The light., 1900-01-18


asked Tad, the captains
:, said the sergeant, as he cut
4, w ~, Of a sage-brush with the
-sI of the lariat hanging at his
y, 81 didn't. hear it, but it
III ~. rpqss. Billy Murphy was
$. ~,rl down at Post No. 2, and
1 :;,f dare walk the length of his
III, 70 there tonight and fetch
q said the boy.
/ 'y,-Ho"
manner to his younger COM
I,o They had grown to be quite
L friends. SO Sergeant Gore
Ii1t the trim figure by his side,
,Inrel-as a cavalryman would
m, posture in the saddle. And
|~lsgazed down the long road to
Hr'f On the shingly lodges of
a the panther they had been
ding OF was said to prowl at night
aI to the echoes in that fearsome
T.
,rs was a well-born, we'll trained
nj, fellow who had enlisted in the
| !, Of the regular army at a time
F. penniless and discouraged, as
-any another son of a good family.
seemed peculiarly attractive to
50v. Tai admired Gore because
7g cIeYerer than the others. Gore
,better shot and a better horse,
/ and he was the best wrestler in
lxt. Aud there is nothing that
r7cal8 to the soul OF the boy as
IN in that close struggle oI
|.tes, that embrace of gladiators,
Edvhlcl comes the triumph of the
|lnel hands, the victory of the un.
slmuscles and skill.
ll Tad's father, the captain, had
discouraged an association which
i bis son pleasure and seemed tC
BE the lad more manly.
Couldn't We kill the panther, Ser
Et"
NE might, and we might not.
blast man in the troop who went out
Eli a panther came back in a sling
i7sel two pack-mules; and he
BIT get off sick-report for three
-tAs. Now, see here, Tad. Gel
twinkle ont of your brain! How
nd it look for me to risk the cap
Is son ont there on the bluff al
bit: How would 1 go to the cap
i' wife and explain it if"
Wouldn't need any explanation il
bought the panther"
Or how would [ square matters
1.-The captain when the captains s
aOOy was lying in bed-and sur
aplaSter all over him?"
Pretty nice thing to kill a pan
."
Yes; and then"
Sergeant, are you afraid of her?"
Tn not afraid of anything alive, "
1.-The sergeant, calmly.
If you are not afraid, why don't
,go?"
We don't do all the things we dare
6"
What, for instance?"
Well, l dare tell Higgins, when we
70 camp, that l won't mount guard
borrow"
5len why don't youY"
Because it is my duty to mount
I'd whenever he details me. He's
orderly sergeant.
saw yOu throw him one time, >
lad, irreleyantly; and then he
.?ed to laugh at the recollection,
5-aSIns was a very strong man,
, one day in spring, before mount.
llI vas begun, the soldiers got
tournament on the parade-ground,
~ Tue orderly sergeant challenged
. ,4e to wrestle. Tad remembered
10 acceptance, and how the big
nan had strutted to the encoun.
;. . low the two had gripped to the
u u. and how presently Gore had
?31I'Ae y huge weight on his hip, and
'-1nS the o,her heels over head il
great sweep, and had landed him
!! and finally.
!, ~ That was months ago. Tao
~ - up at the distant bluff while
yl8'ers were blowing a retreat,
,,' 1V stood in "the attitude of 6
i' . when the flag came down tc
1. coming of the evening gun.
!. = IISlt he made his bed on the
~ = VI Tie upper porch, and lay there
|, mug II! at the stars till long after
/ 4 lime and again he caught him.
n, ,-OSt across the border-land oi
ny ny and it seemed to him the
1, o : midnight must have passed
a. n 'ge sound for which he waited
,,. NV MS ears. And then the sud.
h 50 VI 1t, the savage strength ol
,,,,. ta4'ler's cry, startled the
n, YYOS little fellow till his heart
. ,,. ,r.' The half-human quality ol
G.. G.; added to the terror of it.
S%1ll ~ MS breath came back, and
sr, Us daring. And the next time
HI. =! was as raised he knew the shingly
b. ~. ~ Ine bluff were then a prom
NJ. \, .O' the panther.
Ii i /, night Sergeant Gore was on
/ : T.. Dpt the next after he was free
b. ~Te r. and again he wondered
,.so -'1 d was in hiding; for he had
..,r ~ The boy since dinner-call.
> r.;H ana Warner were up the
b e,r' r,a an eight-mule team, and
ro9i @y Nh IN at sundown with a load
kspi.. when ' they had embarrassed
Fsc5s55' Lang found Sergeant Gore
| I'd. ,l.( On his bunk, trying to read
0ofe, here's a note from the