The National tribune., 1902-12-18

ozone of the morning atmosphere entering
my young lungs filed my whole anatomy
with bracing vigor. The guard mount
was gone through in the usual manner
and reported to the commanding officer
for orders, not little proud of the newly.
acquired h0nors.
Oh, that pride should come before q
fall!
As expected, these orders were to ride
forthwith to the herd, to see that it was
not taken farther than one an hall
miles from the camp there was fine g.az
ing eyerywhere), to post sentries IN such
locations as would command good out
look in every direction, and to examine
their arms and accouterments as to thell
efficiency for immediate use. 1n front OF
the adobe building / found Strawberry
rightly named, as l now observed, for the
color of his hide, ready sadjled and
bridled, and perfectly groomed, held by
Grew himself, and surrounded by several
cayalrymen. Being ''dough-boy," | car
ried the straight sword which in those
days formed a part of the armament OF
the Sergeants of the line, useless weap'
on which the cavalry irreverently desig-
mated as cheese knife" or toad
sticker."
Grew examined me from head to foot
he objected to my wearing this straight
s"oTu lightly Suappeu " my sue, as
being inconyenient. and spelling a mans
looks on horseback, and tried to induce
me to wearing his saber. To this
objected, for good reasons. He remark
ed, however, that a pair of spurs were
indispensable-not for use on the horse
indeed, but for the looks of the thing.
Grew being an old Regular, with far more
military experience than l had, / acqui-
esced to this proposition. A pair of spurs
were brought and strapped onto my in
fantry brogans, at which Grew threw a
glance of unutterable contempt. !
mounted very easily, having found time to
practice that part of the performance in
the early morning. As | was ready to
start Grew cautioned me with a grin,
thought against turning my heels inward
he also told me that the horse had ON
only snaffe bit, so that he might drink
at the crossing without removing the bri-
die. ''In case of need" he added, touch
him up lightly with spur; the ightest
touch will be sufficient"
l started across the parade ground,
passing in front of the officers quarters,
towards the crossing at the southwestern
corner of the camp. There existed a
standing order that no horse should be
ridden at faster gait than walk within
the parade-ground. OF course, all the
horses were already accustomed to this,
and reached the crossing without trou-
bic. he-preceding rains had caused the
creek to overflow its banks for some days,
and had washed some ground away from
the opposite edge, which was now some
what steep and slippery. Strawberry
stopped in the middle of the creek to
drink, and there waited for directions
whittier to proceed, turning his pretty
head towards me, as if he wished to ask,
What nowY
AN EXCITING RIDE.
Up to this day / cannot pretend to ex-
plain what demon of the Internal regions
possessed me and urged me to use the
COMPOUNDED spurs, when probably q little
encouragement with the voice or q shake
Of the bride rein would have fully an
swered the purpose. Yet l know l spur
red Strawberry, although I cannot say
whether l touched him lightly or strongly
probably, after the manner Of inexpe-
rienced horsemen. 1t was a spasmodic
backward kick Of my heels-for the horse
made a gigantic leap forward which land
ed him sQuareiy upon the opposite bank,
threw me forward out of the saddle upou
the animals neck, which I Rugged with
the nnsye-fnl embrace horn ef snaae..
comfortable fear Of falling. And Straw
berry went, oh, yes, he was going Being
urged to cross the creek, he understood
full well that our destination was the
herd, and thither he ran, or, as it seemed
to me, he few. My infantry trousers,
not adapted to the saddle. gradually rolled
up above tie knees. exposing my drawers.
the empty stirrups dangled aimlessly
about. striking the horses legs and belly:
tine tassels Of my sash rose and descended
In rythmic motion, and that confounded
cheese knife kept hammerfng against the
horses breast and foresegs. I had Lost
my hat at the 6rst jump. and felt my
hair rise like the quilts upon The fretful
porcupine." The giant cacu. mesquite
and creosote bushes along the route seem-
Cd to ny backward IKE the telegraph pole