THE DESERT AND THE ROSE 105 



we find the loco-weed and sleepy-grass. The loco- 

 weed has a pinnate leaf, sweetish to the taste, and 

 remains green all the year round. Some persons 

 think that the crackly pods adhering to it contain 

 the subtle poison, but for this statement I am not 

 answerable. At all events, if eaten, it has a peculiar 

 effect on man and beast — so much so that in our 

 section if anyone "acts queer" it is immediately af- 

 firmed that he or she is "loco'd." Horses are par- 

 tial to this plant, and if allowed to get to it, lose 

 their reason and sometimes their lives. I do not 

 mean that they necessarily become incurable luna- 

 tics, but both time and trouble must be employed 

 to cure them. Many and often ludicrous, are the 

 adventures of mountain travelers with "loco'd" 

 steeds. 



"What's the trouble with vour horses?" enquires 

 one passing teamster of another, struggling with 

 a refractory team. 



"Oh, they're plumb crazy ! Ate some loco-weed on 

 the range in the night." 



"Tie them up and feed them grain and wait till 

 they come round," is the advice of the mountain 

 wiseacre. 



"Stop beatin' that team!" he shouts to another 

 exasperated driver, "that ain't no manner of use. 

 Them horses has been eatin' Sleepy-Grass, and ain't 

 a-goin' to budge till so be as they get ready." 



Which saying of the sage is true enough. Round 

 and round as if on a pivot they go under the lash of 

 the whip, their forefeet planted deep in the ground 

 and only their hind feet revolving. They are in 



