The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1901-08-09

of an inch.
Yes. Can't you recommend q good
animal for him to ride at this even
ing's dress parade!"
Lieutenant Carter looked full into
Murphy's face and slowly winked, not
once, but thr1e times. 1t might have
been the sunlight.
II have just the horse, sorr"
(which one!"
"Well, he has no name yet that you
could use i'll polite society,"" Murphy
returned, though he has been called u
I great many. to be sure"
! rs he well up to weight the lieu
tenant asked.
He will carry anything, sorr," re-
piled Murphy without quiver, adding
to himself, "begad, that can stay on his
back"
We'll, take him over to the bandmas-
ter this afternoon and explain what he
is for"
VERY good SOFT"
Lieutenant Carter went back to his
quarters, unearthed the newspaper,
strolled out on the veranda and read on
for an hour. Now he chuckled to him
self. All at once the bugle rang clear
and high, and Some movement was de-
tected in the direction of the barracks
Officers strolled out buckling on their
side arms, and some ladies with para
soils and bright chlntz dresses left the
houses and strolled over In the direc
ton of the colonel's quarters at the
head of the parade ground, where in
the evening the colonel's pretty wife
poured tea.
The bugle blew again and with q
clanking of accouterments and the dust
raising of hoofs the troopers trotted
out. 1t had grown q little cooler and
the shadows had heightened, but 1t
was hot enough to make men grumble,
and grumble they did as matter of
course. The line was formed. The
colonel mounted his horse. and the Off
GERS rode out before their companies,
and then the band came humping and
jingling down to the front to take their
position on the end of the line. 1t was
a fortunate thing that the bass drum
mer did not have to blow a horn. His
great face had slightly puffed appear
ance, and his lip protruded over his
fine white teeth that were firmly set as
he cursed beneath his breath at the
horse he rode. which had q way of
Siding very different from the staid,
brown nag that had just been con-
signed to the hospital. AS the drum
mcr passed Lieutenant Carter the lat
ter glanced at him.
The colonel. with his piercing gray
eyes looking ont under his bushy eye
brows, took his position, and drew his
sword. "Sound off," he said
Then came few preliminary bleats
of the horns and then came a boom and
a crash.
1t appeared as if something blew up
all at once In the band, and. to tell the
truth, it was principally the drummer.
The music stopped, but the explosion
continued. The black horse that had
been called impolite names was assert
ing himself; he disliked the indignity
that had been thrust upon him. That
was evident from the first, but now he
concluded to rid himself of the degra.
dation. With his head between his
knees, his back arched and his leg stiff
ened, he was bucking away like the
winner in wild west show For
few seconds the drummer managed to
hold on somehow, but no human back.
bone could stand it, and, with a de-
spairing curse, the big fellow shot up
into the air, landed on all fours, then
sprawled face downward in the dust.
But the nameless one was not satis-
fed. The drum was still attached to
him by a leather thong, and out of the
melee he emerged like football player,
determined TO make q touchdown. Ea-
ger hands had snatched at his bride,
but he broke away. Down the line he
came, the bass drum playing a sono-
rouS solo upon his fianks. When about
opposite the adjutant, who to save his
life could not utter a word of COM
mand, he concluded to make detour
to the left. The ranks parted for him.
He pursued his humping course for a
few feet up the line. Then, thinking
probably that he would be better ap-
preciated where he could be seen, he
charged through from rear to right and
emerged again, bounding like vicious
rubber creature intent on planting him
self into the ground and mad that in
stead. Of being firmly imbedded he
should find himself in the air again.
The whole troop was In an uproar
now. but above the sounds Of laughter
arose the colonePs voice.
Catch that horse, somebody~ he
roared. Take hold Of him. one of you
men"
Maybe the nameless black heard this
order and determined to give the colo
mel the first chance, for, head down and
tail up. whanglng aud banging, he
charged down upon the commander Of
the post.
Now, the horse the colonel rode was
q tried veteran-he had once faced
cracking rifles and had ridden up at the
head Of charge against a band Of
screaming. shrieking hostiles-but this
strange looking thing coming down
upon him was too much for his nerves
He swerved. The colonel leaned for
ward, as If to take matters into his
own hands and put stop to the riot
but he reckoned entirely without his
host. His own horse, the tried and
trusted one, could stand the strain no
longer. With n snort of terror he
stretched out his neck and bolted. The
colonel tried to stop him. If there had