Plentywood herald., 1928-09-13

horse cloth over the animals back, and
speaking a few words to the animal
placed the stick gently thereup0n and at
tempted to balance 1t in its place. The
stick would not balance. the roll of the
cord around 1t evidently presenting an
uneven surface that rendered the feat
impossible.
Ho-Ta Mas features now became
dreadfully agitated The words that fell
from him were to the effect that his per-
sonal Manitou had forsaken him. The
medicine club would not ride, and If
that could not ride the horse neither
could Ho-Ta-Mal
Presently, however, he seemed to COL
| lect himself from his excitement. He
intimated that the presence of SO many
Long Knives (white traders) affected the
operation Of his charms. He must take
the horse where there were none but
red men. The stable and the little
grove of timber near the river bank were
both indicated to him as places to which
he might retire with his charge. He chose
the latter.
The thicket was about 100 yards dis
tant and the underground was so dense
that both horse and man were soon hid
den from sight. But from the moment
he slipped within the shadows the place
Ho-Ta-Ma would make his appearance.
In little more than fifteen minutes,
the whirr Of a covey of prairie chickens
told that the Indian was in motion. He
emerged still leading the horse, and 1t
was plain that one portion at least OF
Ho-Ta-Ma's charm had taken effect. The
blanket remained adjusted as 1t was be-
fore, but there on top of 1t as closely al
If glued to the horses back, rode the
stick!
Rides the Horse
Il Then the medicine man paused for {
time pointing triumphantly to the sue.
cess of his feat, but on the instant the
attache and some companions made
movement to approach nearer and exam
Inc his appliances, he waved his hand IL
menacing manner for them to keeI
back. Then, seizing the immovable clut
with the same hand, he shouted. "Ho
Ta-Ma said If club would ride, Ho-Ta
Ma would ride, and Ho-Ta-Ma will ride.
And true enough, in the same instan
he was on the horses back. A convulsiv,
attempt to rear a short spasmodic lift
ing of the hind legs, and the horse stooS
motionless, quivering in every nerve. Hi
strength seemed to have passed into tn,
body of the Indian. And now, amid tn,
involuntary cheering of the spectators
q
wheeled and circled on the prairie lik
an eaglet first trying his pinions in mit
air. He arched his neck. He shook hi
mane, and while every motion showed
his gladstone sportiveness, one coult
fancy, it is said that his eye had los
forever the sullen glow that had hithert
given malignancy to his expression. II
seemed In fact, the story goes. to b
| proud of his new master
1--WE seen that in a setter before" salt
MFR. Mckenzie, that instant cottonin
to some hand that first taught him t
obey in the field l myself gave away tn
best pup ever owned to a friend VIII
seemed to be his natural owner Nv
seen this in dog, but it's the first tim
ever saw horse show pleasure at hav
ing found his real master"
Wins the Horse
While Mr.. Mckenzie was thus com
menting upon the feat, the Indian agai
i disappeared in the thicket, from whicl
he soon approached, leading the horse
having removed the stick and transferre
the blanket to his own back. OF cours
Ho-Ta-Ma was adjudged to have fairl
II won his horse meat" and was at ono
II complimented by the previous owner.
may interest those who look upon tn
II picture of horse race, by Carl Bodmel
II reproduced on this page, that the dappl
II gray is the artists conception Of the yer
horse and rider I have been describing.
III Some have been SO unappreciative q
II to insist that the magic stick OF Ho-Ta
Ma was kept in place by the thong c
elk hide passed around the belly of tn
horse. coming out through hole in tn
blanket: and that the Indian prevente
the horse from kicking by merely turn
II ing the stick which would 80 tighte
II the cord as to make such action unendur
II ably painful. But. for the sake Of India
tradition / should never believe wor
of this myself and hope the reader wi
II not.