The Washington times., 1904-09-04
CHAPTER xvI-CContinued.)

CHAPTER ANl-(ConJlnued.)
1t was sim early in the day when we
departed for all we had spent consider
able time in getting started. There was
unusual activity in the city, as well as
travel on the roads, on account OF the
Vera Cruz expedition.
a company of soldiers guarding mule
train bringing in supplies for the army
was entering the city as we left. and
soon afterward we met party Of cav
airy with camp followers in the rear.
One Of the very last Of the stragglers
was a Mexican mounted upon the horse
which had been taken from me at Cha
pultepec.
As well as 1 knew my own horse
looked twice before l could believe l
had not been mistaken. He was not a
particularly valuable animal, but l had
ridden him all the wsy from FL Paso'
besides being somewhat attached TO him.
he was a better horse than the one l had
purchased. ! was not willing. either 10
see him remain in the hands OF a strans
er without making an attempt to recover
him. As l could not fOrcibly take the
horse, 1 stopped the telloW anu OaiA-
tered him for a trade.
At arst 1 offered TO trade even. lie
wanted seventy-five pesetas TO boot. l
laughed at him. declaring that my horse
vas a. good as his. and l had paid only
sixty for him that morning.
MY horse Is the largest, he nam
tanned lie will weigh hundred
pounds more than yours
..T4e is too fat" 1 argued. Now look
~ the frames OF the two horses, one
standing by the other Mine has the
bone. Yours has a little more flesh My
horse will endure most
mot so senior" he replied. My
horse Is the best animal. And, besides.
your horse is old-he Is worn out. LOOK
at his teeth
we had both dismounted, and now the
horse had so recently bought was fore
ed TO submit to an examination OF his
mouth.
The rose is FIVE years old. declar-
ed. though the man had bought him
of had maintained that he was only
four years old.
give. senior" he replied with a grin
Five and five more. The horse Is ten
Years old. See how his teeth are worn
down. You see that fiat shape Of his
nlppers2'
admitted that the horses teeth
showed wear but argued that it was on
account of the coarse fare he had. not
arc and that he was not more than
ave or A few months over. But finally,
TO settle the vexed question and 70 get
near a trade. I admitted that the horse
possibly might be seven.
Put his legs senor,' he said. this
right knee is sprained. and he has a
SPAWN on that left hind leg.
denied the SPAWN: but after carr
f1l examination Of he hook joint, and
n warm dispute about there being an
enlargement Of the bone. we agreed on
the compromise that the horse did not
have a spawn. but might some time
Next the Mexican listened TO his
breathing. and placed his ear at ms
Uindpipe. and shook his head with ali
The seriousness and dignity Of an eN-
pert on pulmonary diseases VINO hau
lust made a careful diagnosis
The horse has heaves,' he SAID look
ing very grave.
94eaves." cried. Nothing Of the
kind. The horse has heaves no more
than YOU have heaves. Why, man you
know nothing about a horse, 10 talk
about heaves Any boy that ever saw
horse could tell that horses wind Is all
right. Get on him, and ride him up the
road and back.
He did as I directed. putting spurs 70
the animal But when he had dismount-
cd he said nothing about the horse haV-
ing the heaves.
'sIIis back is sore" he said. See how
ne cringes when you 20 to mount
TT is not his back. but your spurs
that he Is afraid Of / replied
without arguing the question ! pulled
of the saddle and showed him that the
horse was not CALLED.
G-n oh
tected the fellow He would never do
for a cavalry horse
Twill he not?" ! said. drawing re-
volver. and deciding 20 risk the expert
Ynent fred two shots over the animal 8
head He did not finch.
He now turned 10 the other horse
my own-extolling at length his good
qualities.
You do not know this horse" he said.
In truth. I knew more about the horse
than he did, Il rode him IN the battles
~ las Vacas and at. San Louis PotosL
He behaved well, senior. You should
have seen him. I may say / owe my
life 70 having so good a horse. and for
the memory Of the service he did me,
bringing me safely through the engage
ments. I would not wish 10 part with
him
was IN a battle, nor do I believe you
ever were. You stole him from hacienda,
I'd sooner believe, and for fear Of get
ting myself into trouble I do not mind
whether or not trade with you
] turned as II 20 ride away. but he
called me back and went into a long ac-
count of the horses pedigree and OF how
he obtained possession Of him. having
bought him when colt from a frieno
became greatly interested. as we'll as
amused, at the account he gave me and
the love he had for an animal which he
could not possibly have had possession
Of more than few hours.
Had 1 possessed plenty Of money / do
not know but that 1 would have given
him the seventy-fve pesetas, the offer
ence he set in value between the two
horses. He held out for his price. and