180 FERAL HORSES. 



the fierce and uncontrolable gallop of thousands of 

 panic-stricken horses : as this living torrent drew 

 nigh, I sprang to the front of the tent, seized my 

 favourite riding-mare, and in addition to the hobbles 

 which confined her, twisted the long larlett round 

 her fore legs, then led her immediately in front of 

 the fire, hoping that the excited and maddened flood 

 of horses would divide and pass on each side of it. 

 As the galloping mass drew nigh, our horses began 

 to snort, prick up their ears, then to tremble ; and 

 when it burst upon us, they became completely un- 

 governable from terror ; all broke loose and joined 

 their affrighted companions, except my mare, which 

 struggled with the fury of a wild beast, and I only 

 retained her by using all my strength, and at last 

 throwing her on her side. On went the maddened 

 troop, trampling, in their headlong speed, over skins, 

 dried meat, &c., and throwing down some of the 

 smaller tents. They were soon lost in the darkness 

 of the night and in the wilds of the prairie, and 

 nothing more was heard of them, save the distant 

 yelping of the curs, who continued their ineffectual 

 pursuit." These wild animals have produced the 

 same effect upon the native savages which their 

 similars have done in the south. In the latter por- 

 tion of America, the Gosquis, Araucas, and Pata- 

 gonian Indians have become riding tribes, as weft 

 as the Pawnees, Camanchees, and Ricarras in the 

 former; all are nomad hordes of riders, only re- 

 strained by the presence of European colonists from 

 becoming the conquerors of their fellow red men. 



