Omaha daily bee., 1902-02-17
Strategy of the Blanket Pony
Frederic IReming.
ton In Golfers
Weekly.

along the line and the poker game was re-
sumed amid wild conjectures as to Bill
Burton's sanity. They could see a possible
joke in giving up the old pony, though why
sacrifice all those blankets, now that win
ter was approaching? But mostly they
gave It up.
The Indians had gone out OF sight beyond
the bluffs. ut won't take long before we
will see what our combination OF reds will
produce. Chemically speaking. we ought
to get a wild scrap in twenty minutes or
a half hour" speculated Van Nick.
See, Bill-looking at the horizon through
his glasses. Guess he's making medicine
for the lost bronze" observed a poker player,
Time passed, when suddenly Captain Bill
took down his glasses. They are com
ing. Dick" and he ran forward. "Atten-
toni Get ready! Now we'll have the
fight OF our lives. boys. Make no mistake.
now-they are coming home this time!" he
yelled.
The line sprang to it's knees; the officers
drew their swords and stood to their places.
Down the bluff and over the plain came the
wild, charging line Of warriors-scintillat-
ing bright reds and yellows and whites
revolvers and rifles going In the air-their
shrlll 'yips" even reaching at this dis
lance, and the ponies beating madly. Now
and then q warrior fell from his pony, and
yet not a shot had been fred.
Observation-Disclosures" The gray lead
sped; the blue smoke eddied out along the
grass. Observation-Disclosures" and
again sped the deadly volley. Family
through the smoke the soldiers saw the
swift line come. In fierce nervousness they
picked at their belts, threw up and down
the breech-blocks and poured 1t In. Ponies
lay kicking all along behind the Indian
squadron, but on they came. Many soldiers
damned their bayonets into the sockets,
many dubbed their rifles, and some lay fat
on the ground.
They ore coming home!" was yelled in
the captains ear as he threw himself on
the ground. The beating crowd OF ponies
rode over the skirmish line, but it did not
fire or stop. The soldiers punched and
belted with their guns. Warriors reeled
and rolled like sacks Of flour along the
ground. There were many riderless ponies
These continued on, while the mounted ones
were twisted and turned about in aimless
fashion to renew the attack. Warriors
were seen to roll about on the ponies
backs, some were hanging on by an eyelid
others had their arms around their ponies
necks, not seeking to control them. The
soldiers ran to catch them, but found the
Indians not inclined to resist. They saw
others sitting on the grass waving their
arms aimlessly. They stopped to regard
them wonderingly. The entire absence OF
ofensiveness on the part OF the reds was
slowly understood, until men began to call
They are drunk" They are all drunki'
and then they pulled what few were left
from their ponies and sat on their chests
AS things began to clear 1t was seen that
there were no casualties among the SOL
diers and the people were amazed to sec
Burton and Van Nick slapping their thighs
and each others backs. while they roared
and screamed with laughter. The others
comprehending, began to howl, until the
whole battalion, so lately grim before
death, yelled in happy chorus.
Say, Bill, why didn't you give us a droT
before you got rid Of that whisky, you ole
villain?"
well. boys, you got a fight, and that's
better than a drink-aln't 1t? You fellows
would kick anyway"
The general came galIoping and stood
staring at his successor, but did not under.
, stand the laughter. What was on tina
pony, captain" he demanded at last.
That was a medicine pony, general-h,
} was loaded with the Great Spirit" returned
/ our strategist with cheerful innocence.
The general rode way smiling. The mel
walked out, gathered up the drunk ant
wounded and the empty blanket pony, sho
} the owned horses and congratulated eacl
other on the good fortunes Of the S'teentl
, Foot. which would get ample credit, even 1
1t was accomplished by "shrewdness anC
|, force and by deeds undone."