Smoke of the H-F Bar 



Splash got his name, as had Smoke, 

 White Man and Blaze from peculiar 

 color markings. Splash was Billy's, 

 and the only "racker" on the ranch. 

 He was black, with a few white 

 splotches, and here and there the 

 black and white so intermingled as to 

 produce a peculiar grizzled mixture. 

 He was nimble on his feet, quick as 

 a cat and the easiest-gaited pony on 

 the ranch. In common with all the 

 rest, however, he invariably took the 

 first touch of your toe in the stirrup 

 as the signal to be off. You are sup- 

 posed to swing yourself up into the 

 saddle as they fly away. Billy can tell 

 you best about this. She made a 

 noble effort one fine morning to get 

 aboard in time, but Splash was just 

 a little bit too quick. But she will 

 have to tell of that herself. 



Blaze was a decidedly good mount. 

 There is real horse in him. That is to 

 say, he was not of the pure native 

 blood. In conformation, size and gen- 



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