The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-05-27

! beloved until he was covered with foam
/ ana ready to fall from exhaustion.
Some ten years ago there was band of
| mustang In the Llano Mountains, led by
| a proud, splendid-looking black stallion,
with bald face. Many cowboy had
dreamed Of possessing this magnificent
horse, but every effort made to capture
| him had ended in failure. Lewis determin-
| ed to walk" this fine animal down"
Setting out early one morning mounted
upon the best pony on the ranch, and
leading an extra one, the ambitious negro
| soon struck the trail of the king of the
plains and his harem. For two whole days
and nights Lewis stuck close to the heels
of the thoroughly puzzled mustangs, never
giving them time to nip bunch of grass,
drink a drop of water pause for a mo-
ment TO rest their wearied limbs.
On the morning of the third day the
mustangs began to fall and founder upon
the hot sands In dying condition. The
bald stallion still staggered forward as IL
determined TO die upon his feet. After
some hours, when the sun was nearing
the zenith and the heat of the desert was
scorching the backs of the snakes and
lizards and driving them to seek the shade
OF the cactus Lewis's own horse stumbled
and fell to rise no more. The gritty little
mustang had expended the last spark
of his vitality in the long chase The bald
stallion was now alone. The last member
of his band had succumbed to thirst
hunger and exhaustion. The prize was
almost within the negroes grasp, for 1t
was evident that the proud spirit of the
stallion was broken, and that he could
not summon sufficient strength to strike
a trot.
Lewis was determined not to be cheated
CT the valuable prize now so nearly in his
possession, and quickly loosening his la
rat from the saddle he threw II across
his shoulder and set out after the stallion
on foot. He had been In the saddle for
more than fifty hours, with wide-open
eyes appeasing his hunger by chewing
terked beef and satiating his thirst with
an &C asional swallow of hot water from
his cantetn. Another man would have
fallen long before, but this wonderful ne
gro, who possessed powers of endurance
even superior to his giant strength, shook
the stiffness out of his joints" as he SAYS
and striking a trot, he soon discovered
that he was gaining on the tired stallion
Lewis was peri city familiar with the
geograr ny of the country, and as soon as
1t became evident that the wild horse was
aiming to strike a certain crossing on the
Llano river he took q short cut across
the hills and got ahead of his prize. He
barely had time to conceal himself by the
side of the trail near the water before
the tired horse staggered in sight The
proud old king of the plains was nearly
exhausted, but the scent and sight OF the
cool waters Of the Llano quickened his
step, and, with an eager whinny, he was
! about to plunge down the bank when
rcpa Kissed through the air and a moose
dropped over his neck. IL tes had to
laugh" says Lewis, "for never saw any
thing lock 80 surprised like that horse
Feared like he wanted to say, Well. you
are Jes' about the gamest and the sickest
Niger / ever saw"
Lewis had captured the famous wild
bald stallion which had for years defied
all pursueFs. The negro easily tanned the
fine animal and he was long known as
one of the fastest long-distance race
horses in Western Texas. Old-time cat
tlemen-the sboys who rode the plains be-
fore the days Of locomotives and barbed
whenever tire OF telling stories OF this
giant negro's prowess. No long-horn ever
grew too big for Lewis. Whenever he
got his rope on a steer that animal had
10 go his way He could catch a big
Mexican steer by the horns and drag him
about in a corral as another man would
have handled calf. Upon one occasion
Lewis was riding AN unruly mustang and
upon approaching a bridge the animal
"sulked." and though the cowboys APP