Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1898-10-07

B iildue nS tue amusement OF lDe
outfits which overlook and passed
MS by reason Of our interesting
sessions with the Blue Rat.
He must 90 and / selected my
purchaser. He was n MissOurlan
from Butte. He knew all there
was to he known ab out trails, hor.
ses, gold, politics, and few other
men on the trail merely tendeTfeet
out for a PIC mic. Each time he
passed us he had some drawing
remark indicating his surprise
that we should he still able to
move. Him 1 selected to become
the owner of the Rat.
1 laid for him. When he had
eaten bis supper one night saun.
tered carclessly o,er to his tent.
edged around by talking of the
weather, the trall, and 50 on, aud
a; last / said:
Wed leave you tonight if 1t
weren't for the blue colt. lie DELAYS
MS
How sO?'
20, he pitches
pitches, does hep He smiled.
'Pd mighty soon take that out Of
him if had bim.'
4 supposed an experienced ma
like you could do il, but we are
unused TO these wild horses. Pa
like to sell him to some man who
knows about such animals. He,
fine pony, strong as lion, but
he'c terrible bucker. | never saw
his equal
He smiled again nduIgently,
'LrtS take look at him.
The pony had hlled his hay bas
ket and looked as innocent as a
worsted kitten.
Nice linle teller, shore thing.
said the Missourian, as be patted
the Rat. He's young and collish.
What'll lCu take for himV
Now. see here. stranger I am a
fAlr man. l don't want to deceive
any one. That pony Is wonder.
lie can Outbuck any horse west oil
SelKiIk range
The old mans eyes were very
aggravatlng He needs an old
hand, that's all. Why, l could
shoulder the little kld whilst he
was pi chin bis blaInedest.
WharlI You take tor hlmp
ia throw off SO, and you take
the rope; but stranger, he's the
worst
lie refused to listen, He took
the pony. AS the Rat followed
aim off he looked so small, sol
round and gentle YOU woolI have
said. There goes man with a
pony for his little girls
We laid off "a day at Tchincut
lake. We needed rest anyway.
aad it was safer to let the man
from Butte 20 alb, ] bad made /
every provision against complaint |
on the MiSsOurian'S part, but Al
the same time one can't be too
carefaI.
There are no returning footsteps |
on the long tral, but few days |
later l overlook the man from In
dlaua. who had been see.sawipg |
back aud forth on the trail, now
ahead; now behind. He had laid |
off halt day.
lie approached me with cur
iouS look on his face.
stranger, what kind Of a beast
did yOu put off on that teller from
Butter
~ mighty strong, capable little |
horse. WhlY
well, say, was just a.passIng
his camp yesterday morning, when
the thing look place / always was
lucky about such'
What happeued?' queIied |.
1 don't wish any mans barn to
burn, strangers, nor HIS morse to
take dfall Outen bin, bnt when |
anything does go on like TO see II
You see. be had just drawed the
last kUot on the pack and as came
up he SAID: How's this for a SO
ponSY said petty good. Who'd
you get him of OFF,
"A couple of tenderfee',' h says,
'who couldn't handle hun. WY, !
he's gentle az a dog; then he siaps
the pony on the side. TIE little
fend htont beth hind feet and took
the o.d man on both knees and
Knocked him down over a pack
saddle into the mud. Then he turn
ed loose, that pony did, stranger.
l.