Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1894-07-12

soon. Thinking the matter over for b
moment, remembered how hard 1t was
to make man drunk who had been
bitten by rattlesnake, while l had got
very drunk without the slightest diff
tlculty and In short order.
When IL fully dawned on my be-
numbed brain that was not bittcn,
gave one wild, joyous whoop, and then
broke out into series Of Indian yells.
! leane d forward, or rather fell, on my
horses neck and began to laugh, and
roarel In drunken way until l was
almost exhausted, as the reaction from,
as supposed, almost immediate death
to life on the prairies, and horseback,
was almost too much happiness for my
shattered nerves.
l very soon got into an argument
with myself. | seemed to be two fol-
lows The sober lieutenant was say
ing to the lieutenant who was drunk
something to this effect: you are .
pretty fellow, you are, scared to death
because pieces Of the stone broke of
when you drove the picket-pin In the
ground, struck your hand, and made
the blood come, but you ought to DO
court-martialed for cowsrdice;' and II
suppose you think you ought to have .
brevet for this days work. Pretty soon
you will fall of your horse and lose
your hair"
As the effect Of the brandy began to
die out a feeling Of pathos crept over
me, | wanted to weep and felt re-
ligious, II i had had friendly breast
on which to lay my head, think l
could have sobbed with pleasure, But
my horse would allow no fooling Of
that kind about his neck, consequently
| was forced to sit up" and did not
enjoy myself as much as one who had
suffered SO greatly ought TO have done.
A few miles farther brought me close
to some ponds, within five or six miles
Of the post, and discovered there was
small flock ofuwid geese on them l
thought perhaps l was near enough %
my normal condition to get the better
of a goose, SO rode off to the right
(wcst Of the road, dismounted with
some difficulty and made my horse
fast to some volcanic rocks; but ! had
not gone far towards the geese before |
discovered that he seemed very much
excited and was dashing about from
side to side and straining hard OF the
lariat knew there was some unusual
cause for this, SO ] turned about and
watched. In u few minutes three or
four men On ponies q half-mile away
to the west, showed themselves for q
second and then disappeared. Tho sur.
face Of the ground between me and
these men was rough, and although
there was no timber party, with
care, could have approached me with.
out attracting attention under ordi-
nary circumstances, but fortunately
looked in their direction just in time,
for, when The nature Of the ground
compelled them 10 show themselves
again, they were much nearer, and on
their third appearance were still
nearer, and evidently trying to get be.
tween me and my horse.
Iwaited for no further developments
but returned to my impatient and
frightened horse as rapidly as possible
: knew the men were either Mexicani
or Indians, and from their manner O.
riding thought they were Indians; /
so, should be on horseback, as coult
then fight or run away, whichever
should prove to be best
lost no time In christening m.
horse and putting up the lariat ant
making an attempt to mount For SOM
minutes 1t was only an attempt, 10
Just as soon as raised my foot to pu
it in the stirrup he would give plung
. and try to be of. |, however, gath
. cred the reins up short and tight In th
Q left hand, and at the same time graspe
a portion Of the name with the sam
hand threw my right hand (whic
II held the rifle and arm well over tn
!. saddle, quickly placed my left foot l
Y the stirrup, and made quick sprin
and threw my right lev over the cants
but failed to take an upright position
as the horse gave bound forward a
the same time ! made the sprng
mount, which left me hanging on hi
side like monkey who was trying t
dodge the whip Of the "ring.master
on the other side. With me hanging !
this ungraceful position my horse wen
laundering across the plain to theeas
in the direction Of the road, as II OF
Nick was after him, and 1t was a ru
of nearly quarter OF a mile before
r rot into the saddle, II had been In
~ ~ circus ring and had performed such
=, feat Of riding on my horses side,
NJ NJ would have drought down the house
M As soon as got we'll into the sadd
a regained control OF the horse on
I'd brought him down TO q walk, and
most Immediately was In the road lea
r. ing to the post Looking back, So
re the men occupying the position ] ha
just left.
had had what one might call "a fi
day." ! had ridden over thirty mile
been bitten, as supposed, by rattl
90 snake, got drunk and sober, was at u
~ point Of death and had recovered, al
w, ", all this within twelve hours OF the san
day. :,
j rode quietly to my quarters d
mounted, sent my horse to the stab
!" and went to bed, feeling thankful tn
! had back and comfortable pla
= 10 put it-United Service Magazine.
Our passions are like convulsi'
tits, which, though they make
stronger for the time, leave us y
G..,,ft