The Florida agriculturist., 1889-10-23
Down the

COnWOOQS, SlaKlng NOlan CnlrSC aC a IlG
tie pool in the stream, and then, after
another long half mile, he came to 9
sudden turn to the right The road
dipped and twisted through the stream
bed, rose to the other side, wound through
the cottonwoods and then out on the
open turf HuzzaI There it stretched
up the slopes straig it away for the south,
straight through broad gap between
two heavy gate posts standing on the
stake line of that rigid fence. Nolan
broke into a brisk canter and gave
neigh of salutation; Perry's eyes glistened
with anticipation as he bent over his
chargers neck, keenly searching the odd
looking structure growing on his vision
as they neared the fence. Then, little
by little, Nolan's eager stride shortened
and grew choppy. Another moment,
and horse and rider reined up short in
disappointment Between the gate posts
swung a barrier of cobweb lightness
slender and airy as spider ever wove, but
bristling with barbs. stiff as "bullfnch'
and unyielding as steel. One glance
showed Perry that this inhospitable gate
was firmly locked
For a moment he sat in saddle, study
ing the situation, while Nolan poked his
head over the topmost strand of wire
and keeping at respectful distance from
the glittering barbs gazed wistfully over
the inclosed prairie in search of comrade
quadruped who could tell him what
manner of place this was. Meantime
his rider was intently eying the heavy
paddock that was secured on the inner
side of the gate. 1t was square in shape,
massive and bulky-something utterly
unlike anything he had ever seen among
the quartermaster's stores Dismount-
ing and holding Nolan well back from
the aggressive fence with one hand,
he gingerly passed the other through the
spike fringed aperture and turned the
paddock SO as to get better view. 1t
was of English make, as he surmised,
and of strength sufficient to resist any
thing short of a trip hammer Evident
ly no admission was to be gained here, he
reasoned, and yet it was through here that
that horsemen had come but an hour be-
fore. Here we're the fresh hoof prints in
the trail, and it was evident that the
rider had dismounted, opened the gate,
led his horse through, closed and fast
ened it, then remounted and ridden
away. Perry was plainsman enough TO
read this from the hoof prints. Studying
them carefully. a look of surprise came
into his face; he bent down and closely
examined the two or three that were
most clearly defined upon the trail, then
gave a long whistle as a means of ex-
pressing his feelings and giving play to
his astonishment.
Johnny Bull holds himself too high
and mighty to have anything to do with
us blarsted Yankees, it seems, except
when he wants his horses shod These
shoes were set at the post blacksmith
shop, or I'm a duffer," was the lieuten-
ants verbal comment. Nov, how was
il done without the quartermaster'
knowing it? That's the cavalry shoe!"
Pondering over this unlocked for reve-
lation. Mr.. Perry once more mounted
and turned his disappointed steed again
down stream. At last, full half a mile
farther on, he saw that wire fence ran
southwark again across the prairie, as
though marking the eastern boundary
of the homestead incIosure, and con-
jecturing that there was probably trail
along that fence and an opening through,
even if the southeastward line should be
found fenced still farther, he sent Nolan
through the Monee to the open bank on