Some of the soldiers insist that he was a race pony,
because he is not only very swift, but has been taught to take three
tremendous jumps at the very beginning of his run, which gives him an
immense advantage, but which his rider may sometimes fail to
appreciate. These jumps are often taught the Indian race ponies. The
horse is gentle with Faye and is certainly graceful, but he is hard to
hold and inclined to bolt, so I will not try him until he becomes more
civilized.
The Indians are very bold again. A few days ago Lieutenant Golden was
in to luncheon, and while we were at the table we saw several Kiowas
rush across the creek and stampede five or six horses that belonged to
our milkman, who has a ranch just outside the garrison. In a few
minutes an orderly appeared with an order for Lieutenant Golden and
ten men to go after them without delay, and bring the horses back.
Of course he started at once, and chased those Indians all the
afternoon, and got so close to them once or twice that they saw the
necessity of lightening the weight on their tired ponies, and threw
off their old saddles and all sorts of things, even little bags of
shot, but all the time they held on to their guns and managed to keep
the stolen horses ahead of them. They had extra ponies, too, that they
swung themselves over on when the ridden beasts began to lag a little.
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