Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-07-28
selves, and even attacks on human be.

Long before reaching this country we
had been entertained by numerous narra-
tives of a more or less nebulous charac-
ter concerning the almost human char
acteristics of these animals, in which
stories we had placed no more faith than
in those usually told by the natives. The
head man of Sakul we had Immediately
concluded was no better than his fellows,
for he told such astonishing tales of the
doings of the equine nation that we mo-
mentarily expected he would tell of cities,
forts and houses built by them. We were
all the more surprised, therefore, when,
on the second day he came to us with the
assertion that, if we were still incredul-
Gus, he was ready and willing to put
proof to the test, as several of his hunt
ers had reported a number of herds In the
valley to the southwark.
Accordingly, shortly after nightfall, we
rode for some hours until we had reached
a spot whence wo could overlook the
plain where we We're informed the aston-
ishing wonders of which we had been
told might be performed.
About 10 O'Clock, as, sh!vering with the
almost Arctic GOODNESS of the weather.
we were making futile efforts to keep
warm and cursing our stupidity in COM
ing to verify the fairy tales, we were
aroused to action by an Ominous STIR
among our ponies. which were straining
at their tethers and whinneying nervous
1y. A few minutes later a weird, Shrek
ing howl, as of some soul in dire distress,
f1oated through the air, sounding near at
hand, and yet far removed. Following
the guide, we mounte TO a little jutting
crag overlooking the broad plateau, n
there, indeed, saw a sight which almost
beggard description. The broad expanse.
lighted by the new moon, which rendered
the surrounding country almost as lum-
nous as day, was filled with herds Upon
herds of horses of every size, color and
description. For several moments we
were d~umbfounded at a sight so thrilling
and awe-inspiring-a vast, surging mass
of living, breathing animals busily en-
gagged in feeding on luxuriant grass of
! the valley. Suddenly upon the night air
resounded a blood curdling neigh, as
clear as a bugle call; and. Immediately
the herd stopped feeding, and stood with
heads erect as a mighty army at the call
of it's leader. Another prolonged neigh,
pitched in a somewhat different key. and,
like a whirlwind, the whole herd bolted
up the valley, as orderly and regularly
as the finest disciplined army, with the
three or four who seemed to be the lead
ers symmetricafly arranged ahead of
| the main body, and thanking and rear de-
tachments posted with studious exact
ness.
On reaching the head of the plain once
more they came to a halt and grazing
1 u IVA A"S DS~A ~
drawn in following the action of this herd
that we had not noticed that another
fully as large had come from far down
the valley and had installed themselves
on the feeding grounds just vacated. The
scene in front was now all~-engaging; cold
and fatigue We're alike forgotten in the
enthralling interest of the moment For
half an hOur both herds cropped the short
grass in silence, when a shrill neigh from
the group nearest to us attracted our
attention in their direction. They had ali
stopped feeding, and stood restless and
fearful as if detecting the approach OF
some terrible enemy. Suddenly from out
the compactly gathered mass sprang a
gigantic stallion, which after paving this
earth and meanwhile neighing fiercely,
proceeded at a gallop a full half mile UP
the valley, stopping every few feet to re-
peat his bellicose neighing. Following his
movements, we now saw that another
animal was now galloping down in a
similar manner from the other herd
doubtless to accept the challenge. The
newcomer was a magnificent snOw-White,
and, with the clear light of the moon
shining upon him, he presented a gigan-
tic appearance when contrasted with his
smaller antagonist. When within a quar-
ter of a mile of each other the two beasts
came to another halt and stood facing
their respective herds. paving the ground
n %neighing fiercely, bending their
shapely necl1s much in the manner of two
actors in sword combat making the pre-
liminary flourish previous to deadly ac-
ton.
This overture lasted for fully Is min
utes when with startling suddenness
both animals leaped around and rushed
at each other with. the velocity of we'll
aimed projectiles. Nearer and nearer they
came in their mad, onward career, and
we were waiting the moment when the
A,- .-,. al HNart- nc ~, tnpnfIny
with tremendous force. Blu no! for when
within 20 feet of each other they came
back on their launches, and eyed each
other cautiously for a as ii
awaiting the necessary opening. And
then with one last defiant neigh at each
other, they leaped to the encounter.
To describe the events of the next IL
minutes would require pages of hyper
bole to give in any measure a faint idea
of the supreme grandeur and welrdness
of this herculean struggle between tive
giants. They rushed at each other time
and time again like immense catapults
they fought with tooth and hoof, while
no other sound oul be heard-the two
herds. who had meanwhile approached
nearer the struggle, gazing on their lead
, ers as if carved in stone. One would have
had to be within a few feet of the Tt
tanic combat to describe accurately tht
events of that short quarter of an hour
Inc Two beasts cOulu De seen rearing IL
the air. locked together like two Wrest.
lers. Both animals were firing percepti-
bly,, when in an instant all was over. A
sharp rally. n then the ghostly form OF
the big white stallion rose alone, and or
the ground lay the PROSTATE body of his
antagonist. The victor contented him
self with giving utterance to short ex'
ultant neighs, and ever and n kick
ing the body of his defeated foe.
We had seen the great equine duel, blu
we little knew what was yet in store fol
lie Soon thorn uas a rnayemaut in hQtl