ALONG FOUR-FOOTED TRAILS 



grazing on the hillside or in the ravine, with 

 the black mare beside him, the stallion often 

 ran to the top of the hill and would stand with 

 his proud head held high and scan the prairie in 

 every direction. Finding nothing to occasion 

 alarm, the two would paw the ground, bite at one 

 another and run about kicking up their heels in a 

 most playful manner. Then they would descend 

 the hill together and again join the band. 



The "boys," as the younger of the two 

 young men and the half-breed Indian stop- 

 ping at the Lone-Tree Ranch were familiarly 

 known, were bent on catching the stallion and 

 his beautiful companion. Many unsuccessful 

 attempts had been made by cowboys and others 

 to capture these two much coveted animals. 

 A number of the inferior ponies of the band 

 who were not so fleet of foot had been lassoed 

 at different times. But the proud stallion and 

 black mare always escaped, leaving their pursu- 

 ers far behind ; perchance one or two of the less 

 favored companions would be captured and sub- 

 dued. The wild pony has a remarkably keen 

 vision and is one of the most difficult of any 

 of our plains animals to approach. 



