The sun., 1908-05-10

remarked that the pony was pretty wild
and not for small boys who we're afraid oi
anything 10 try TO mount. He was just
Willie then, for he had not yet arrived at the
dignity Of being called Bill by familiars and
Buffalo Bill by the world at large; but he
rad host Of manly qualities, and then and
here he mounted and rode away.
Later when his father was twenty five
miles from home and news came that the
border ruffans were to sack and burn the
Cody home, again he mounted the saddle,
q little worn by this time, and galloped OF
70 warn him Of the coming danger.
kept for the decade when he was an
actor-manager Buffalo Bill has practically
lyed on horseback ever since.
The spring sunlight forms a natural spot
Ight for the Colonels sartorial glories
and long gray hair. There is a small, visit
nil. gray smile on his lips as he recalls those
far OF days away back in the sos. He
freaks Of a continued narrative TO pay
'rhu,e TO the many horses he has owned
and lost since then
How many?- He shakes his gray head
.ovly. Il could not tell, but loved them
aIl. -Four Of them are buried on my ranch
M Nebraska These four were used in
my scouting days when acted as pilot OF
rhe prairies for Sheridan and Sherman, for
custer Merritt, Miles and Carr.
One Of my special favorites was Brig
am, who, as his name may suggest, came
rom Utah. He was a blue roam, wiry
Indian pony, great in the matter OF en-
durance and speed, II was on Brigham
mat killed the buGaloes in such numbers
hat gained my we'll known title.
DO you remember inquiries the Colonel
IN hs soft, low voice when at school they
asked you how many horses there were in
america when Columbus discovered It and
won couldn't tell? OF course you couldn't,
.or there wasn't any 10 tell about.
I had the pleasure Of accompanying the
ate Prof. Marsh on one Of his scientific
oypeditons when he discovered fossil
hors4. one Of the prehistoric species about
rhe size Of a Newfoundland dog which
now rests in the Yale Museum Of Natural
History. The find created a great stir, be-
ca,lse America Is not the home Of the horse
except by adoption
The horse came with the conquering
pooDle, brought over TO quell a strenuous
ace. The wild horses Of the prairies were
Dhe direct descendants Of these Spanish
mportatons, and In the course Of genera
lions they showed distinctly the differences
II climatic and other conditions, ranging
as they did from British Columbia to the
GuIt Of Mexico. There is not a variety
that am not familiar with and have not
owned and ridden.
There is the mustang Of the Texas sand
hs, a small horse-its name means simply
herded' Further north you will fnd the
bronco, whose name is from the Spanish
and means demon-devil. The oayuse Ia
another variety Of Indian pony. Cayuse
means spotted.
The spots and piebah effects are pro-
ectiye devices Of Nature, who gives the but
lcrhy the appearance oi the twig on which
1t slights. the chameleon the color Of any
substance where 1t rests; and 10 these In
dian ponies, wild animals whose freedom
s dependent on their ability 10 deceive
The eye Of the hunter. she has given dappled
sides and freckled tanks 30 that they may
he concealed on a mountainside with lie
patches Of snow and earth or in among
bushes or foliage struck slantingly by rays
Of light-prenatal influences worked out
IN the most marvellous manner. The In
dams are great students Of natural laws.
They understand all the tricks Of this trade
and they Use the rule Of protective resem-
bsnce better than any other fighting people
Of the world.
Just at present military authorities in
every country are doing their best 10 find
materials and colop that win ene0tuAlly-