The morning times., 1896-11-22

his horse ana crept Oh loot near the busy
birds. He was AFRAID they would near his
heart thump and take fright, but stili he
got near and nearer, with his finger ON the
trigger. Then an old wise gobbier got
alarmed when Ned was WITHIN thirty yards,
and the covey started, half running, half
Tying, i'll Il great state ofexcitement. Ned
Iireu almost blindly into the midst OF them,
both barrels. He saw something drop, and
ran TO II. Turkey ii was, u whCpper, and
something was Hopping away among the
sunI!owers- Ned ran 10 that, ana killed 1t
with blow Of his gun. Twol He sat down
and laughed gleerulIy. Then he thoughtfulIy
said:
Now, il only one could have been a big
mince pie, Loo W ould have been happy
Speedily he fastened a bird on zach eide
or lis saddle, and mounted to go home.
but that was easier said than done. His
father had been right when he had warned
him how easy it is to get lost on the plain.
After half al hours riding, and recognizing
none oI the ground he HAD gauope,l over III
the morning, and after doubIy wondering
where his shadow had been, and wnere II
ought to be now Ned with n sinking heart.
acknowledged he didn'tknow W here he was.
lie rode 10 the highest l,OiuJ near him. and
saw nothing-nothing but rolling bluff and
hollow. On and on he rode, till he was
miserable. He forgot the glory of the two
fat turkeys, and it W as now well on in the
afternoon.
At last he reached higher bluff than
any before, ana ii,4.i II Ia, ''''is. see "a SIC
Cession of lower bluffs and then a gain high
one behind. He sat ON his horse there Tor
some Time anu Then ruue tUw arl I.ie other
big bluff, and SO high it was he could not
see its summit even from the hOll0ws. with
the other bluffs between. He rode along,
slowly now, for his horse was not SO
trt..t I, La. IL.
When suddenly lar III front Of tnm there
came TO his ears a strange sCGnd-tue
long, ringing notes o. u calvary bUsle.
Ned stood IN his stirrups TO stare about
plunged all at once III u high state OF ex-
element. But his horse; never had the
patient and doCile animal behaved in 50
extraordinary a way before II priC ked
up its ear, and threw its head back. and
plunged. Again across the plains, sounded
the bloud-burning bugle, and all al CLCe
over the further bluff, came running men
anu tile sun shOne on the weapons in their
hands. The 'bugle sounded yet again,
and one OF them waved q sword, and so
clear was his voice when he spoke the
words that Ned distinctly heard them:
Commence firing
Then there was noisy cracking OF many
carbines, and the men came running Tor
ward, stopping every now and then to
more; 1t was ali could 90 to bold Onto
his horse, who. with one prolonged neigh,
had taken the bit in his teeth, and was
charging. apparently with the most 10y
Gus feelings, towards the enilCing bucle.
Up one blurf and into the hollow, and up
another the unwilling boy was carried
directly towards those dangerous pufrs
of white smoke, the turkeys Hopping by
his sides, and at the top of the next bluff
he nearly fell off his horse from sheer
fright. Coming to meet him, helter skelter,
save who save can, came band Of In
dians i'll full retreat, with bullets popping
among Item Tlgnt anu icIt. 4icy were
rs startled as was Ned. His white face
doubtless led them 10 believe that a
party of white men were cutting them off.
without a shot they turned ana fled right
and left; utterly yscattered-saye one, huge
man with Il large warbonnet- he Wa,
apparently mad with rage and came swoop-
ing down on Ned. The instinct of self
preservation. rather than reason, made
Ine lad raise his shotgun to his shoulder
and fire, although no bullet, but mere
huCkshot was his cartridges Dimly the
hoy saw something had happened and
heard the Indian scream with pain. and
again heard the commanding officers
VOICE hurriettiv shout Cease iiTiuE.
His horse swept on through the lines
of amazed soldiers, and at last, with
every manifestation OF delight, ranged
quietly up behind the men, by the side
OF the horses left riderlesS in charge of
a few soldiers, whose comrades bad dis
mounted to fight on foot
Ned rolled off his apparently insane
horse, anu sat, with dizzy head, .eeihg
nothing clearly, until tall man with a
sabcr stood in front OF him and looked stern
ly at the boy.
"Who-on-earth are you?' he said. The
idea of charging right into the teeth NJ our
fire."
''P lease, SIR" said Ned, very much
frightened at the look Of the hig- sal
Il didn't mean to. Baldy ran away with
me-"
The officer broke into smile, and lifted
the boy TO his feet, and sheathcd his
saber.
Its lucky you were not killed." he
said. Tell me how it all came about.
Do you know you knocked an Indian off
his pony, tnat one of my men are DrlI.g-
ing prisoner?'
.Oh, Please, SIR" cried Ned, turning
white. is he killed" On! really l dIdn',
mean to-"
That's all right, my boy. He was a
mischief maker in his tribe, and you've
ended our mission for US. A few wild
young braves jumped the reserve, and we
We're chasing them back Now he's out
of the way. the others viii scatter nome
and be quiet. So you see you've earned all
the honors OF the campaign"
The beggal's sound enough" said a
bright young officer coming up. Hell
probably be blind though. He got that
wild shot full in the face"
The TWO officers turned to Ned then and
questioned him, and with boyish innocence
he told them ali-abOut their hardships,
his fathers sickness. his mothers weari-
ness and worry, and little LOo's desire for
Thanksgiving turkey. As he concluded
smiling sergeant led up Ned's horse
Its our old Badly, SIR he said. I'VE
had him when the troop was in Wyoming,
and he was condemned and sCld- Here's
the T. s. brand on him yet. He ran, of
course when he heard he burle, and ranged
alongside like tie veteran he is
The men crowded round the old troop
horse with many jokes and caresses, but
Ned looked at him in dismay.
My turkeysr' he cried.
They were gone, thrown off in that wild
charge, and Ned broke down and burst into
tears. thinking OF poor disapI o nted Loo
But the captain cent two horscmen over
the way the boy had come, and they
brought them back safely. So that was
all right ana mUcn more, fer the younger
officer who was a doc or, had some cninine
in his saddle bags, and showed Ned the
the boys father and made him comfortable,
SO that they got home TO Texas safely.
In Another Class.
''Sour friend is an artist ! think you