LIFE SKETCH. 63 



his head towards me; as he did so, I held out my hand 

 and said, " Come here, sir!" at the same time approach- 

 ing him. He allowed me to touch his head, his ears, 

 neck, etc. I patted him, he evidently liked it; I talked 

 to him, but did not hurt him. He had learned that one 

 man at least could come near and not hurt him; he 

 had also learned if he turned his heels towards me he 

 got hurt. In less than ten minutes he was following 

 me like a dog, his head close to me, turning to the right 

 and left and stopping as I did. I placed a halter on 

 him — I had taught him I was his friend. Now, to 

 show that I was master and his superior, I had a 

 wrestle with him. With his off forefoot secured he 

 struggled determinedly; but no use, he had to come 

 down. Stretched at full length, and finding it impos- 

 sible to rise, he gave up completely. "You are my 

 boss, and I know you will not hurt me," he said by 

 his actions, No tin pans, bells, fire-crackers, pistol, or 

 drum had any fears for him. When he got up he 

 plainly showed conversion. I harnessed and drove 

 him without any trouble, and handed him over to his 

 owner converted from, a wicked, ugly, useless brute 

 into a willing, valuable servant. His owner subse- 

 quently brought the animal to one of my evening en- 

 tertainments, driving and handling him with perfect 

 safety and ease. 



On my arrival I had considerable trouble in finding 

 enough bad horses for subjects; but after twelve 

 weeks, exhibiting every evening, during the time 

 handling each evening, with one exception, from 

 three to five horses, I had enough on my hands to 

 last two weeks at least. The only animal I found 

 here on which I had to bestow one entire evening's 

 work was a large, fine-looking Western horse. As 

 soon ag I attempted to put my hand on him, I informed 



