The National tribune., 1902-07-10

dins. keep right STILL" seizing Josh's
horse by the bit. 'Now. boys, form side
and side to Josh Giddins. Don't git too
close. now: leave room 10 use your saber
arm and to turn out yer toes. Here, boys,
help Dick to pull that mule into line.
DaInmer mule 1 say" seeing Dicks mule
holding back and rolling the white Of his
eyes at the crowd on each side Of him.
That's right; now, form a second line
behind this here one-good ergin! That's
er good platoon-hold yer hosses still.
Stop talkin' in ranks. There, now, gen.
tlemen. don't bring any more touchous
hOsses here-don't do it-war means
KILN, but it don't mean gettin' yer head
kicked off by some hoss in yer own line.
This on account of Il gray mare letting
both her heels fly at an inquisitiye mule
behind herr Now, gentlemen, have yer
formed:" riding down the line and in
specting it.
Yes, yes; well, that's pritty good,
pritty good. A fine-looking body of men
equal to any l saw in Mexico. Now,
gentlemen, pay strict attention to the com
mands-set straight in yer saddles and
turn ont yer tOes-hold yer pieces right
set straisht--look square to the front
turn out YER
"Bang"'
This discharge came from the old can
non which Jim McHyde, in a spirit of
fun, and backed by the boys Of the village,
had drawn up under an oak tree in the
rear Of the company, and having loaded
it with half pound of powder and
waited until the company was intensely
Interested IN the COloners Instructions,
had quietly applied red-hot iron to the
fuse as he stood behind the tree, and
watched the effect the discharge would
have on the company in front.
And it was startling. All were coun-
| H.
and as the fearful discharge thundered in
their rear, many whiried round to face
the dread monster, but the most of them
were seized with the keen desire TO get
out Of the way. Dicks gray mule shot
forward as if he had been the projectile
itself, and many of the others followed
suit. The CoIonei's mare, much to her
owners disgust, whirled, and fixing both
eyes and ears on the cloud of smoke,
seemed afraid to turn and run, but i'm
mediately began to back off down the road
with surprising agility, leaving her rider
powerless to stop her. When 30 yards
down the road she concluded she was far
| enough to turn tail without being devour-
ed by the unknown monster; so, seeing a
convenient corner, she whiried, nearly ul-
seating her rider, and made frantic eff
forts to get away. 1t took 20 minutes to
restore order and place Jim McHyde un-
| der arrest. which the Colonel did without
delay, punctuated with language more
impressive than elegant. As the only
safe place was the rear end of the bar
room, 40 of the company Immediately vol
| unteered their services TO take the luck
less Jim there and keep him until further
orders. Two were ordered, and Jim was
| forced to treat them on arrival.
| The arrest Of Jim satisfied all parties
and they again formed in lines.
Now. gentlemen" said the Colonel
| lets all be quiet. The unexpected very
often happens in war, an we must be
prepared. But the man who violates the
rules always gets his jes' dues" Here
bar-room. where Jim and his guards could
be plainly seen taking a three-ingel
drink, and they Were not fully convinced
that Jin's punishment was a Just reward
But let US to duty" he added. Now
n am fust going to drill you in the use oi
sa0er, and all them's that got guns vii
bring 'em to a half-cock." Here ther,
Many Of them had, contrary to cavalry
rules, brought their fint-and- -stee
muslets, and Alb Perkins's had only one
notch on it, it was SO old, and when n
full-coelS the steel was almost below The
stock itself. "a half-cock. Mr.. Perkins
if you please" said the Colonel; lower
your hammer TO the first notch"
iNuiiti- D.s gun amt got Dut ont
notch" said Alb, and he added, with dr.,
. humor: She goes to after fire. bu
, when she gets it she comes back with e
/ buchetful.''
At this wit of Alb the entire c0npan.
broke out into 4 laugh, in which tn,
Colonel Joined, and as his gun had so ba,
, reputation, and visited places of ques
tionable resort, Alb was allowed to TAX
II out of ranks and go and help keep jim
McHyde straight
"Kurnel," said Sam Johnson, small
recoeaded warrior, who was almost too full
to sit straight in the saddle, "don't-yol
think-sumpums wrong with-my oil
guai tHolding it up, cooking and re
cooking it with a most puzzled look on hi
face.) She peers to click pow'ful kuiu
to me-"
: "Yes, SAM" said the Colonel. VIII,
recognized the fact that Sam and his gun
were both too heavily loaded, "and 70,
may both 60 off," an order which he wa.