470 WILD SCENES AND WILD HUNTERS. 



them. The hunters seldom venture upon the experiment 

 of lassoing them, for the moment an old stallion feels the 

 lasso upon his neck he will rush at the man and tear him 

 from his seat. I knew an instance in which a Mexican 

 was maimed for life. Some of these stallions are very 

 famous for their incredible swiftness, beauty and endurance. 

 The hunters know their color, their fine parts and haunts 

 as well as they know the features of the Pilot Knobs. 



You all remember Kendall's fine description of the "white 

 steed of the prairies," so remarkable for his pace that no 

 hunter had ever yet been able to make him break it ! I had 

 often heard of the same animal from them, and what is a 

 curious coincidence, all the white mustangs I have ever seen 

 are natural pacers. 



There is another animal even more magnificent than these, 

 frequenting the plains west of San Antonia. I had a good 

 opportunity of seeing this fellow, and was one of a party 

 that chased him for several days, in the effort to run him 

 down that we might " pen" him, the only method of hunting 

 them which is ever successful in securing one of the splendid 

 creatures. But we must defer the story for another time. 



The code in these herds is a very imperious one. Rivalry 

 is not submitted to from any quarter. As soon as the stud 

 colts begin to " feel themselves" they are most unceremoniously 

 banished by the old patriarch. They then lead a solitary 

 life for several years, until feeling confident in their strength, 

 they dash into the nearest herd, and if they should prove 

 able, whip off the leader and take possession of his seraglio. 



In passing those prairies diversified like old English parks 

 with a cluster of timber here, and a huge moss-hung live-oak 

 there, I have frequently been amused by the disconsolate air 

 of one of these expatriated horses, standing " solitary and 

 alone" beneath the shade, his head drooping, evidently 

 brooding over bitter memories, and ruminating dire revenge. 

 The hunters always have a laugh at the sight of such a fellow. 



