WILD PONIES OF THE PLAINS 



ders, long, slender legs, bright, intelligent eyes, 

 a sharp nose and large, wide nostrils. A thick, 

 heavy mane fell gracefully over her arched 

 neck. The only other conspicuous member of 

 the band was a little, vicious, white pony who 

 followed along in the rear in a lazy, indifferent 

 manner. His coat was shaggy and rough and 

 mane and tail were short and straggling. 



To the west and south of "Lone-Tree Ranch" 

 the country was rolling and hilly ; to the east 

 along the old river-bottom were beds of thick, 

 white sand ; and to the north was a long, barren 

 stretch of alkali waste, dotted here and there 

 with springs of caustic water. The only 

 "stream of pure water" for miles around ran 

 along the foot of the hills west of the village. 

 It was from these hills that the villagers and 

 near-by ranchmen admired the beautiful mare 

 as she ascended the long incline to drink in 

 company with the gray stallion, followed by the 

 rest of the band. 



During the open fall and winter the ponies 



were often seen in the distance, first from one 



knoll, then from another, as they grazed upon 



the dry grass or cantered about in play. When 



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