THE MUSTANG, OR WILD HORSE. 469 
of us, glancing past the leafy trunks of the great trees— 
now in a line like a great spotted snake, arrowy gliding over 
the green sea of grass. 
They had run their horses nearly forty miles before we 
get on their trail, and yet our American horses, which were 
perfectly fresh, were thoroughly used up before we closed 
with them—but “thereby hangs a tale,” touching and strange, 
indeed—which we cannot stop here to tell. 
The incident strikingly illustrates though, the wonderful 
powers of this animal. 
The bearing of the stallions toward their families is the 
very ideal of chivalry—each one seems to consider himself 
solely responsible for the safety of those he has taken under 
his protection. He is always on the alert—feeding apart 
from them on the highest ground, his watchful survey—every 
moment or two scans the horizon, and if any thing suspicious 
is detected, off he dashes, fearless in his might and speed, 
and circling around the doubtful object till he has determined 
its character—if it be an enemy, his trumpet neigh gives 
warning to his dames, who have been quietly feeding all this 
time, to be off upon their flight! while he, with proud curvot 
ings, follows on as if half determined not to fly at an, 
“sometimes he trots as though he told his steps,” facing 
back towards his pursuer, while 
‘* His nostrils drink the air, and forth again, 
As from a furnace, vapors doth he send.” 
And when a long look and the nearer approach of the enemy. 
has satisfied his curiosity, wheeling again, he flies with sur- 
passing speed and louder neighing after his retreating herd— 
while 
“ Through his mane and tail the high wind sighs, 
Fanning the hairs, who wave like feathered wings.” 
It is a very common thing, when the hunters with the 
lasso dash in among the herd, for these gallant fellows to 
injure them or their horses seriously, by kicking and biting 
