reckless disregard of his
own safety and an evident desire to
smash his rider. Only a man accus-
toned to riding wild horses, and well
versed in the many tricks to which they
resort to unseat their riders, could have
the skill and agility to kick himself
free from the falling horse and escape
being crushed. Sam Walker had done
this SO many times that it was quite
mechanical action with which he freed
himself from the saddle during these
performances.
Ojo Blanco was a lean, long-legged,
Roman-nosed sorrel, well past the prime
of life. with dropping head and de-
iected air, which deceived strangers
into thinking him devoid OF spirit. His
name, which in plain English is White
Eye, was given him because nature had
bestowed on him a pair of white, ex-
pressionless eyes, with nevertheless a
sinister CLEAN in their cold depths,
which to the experienced meant Don't
trihe with me, I'm dangerous"
A couple of years previous, Sam
Walker had purchased him from a man
who declined TO risk his life any longer
in the exciting pastime of riding an
acrobatic horse. Perhaps the fact that
this man had recently taken unto him.
self a wife had something to do with Ojo
Blanco's change of ownership, for it is
a fact that men who seem to delight in
reckless deeds and hair-breadth escapes
become suddenly careful of their per-
sons when they attain 10 the dignity OF
the head of household. At any rate,
the horse was offered for sale at very
low figure, and Sam Walker, who was
well acquainted with Ojo's pet weak
ness, and who prided himself that no
horse had ever got the best of him, did
not hesitate to become his owner.
Sam was noted for his skill as
"bronco-buster" in country where
cattle raising was the chief industry
and good horsemen abounded, and
though he had many a dangerous tussle
with vicious horses, he had never been
thrown, and under his influence even
the most confirmed bucker grew man
ageable. 1t was somewhat discomfort
ing, therefore, to this veteran rider,
when his new acquisition, without re-
sorting to any of the devices with which
he was familiar, promptly rolled him
in the dust, and lay regarding him with
a look of wicked triumph which seemed
20 say: Found your match at last.
Aside from any matter of pride, Sam
rot an extra five dollars month for
riding his own horse, and it would be
hard to find better vaquero horse than
Oio Blanco. As Sam said, he was too
mean to die;" he had wonderful endur-
ance and did the work of two ordinary
horses, and in working with cattle he
showed as much sense as man. After
relieving his feelings in the morning by
upsetting himself and his rider he
would travel over the range all day,
with no food and scarcely pause for
rest, coming home at night with the
same energy with which he started out
No wonder, therefore, that Sam was
willing to humor his failings in view OF
his excellent staying qualities.
Oio Blanco never bucked. He left
such undignified gymnastics to colts
and horses with uncertain tempers ana
no brains. He felt that he was master
of a speciality which had given him a
wide reputation, and which, moreover
saved him the indignity of being ridden
by a miscellaneous assortment OF poo
ME. No one dared mount him except
Sam. and as Sam always treated him
with Difference and respect he desired
no better master.
IT NAV be that Ojo Blanco's extraor-
dinarv behavior was due TO chronic dys-
nepsia. for it is hard to believe that ma
ture could have endowed any horse
with the quiet and persistent malevo-
lence that he showed. 1t is well known
that an attack of Indigestion viii rem
der fhe best-tempered man morose and
irritable, and when horse is similarly
sflicted how much larger a field there
l. for the circulation of anguish. Per
h;-,s it was only after night OF rest.
less misery, when his ration OF hay had
ref,sed to be submitted to the usual
NJ a-1far n