WILD PONIES OF THE PLAINS 



she turned and flew back around the sand-beds 

 and along a level stretch of country, across a 

 prairie-dog town, avoiding the treacherous holes 

 with skilled ease. On and on she ran back to- 

 ward their old stamping-ground and the river, 

 with the boys in hot pursuit. When Long 

 Bob met the teacher they exchanged horses; 

 with the fresh mount he rapidly gained on the 

 tired mare and with one swing of the long lasso 

 she was caught on the very hill where proud, 

 wild and free she had been so much admired. 

 In her frenzied efforts to escape she forcibly 

 threw herself to the ground when she had run 

 the length of the rope. Dismounting, her cap- 

 tor ran to her and strapped her fore feet to- 

 gether. The spirited animal plunged and 

 fought and squealed in a vain effort to free her- 

 self, while her sleek black coat became thickly 

 covered with white foam and dirt. While pass- 

 ing a rope-noose around the mare's under jaw 

 a piece of her lower lip was accidentally torn 

 away. This naturally added to the excited and 

 frenzied condition of the animal. She plunged 

 and fought until completely exhausted ; trem- 

 bling with broken pride, great tears rolled down 

 [103] 



