The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1877-09-28


Mexicans, and on went Glen, all at full
speed but they were destined to meet
with surprise before meeting one
another.
"Whoop" yelled voice which made
Glen lift his eyebrows III surprise.
"Quarreling again, hey, old man?
Wonder If you ever learned the golden
ruler"
The next moment Bert Williams came
dashing up. 1t needed but one look at
the horse he bestrode to assure Glen
that his guard had met with some acct
dent.
"Been up to your tricks again, have
you?" inquired Glen, significantly.
Kinder" was the laconic answer.
Glen smiled. He remembered trick
that had been played on them while at
the fort. Several of the men had deter
mined to play joke on Bert, and to that
end had called him into the guard-house
one day. While he was looking in an
other direction they had retired, locking
the door after them, and, on looking
around preparatory to leaving, they dis
covered him sitting on the fence outside.
The story soon leaked out, causing
considerable establishment to those who
remembered that the guard-house was
built of stone, having but single open
ing, which was the door through which
the jokers had passed; how, then, the
prisoner had escaped was mystery to
them.
To Glen, however, the matter was
| 4, 10, t., 81, IL
Bert had told him how his early life had
been passed in travelling circus, where
he had not only learned the wonderful
tricks by which showmen mystify the
public, but had become one of the best
bare backed riders in the profession.
BY this time the Mexicans were upon
them; but they were going at such head
long speed that they found it impossible
to stop. AS they passed several passes
, were made on each side. Glen parted
lance thrust, at the same time shaking
, his fist so near burly Mexican's face as
to knock him from the saddle.
1t took but few seconds for them to
stop their horses, turn, and once more
head for each other. AS they again
drew near, Mexican rose in his saddle
and threw his lasso with unerring aim.
, Bert saw that it was intended for him,
but at the same time saw that it would
, be impossible to dodge it, the horses
were at such speed. SO he drew his feet
, up until they rested on the saddle, and
, crouched for a spring. AS the lasso
/ quivered for an instant above his head,
preparatory to descending, the moose
widened so as to form large opening.
Bert took instant advantage of it. Like
an india-rubber ball he bounded from
the saddle, shot up through the opening
in the lasso, then, as the Mexicans horse
dashed up, he descended plump upon
it's unfortunate owners shoulders.
Carambo ~ spluttered the Mexican
as he went head first into the dirt
"Satan !'yelled his companions, put
ting spurs to their horses, and dashing
: off as though all the imps of pande-
monium were after them.
"Oh, no, indeed " shouted Bert.
mot the old man-only one of the
boys !"
Ebert, said Glen, gravely "hadn't
we better go back? I'm afraid you re
getting excited; you're sure you wouldn't
pick up chaps horse and throw it at
him if you got out of temper, are you?'
Get out y was the pleasant answer.
1t took the two but a few minutes to
return to the regiment. They had no
time for congratulations, however, for
the moment they regained their places
staff officer rode up and ordered the
regiment to another part of the field.
They had plenty of fighting for the rest
of the day; but we doubt if any of it
came up to the :" lasso practice.
Not until they were gathered about
the campfire that night did Glen get a
chance to speak to Bert.
"Say, old fellow ?" was his first obser-
walton. "How did you escape from the
Mexican this morning? ?"
"What Mexican ?" inquired Bert, Ia
lilly. DO you mean when / got tied
up1 Well, you see it was easy enough;
just shr,oak up till the ropes fell down;
then told the Mexican to get off his
horse; but he wouldn't, so l helped him
that's all. Oh, learned all about it
in the circus, you know" And, us Bert
concluded, he rolled himself up in his
blanket, which put stop to all further
questioning that night.