3n many of the Western mining-towns, the 

 liverymen keep "return horses," — horses that 

 will return to the barn when set at liberty, whether 

 near the barn or twenty miles away. These horses 

 are the pick of their kind. They have brains 

 enough to take training readily, and also to make 

 plans of their own and get on despite the unex- 

 pected hindrances that sometimes occur. When 

 a return horse is ridden to a neighboring town, 

 he must know enough to find his way back, and 

 he must also be so well trained that he will not 

 converse too long with the horse he meets going 

 in the opposite direction. 



The return horse is a result of the necessities 

 of mountain sections, especially the needs of 

 miners. Most Western mining-towns are located 

 upon a flat or in a gulch. The mines are rarely near 

 the town, but are on the mountain-slopes above 

 it. Out of town go a dozen roads or trails that 

 extend to the mines, from one to five miles away, 



"5 



