The Black range. (Robinson, Socorro County, N.M.) 1882-1897, 1886-10-22

Several years agu The ! regiment
United States regulars. y re quarterel
At A. near Niagara Fall Among III,
privates Of thar Rallent regiment va
b.. a tall. lank. red-haired Vermontef
who was always in some scrape CT otll
er.
One day he obtained leave to take
days shooting on the Canada side. II
went early In the morning. aud locke.
about for game all day. with very poo
success. Later In the afternoon he wa
slowly vending his way home. when h
saw seated on tree In easy shooting
distance. large crow. To level hi
gun and fire was the impulse of q mo
ment. and down tumbled the crow al
most ut his feet.
IL happened that the crow was
tame one, and pet OF Gen. C.'s. whJ
was one of the wealthiest land ownl
ers in Canada. and 1t so happene,
that the general was an unseen viii
ness of the death Of his favarite. En-
ragged at the loss. he determined TO pun
ish the offender in q manner that h |
would be likely to remember. Sc
coming forward in friendly manned
he nodded to b.. who saluted him il
return.
you've got a fine gun there" salt
the general.
"Yaas," said b.. handing 1t TO th +
general; that's just the neatest double
barrelled gun around these dIggings."
The general turned the gun round
and examined II caefully; then put|
ting tie barrel that was still loaded a
full cock to his shoulder, and pointin
1t at b.. he said: "you have wilfull}
shot the greatest favorlte had, nov
you've got to eat i'll"
b., explained. begged, and prayed
but TO no purpose the general was un|
moved by his entreaties, and told hIn|
he must eat 1t or die, b. once morl
turned his eyes piteously toward thu
general. but the cold. wicked eye glanc
ing along the gun barrel convince,
h!m-as he Afterwards said-that ther
was fire in IL. SO. Ah u groan. hi
picked up the crow. and, shutting hi
eyes. commenced his disagreeabl
meal. He forced down two or thre
mouthfuls. and then stopped. unable y
eat more of the disgusting carrion an
the general. thinking that he had gonI
far enough, told him that would dQ|
and, after advising him to be NOR
careful in the future what he sho !
handed him his gun, and told him q
90.
AS soon as B got his gun in hi
hands. he turned fiercely upon The ger
eral, and said: "lt's my turn nowI
You may eat the remainder of th |
crow"
In vain the general stamped and
swore. and finally prayed to be let of
B was as firm as he himself had been |
few minutes before. Nothing woul{
satify the enraged soldier but that th |
general eat the whole of what ha1
been left, and which he had to do bd
fore b let him off.
The next day the general went to
colonel and complained that he ha
been grossly insulted by one of his
diers.
The colonel inquired which one.
"Why." said the general, "he wa
tall. lean. ill-favored fellow with
hair"
"Ha," said the colonel, 81 know hi
He is always in some scrape. Orde
bring Il here Immediately"
In a few minutes the orderly retu
ed beinging b, who was wondei
what scrape he was In now.
"B," said the colonel, "do you kn'
this gentlemanY
"What. me ?" said b. looking as an
zed as possible.
"Yes," said the colonel. "do you knoV
himY"
"Yes, we are slightly acquainted, !
said b, happy thought striking hinI
ave dined together yesterday"
The general could hold In no longer
bursting into hearty laugh, he toll
the colonel to let him go, as he heartilI
forgave him.