The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-09-12

sidered, properly bred animal would have
been ground TO bone-dust. He was skin
ned in one or two places the hair was
scraped from his nose, his tongue bled but
all these were mere scratches. When we
repaeked him he walked off comparative
~ unhurt.
The two days following he went along
ike faithful dog. Every time | looked
behind l could see the sturdy little chap
trotting along. His head hung low, his
actions were meek and loyal. For week
he continued thus. Partner became at
tached to him. and once more began to
make excuses for him.
He will never trouble us again" he
said
Rain came. Transforming the trail into
series of bottomless pits and greasy in
cllnes' and we We're forced to He in camp
two days.
The Blue Rat stuffed himself on pea
vine and bunch grass, and on the third
day he pitched" with undimnished visor.
This settled his fate.
l made up my mind to sell him. Once
l had determined upon his motives l
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 overlook and passed us by
reason of our interesting sessions with the
Blue Rat.
He must GO and I selected my purchas-
er. He was a Missourian from Butte. lie
knew all there was to be known about
trails, horses, gold, politics and a few
other things. He considered all the other
men on the trail merely tenderfeet out for
a picnic. Each time he passed us he had
some drawing remark indicating his sur
prise that we should be stin able to move.
Him selected to become the owner of the
Rat.
l laid for him. When he had eaten his
supper one night l sauntercd carelessly
over to his tent. I edged around" by
talking Of the weather, the trail, and so
on, and at last l said:
Wed leave you behind if it weren't
for our blue colt. He delays us"
How so?"
"Oh, ne pitches"
pitches, does he" He smiled "Td
mighty soon take that out of him if had
him"
I suppose an experienced man like you
could do It., but we are unused to these
wild horses. I'd like to sell him to some
man who knew all about such animals.
He's fine pony, strong as hon; but he's
a terrible bucker. l never saw his equal"
He smiled again-indulgently. Lets
take a look at him"
The pony had filed his hay basket and
looked as innocent as a worsted kitten.
"Nice little teller, shore thing" said
He's young and coltish. Whatn you
take for him?"
Now see here stranger. I am a fair
man. / don't want to deceive any one,
That pony is a wonder. He can outbuck
any horse west of the Selldrk range"
The old mans eyes were very aggravat-
ing. He needs an old hand, that's oil.
Why, / could shoulder the little cuss while
he was a-pitch;n' his damdest. Whatll
you take for him?''
"Il throw off So and you take the
rope; but stranger, he's the worst"
He refused to listen. He took the pony
AS the Rat followed him off he looked so
small, so sleepy, 50 round, and gentle
you would have said: There goes a man
with a pony for his little girls"
We laid off a day at Tchincut lake. We
needed rest anyway but 1t was safer to
let the man from Butte go on. l had
made every provision against complaint
on the Missourian's part but at the
same time one can't be too careful.
There are no returning footsteps on the
long trail, but a few days later ! over
took the man from Indiana, who had been
see-sawing back and forth on the trail,
now ahead, now behind. He had laid off
a half day.
He approached me with a curious look
on his face.
Stranger, what kind Of a beast did you
put OH on tudL Iellef from quite
"a mighty strong, capable little horse.
Why?"
well. say was just a-passing his
camp yesterday morning, when the thing
took place. I always was lucky about
such"
what happened?" queried I.
II don't wish any mans barn to burn,
stranger. nor his horse to take a fall
outen him, but when anything does go on
1 like to see il. You see, he had just
drawed the last knot on the pack, and as
I came up he said. How's this for a ten-
dollar pony| l said pretty good. Who'd
you get him Off
"'A couple of tenderfeet,' he says, who
couldn't handle him. Why, he's gentle as
a dog Then he slaps the pony on the
rump. The little devil lit out both hind
feet and took the old man on both knees
and knocked him down over pack sad
die into the mud. Old Butte, as soon as
he could crawl a little, he says, Gimme
my gun. I've been a-packin' on the trails
OF the Rocky mountains for forty years,
and 1 never was done up before. Gimme
that gum He sighted her, stranger, most
vicious, and pulled the trigger. The pony
gave one big jump and went a-rollin' and
a-croshin into the gulch. You'll never
kick again says the Teller from Butte"
Poor little Blue Rat. He had gone to
the mystic meadows where no pack sad
die could follow him