Ranching in the Bad Lands. 35 



carry a good-sized buck behind his rider for miles at a 

 lope without minding it in the least ; he is very enduring 

 and very hardy, not only picking up a living but even 

 growing fat when left to shift for himself under very hard 

 conditions ; and he is perfectly surefooted and as fast as 

 any horse on the river. Though both willing and spirited, 

 he is very gentle, with an easy mouth, and will stay graz- 

 ing in one spot when left, and will permit himself to be 

 caught without difficulty. Add to these virtues the fact 

 that he will let any dead beast or thing be packed on him, 

 and will allow a man to shoot off his back or right by him 

 without moving, and it is evident that he is as nearly 

 perfect as can be the case with hunting-horseflesh. There 

 is a little sorrel mare on the ranch, a perfect little pet, 

 that is almost as good, but too small. We have some 

 other horses we frequently use, but all have faults. Some 

 of the quiet ones are slow, lazy, or tire easily ; others are 

 gun shy ; while others plunge and buck if we try to pack 

 any game on their backs. Others cannot be left standing 

 untied, as they run away ; and I can imagine few forms of 

 exercise so soul-harrowing as that of spending an hour or 

 two in running, in shaps, top boots, and spurs over a 

 broken prairie, with the thermometer at 90, after an 

 escaped horse. Most of the hunting-horses used by my 

 friends have one or more of these tricks, and it is rare to 

 find one, like Manitou, who has none of them. Manitou 

 is a treasure and I value him accordingly. Besides, he is 

 a sociable old fellow, and a great companion when off 

 alone, coming up to have his head rubbed or to get a 

 crust of bread, of which he is very fond. 



