, 1897-10-09

with an eye wherein I could positively
read impotence and surprise. Then he
resumed his immobility and became a
statue. 1t was evident that there was
some Misunderstanding between the
horse and me.
l was more puzzled than I'VE What
remarkable horse have l purchased from
Cheri?" l SAID To myself. And why
does he lock at me in such an extraor-
dinary iashEon?" / was ebout. how
ever. TO take extreme measures. to adj
minister to Brutus a sound whipping,
when a second shot reso0nded.
The horse made a bound. l believed
that I was victorious at last, and l en-
deavored to bring him forward by hands
and heels. Not at all. He stood there
after his bound and nee more planted
dls feet solid!y. more energetically and
more resolu:ely than the first time.
Then became so irrita;ed that I took
my riding-crop and began beating him
with all my force. But Brutus also lost
patience, and. instead OF the cold and
impressive Indifference which he had
shown me, ne offered 4 furious response
Ct; extraordinary leaps. bucks. and fan
5aStic pircuettes. While the horse was
bounding and buckinig under me, and
while I was beating him with my broken
ltding-crcp, Brutus sill found cppor-
,unity 70 lCok at me with chances charg-
ed no longer with Impotence and sur
prise, but with anger and Indignation.
While | was demanding CT the horse
an obedience which he refused to me,
he certainly was expecting from me
something that did no do.
How did it end? In my complete dis
comfiture. l was endorsed by an in
comparable bound. After a brief mo-
ment, which was certainly a momen
OF reflection, the horse suddenly lower
ed his head and stood up on his fore
legs. after the manner and with the per-
feet equilibrium OF a clown walking on
his hands. | was immediatel endorsed
and fell upon the sand.
I e~nf.avored to rise. l uttered a cry
aa,; feil in a ridiculous posture upon my
knees in the sand. At each movement.
no mater how slight, it seemed as II
l had a knife wound in my LETT leg. II
was nothing. only a sprain of a tendon,
but slight as it was. it was none the less
painful. ! succeeded, however. in turn
ing myself over and seating myself. But
when, rubbing the sand out OF my eyes.
I began to wonder what had become Of
miserable dapple-gray. l saw de-
scending upon my head a horses foot.
Then this horses foot was transferred
to my breast, and with a certain deft,
ness I was pushed upon my back upon
the sand. was too staraled to resist.
and remained in this posture. wonder
ing what this extraordinary horse that
I had purchased at Cheri's could be. \
closed my eyes and awaited death.
Suddenly l heard a singular sound
around me. Little pellets struck me in
he face. l opened my eyes and l saw
Brutus, who, with a most incredible &C.
t:vity and a still more incredible dex-
terity. was endeavoTing with his fore
and hind feet to bury me under the
sand. He did his best. The poor brute,
and from time 70 time he stopped and
looked At his work. Then tossing up
his head, he gave a shriil neigh and
went to work again. This lasted for
three or four minutes, after which BU.
JUS, no doubt thinking that I was sufl-
cienaly buried. placed himself with much
respect on his knees beside my tomb.
| suppose he was engaged in prayer.
His prayer done. Brl,us bounded up,
withdrew several yards. stopped, then
gallopei about score OF times around
the circle in the middle OF which he had
buried me. had followed him with
my eyes, and 1t caused me a certain
dizziness watching him turning in this
way, SO l shouted, ''Whoar The horse
Stopped and seemed embarrassed, as II
he did not know what t do next. Sud-
denly, perceiv;ng my hat, which, in my
,tall. had rolled some distance from me.
he made up his mind, went straight 10
the hat, seized it between his teeth. and
departed at a brisk gallop by one OF tho
six venue which led 20 my tomb.
Brutus disappeared. was lef, alone.
I shook of the light layer Of earsh
which had covered me. and without get.
t:ng on my Feet l succeeded in dragging
myself by my arms and right-because
I could not move the left-to a little
grass-covered mound at She corner OF
one OF the avenues. When l reached
there. l sseadied myself and began to
call FOR assistance. But there was no
reply. The wood was absolutely desert
ed and silent. l saw that I should have
to wait until some one passed by 10
help me.
l had been there for an hour in this
unpleasant position when / saw, com.
ing down the same avenue by which
he had gone, Bruous returning. and with
the same long, looping pace at which he
had gone. A Cloud OF dust followed
him. Little by little IN this cloud / dis
covered a little carriage-a p~ony-cart;
then in this little pony-cart a little wo-
man who vas driving. and behind the
lady a little groom.
In a moment Brusus, covered with
foam, stopped before me. dropped my
hat nj nv fees. and addressed me a