Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1898-10-27
"THE BLUE RAT"
a K1oaad11ke Ep
BY 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 our 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 pony 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 and a most Sc
ductive gentleness of voice. His name
was Dippy, and 1 gladly make him
historical. He sold me the Blue Rat
and gave me chance to study new
type of horse.
Herr Dippy Dutch Dippy) was not
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 can be rode OF packed,
but you better lead him for day or
two till he gets quiet"
/ did not see the pony till the morn
ing we chit the long trail'' on the
west side of the Fraser river, but my
side partner had reported him to be a
mice little pony, round and fat and
gentle" On that / rested.
In the meantime Mr.. Dippy joined
us at the ferry. He held a horse by
the rope and waited around to finish
the trade. 1 presumed he intended
to cross and deliver the pony, which
was in corral on the west side, but
he lisped out hurried excuse. '"The
ferry is not coming back today and
So
Well, paid him the money on the
strength of my side partners report;
besides it was Hobson's choice.
Mr.. Dippy took the $25 eagerly and
vanished into obscurity. We passed
to the wild side of the Fraser and en-
tered upon long and intimate study
of the Blue Rat.
He shucked ont of the log stable q
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 banged" and he
had the air of mischievous, resolute
boy. His eyes were big and black,
and he studied us with tranquil but
inqniring gaze as We put the pack
saddle on him. He was very small.
''He's not large, but he's gentle
little chap" said to ease my partner
of his dismay over the pony's surpris-
ing smallness.
~ believe he shrunk during the
night" replied my partner. she
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 | thought
l saw his ears cross; one laid back, the
other set forward bad signs but il
was done so quickly / could not be
sure of it.
We packed the other horses whilst
the blue pony stood resting one hind
leg, his eyes dreaming.
l flung the canvas cover over the
bay pack horse some
thing took place. I heard bang, a
clatter, rafting of hoofs. l 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 mp his back till
he looked like u 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 and the saddle slipped under
him he kicked it to pieces by using
both hind hoofs as gently as man
would stroke his beard.
After calming the other horses
faced my partner solemnly.
go, by the way, partner, where die
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. Tha
pony will try the same thing again
sure"
We packed him again with grea
care. His big innocent black eye,
shining under his bang were littl,
more alert, but they showed neithe
fear nor rage. We roped him in ever,
conceivable way. and at last we daret
him to do his prettiest.
He did it. All that had gone be
fore was merely preparatory, blood
warming, so to say; the real thin.
now took place. He stood up on hi
hind legs and shot into the air, alight
ing on his four feet as if to pierce til,
earth. He whirled like howling der
wish, grunting, snorting, unseeing ant
almost unseen in nimbus of dust
strap ends and pine needles.
His whirling undid him. We seizet