The National tribune., 1886-01-07

a soldier to ride and get his traps on wagon
| Whenever an infantryman threw away such al
| opportunity it is safe to assume that there wa;
| some good reason for it.
But the idea of riding for few days and let
| ting his blisters get well was too much for 81
Klegg. Besides, he thought if there was any
one thing he could do better than another
it was driving team. He had been doing ii
on his fathers farm all his life. 1t is true he
didn't know much about mules but he imagined
| they were good deal like horses.
"Tm your man !" spoke up ST cheerily.
"All right!" said the Orderly. Company,
Right-Facel Break ranks-March !"
There amt any trouble about it " 81 said
to Shorty as they walked back to the tent. Il
reckon it's easy enough to manage mules II
you go at 'em right. It'll be just fun for me to
drive team. And say, Shorty, I'll carry ali
your traps on my wagon. ThatH be heap
better'n totin em J"
ST gathered up his outfit and started to enter
upon his new sphere of usefulness.
"Shall l take my gun an bay'net along?"
he asked the Orderly.
"Guess you'd better; they might come
handy !" replied the Orderly, as he thought of
the teamster's disastrous encounter with the
"off-wheeler."
After Shorty had eaten his breakfast he
thought he would go back of the tent and see
how ST was getting on. With thoughtful care
ST had fed his mules before appeasing his Own
appetite, and Shorty found him just waiting for
his coffee to cool q bit.
"Why, them ere mules is jist as gentle n
peaceable-like ez so many kittens. Look at
'em Shorty !" and 81 pointed with proud and
gratified air to where the six daisies were
standing. three on each side of the wagOn-pole
with their noses in the feed-box, quietly
munching their matutinal ratiOns, and whisk-
ing their paint-brush tails about in evident en-
joyment.
Indeed to look at those mules, one who was
ignorant of the peculiar characteristics of the
species would not have thought that beneath
those meek exteriors there were hearts filled
with the raging fires of total depravity. Shorty
thought how it would be, but he didn't say
anything. He was sure that ST would find out
about it soon enough.
The brigade to which the 200th Ind. belonged
was TO march in the rear of the long process
sion that day. This was lucky for ST, as it gave
him an hour or two more than he would
otherwise have had to get hitched up. But all
the same he thought he would begin early, so
as to be on hand with his team in good time.
"Want any help?" asked Shorty.
NO." said ST; 50 l can hitch 'em up slick's a
whistle. l can't see why so many makes sich
a fuss bout handlin' mules!"
Shorty lighted his cob pipe and sat down on
a stump to watch ST. Kinder think there'u be
a circus." he said to himself .
ST got up from his coffee and hardtack, and
addressed himself to the business of the hour.
1t proved to be just as much as he could attend
to- When ST poured half bushel of corn into
the feed box it was all very nice, and the ami
mails rubbed their heads against him to give
expression to their grateful emotions. But
when it came to putting on the harness, that
was quite different thing. The mere touch of
a strap was enough to stimulate into activity
all the evil passions of mUe-nature.
"Now, Pete and Jim and Susan, we must git
ready to pull QUIT" said ST to his charge, in a
familiar soothing tone, preliminary to getting
down to business. 1t was his evident desire to
maintain the friendly relations that he thought
he had already established. At the first rattle
of the harness Pete and Susan and the rest,
moved by common impulse, laid back their
ears and began to bray, their heels at the same
time showing symptoms of impatience.
"Whoa, there-whOai" exclaimed 81, in
conciliatory way, as he advanced with 4 bride
in his hand toward one of the big Wheelers.
whose ears were Tapping about like the fans of
q windmill.
81 imprudently crept up from the rear. A
flank movement would have been better As
soon as he had got fairly within range the mule
winkod viciously, lowered his head, and let hy