Yr RIC ‘7 a) CIMCON ISONIC o tic\; DNIIKCDIOW q y IDOI ONION CORI ncGH Ieee CRIMDONIMT NICS O ION i @ CSION To) eget vers) ¢ C*xll MICRA | MICKA DVI MICNIKCIONICTONI MICRIKTEN MOON bt ahy\ ) em 2 GOLD 3) Prize Story by Jor JANSE ERO the boundary line of Utah in the center of a level, wind-swept plateau, which is skirted by blue mountains, lies Oasis Springs, like an oasis ina desert. Here the brave and hardy cowboys make their camp twice each year, and gather great herds of range cattle from the plateau and the mountains beyond. In the summer , when the sun is hot and the lakes and springs in the mountains are dry, the wild mustan gs steal in, fill themselves with cool water, and again seek their home in the mountains. The wind had blown clouds of dust before it since morning , and the sandy slopes were covered with little reefs. It was evening, and the breeze had died away. I lay against my saddle, watchin Z 4 2 4 = 4 g the cook at his work. Glancing to the west, I saw three men riding toward camp. “Hurry up, Slim,” I said, “here comes the boys, and they’ll be awful hungry.” Far across the plain, on a mountain, the sun as if to see if all were oo Cc 3= well cast its last glance over the distant ranges. As it slowly sank the boys came riding into camp. Scarcely had they thrown off their saddles, before Slim called, “supper.” We sat by the fire and ate as can only people who enjoy perfect health. Far up, we saw a cloud of dust moving toward us and we knew that it was caused by a band of horses. Nearer and nearer it came. Finally, as the horses came into view, Don exclaimed, ‘““That’s them, I see the white legs of the little mare. I never saw the time that she wasn’t by his side.” Soon, I was able to distinguish Gold himself, like a prince leading his band across the dusty desert. As they came to the base of the ridge a quarter of a mile below us, he stopped. I had not imagined that Gold was so beautiful. His tail touched the ground. His long mane quivered against his knees. He threw his proud head above all the rest and snorted 7| 60 |r he began his march, and when he gained the other side of the rocky Z 3i s a 4 7 ? § = = “ = 3 s D5 = 4 2, 3 § = LS “y = 3 & 4) =u loudly, then he whinnied. But our horses were unable to answer, because our fingers clutched their nostrils. Again @ 4 "& 4 waited in suspense. the southwest. = 4 = dying fire. At length he spoke, “They’ll be in tomorrow. The kid and me will go out on the I looked from my tall bay, King, to his brown, Tony, who had a browner line down his back, always a sign of toughness and endurance. Shortly, Don looked up at my horse.““That’s a horse to be proud of,” he said, “but he wouldn’t do for me. T need a horse that'll large man for weeks, like old Tony.” And he rose and gently rubbed the brown’s carry a nose. Suddenly, we riveted our eyes on the mouth of a canyon which opened into a plain to 4 a i b> “Well, Kid,” said Tom Jackson,” you missed it by not coming with us today.” I asked what the day had done for them, but at that moment Tom’s attention was attracted, since Slim had just removed the lid from the bake-oven. Don Thomas, the oldest of us, was left to supply the details. But Don simply said, “Oh, we saw Gold and his bunch.” Hank, a half breed, and a skilful horseman said, “I'd swap a corral full of steers to get a rope on that horse.” I asked if the ““Bar-X”’ mares were with him. Tom smiled over his plate and said, ‘“‘Wild as him. Poor old “Pap, he loved those mares; shipped them from the East. He starved and saved five years to get enough money to buy them, but he’ll never hitch ’em now. I wonder where they water; his is the only band that ain’t been in yet.” | Don seemed to be all wise on every subject, “They looked dry.” 2 After supper Hank and Tom told me more of Goid. Don, however, brooded over the ridge. You boys stay here at the spring. When they get all the water they’ll drink, all you have to do is sit on your horses. After they run six or seven miles in front of your ponies, well take your place.” | For two years I had heard the boys talk of this mustang. They spoke of his long golden mane and tail, of his fine head and long neck, and especially of his endurance and speed. About noon the next day, Don and I saddled our horses and set out for the ridge. | was very proud, thinking the chink, chink of my spurs the sweetest music on earth. I wondered why I had been chosen to run the last lap with Don. I knew that his heart was set on Gold, and that today he meant to capture him. When we reached the ridge, we dismounted and ee 9 : + RAF AINDIDDAINSICMIN SE SINICIIN IE HAIN IIE AINSICINDIE IAIN TICDINEIE IAIN Dy3 49 a,