The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1898-10-12

pUlle. were PROOF OF tnM nnture
needed IL 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 aud u few little traps
like that,
A citizen of Qucsnelle possessod
such stesd. This citizen was u
German and had hairlip and most So
ductive gentleness of voice. His name
was Dippy, aud l gladly make him
historical. He sold me the Blue Rat
and gave me u chance to study new
type Of horse.
Herr Dippy Dutch Dippy) was not
q Washington Irving sort Of Dutch
man; he conforned rather 10 the mod
ern New York trndesmnn. He was
small, candid and smooth, very smooth
of speech. Ho said: "Yes, the pony
Is gentle. He can be rode or packed,
but You bcttor lead him for day or
two till he gets quiet"
did not soc the pony till the morn
Ing we 'hit the long trail' on the
west side of the Fraser river, but my
side partner had reported him TO be
mice little pony, round and fat and
gentle" On that rested.
In the meantime Mr.. Dippy Joined
us ut the ferry. He held horse by
the rope and waited around to finish
the trade. presumed he intended
to cross and deliver the pony, which
was in corral on the west side, but
lie 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 s25 eagerly and
vanished into obscurity. We passed
to the wild side of the Fraser and en-
tered upon long and intimate study
of tho Blue Rat.
He shucked out of the log stable
smooth, round, lithe-bodied little cay
use of blue-grny color. He looked
like child's toy, but seemed sturdy
anu Vi BOOu cOnuitiOn.
His foretop was Changed" and he
had the air Of a mischievous, resolute
boy. His eyes were big and black,
and he studied us with Tranquil but
inquiring 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 1 to ease my partner
of his dismay over the pony's surpris-
ing smallness.
II believe he shrunk during the
night" replied my partner. "He
seemed two sizes bigger yesterday"
We packed him with a hundred
pounds of our food. We put small
bag of oats on top and lashed 1t all on
with rope, while the pony dozed
peacefully. Once or twice thought
] saw his ears cross; one laid back, the
other set forward bad signs-but it
was done 30 quickly 1 could not be
sure of il.
We packed the other horses whilst
the blue pony stood resting one hind
leg, his eyes dreaming.
l flung the canvas cover over tho
bay pacf horse some.
thing took place I heard q bang, o
clatter, . rattling Of hoofs. I peered
around the bay and saw the blue pony
performing some of the most finished,
vigorous and varied bucking II has
ever been given me to witness. He
all but threw somersets. He stood ON
his ears Ho bumped up his back till
he looked like lean cat on q grave
yard fence. He stood on his toe oalks
and spun like weather vane on n
livery stables and when the pack OK
ploded and the saddle slipped under
him he kicked 1t to pieces by using
both hind hoofs as gently as O man
would stroke his beard.
After calming the other horses I
faced my partner solemnly.
80, by the way. partner, where did
you get that nice, quiet little blue
pony of yoursY"
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 30 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, but they showed neither
fear nor rage. We roped him in every
conceivable way. and at last we dared
him to do his prettiest.
He did 1t. All that had gone be-
fore was merely preparatory, q blood
warming, SO to say; the real thing
now took place. He stood up on his
hind legs aud shot into the dir, alight-
ing on his four feet as if to pierce the
earth. He whirled like bowling der
wish, grunting, snorting, unseeing and
almost unseen In o nimbus Of dust,
strap ends and pine needles.
His whirling undid him. We seized
the rope and just ~ the pack again
shd under bis feet We sst shsdidsr 70