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trees all burned up； and our broad acres of manzanita swept away。 Our
blankets were on our usual sand…bed； however； and so we lay down and went
to sleep。 The next morning we started back to the old camp； but while
out a long way from shore； so great a storm came up that we dared not try
to land。 So I baled out the seas we shipped； and Johnny pulled heavily
through the billows till we had reached a point three or four miles
beyond the camp。 The storm was increasing； and it became evident that it
was better to take the hazard of beaching the boat than go down in a
hundred fathoms of water； so we ran in； with tall white…caps following；
and I sat down in the stern…sheets and pointed her head…on to the shore。
The instant the bow struck； a wave came over the stern that washed crew
and cargo ashore； and saved a deal of trouble。 We shivered in the lee of
a boulder all the rest of the day； and froze all the night through。 In
the morning the tempest had gone down； and we paddled down to the camp
without any unnecessary delay。 We were so starved that we ate up the
rest of the Brigade's provisions； and then set out to Carson to tell them
about it and ask their forgiveness。 It was accorded； upon payment of
damages。
We made many trips to the lake after that； and had many a hair…breadth
escape and blood…curdling adventure which will never be recorded in any
history。
CHAPTER XXIV。
I resolved to have a horse to ride。 I had never seen such wild； free；
magnificent horsemanship outside of a circus as these picturesquely…clad
Mexicans； Californians and Mexicanized Americans displayed in Carson
streets every day。 How they rode！ Leaning just gently forward out of
the perpendicular； easy and nonchalant； with broad slouch…hat brim blown
square up in front； and long riata swinging above the head； they swept
through the town like the wind！ The next minute they were only a sailing
puff of dust on the far desert。 If they trotted； they sat up gallantly
and gracefully； and seemed part of the horse； did not go jiggering up and
down after the silly Miss…Nancy fashion of the riding…schools。 I had
quickly learned to tell a horse from a cow； and was full of anxiety to
learn more。 I was resolved to buy a horse。
While the thought was rankling in my mind； the auctioneer came skurrying
through the plaza on a black beast that had as many humps and corners on
him as a dromedary； and was necessarily uncomely； but he was 〃going；
going； at twenty…two！horse； saddle and bridle at twenty…two dollars；
gentlemen！〃 and I could hardly resist。
A man whom I did not know （he turned out to be the auctioneer's brother）
noticed the wistful look in my eye； and observed that that was a very
remarkable horse to be going at such a price； and added that the saddle
alone was worth the money。 It was a Spanish saddle； with ponderous
'tapidaros'； and furnished with the ungainly sole…leather covering with
the unspellable name。 I said I had half a notion to bid。 Then this
keen…eyed person appeared to me to be 〃taking my measure〃； but I
dismissed the suspicion when he spoke； for his manner was full of
guileless candor and truthfulness。 Said he：
〃I know that horseknow him well。 You are a stranger； I take it； and so
you might think he was an American horse； maybe； but I assure you he is
not。 He is nothing of the kind； butexcuse my speaking in a low voice；
other people being nearhe is； without the shadow of a doubt； a Genuine
Mexican Plug！〃
I did not know what a Genuine Mexican Plug was； but there was something
about this man's way of saying it； that made me swear inwardly that I
would own a Genuine Mexican Plug； or die。
〃Has he any othereradvantages？〃 I inquired； suppressing what
eagerness I could。
He hooked his forefinger in the pocket of my army…shirt； led me to one
side； and breathed in my ear impressively these words：
〃He can out…buck anything in America！〃
〃Going； going； goingat twenttyfour dollars and a half； gen〃
〃Twenty…seven！〃 I shouted； in a frenzy。
〃And sold！〃 said the auctioneer； and passed over the Genuine Mexican Plug
to me。
I could scarcely contain my exultation。 I paid the money； and put the
animal in a neighboring livery…stable to dine and rest himself。
In the afternoon I brought the creature into the plaza； and certain
citizens held him by the head； and others by the tail； while I mounted
him。 As soon as they let go； he placed all his feet in a bunch together；
lowered his back； and then suddenly arched it upward； and shot me
straight into the air a matter of three or four feet！ I came as straight
down again； lit in the saddle； went instantly up again； came down almost
on the high pommel； shot up again； and came down on the horse's neckall
in the space of three or four seconds。 Then he rose and stood almost
straight up on his hind feet； and I； clasping his lean neck desperately；
slid back into the saddle and held on。 He came down； and immediately
hoisted his heels into the air； delivering a vicious kick at the sky； and
stood on his forefeet。 And then down he came once more； and began the
original exercise of shooting me straight up again。 The third time I
went up I heard a stranger say：
〃Oh； don't he buck； though！〃
While I was up； somebody struck the horse a sounding thwack with a
leathern strap； and when I arrived again the Genuine Mexican Plug was not
there。 A California youth chased him up and caught him； and asked if he
might have a ride。 I granted him that luxury。 He mounted the Genuine；
got lifted into the air once； but sent his spurs home as he descended；
and the horse darted away like a telegram。 He soared over three fences
like a bird； and disappeared down the road toward the Washoe Valley。
I sat down on a stone； with a sigh； and by a natural impulse one of my
hands sought my forehead； and the other the base of my stomach。 I
believe I never appreciated； till then； the poverty of the human
machineryfor I still needed a hand or two to place elsewhere。 Pen
cannot describe how I was jolted up。 Imagination cannot conceive how
disjointed I washow internally； externally and universally I was
unsettled； mixed up and ruptured。 There was a sympathetic crowd around
me； though。
One elderly…looking comforter said：
〃Stranger； you've been taken in。 Everybody in this camp knows that
horse。 Any child； any Injun； could have told you that he'd buck； he is
the very worst devil to buck on the continent of America。 You hear me。
I'm Curry。 Old Curry。 Old Abe Curry。 And moreover； he is a simon…pure；
out…and…out； genuine dd Mexican plug； and an uncommon mean one at that；
too。 Why； you turnip； if you had laid low and kept dark； there's chances
to buy an American horse for mighty little more than you paid for that
bloody old foreign relic。〃
I gave no sign； but I made up my mind that if the auctioneer's brother's
funeral took place while I was in the Territory I would postpone all
other recreations and attend it。
After a gallop of sixteen miles the Californian youth and the Genuine
Mexican Plug came tearing into town again； shedding foam…flakes like the
spume…spray that drives before a typhoon； and； wit