Black Cowboy Wild Black Cowboy Wild HorsesHorses

A True StoryA True Story

UY2946FINALPROJECT

Black Cowboy named Black Cowboy named Bob Lemmons.Bob Lemmons.

Horse tracker.Horse tracker. Thinks like a horse.Thinks like a horse. Former Slave.Former Slave. Works on Ranch Farm.Works on Ranch Farm. Horse named Warrior.Horse named Warrior. Bob eats dried fruits, Bob eats dried fruits,

jerky and nuts on jerky and nuts on travels.travels.

He catches Wild Horses.He catches Wild Horses.

At first light, Bob rode slowly up the open plain.At first light, Bob rode slowly up the open plain. Looking back at the Ranch where he works.Looking back at the Ranch where he works. Staring the other direction where he could see Staring the other direction where he could see

never ending land and sky.never ending land and sky.

Guiding Warrior down the Bluff.Guiding Warrior down the Bluff. Got off his horse to examine wild horse tracks.Got off his horse to examine wild horse tracks. Bob started following the tracks.Bob started following the tracks.

Bob reached for an apple Bob reached for an apple in his saddlebag.in his saddlebag.

Warrior ate the apple Warrior ate the apple while grazing in the grass.while grazing in the grass.

Bob ate dried fruit, jerky Bob ate dried fruit, jerky and nuts.and nuts.

-Riding near the deer. - Night fall is near. - clouds appeared. – filled his canteen with water. – kept following the mustang trail.

-Lightning appeared. – Bob saw the herd of Mustangs. -Lightning appeared. – Bob saw the herd of Mustangs. – – Rushed towards the Mustangs. – As quiet as possible.Rushed towards the Mustangs. – As quiet as possible.

– – The sky exploded sheet of light.The sky exploded sheet of light.

-Rain came as hard as stinging.

-Bob put on his Poncho.

-The storm would pass soon.

-Nothing to do but wait.

-The skies cleared and the moon appeared.

-Bob slept in the saddle.

-Storm would have washed away the tracks.

-Bob knew where they were going.

-To the big river.

The river is shining in the distance.The river is shining in the distance. Sneaking close to the mustangs as they drink.Sneaking close to the mustangs as they drink.

-They looked around. – Head raised. – -They looked around. – Head raised. – Nostrils flared. – Smelling the air.Nostrils flared. – Smelling the air.

-Must be silent while mustangs are drinking. – If -Must be silent while mustangs are drinking. – If mustangs smelled anything new, they would panic mustangs smelled anything new, they would panic and run. – Bob was too far to be seen. – Bob let his and run. – Bob was too far to be seen. – Bob let his

breath out slowly. – He had been accepted.breath out slowly. – He had been accepted.

-Crossed the river the following -Crossed the river the following morning. - Picked up the mustang morning. - Picked up the mustang

trail. – He came close. – Horses trail. – He came close. – Horses did not notice him. – Mustangs did not notice him. – Mustangs thought he was also a horse. thought he was also a horse.

Bob watched while riding on Warrior.Bob watched while riding on Warrior. Getting closer to the Mustangs.Getting closer to the Mustangs.

Bob and Warrior walked into the herd.Bob and Warrior walked into the herd. Bob lay across Warrior’s back to blend in. Bob lay across Warrior’s back to blend in. If someone was watching they would not If someone was watching they would not

see a man on the horse. see a man on the horse.

- Moving slowly, the colt fell into a hole and broke it’s leg. – - Moving slowly, the colt fell into a hole and broke it’s leg. – Rattle snakes all around. – Horses pranced Nervously. Rattle snakes all around. – Horses pranced Nervously.

- The colt struggled to get up. – Quickly he - The colt struggled to get up. – Quickly he was dead. – The stallion led the herd away was dead. – The stallion led the herd away

from danger and left the colt behind.from danger and left the colt behind.

-Vultures circled the sky. – The mother’s colt -Vultures circled the sky. – The mother’s colt whinnied. – Refused to leave her colt behind. – whinnied. – Refused to leave her colt behind. –

The Stallion nipped her side. – She skittered away.The Stallion nipped her side. – She skittered away.

The vultures were descending from the sky. The vultures were descending from the sky. They were many and devoured the colt.They were many and devoured the colt.

It is time to take over the herd.It is time to take over the herd. A Stallion will not fight after the death of a colt.A Stallion will not fight after the death of a colt. Warrior stood high on his back legs to prepare for a fight between Warrior stood high on his back legs to prepare for a fight between

stallions.stallions. They kicked and bit each other.They kicked and bit each other. Warrior charged him again pushing the other stallion backwards.Warrior charged him again pushing the other stallion backwards. Bob had him rush again and again.Bob had him rush again and again.

-The stallion neighed loudly-The stallion neighed loudly-Warrior struck again and again.-Warrior struck again and again.-The wild stallion cried out in pain.-The wild stallion cried out in pain.-Warrior pushed him hard.-Warrior pushed him hard.-The stallion lost his balance and fell to the -The stallion lost his balance and fell to the ground.ground.-The Mustang stallion trotted away in defeat. -The Mustang stallion trotted away in defeat.

Bob and Warrior was now the herd’s leader.Bob and Warrior was now the herd’s leader. They rode slowly at first, then picked up speed They rode slowly at first, then picked up speed

when he was sure the herd was with him.when he was sure the herd was with him. Bob led them towards the Ranch Farm.Bob led them towards the Ranch Farm.

Bob led the wild mustangs through the evening.Bob led the wild mustangs through the evening. The cowboys herd him coming and opened the fence to let The cowboys herd him coming and opened the fence to let

the wild horses in.the wild horses in. The cowboys leaped and shouted.The cowboys leaped and shouted. They quickly closed the gate as the last mustang ran in.They quickly closed the gate as the last mustang ran in.

The cowboys rounded up as much The cowboys rounded up as much wild horses as possible.wild horses as possible.

Bob rode away with Warrior up to the Bluff.Bob rode away with Warrior up to the Bluff. He said to Warrior, “Maybe Someday” they He said to Warrior, “Maybe Someday” they

would ride with the Mustangs.would ride with the Mustangs.

Work Cited:Work Cited:

Lester, Julius. (Author)Lester, Julius. (Author)

Pinkney, Jerry. (Illustrator)Pinkney, Jerry. (Illustrator)

Black Cowboy Wild HorsesBlack Cowboy Wild Horses..

New York: Dial Books for Young Readers, 1998.New York: Dial Books for Young Readers, 1998.