Until today, Zhang Heng had only experienced riding a horse twice, and both times were when he was a child. He rode a child-sized pony in the park, led by a professional, and ran a few laps around a palm-sized field at a speed of almost ten miles per hour.
In other words, this was actually the first time he chose a horse as a means of transportation. Although he also yearned for the scene of riding a horse at full speed, from a safety point of view, Zhang Heng decided to start with beginner difficulty and take it one step at a time.
In the end, he picked the shortest and thinnest brown horse with a little hair loss. Compared to its companions, it looked relatively docile. When Zhang Heng approached it, it didn't resist. Zhang Heng took advantage of the time when it lowered its head to eat the grass and walked to its side.
He tried to stroke its back, and the brown horse sneezed and twisted its body twice. Seeing that Zhang Heng had no intention of leaving, it did not make any more aggressive movements and continued to eat the grass.
"It's you."
Zhang Heng made a decision in his heart. He knew that this horse was not as good as the others, but no matter how good it was, it could only be put to good use when it met the right owner. For Zhang Heng, there was no other horse more suitable for him than this one with a gentle temperament.
Not being fast had its advantages. At least, the risk of falling off the horse was much lower.
After choosing his mount, Zhang Heng released the other horses so that they wouldn't be roasted along with the bar.
After that, Zhang Heng did not rush to leave. Instead, he rode his new horse for two laps around the town, reliving the feeling of riding a horse.
He still remembered a little bit of what he learned in the park.
For example, don't put the soles of your feet in the stirrups too tightly to prevent being dragged by the horse when you fall off. There seemed to be a way to hold the reins, but Zhang Heng had forgotten it. He also couldn't remember how to sit on the horse, but he remembered a little about starting and decelerating. He studied for a while and could barely do it, but he was not very proficient.
After all, he was just a novice who relied on himself to explore. In fact, because of his excellent sense of balance and control of his body, he was much better than most beginners.
After practicing for a while, Zhang Heng felt that he should be ready to go. He put on his felt hat, pulled the reins, and set off in the direction of Lincoln County.
In the vast Gobi Desert, a cowboy knight with two guns was riding his horse under the scorching sun. Such a scene had the feeling of a western movie.
Of course, it depended on how you defined galloping. In fact, Zhang Heng and his horse were only slightly faster than walking.
Since he did not have to walk on his own, Zhang Heng couldn't complain too much. He didn't dare to let the horse run at full speed either. Firstly, it was for his own safety. Secondly, he didn't want the horse to split on its own before it reached its destination. If that happened, Zhang Heng would have to walk.
Just like that, the man and the horse embarked on their journey.
When the sun rose to the highest position in the sky, Zhang Heng found a slightly cooler place, dismounted from the horse, and replenished some water and food. According to his current speed, it would take him five days to reach Lincoln County. Food was not a problem, but water, including the horse's, could only last him for about three days. Of course, he wouldn't die if he didn't drink water for a day or two, but Zhang Heng didn't have the habit of torturing himself.
According to the dead Rich, there were other towns between the mine town and Lincoln County, but he would need to take a detour. If he included the time taken to take a detour, it would take him seven days to reach Lincoln County.
Fortunately, Zhang Heng was not short of time.
After lunch, Zhang Heng and his horse set off again. This time, they traveled for five hours.
The scenery of the Gobi Desert had its own desolate grandeur, but after looking at it for a long time, it felt a little monotonous.
Besides, after sitting on the horse for such a long time, Zhang Heng's muscles began to feel sore. At the same time, the friction of the saddle made both sides of his thighs uncomfortable. And this was only his first day.
It was said that before the railroad was built, cowboys sometimes had to trek for several months to drive their cattle. During this period, they not only had to take care of thousands of cattle, but they also had to guard against wolves and poisonous snakes. Sometimes, they had to face ambushes from Indian tribes. Even after the initial construction of the railroad network, cowboys still needed to travel far to sell live cattle.
Therefore, those who were qualified for this job were true warriors. It was no wonder that cowboy culture could be popular in the United States for so many years.
Zhang Heng's solo journey to the west was interrupted on the second night. At that time, he had just started a fire, finished cooking, and drank the corn paste he made. After that, he heard the sound of horse hooves.
Zhang Heng took out his Filter Lens, and when the person entered the effective range of the Filter Lens, he saw his face clearly. It was a middle-aged man with a mustache. It seemed that he had been running in the desert for some time. His face was covered in dirt, but it did not hide his handsome face.
However, the first thing Zhang Heng noticed was the police badge on the man's left chest, but this badge did not make him let his guard down.
This was the Wild West that was known as the lawless land. No one could really rely on them except for the guns in their hands. Even among the sheriffs and bailiffs, there were many good and evil people, and some of them even took advantage of both the law and the law.
Such people were even more dangerous than real bandits.
Zhang Heng did not say anything. Instead, he pulled out a Colt revolver from his waist.
The man's reaction was also very fast, and he subconsciously pulled out his gun.
However, the distance between the two was about 250 meters, and it was night time. With the blessing of the Filter Lens, there was no way he could defeat Zhang Heng.
Zhang Heng even had the time to wait for the man to pull out his gun before pulling the trigger. Considering the man's identity, this shot was only a warning shot. The bullet accurately hit the gun in the man's hand, and the weapon flew out of his hand.
"Oh, relax, my friend. I'm a law enforcement officer. I mean no harm." The man pulled the reins and stopped the horse. His unintentional display of horsemanship made Zhang Heng very envious.
"Is there anything I can do for you, Mr. Law Enforcement?" Zhang Heng did not react when he heard the man. He said calmly, and he did not put away the gun in his hand.
The bailiff on the other side could obviously understand Zhang Heng's vigilance. Just like before, he would first pull out his gun before choosing to communicate with Zhang Heng. In this uninhabited wilderness, no matter how careful one was, one could not go wrong.
He raised his hands, indicating that he had no ill intentions. He let the horse get closer to the campfire, and finally, he could roughly recognize Zhang Heng's appearance. He was stunned. "Are you an Indian?"
Little Dumbo said.
Thank you for the tips from the two kids, Coldybear ~
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