the mountains(山脉)-第4部分
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
outfit； he was fed in the corral； and kept up for the purpose of rounding up
the others。 Every morning one of us used to ride him out after the herd。
Often it was necessary to run him at full speed along the mountain…side；
over rocks； boulders； and ledges； across ravines and gullies。 Never but
once in three months did he fall。
On the trail； too； they will perform feats little short of marvelous。
Mere steepness does not bother them at all。 They sit back almost on their
haunches； bunch their feet together； and slide。 I have seen them go down
a hundred feet this way。 In rough country they place their feet accurately
and quickly； gauge exactly the proper balance。 I have led my saddle…
horse； Bullet； over country where； undoubtedly to his intense disgust； I
myself have fallen a dozen times in the course of a morning。 Bullet had
no such troubles。 Any of the mountain horses will hop cheerfully up or
down ledges anywhere。 They will even walk a log fifteen or twenty feet
above a stream。 I have seen the same trick performed in Barnum's circus
as a wonderful feat； accompanied by brass bands and breathlessness。 We
accomplished it on our trip with out any brass bands； I cannot answer for
the breathlessness。 As for steadiness of nerve； they will walk serenely on
the edge of precipices a man would hate to look over； and given a palm's
breadth for the soles of their feet； they will get through。 Over such a
place I should a lot rather trust Bullet than myself。
In an emergency the Western horse is not apt to lose his head。 When
14
… Page 15…
THE MOUNTAINS
a pack…horse falls down； he lies still without struggle until eased of his
pack and told to get up。 If he slips off an edge； he tries to double his fore
legs under him and slide。 Should he find himself in a tight place； he
waits patiently for you to help him； and then proceeds gingerly。 A friend
of mine rode a horse named Blue。 One day； the trail being slippery with
rain； he slid and fell。 My friend managed a successful jump； but Blue
tumbled about thirty feet to the bed of the canon。 Fortunately he was not
injured。 After some difficulty my friend managed to force his way
through the chaparral to where Blue stood。 Then it was fine to see them。
My friend would go ahead a few feet； picking a route。 When he had
made his decision； he called Blue。 Blue came that far； and no farther。
Several times the little horse balanced painfully and unsteadily like a goat；
all four feet on a boulder； waiting for his signal to advance。 In this
manner they regained the trail； and proceeded as though nothing had
happened。 Instances could be multiplied indefinitely。
A good animal adapts himself quickly。 He is capable of learning by
experience。 In a country entirely new to him he soon discovers the best
method of getting about； where the feed grows； where he can find water。
He is accustomed to foraging for himself。 You do not need to show him
his pasturage。 If there is anything to eat anywhere in the district he will
find it。 Little tufts of bunch…grass growing concealed under the edges of
the brush； he will search out。 If he cannot get grass； he knows how to
rustle for the browse of small bushes。 Bullet would devour sage… brush；
when he could get nothing else； and I have even known him
philosophically to fill up on dry pine…needles。 There is no nutrition in
dry pine… needles； but Bullet got a satisfyingly full belly。 On the trail a
well…seasoned horse will be always on the forage； snatching here a
mouthful； yonder a single spear of grass； and all without breaking the
regularity of his gait； or delaying the pack…train behind him。 At the end
of the day's travel he is that much to the good。
By long observation thus you will construct your ideal of the mountain
horse； and in your selection of your animals for an expedition you will
search always for that ideal。 It is only too apt to be modified by personal
idiosyncrasies； and proverbially an ideal is difficult of attainment； but you
15
… Page 16…
THE MOUNTAINS
will； with care； come closer to its realization than one accustomed only to
the conventionality of an artificially reared horse would believe possible。
The ideal mountain horse； when you come to pick him out； is of
medium size。 He should be not smaller than fourteen hands nor larger
than fifteen。 He is strongly but not clumsily built； short…coupled； with
none of the snipy speedy range of the valley animal。 You will select
preferably one of wide full forehead； indicating intelligence； low in the
withers； so the saddle will not be apt to gall him。 His sureness of foot
should be beyond question； and of course he must be an expert at foraging。
A horse that knows but one or two kinds of feed； and that starves unless he
can find just those kinds； is an abomination。 He must not jump when you
throw all kinds of rattling and terrifying tarpaulins across him； and he
must not mind if the pack…ropes fall about his heels。 In the day's march
he must follow like a dog without the necessity of a lead…rope； nor must he
stray far when turned loose at night。
Fortunately； when removed from the reassuring environment of
civilization； horses are gregarious。 They hate to be separated from the
bunch to which they are accustomed。 Occasionally one of us would stop
on the trail； for some reason or another； thus dropping behind the pack…
train。 Instantly the saddle… horse so detained would begin to grow uneasy。
Bullet used by all means in his power to try to induce me to proceed。 He
would nibble me with his lips； paw the ground； dance in a circle； and
finally sidle up to me in the position of being mounted； than which he
could think of no stronger hint。 Then when I had finally remounted； it
was hard to hold him in。 He would whinny frantically； scramble with
enthusiasm up trails steep enough to draw a protest at ordinary times； and
rejoin his companions with every symptom of gratification and delight。
This gregariousness and alarm at being left alone in a strange country
tends to hold them together at night。 You are reasonably certain that in
the morning； having found one； you will come upon the rest not far away。
The personnel of our own outfit we found most interesting。 Although
collected from divergent localities they soon became acquainted。 In a
crowded corral they were always compact in their organization； sticking
close together； and resisting as a solid phalanx encroachments on their
16
… Page 17…
THE MOUNTAINS
feed by other and stranger horses。 Their internal organization was very
amusing。 A certain segregation soon took place。 Some became leaders；
others by common consent were relegated to the position of subordinates。
The order of precedence on the trail was rigidly preserved by the pack…
horses。 An attempt by Buckshot to pass Dinkey； for example； the latter
always met with a bite or a kick by way of hint。 If the gelding still
persisted； and tried to pass by a long detour； the mare would rush out at
him angrily； her ears back； her eyes flashing； her neck extended。 And
since Buckshot was by no means inclined always to give in meekly； we
had opportunities for plenty of amusement。 The two were always
skirmishing。 When by a strategic short cut across the angle of a trail
Buckshot succeeded in stealing a march on Dinkey； while she was nipping
a mouthful； his triumph was beautiful to see。 He never held the place for
long； however。 Dinkey's was the leadership by force of ambition and
energetic character； and at the head of the pack…train she normally
marched。
Yet there were hours when utter indifference seemed to fall on the
militant spirits。 They trailed peacefully and amiably in the rear while
Lily or Jenny marched with pride in the coveted advance。 But the place
was theirs only by sufferance。 A bite or a kick sent them back to their
own positions when the true leaders grew tired of their vacation。
However rigid this order of precedence； the saddle… animals were
acknowledged as
