, 1858-11-19
A PRINCES ROYAL.

l remember to have fallen in once with certain
American captains and colonies and mcn-at-arms,
in a small place on the Brazos river, a few miles
north Of Jose Maria, in Texas. | had paid
visit to this place, near which dear companion
Of my youth had been murdered. We were
schoOlfellows, and for five years We had been
brother officers in the same regiment. lie went
to the United States just when the war broke out
with Mexico, and became captain Of company
Of Kentucky riAemen. A few months after the
battle Of Vera Cruz be was doputed by The
officers Of his brigade to present to Gen. Taylor
who was on leave Of absence at New Orleans
gold medal as token Of their respect. Choosing
the nearest way from The camp, across the cOun-
try, he set out on his errand with guide and
two servants, all on horseback, armed to the teeth
In Jose Maria, my poor friend unwisely exhibited
the medal to crowd Of rcspcctablc-looking per-
sons calling themselves colonels, majors and cap
tains, who seemed to take great pleasure in study
ing its cngravings. lie did not even remark in
what hurry some Of those colonels were to start
before him. But the medal has, in ten years,
never more been heard Of, and my old eomrado,
and two Of his companions were found shot dead
in a ravinc.
1t was near this place that also fcll among
coloncls There was one Of them who took a
great liking to my horse when he saw me giving
il to the ostler. lie tapped It repeatedly on the
neck, declaring Il, with an oath, to be nice ani
NAL and no mistake-which assertion he repeated
afterwards over and over again to his fellOw-men
in the coffee Groom, who, when they had been out
to satisfy their curiosity, agreed with him upon
the matter, aNow, wouldn't that be a nag for
you, majorin he said to a tall, powerful man,
with rough beard and disgusting features, who
sat little apart from the rest, and wore largo
gray coat The major said nothing, but stalked
out Of the room soon afterwards, followed by the
colonel. The others had again taken up their
old topic of conversation, and were talking poll
tics, rather vehemently, as l thought, when the
waiter--a Gcrman-came up to me and told me,
in our own language, that had better take care,
as those two ruffians outside had set eyes upon
my horse, and would be sure to steal it il ! gave
them the slightest chance Annoyed at this in
telligence, asked my cOuntryman what he
thought il would be best for me to DO N
"why, said be, "yOuhaye fallen in with a bad
set, and, If you want tOkeep your horse, should
advise you TO escape as soon as possible"
Amer q little reflection, I resolved to start at
once, and made for the stable. There found
the colonel again, most urgently talking to the
ostler, who only looked at me In rather impu-
dent manner when told him to bring out my
horse, and paid memo further attention. There
fore began to bride him for myself
"Isay, captainl" said the colonel, coming up
to me after awhile, and tapping me on the shOul-
der. .naIsE
"Sirl" s.-at ess ~f
"Come on, man! don'tmake fool Of yoursclfl
I want to buy that ere 'orse, captain.p
"Do youi" Thank Heavenl was in the
saddle by that time.
"Dol? Am the man to be put out Of my
way by one Of these ere Chawed up GCrmans9"
lie laid both his hands upon the bride Of my
horse, Ny blood generally boils at an insulting
word against my countrymen, especially when
am far from home in foreign lands. In trico
the stick Of the riding whip came down upon the
cOlonel's head, while the horse, urged to pow
erful leap, threw him ten yards away upon the
ground. As ! knew very well that, according to
the customs Of the country, this was revolver
affair now, and as | had no wish to become en-
tangled in such business, l did not wait until the
colonel had picked himself up, but rode forward
without delay.
was stopped by the waiter, whom l heard
calling after me, and who was out Of breath when
he came up to me at last The honest fellow
gave me direction, which was afterwards glad
to have followed. He said the colonel, though q
coward, was most dcsi crate villain, not at all
likely to give way so soon but that the worst