The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-11-15
Fer the Sunday Crescentl
THE MULE THAT THE DBvIL GOULD
NOT RIDE.
By COL. BLuNDRRBuss.

49, -
BY COL. BLuNDRRBuss.
II was on the road between N-snd YIN
North Louisiana, during the late war. that one
day overlook forlorn looking Louisiana cavalry
man, leading heavily packed but well fed mule,
which picked its way daintiy along the miry road,
while its master trudged on painfully, and with
misery depicted In every feature Accustomed to
eli the whims and crotchets Of this class OF pat
riots paid bat little attention to the csvalryman
or beast but rode past without else than the Gus
tomary wave of the hand. But not 30 with Q
squad of Texans who we're coming on about nifty
yards behind me. These fellows, with their usual
curiosity. hailed the pedestrian, and demanded
why he did not ride his mule instead Of leading
him. The party addressed gave no indication Of
having heard the interrogatory, but trudged on,
with eyes intent upon the mud before him. -
faithful picture Of churl as ever ives beheld.
"ssy, old hoss." again spoke the Texan, "why
in the tarnston don't you either ride carry your
mule, I'd do one or the other. any way"
The Louisianian turned his head slowly and
transferred his gaze from the mud to his interlo-
cutor. After few minutes he calculated, BY way
OF answer:
"Jen. Davis hisself couldn't ride that mule.
He'd ding the devil" .......
"Not eff he cum from Texiz. He mought Of he
belonged to the butter.milk rangers bout here.
1 kin ride his tail offn him."
"Bagsw calculated the Louisianian con-
tempsuously, ss he went ON, apparently dismiss-
ing the subject from his mind.
Now what he meant by bags F" cannot pre-
tend to say but the word appeared to have
talismanic power upon the Texan, who imme.
diately jumped from his horse, and, confronting
the leader of the mule, roughly laid his hand upon
his shoulder. saying in loud and excited tone OF
voice = al tell yer kin, and Of you b'lieve l
can't, may be you'd bet yer money on it,"
Thinking that there was . likelihood Of seeing
some sport joined the party, which had halted in
sort Of circle around the principal actors, and
awaited further developments. Previous, how.
ever, to continuing my narration, I'll give the
reader rough sketch of the locality in our imme'
| date vicinity We were on level plain which
| was considerably elevated above the country be.
yond us in fact, only about one hundred yards in
our front, the road began descent which though
not PERCEPTIONS was still quite steep hill. The
| rains had washed deep ruts on each side OF the
wagon track ON the hill sides, and at one partic-
ulsr place, when the road took sharp turn to the
right, ravine of about twelve or fifteen feet had
been cut into the clayey soil.
al bant got no money" said the Louisianian,
can won't bet nohow."
..ITl bet my boss agin yer mule, and my boots
sein YER old Shoes" Dragged the excited rider, "
from the praires, ian durnd If yer don take me
up I'll lick yer ter boot" .f
For, almost born upon the back of horse,
Texan considers it q deadly insult to question
his ability to ride anything, from wild mustang
10 four year old beef fresh from its native pas
lures. .......-... -.......-.....l ,.ta
Apparently considering that the chances FOL
winning were largely in his favor, or, perhaps
fearing that the strapping six footer before hin
would carry out bis threat, Louisiana finally sac
"Douen to both bets; and they shook hands a.
an evidence of friendly feeling and honest differ
ence Of opinion.
Transferring bis saddle and bride from his hors
to the mule, with celebrity and an eye to security
so peculiar to the people of his State. he was 500
| ready to make the trial. Like the cautious ger
eral who always endeavors to find out the strengt
of his enemy previous to engaging him, he, how
ever, stopped to take a good survey of the amin.
Il he =. 30 CONFIDENT of peing able 10 master.
led him q short distance up the road, backed hin
turned him and tiled to find out his peculiariti'
bv various devices. But to all appearance.
tame as dog the mule never showed the lea
bit of excitement, and was as docile and patieI
under the manipulation ss would be ten year o.
boy at Garthwaite, Lewis and Stuart's clothir
store in New Orleans, having new suit Of clot
, ing tried upon him by an afectionate parent.
The Texan then took good look at his capal
, SONS. And truly they were formidable affair
The bridle, with its hair rope headstall and rein
! and lever bit nearly foot in length. l cou
! see THAT his knowledge of mule flesh taugi
him not to trust to appearances, for when he pr
pared to mount, he looked well to the fastenin
} of his enormous spurs, and gave the sleeves
his coat rub up to clear the way for the free
: of bis wrists. Then, going quietly to the side
the animal he lifted his foot into the leather co
3 cred box stirrups, but the mule did not bulge
! inch. Catching hold Of the name, he sudden
raised himself from the ground and threw his L
/ across the mule; but as sudden as had been
q movement, that of the mule was more 30.
l simply stepped sideways-all four legs togeths
apparently-in the direction from whence {
v man had mounted, and the Texisn went too
n over, and fell on his head and hands on the 9th
side. There was then no jumping or rearing, b
a all was again quiet. The Texan arose quick
d and saw by his eye that he was prepared to
u | or die. He again walked up 10 tne animsi
Z pretended to be arranging something about :
l. saddle, for the reins were hanging loose on
d mules neck; but as quick as flash OF lightnir
!e with one bound, he was in the saddle, his feet
le the stirrups and the reins IN his hands, looki
ii more like centaur than man. II was beau
Q. fully done, and could not suppress an exciau
ID ton of admiration. His comrades. however,
10 10 peared TO look upon it as an everyday feat
!" were sitting upon their horses on the side OF
lie road, awaiting the denouement with little
10 patience. The LouisiaDian was sitting on stun
- sme king his pipe, evidently more intent ur
ID studying the points Of the Texans horse which
d. held by the halter than in watching the detailt
az an adventure which he was 80 certain could
end one way. But TO return to the mule and
rider.
No sooner did the animal feel the weight OF
VI man upon bis back than he began series OF 81