The record-union., 1898-05-15
THE SERGEAKT'S HARD LUCK

Bulldog Carney has been at it
again. 1t was horses this time, and
when horses follow a man of Without
rhyme or reason, there is often shoot
| ing frcm one side or the other.
And the owner of the horses that had
gone off with Bulldog. Carney lay in
hospital in Fort Mcleod with a plug
of lead in his lung He was rust
ler' himself and the general opinion
was that Carney had only stolen from
thief
But the plug of lead-that was a diff
ferent matter. a man has got to be
pretty tough before the shooting of him
counts for nothing.
So Sergeant Hetherington and Con.
stable Williams were sent out. with
three days rations to look Carney Up in
one direction, while a couple of other
Constables took the trail in another.
Much riding and the viewing of much
open plain were the result of the first
days campaign.
On the second day they rode again.
but the plain was not quite so open.
There We're several lakes and various
other Interruptions of the vista.
What's the sense of this?'' said
Hetherington to the other Constable.
You might as well look for a needle
in haystack or a prayerbook in bar
racks as look for Carney in this God
forsaken hole. Well never get sight
of him.
So they camped where they We're, be-
side a small lake, and smoked the pipe
of peace and ate their rations ami
cursed the Government that had cut
their pay down to 80 cents day; how
belt the Sergeant was getting more
than that now since his promotion. But
that was regulation form-the routine
and so .hey smoked long and swore
hard. and denounced the service any
way as being no good to a man. for it
made him lazy and untitled him for
anything else. And it was wild goose
chase, and Carney was hundred miles
away, and they were a pair of fools, as
great as the man who had sent them
out. =
And with the gray regulation blan-
kets pulled over their heads and their
feet warm against the blaze of the
smouldering campfire. they slept-slept
the prairie sleep, which is long and
deep and strong and as unlike the other
as strong growing bush is unlike a
hothouse plant. Slept among the wild
roses, and great yellow smarguerites,
and the little wondering sunfiowers-
slept on the dry, crisp grass, that was
gentle spring mattress.
And as they slept a man came and
looked at them and pulled at his
blonde mustaeA- a little, reaectively,
and then stepped back into the night
again, and all was still; only the
munching and occasional stamp of a
horses hoof over to one side, where
the horses We're picketed. and the little
sneezing blow of the nose of the feed
ing animals as. they cleared the dust
out Of their nostrils.
There were ducks flying over all
last night" said the Sergeant, as he
pulled on his long boots. They're
nesting here in these lakes, and I'm
going to have look for some eggs.
Soon voice came up from the reeds
and cattails growing in the edge of the
lake to the Constable, as he busied
himself at the morning fire:
Come down here, Williams. They're
slathers of eggs here"
The ducks there were as other ducks
they pulled down the .aLce-like blades
of grass, and plated them into nests
just out in the water piece-that was
Dame Natures insurance scheme: but
she hadn't reclkoned with the Sergeant
and his merry Constable. The long
boots and the gray socks and the
brown trousers We're eff in jffy, and
with shirts tucked up under their arms
the two warriors We're soon fling their
helmets with duck eggs.
I've got me hat fall,'' said the Ser
geant, AN here's a nest with thirteen
eggs in it, Whatll / do?''
Better leave it alone" said the Con-
stable. "Thirteen'ss an unlucky num-
ber." M ta-
But / want the eggs" pleaded the
Sergeant. It's unlucky to go on
timed beef when you can get fresh
eggs; besides, me luck eedldnt change
for the worse. anyway" he added. as
he thought of what the exile life in that
lone land meant.
well, then" said the Constable 'if
you don't mind the bad luck. wrap
them in your shirt, and I will hold
your chapeau." and he waded over to
the other and held the helmet.
I'm a quare-looking bird now" said
the Sergeant, as he peeled the gray
flannel shirt over his head like strip
ping an otter, and proceeded to trans
fer the eggs from the watery nest to
the impromptu bag.
Il miss my guess. or you'll run up
agin hard luck this trip. I wouldn't
touch nest with thirteen eggs in it
with ten-foot pole.''' said the Con-
stable, as they made their way out
through the scrub growth on the edge
Of the lakes.
Having a bath, gentlemen?" asked
a CHEEKY voice from the wilderness, as
they emerged into the open.
1t was the man who had looked upon
them the previous night as they lay
sleeping. e..
The Sergeant was SO astonished that
the corner of the shirt slipped from his
hand and the thirteen eggs rolled into
a batter at his feet
And it was no wonder that he was
astonished. for he was looking upon
two policemen
The three V-shaped stripes on the
right arm of one of them-the speaker
showed that he was Sergeant.
Something about the clothes struck
him as being familiar He could almost
swear to a spot or two on the front Of
the tight fitting brown jacket.
Sorry to trouble you, gentlemen"
said the same CHEEKY voice. as the
owner of it toyed with the butt of a
big regulation revolver at his side: but
my partner here and myself took, a
notion we'd like to join the force; so
we just slipped into your clothes till
we'd see how we'd look. and as the
two suits will hardly so round the four
of us. suppose you stack our duds-
1cf l,N tho car n