The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-08-21
FATE OF THE BLUE RAT.
a Pony That Made Things Lively on
a KIondike Trail.

a Klondike Trail.
Hazelton, b. c., July 1S.-Even in the
Klondike life is not altogether simple,
nor always free from guile. Were proof
of that truth needed. it might be found
in the history of our experiences with
the Blue Rat.
We came to know him through our
need of a pony. We had two service
able pack horses. but we needed a little
pony to run along behind and carry the
tent and few little traps ike that
A citizen of Quesnelle possessed such
a steed. This citizen was a German, and
had a hair lip and most seductive
gentleness Of voice His name was
Dippy. and 1 gladly make him histori-
cal He sold me the Blue Rat, and
. gave me a chance to study a new type
. Of horse.
Herr Dippy C'Dutch Dippy'O was not
a Washington Irving sort of DItchman,
ne cOnformed rather to the modern
New York tradesman. He was small.
candid, and smooth, very smooth, OF
speech. He said: Yes, the pony Is
gertle. He can be rode or packed, but
you better lead him for a day or two
till he gets quiet
did not see the pony till the mora
ing we hit the long trail,'' on the west
side of the Fraser river, but my side
partner had reported him to .se mice
little pony. round and fat and gentle
On that l rested.
In the morning Mr.. Dippy joined US
al the ferry. He held a horse by the
rope ard waited around to finish the
trade. l presumed he intended 20 cross
and deliver the pony, which was in a
corral on the west side but he hsped
out hurried excuse. T. ferry is not
coming back for today, a--d So
Well paid him the money on the
strength of my side partners report;
besides, it was Hohson's choice.
Mr.. Dippy took the s25 eagerly. and
vanished into obscurity. We passed to
the wild side of the Fraser and e-.ter-
ed upon q long and Intimate study of
the Blue Rat.
He shucked out of the, log stable a
smooth, round, ebodied little cay
use of a blue-gray color. He looked like
q cllild's toy. but seemed sturdy and of
good condition.
His foretop was banged" and he
had the air Of a mischievous resolute
boy. His eyes were big and black, and
he studied us with tranquil but inquir-
ing gaze, as we put the pack saddle on
him. He was very small.
He's not large, but he's a gentle
little chap" said /. TO ease my partner
\ OF his dismay over the pony's surDris-
klpg smallness.
4 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 a small bag
of oats on top. and dashed it all on with
rope, while the pony dozed peacefully.
Once or twice I thought l saw his ears
cross; one laid back, the other set for
ward-bad signs-but it was done so
quickly, l could not be sure of it.
We packed the other horses whilst
the blue pony stood resting one hind
leg, his eyes dreaming.
l hung the canvass cover over the bay
pack horse something took
place. I heard a bang, a clatter. rat
Ting Of ho0fs. 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 soner-
sets. He stood on his ears. He hump
ed up his back till he looked like a
lean cat on graveyard fence. He
stood on his toe calks and spun like q
V eather-vane on 4 livery stable, and
when the pack exploded and the saddle
slipped under his belly, he kicked it to
pieces by using both hind hOofs as
gently as a man would stroke his
beard.
After calming the other horses I faced,
my partner solennly-
%, by the way, partner, where did
you get that nice, quiet little blue pony
of yours ?"
Partner smiled sheepishly. The little
devil. Buffalo Bill ought to have that
pony
We'll, now said I, restraining my
. laughter, the thing TO do is to put
! that pack on so IT viii stay. That pony
ANsiil Try the same thing again, sure"
Ave packed him again With great care.
His big innocent black eyes shining
Under mis- 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
pretuiest.
lie did it. All that had gone before
was merely preparatory, a blood-warm-
Ing. so to say: the real thing now took
place. lie stood UP on his hind legs
and shot into the air, alghting on his
four feet as if to pierce the earth. He
wbirled ike a bowling dervish, grunt-
ing. snorting, unseeing and almost I'M
seen in q nimbus of dust, strap eads
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. He came to
earth with thud. his legs whirling
Uselessly in. the air. He resembled d
beetle in molasses.
We sat upon his head and discussed
him.
'He is a wonder" said my partner.
He is devil 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 till he grunted.
When he was permitted to rise he
looked meek and small and tired, and
we were both a little remorseful. We
rearranged the pack-it was some en-
enlargement to know he had not
bGcked it entirely off-and by blind
folding him we got him started on the
trail behind the train.
- suppose that simple hearted
Dutchman is looking at US from across
the river said I to partner, but no
II after. we are Victorious
This singular thing 1 noticed in the
Blue Rat. His eye did not roll nor his
ears fall back. He was neither scared
Tor angry. He looked like a rogue
ish, determined boy. He was alert and
watchful but not vicious. He 1eemed
not to take our stern measures in bad
part. He regarded il as a fair contract.
apparently. and considered that we had
sven True, he had lost both hair and
skin by getting tangled in the rope, but
he laid up nothing against MS and as he