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

toiH vi p"r oNpo' io"'o WIN 'h' D'"e
Rat.
We came to know him through our
need of pony. We had two service
able pack horses, but we needed II lit
tie pony to run along behind and
carry the tent and few little traps
like that.
A citizen of Quesnelle possessed
such a steed. This citizen was a
German and had hairlip and II most Sc
ductive gentleness of voice. His name
was Dippy, and gladly make him
historical. He sold me the Blue Rat
and gave me chance to study new
type of horse.
Herr Dippy Dutch Dippyl was not
Washington Irving sort of Dutch
man; he confornled lather to the mod
ern New York tradesman. He was
small, candid and smooth, very smooth
OF speech. He said: "Yes, the pony
is gentle. He can he rode OF packed,
but You better lead him for Il day or
two till he gets quiet
did not see the pony till the morn
ing we ''hit the long trail' on the
west side of the Fraser rive, but my
side partner had reported him to be Il
mice little pony, round and fat and
gentle" On that rested.
In the meantime Mr.. Dippy joined
us at the ferry. He held horse by
the rope aud waited around to finish
the trade. / presumed he intended
tr, nn1 lnlivon {hn &,hi IN
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 HObsons $ choice
Mr.. Dippy took the S25 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 out of the log stable II
smooth, round, 1.-the bodied little cay
use of a blne-gray color. He looked
like Il child's toy, hut seemed sturdy
and of good condition.
His foretop was ''banged,' and he
had the air of mischievous, resolute
boy. His eyes We're big and black,
and he studied us with tranquil bit
inqniring gaze as We put the pack
saddle on him. He was very small
"He's not large, but he's n gentle
little chap" said to ease my partner
of his dismay over the pony's surpris-
ing smallness.
'I believe he shrunk during the
night" 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 thought
I saw his ears cross: one laid back, the
other set forward bad signs but it
was done so quickly ! could not he
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. heard bang, n
clatter, a rattling of hoofs. I Ipeered
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 Il
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 I
faced my partner sulemnly.
go, by the way, partner, where did
you get that nice, quiet little blue
pony of yonrs?"
Partner smiled sheepishly. "The
little imp. Buffalo Bill ought to have
that pony"
"Weli, 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 little
more alert, bnt they showed neither
fear nor rage. We roped him in every
conceivable way. and at last we darel
him to do his prettiest.
He did it. All that had gone be-
fore was merely preparatory, bloc l.
warming, so to say; the real thing
now took place. He stood up on his
hind legs and shot into the air, aleht-
ing on his four feet as if to pierce the
earth. He whirled like howling der
wish, grunting, snorting, unseeing and
almost unseen in a nimbns 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. lie came to
earth with thud, his legs whirling
uselessly in the air. He resembled II
beetle in molasses.
We sat upon his head and discussed
him.
"He is wonder" said my partner.
''He is tiend,' painted.
We packed him again with infinite
pains, and when he began bucking
we threw him again and tried to kill
him. We were getting irritated. We
threw him hard and drew his hind
legs up to his head until he grnnted.
When he was permitted to rise he
looked meek and small and tired, and