Wild Animals I Have Known · Chapter
The Pacing Mustang explained
Wild Jo Calone spots a black pacing mustang colt and becomes determined to capture him.
What happens
Wild Jo Calone spots a black pacing mustang colt and becomes determined to capture him. Over time, the mustang grows into a magnificent stallion, evading capture by hunters and cowboys. Old Turkeytrack attempts to trap him using a mare as bait, but the stallion escapes. Later, Jo Calone organizes an expedition to walk down the stallion, but the horse remains elusive and free.
Themes in this chapter
Survival and Adaptation
The pacing mustang's unique gait and cunning allow him to evade capture and survive in the wild, demonstrating adaptation to his environment.
Human Conflict and Exploitation
Humans view the mustang as either worthless vermin or a valuable prize, leading to relentless pursuit and attempts to capture or kill him.
Tragic End of Wild Life
The chapter foreshadows the tragic fate of the magnificent stallion, as humans seek to dominate and destroy his wild freedom.
Characters to notice
- The Pacing Mustang
The black pacing mustang colt, later a magnificent stallion, is the central figure of the chapter, pursued by Jo Calone and others.
- Joe Calone
Wild Jo Calone first spots the mustang and becomes obsessed with capturing him, eventually organizing an expedition to walk him down.
- Old Turkeytrack
Old Turkeytrack attempts to trap the pacing mustang using a mare as bait, but the stallion escapes after being caught.
- Scarth
Scarth is a cowboy who doubts Jo's story about the pacing mustang and later participates in the roundup.
- Jack Burns
Jack Burns is with the narrator when they spot the pacing mustang and urges him to shoot, but the narrator refuses.
Key passages
“I seen that bunch o' mustangs that waters at Antelope Springs; couple o' colts along; one little dark one, a fair dandy; a born pacer.”
Jo Calone reports seeing a group of mustangs at Antelope Springs, including a dark colt that naturally paces.
Jo first identifies the pacing mustang as a unique colt.
“All a black bronk wants is claws to be wus'n Daniel's hull outfit of lions.”
A black horse is inherently wild and dangerous, needing only claws to be more fearsome than Daniel's lions.
Jo expresses the common Western belief that black horses are especially untamable.
“The Angel whispered 'Don't go.' But the brown mare called again.”
The mustang hesitates, sensing danger, but is lured by the mare's call.
The stallion's instinct warns him, but his desire overcomes caution.
“Old Tom's ugly, little crooked form sprang from the pit to complete the mastering of the great glorious creature whose mighty strength had proved as nothing when matched with the wits of a little old man.”
Old Turkeytrack emerges from hiding to subdue the powerful stallion, whose strength is no match for human cunning.
Human intelligence triumphs over the mustang's physical power.
“I rejoiced in the Pacer's strength and beauty, and not for all the mares in the bunch would I have harmed his glossy hide.”
The narrator feels joy at the mustang's magnificence and refuses to shoot him, valuing his life over any reward.
The narrator admires the stallion and chooses not to harm him.
