The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1910-06-11

from thirst.
After a supper quickly prepared and
hastily eaten l took my blankets TO .
point near the summit of the ridge be
low the gate. From this place no,
only could l hear horses if they cam,
up the gulch or descended from the
sides OF the canyon, but could easil,
crawl to the gate after they had entered
sitting under the low spreading branch.
es OF pinon pine. a big Navajo blanke,
closely wrapped about my shoulders. !
listened intently. for the moon had not
yet shed its light in the rayine below
me. Until il did the noise made by the
horses would be the only signal of their
approach. The stiffness Of the night
was perfect. A bird. probably an owl,
huttered over my head, but the slight
movement l made caused him to fiy
quickly away.
IL was becoming quite Geld, for the
altitude was about 1000 feet. / drew
my blanket little closer about my
throat and at that instant | beard a
faint. indistinct Whitney in the dis.
tauce. Sounds travel far in this still
night air, but thought ii was the call
OF little colt that had probably lost
It's dam In the darkness. Soon heard
another Whitney. apparently an answer
TO the first-then knew it was a band
of wild horses coming to the trap for
water. Although it was not yet neces-
sary to remain quiet, sat there with
every nerve and muscle held tense and
my ears alert for those hoofbeats that
could be expected any moment Soon
IN the distance / heard rock roll and
crash down through the dry timber on
the side Of the canyon; then the grind.
Iug Of small stones under hoof as the
band shortly descended. Amid thai
grinding | heard the muffied trot of
single horse-it was the leader hasten
ing toward the gate. They were not
yet IN sight, bat those sounds could
not be misunderstood. A Whitney from
one Of the band was answered by the
leader; then from the canyon came t,
me the muiiisd pounding of many
hoofs-some running, others trotting-
all coming toward the gate of the trap.
| was now on my hands and knees.
crawling under the trees trying to gel
sight Of the horses, my heart bound
ing and thumping so hard / feared
the mustangs would hear it. But thai
humping came to sudden pause, foi
at the gate they stopped-svery ont
of them.
The big, bright. full moon had by this
time climbed above the mountain
which had barred its light. aud as
picture Is projected upon q screen there
appeared before me the band of horses
standing Just below. The stallion will
his head back and high. his tail far out
from his body; eye. ear and nostrll'
keenly expectant, stood as motionless al
the mountains. All the others Of the
band watched him. Not q movement
was perceptibls In any Of them. The
tenseness was unbroken until colt--a
tiny pinto-that had been nosing about
mare which would not claim him,
nichered low, inquiring call-immedi-
ately the entire bunch wheeled about
aud ran headlong down the canyon.
I listened. The hoofbeats came bach
to me very fast at first; then gradually
more slowly before they were far enough
to be out Of hearing the noise ceased. ]
knew they had stopped aud would prob
ably return. Doubtless 1t was slight
taint their sensitive. delicate nostrils
had detected. The wind quartered Sc
that it was barely possible ii could carry
my scent to them. but it was perhaps
that my saddle blankets. wet and soggy i,
which had left at the upper end OF the
trap, had tainted the steady breeze that
was drifting down from them.
however, ~ Whs NV AShb
again heard the mustangs returning,
cautiously now, trottiug few steps
then standing motionless. listening and
scenting; occasionally a nervous one
would turn and run back. the band fol
lowing, only to stop and advance again
had counted them several times
There were II head. all evidently very
thirsty, for the leader, with his nose
held closely to the grouod, followed up
the little wash that sometimes carried
an overflow from the spring; snifhng
always. stopping every few steps to paw
away little dirt in an effort to nnd
water underneath. The attention o'
the band was centered upon him, ior
he was advancing toward the gate-ls
feet more aud he would be inside
Slowly and cautiously the mares ano
colts followed. Here at the gate the
big white leader stopped; one oil the
mares found trace of muddy water In