Press enter after choosing selection

Hunting Wild Horses

Hunting Wild Horses image
Parent Issue
Day
29
Month
March
Year
1878
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

The -wild horse can run away from a man; bnt tliis proteetion fails at times. The horse-catohers- or "vaqueros," as they are called - are famous riders, and to see them capture a wild mustang is better tlian to go to a circus. The vaquero puts a Spimish saddle on a tame horse, and stiirts out to see what he can üud. In front, on the high pommel of the saddle, he hangs large coils of leatherrope, about a bundred feet long, called a lasso. It is made of strips of raw-hide, braided byhand into asmooth, hard, and very pretty rope. One end is seeured to the saddle, and the other end has a slip-knot, making a sliding noose. The vaquero has not long to wait, for there are droves of horses cantering or walking about over the swells and hollows of the prairie, with here and there a small group looking on, or watching a battlo between two horses who wish to be captains of their bands or companies. Presently there is a strange sound of tramping hoofs, like the sound of a eqnadron of cuvalry, except that it bas a grand, wild rush and swing, such as no cavalry ever had, and a erowd of dark heads rises over a swell of the land. The leader sees the vaquero, and he balts suddenly, and the others pull up in a confused crowd, and toss their heads, and sniff the air, as if they scented danger near. The leader does not like the looks of things, and turns and slowly canters away, lollowed by all the rest, tramping in confusión tbrougb the yellow grass and wild barley. Presently they beeome frightened, and away they fly in a dusty throng. The vaquero's horse seems to think his chance has come, and he pricks up bis ears, and is eager for the glorious fun of a dash after tbe mustangs. Away they go pell-mell, in a panic, and the tame horse galloping swiftly after them. Down they tumble - -some knooked over in the confusión, snorting and flinging great flecks of foam from their dilated nostrils, tiampling over eaeli other in mad baste, each for himself, and the American horse sweeping after them. Kow the vaquero stands up in his saddle, and the lasso swiners round and round in a circle over his liead. Swisli ! It sings tlirough the air with a whirring sound, and opens out in grcat rings, white the loop spreads wider and wider, und at last drops plump over the hoad of ! mustang. The vaquero's hörse pulls up with a sudden halt, and sinks back on his haunches and bracea his fore feet out in front. Ah ! How the dust flies ! The mustang is fast, held by the slip-knot, and he rears up and plunges in wild and frantic terror. The rope Rtrains terribly, but t)ie vaquero watches his chances and takis in the rope every time it slackeuH. Tt is of no use ! The poor mustang is hard and fast. Perhaps another rider e-omes up and flings nnother lasso over his head. Tlien they ride round him, and tlie mustang is twistcd and tangled in tlie ropes till lie snu hardly rnove, He falls, and rolls, and kicks i'wrionsly, and all in va;n. Panting, exhaustrd nnd coc quered, he at last eubmits to his fa(c. His fice rlays are ovor, and he seems to kuow it. A. few more atruggles, and ho rc30gnizes tliat mau is lus master, and, perhaps, in one or two days he submits to a bit in his mouth, and beoomes a tame horse for the rest of his life. If, by any chance, he escapes before he is broken in and runs away to join his wild companions, he seems never to forget that terriblo lasso ; and, if he sees thc vaquero again, he Tvill stand, tronibling and frightened, too mnch terrilied to even ruu nway. - From " Thc, Wild Mustart;;," by Charles Barnard, üt. Nichotan for April.

Article

Subjects
Old News
Michigan Argus