CHAPTER TWENTY THREE.
THE HUNT OF THE WILD HORSE.
"There must be buffalo in this neighbourhood," said Basil, looking tothe ground as they rode on. "These `chips' are very fresh. They cannothave lain for many days. See! there is a buffalo-road covered withtracks!"
As Basil said this, he pointed to a trough-like hollow in the prairie,running as far as the eye could reach. It looked like the dry bed of astream; but the hoof-tracks in the bottom showed that it was what he hadcalled it,--a buffalo-road, leading, no doubt, to some river orwatering-place. It was so deep that, in riding along it, the heads ofour travellers were on a level with the prairie. It had been thushollowed out by the water during heavy rains, as the soil, previouslyloosened by the hoofs of the buffaloes, was then carried off to therivers. Such roads the buffaloes follow at times, thousands of themkeeping in the same trail. They travel thus when they are migrating insearch of better pastures, or water--to which they know by experiencethe roads will conduct them.
Our hunters did not follow this road far, as there was no certainty thatit would bring them to where the animals then were. They crossed over,and kept on for the butte.
"_Voila_!" cried Francois, "what are these?" Francois pointed toseveral circular hollows that appeared in the prairie before them.
"Buffalo-wallows, I declare!" said Basil: "some of them are quite freshtoo!"
"Buffalo-wallows!" echoed Francois; "what are they?"
"Why, have you never heard of them, Frank?" asked Basil. "Places wherethe buffalo wallow and tumble like horses and farm-cattle."
"Oh, that's it," said Francois; "but what do they do it for?"
"Well, that I don't know. Perhaps Luce can tell."
"Some say," said Lucien, thus appealed to, "they do it to scratchthemselves, and get rid of the flies and other insects that annoy them.Others believe that they practise this curious exercise only by way ofdiversion."
"Ha! ha! ha!" laughed Francois, "what funny fellows they must be!"
"There is yet another more curious explanation," continued Lucien,"which is this:--that the buffaloes make these hollows to catch waterwhen it rains, so that they may come back to them and drink!"
"Ha! ha! ha!" again laughed Francois; "I can't believe that, brother."
"I would not have you neither," said Lucien; "of course, the suppositionis not true--as the buffalo is not an animal possessing sufficientintelligence for that. It is only offered as a curious suggestion. Itis certain, however, that the water collects in these holes duringrain-time, and often remains there for days; and the buffaloes,wandering about, drink out of them. Therefore, it may, in one sense, betruly said that the buffaloes _dig their own wells_! These often proveof service to other animals, as well as those who have made them. Losttrappers and Indians have been saved by finding water in them, whenotherwise they would have perished from thirst."
"How very round they are!" said Francois; "why, they are perfectcircles! How do the buffaloes make them so?"
"By laying themselves out at full length and spinning round and roundlike a wagon wheel upon its nave. They revolve with great rapidity,using their humped shoulders as a pivot, and their legs as levers. Theysometimes continue this motion for half-an-hour at a time. No doubtthey do this, as has been said, to scratch themselves; for,notwithstanding their thick hides and hair, they are much annoyed byinsect-parasites. They do it, too, for amusement, or to give themselvespleasure, which is the same thing. You have often witnessed horses at asimilar exercise; and was it not evident that they took a pleasure init? Have you not fancied so?"
"Oh, yes," cried Francois, "I am sure horses enjoy a good tumble."
"Well, then, it is to be supposed the buffaloes do the same. Gettingrid of their tormentors, and pressing their hot sides into the freshcool earth, is, no doubt, a source of enjoyment to them. They are notvery cleanly; as they are often seen wandering about, so covered withdirt, that one cannot tell what colour their hide is."
"Well!" added Francois, "I hope we shall soon come across one with a_white_ hide!"
Talking after this fashion, our young hunters continued their journey.They had ridden about ten miles, when Basil--whose eye was all the timewandering around the prairie horizon--uttered an exclamation, andsuddenly reined up his horse. The others, seeing him do so, stoppedalso.
"What do you see?" asked Lucien.
"I do not know," replied Basil; "but there is something yonder upon theedge of the prairie--to the southward--do you see it?"
"Yes; it looks like a clump of low trees."
"No," said Basil; "they are not trees. This moment I saw one apart fromthe rest, and I do not see it now. It appeared to move in toward themass. I fancy they are animals of some kind or other."
"Buffaloes, I hope!" cried Francois, raising himself to his full heightin the stirrups, and endeavouring to get a sight of them. But Francois'pony did not give him a sufficient elevation to enable him to see theobjects; and he was, therefore, compelled to withhold an opinion as towhat they might be.
"Should we ride towards them?" asked Lucien, addressing Basil.
"I think they are moving this way," replied the latter. "They extendmore along the horizon, and that may be because they are getting nearer.Buffaloes! no--as I live," continued he, elevating his voice, "they arehorsemen--perhaps mounted Indians!"
"Why do you think so?" inquired Lucien, hurriedly.
"I saw one between me and the sky. I can tell the shape of a horse asfar as I can see him. I am sure it was one. Look! yonder goesanother!"
"It is," added Lucien; "it is a horse. But see! there is no rider--noone on his back; and yonder's another, also without a rider. Ha! Iknow now--_they are mustangs_!"
"Mustangs!" echoed Francois; "good!--that will be something worthseeing."
It soon proved that Lucien was right. It was a drove of mustangs, orwild horses. Basil was also right in saying that they were comingtowards them; for in a few moments they appeared to be within less thana mile, and approaching at a rapid gallop.
They galloped closely together like a trained troop; and one could beperceived some lengths in the advance apparently acting as leader. Nowand then one would shy out of the ranks, and rear a moment apart fromthe rest, but would return again, and fall in with his companions. Itwas a rare sight to see them as they came on; and the ground thunderedunder their hoofs as though a squadron of cavalry was charging over it.
When within less than half a mile of the party, they seemed to noticethe latter for the first time. All at once the foremost halted, threwup his head with a snort, and stood still. The others stopped,imitating the example of their leader. The latter was still some pacesin the advance; while the breasts of his followers seemed to form acompact front, like cavalry in line of battle! After standing still fora few seconds, the leader uttered a shrill neigh, shied to the right,and dashed off at full speed. The others answered the call; and,instantly wheeling into the same direction, followed after. Themovement was executed with the precision of a troop!
Our hunters supposed the horses were about to pass them, and partcompany without coming closer. They all regretted this, as they weredesirous of having a nearer view of these noble creatures. In order notto alarm them as they were coming up, all three had taken the precautionto dismount; and now stood partially screened by their own horses, yetholding the latter firmly--as these were terrified by the thunderingtramp of the wild steeds.
In a moment the mustangs appeared opposite--that is, with their sidesturned to the hunters; and the latter now saw with joy that they werenot passing away, but _galloping in a circle_--of which they, thespectators, were the centre!
The circle in which the horses ran was scarcely half a mile in diameter,and they appeared to be approaching nearer to the centre. In fact, theywere not following the circumference of a circle, but a spiral curvethat contracted gradually inward.
The boys had now a fair view of them, and a beautiful sight it was.T
here were about two hundred in all, but they were of differentcolours--scarcely two of them being marked alike. There were black andwhite ones, and bay and roan. Some were brown, some sorrel, and some ofan iron-grey; and there were others--many of them--mottled and spottedlike hounds! All had flowing manes and long waving tails; and thesestreamed behind them as they galloped, adding to the gracefulness oftheir appearance. It was, in truth, a beautiful sight, and the heartsof the boys bounded within them, while their eyes followed the movingtroop as it circled round and round.
But the eyes of all three soon centred upon one--the leader, and afairer object none of them had ever beheld. Basil, who loved a finehorse more than any living thing, was in an ecstasy as he gazed uponthis beautiful creature. It was no wonder, for a more perfect-lookinganimal could hardly have been conceived. He was larger than any of theherd, though still under the size of an English horse. His full chestand prominent eye-balls--his well-bound flanks and quarters--his lightcylindrical limbs and small finely-shaped hoofs, showed of what race hewas--an Arab of the Andalusian breed--a descendant of the noble steedsthat carried the first conquerors of Mexico. His proportions were whata judge would have pronounced perfect; and Basil, who, in fact, _was_ ajudge, had already said so. He was white all over--white as themountain-snow. As he galloped, his nostrils appeared open and red, hiseyes stood prominently forth, his mane was tossed on both sides of hisneck from his crest to his withers, and his long tail streamedhorizontally behind him. His free, graceful movements--like that of allhis followers--showed that no saddle had ever been laid across his back.
As Basil gazed upon this noble creature, he became imbued with anirresistible desire to possess him. It is true he already had a horse,and as fine a one as ever wore saddle; but it was Basil's weakness tocovet every fine horse he saw; and this one had inspired him with a mostparticular longing to become his owner. In a few seconds' time, soeager had grown this desire, that Basil felt as if he would have givenall he had in the world--Black Hawk, perhaps, excepted--to be the masterof this prairie steed. Throwing a lasso, as Basil could, and mounted ashe was, it would strike you that he might soon have gratified his wish;but it was not so easy a thing, and Basil knew that. He knew that hemight without difficulty overtake and fling his noose over some of the"fags" of the herd; but to capture the leader was quite another thing--afeat _never accomplished upon the prairies_, even by the Indiansthemselves. He had often heard this, nevertheless, he was determined totry. He had great confidence in the speed and bottom of Black Hawk.
He communicated his determination to his brothers, in a whisper--lest hemight frighten the mustangs, now circling very near. Lucien tried todissuade him, offering as a reason, that it would lead them from theircourse, and might separate them from each other.
"No," said Basil. "Go on to the butte, you and Francois. I shall cometo you--perhaps I may be there before you. Do not say a word,brother,--you need not. I _must have that horse_; and I shall capturehim if it cost me a fifty-mile gallop."
While Basil was speaking, he drew closer to his left stirrup, looked tothe lasso that hung coiled upon the horn of his saddle, and then stoodready to mount. Lucien saw it was of no use to urge his advice farther,and ceased to interfere. Francois would fondly have joined Basil in thechase; but his diminutive pony rendered the idea too absurd to be actedupon.
During all this time the wild horses had continued their evolutions. Atintervals they would halt at a signal from their leader, and wheel intoline, facing inward towards the little group. In this position theywould remain for a few seconds, with heads erect, gazing with curiouswonder at the strange intruders upon their domain. Some of them wouldpaw the ground, and snort as if in anger. Then the foremost would utterhis shrill neigh, and all would go off again, circling about as before.
They had got within less than two hundred yards of where the huntersstood, but it was evident they intended coming no nearer. On thecontrary, they showed symptoms of bearing off. At each fresh movementfrom a halt, they turned their heads for the prairie, and then camecircling back again--as though they had not yet quite satisfied theircuriosity.
During their last halt--or what Basil believed might be the last--heagain cautioned his brothers to keep on to the butte, and quietlyplacing his foot in the stirrup, vaulted into the saddle. The movementcaused the mustangs to start; but, before they could turn themselves,the young hunter had plied the spur, and made several springs towardsthem across the prairie. He looked not at the drove--he cared not whichway they might go--his eye rested only on the white leader, and towardshim he rode in full charge.
The latter, when he saw this sudden movement, stood for a moment, as ifin surprise. Then giving a wild neigh--far different from any of thecalls he had hitherto uttered--wheeled to the right, and led off in agallop, the rest following at the top of their speed. As the rearmostcame round upon the prairie, Basil was not a dozen yards from them; andin a few springs had got so close that he could easily have thrown hislasso over some of them. In turning, however, he was left far behind;but he soon recovered his distance, and spurred on, bearing slightly toone side of the drove. He did not wish to get in amongst them--as hebelieved that might be dangerous, and would only impede him. His objectwas to head the drove, or in some way to separate the leader from theothers. This was what he wanted first; and to this task he bent himselfwith all his energy.
On flew the wild steeds straining themselves to their utmost speed. Onfollowed the hunter,--apparently in reckless pursuit, but carefullyguiding his horse as he rode. His lasso hung at his saddle-peak. Hehad not yet touched it--time enough for that.
On flew the wild horses, and closer followed the daring hunter, untilmiles of the prairie lay between him and the starting-point. In a fewminutes he was no longer visible to those he had left behind.
But the small Andalusian steeds were no match for the Godolphin Arab.The herd had changed its shape. The horses no longer ran in a body, butin a long string--each taking place according to his speed--and far inadvance of all, like a meteor, glanced the snow-white leader.
The hindmost were soon passed--each swerving off from the track, as soonas he saw himself headed by the great dark horse that carried thestrange and dreaded object upon his back. One by one they were passed,until Black Hawk had forged ahead of the whole drove; and his rider nowsaw nothing before him but the white steed, the green prairie, and theblue sky. He looked not back. Had he done so, he would have seen themustangs scattering in every direction over the plain. But he lookednot back. All that he now cared for was before him; and he plied thespur freshly and galloped on.
He had no need to use the spur. Black Hawk seemed to think that hiscredit rested upon the result, and the faithful brute was doing hisbest. On the other hand, the wild horse felt that his life, or at leasthis freedom, depended upon it, and this was enough to urge _him_ to hisutmost. Both flew like the wind--pursuer and pursued.
As they parted from the herd, there was not more than three hundredyards between them; and they must have passed over some milesafterwards, before this distance was greatly lessened. Their line offlight was as straight as an arrow; and from this it was evident thatthe mustang usually trusted to his hoofs to save him from his enemies.
In a race like this, however, the pursuer has the advantage of thepursued. The latter, always anxious, is constrained to look back; andis, therefore, less sure of the ground that lies before. He loses hisproper attitude for speed, and is besides in danger of stumbling. So itwas with the wild horse. He did not stumble--he was too sure of footfor that--but his head was occasionally thrown to one side, until hislarge dark eye commanded a view of his enemy behind him. This, ofcourse, to some extent, retarded him. It was only at these moments thatBasil could gain upon him; and the proofs he thus gave of his superiorpowers, only rendered the latter the more eager to capture and possesshim.
After a long chase the distance between them was still two hundred pacesat the least. The young h
unter, with a feeling of impatience, once moreplied the spur in a fresh effort to come up; while the other seemed tospring forward as swiftly as ever.
All at once Basil observed that the white steed, instead of runningstraight forward, appeared to go from side to side, moving in crookedlines! Basil saw this with surprise. He looked to discover the cause.As his eye glanced along the ground, he perceived that it was uneven--covered, as far as he could see, with little hillocks. The mustang wasamong them. It was this, then, that was causing him to run sostrangely. Basil had hardly made the observation, when he felt hishorse sink suddenly under him, and tumble headlong upon the prairie!
The rider was flung from his seat, though not much hurt. He rose atonce to his feet. Black Hawk struggled up at the same time, and stoodstill, his wet flanks rising and falling as he breathed and panted. Hewas not in a condition to gallop farther. But even had he been fresh,Basil saw that the chase was now at an end. The little hillocks, whichhe had just noticed, stood thick upon the prairie, as far as the eyecould reach; and among these the wild horse was gliding off as swiftlyas ever. When the hunter got to his feet again, the other was nearly aquarter of a mile distant, and at that moment sent back a shrill neigh,as if triumphing over his escape--for he had escaped beyond a doubt.
Basil saw this with chagrin. He saw that further pursuit was not onlyuseless, but dangerous; for although he had never seen anything likethese little mounds before, he knew very well what they were, and thedanger of riding at a rapid rate among them. He had received a timelylesson--for he was just entering their borders when his horse fell--fortunately to rise again with sound limbs. He knew he might not getoff so safely a second time, and he had no inclination to take thechances of another tumble. He was not going to risk the loss of hisfavourite Black Hawk for the white steed, even had he been certain ofcapturing the latter. But this was no longer likely. On the contrary,he might, instead of making a capture, lose his own horse, were he tocontinue the chase; and that he well knew would be a terrible situation.With the best grace he could, therefore, he abandoned the pursuit,leaving the mustang to scamper off alone. He watched him for severalminutes, until the latter, far, far away, faded like a white cloud intothe pale blue of the horizon.
The young hunter now bethought him of returning to his companions. Inwhat direction was he to go? He looked around for the butte. There itwas; but, to his astonishment, it lay directly before him, and nearerthan when he last saw it! He had been all this while galloping towardsit; but in his haste had not noticed this. Lucien and Francois must bebehind, thought he, and would soon come that way. The best thing hecould do, therefore, would be to wait until they should come up; and,with this intention, he sat down upon one of the little hillocks,leaving his horse to wander about at will.