The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1878-01-19
The .Trumpeter's Horse.

lnduce me to run the risk OF disturbing it by
marriage. But | had reckoned without the
trumpeter's horse.
1t was at the end of September, 1864, that
l arrived at Paris from Baden, intending only
to remain four-and-twenty hours. had in
vited four or five friends to join me in Poitou
for the hunting season, and as they were to
arrive at the beginning of October, L had
only allowed myself week at La Roche
large to prepare for their reception. A let
ter from home awaited my arrival at Paris,
bringing me the disastrous intelligence that
out of twelve horses five had fallen ill or
lame during my stay at Baden, so that
was under the necessity of remounting my
cavalry before left Paris.
l made the round of all the horse dealers
of the Champs Elysees, where was shown
collection of screws, the average price of
which was G12O, but l was neither in hui
NOR nor in cash to throw away my money
upon such useless beasts. 1t was Wednes-
day, the day of Cheri's autumn sale; went
to the Rue de Ponthieu, and purchased at 8
venture eight horses which cost me altogether
5000. "Out of the eight" l said to myself,
there will be surely four or five which will
CO."
Among these horses there was one which
confess, bought principally ON account of
his coat. The catalogue did not assign him
any special qualifications as hunter. All
that it stated was, "Brutus, saddle-horse,
aged, wel-broken." 1t was large dappled
gray horse, but never had l seen one better
marked, its smooth white skin dappled over
with fine black spots so regularly distributed.
The next morning l left for La Roche
large and the following day my horses ar
rived. My first care was for Brutus. This
gray horse had been running for the last
forty-eight hours in my head, and 1 was anx-
ious to try his PAGES and see what he was
good for. He had long teeth and every mark
OF respectable age, a powerful shoulder,
and he carried his head we'll; but what I
most admired in Brutus was the way in
which he looked at me, following every
movement with his attentive, intelligent, in
quisitive eye. Even my words seemed to in
terest him; he leaned his head to one side as
if to hear me, and when I had finished speak
ing, replied with merry neigh. The other
seven horses were brought out in succession,
but they resembled any other horses, and
Brutus certainly was different from them all.
l was anxious to take little ride into the
country in order to make his acquaintance.
Brutus allowed himself TO be saddled, bri-
died, and mounted as horse who knew his
work, and we started quietly together, the
best friends possible. He had a beautiful
mouth, and answered to every turn of the
rein, arching his neck and champing his bit.
LIS paws WOAO pclleC11 NC UeSdE ny SLOW,
measured canter, raising his feet very high,
and letting them fall with the regularity of a
pendulum. l tried him at trot and
at a short gallop, but when I sought
to quicken his pace he began to amble in
grand style. "An," said l, Il see how it is !:
have bought an old horse out of the cavalry
riding school at Saumur."
was about to turn homeWard, satisfied
with the talents of Brutus, when shot was
heard a short distance off. 1t was one of my
keepers firing at rabbit for which shot, be
it said, en- pdssGnt, he afterwards received
handsome present from my wife. I was then
exactly in the center of an open space where
six long, green roads met. On hearing the
shot Brutus stopped short, and put ibis ears
forward in an attitude of attention. was
surprised to see him so impressionable. After
the brilliant military education l assumed he
had received in his youth, he must be we'll
accustomed to the report of gun. Ipressed
my knees against him to make him move on,
but Brutus would not stir. I tried to back
him, to make him turn to the right or to the
left, but in vain. made him feel my riding
whip, but still he was immovable. Brutus
was not to be displaced; and yet-do not
smile, for mine is a true history-each time
urged him to move the horse turned his head
round, and gazed upon me with an eye ex-
pressiye of impotence or surprise, and then
relapsed into his motionless attitude. There
was evidently some misunderstanding be-
tween me and my horse. I saw it in his
eyes. Brutus was saying as plain as he could
without speech, 81, horse, do what ought
to do; and you, horseman, do not perform
your part"
was more puzzled than embarrassed.
"What strange horse Cheri has sod me-
and why does he look upon me in such a
wayW / was about to proceed to extremi-
ties and administer to him good thrashing,
when another shot was fired.
The horse then made one bound. l Thought
I had gained my point, and again tried TO
start him, but in vain. He stopped short,
and planted himself more resolutely than
ever. then got into rage, and my riding
whip entered into play; took it in both
hands and struck the horse right and left.
But Brutus, too, lost patience and finding
passive resistance unayailing, defended him
self by rearing, kicking and plungng; and in
the midst of the battle, while the horse ca
pered and kicked, and l. exasperated, was
logging him with the loaded butt.end of nv
broken whip, Brutus, nevertheless, found
time to look at me not only with impotence
and surprise, but with rage and Indignation.
While required of the horse the obedience
he refused, he, on his part, was expecting of
me something did not do.
How did this end? To my shame be it
spoken, l was relentlessly and dsgracefullv
unseated. Brutus saw there was to be moth
ing gained by violence, so judged it neces-
sary to employ malice. After a moments
pause, evidently passed n reflection, the
horse put down his head and stood upright
on his fore legs with the address and equiIib-
rum of clown upon his hands. 1 was con-
sequently deposited upon the sand, which
fortunately happened to be rather thick in
the place where fell.
| tried to raise myself, but I cried out and
fell stretched with my face toward the ground.
felt as if knife were sticking in my left
leg. The hurt did not prove serious-the
swapping of one of the small tendons-but
not the less painful. L succeeded, however.
in turning myself and sat down; but while
was rubbing nay eyes, which were filled with
sand, [ saw the great foot of horse descend
gently upon my head and again extend me
on my back. l then felt quite disheartened,
and was Illuminating in my mind what this
strange horse could be, when felt quantity
of sand strike me in the face. I opened nv
eyes and saw Brutus throwing up the dust
with both fore and hind feet, trying to bury
me. This lasted for several minutes, when.
apparently thinking me sufficiently inferred,
Brutus knelt by my grave and then galloped
round me, describing perfect circle. 1
called out to him to stop. He appeared to be
embarrassed; but seeing my hat, which had
been separated from me in my fall, he took
it between his teeth and galloped down one
of the green paths out of my sight.
1 was left alone. L shook off the sand
which covered me, and with my arm and
right leg-my left 1 could not move-dragged
myself to bushy bank, where / seated N.Y.
self, and shouted with all my might for assist
ance. But no answer; the wood was per-
tectly silent and deserted.
remained alone in this wretched condi-
ton above half an hour, when saw Brutus
in the distance, returning by the same road
by which he went, enveloped in cloud of
dust. Gradually, as it cleared away, l saw
little carriage approachiug-a pony chaise-
and in the pony chaise a lady, who drove it,
with a small groom in the seat behind.
A few instants after Brutus arrived Gov
cred with foam. He stopped before me, let
fall my hat at his feet, and addressed me
with neigh, as much as to say: 81 have
done my duty, have brought you help"
But did not trouble myself about Brutur
and his explanations; had no thought os
looks save for the beautiful fairy who had
come to my aid, and who, jumping from her
little carriage, tripped lightly up to me, and
suddenly two EXPLANATIONS were uttered at
the same moment: