Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1906-11-15

horses general health. His eye was
just as bright and his spirits Just as
high as when able to move with the
swiftness Of an antelope. He rubbed
his muzzle against the cheeks of the
men and whimpered for sugar and
when he went limping away caps came
Off and men felt lump gathering in
their throats.
The cortege wound over the hill
quarter of mile away and then de-
scended into the valley, and the pace
was that of a funeral procession.
When it was out of sight of the fort
Private Daily asked OF Corporal Brix-
ton:
Corp, are .ye man or 4 scoun-
drel?'
Pm man I'd have ye know, and
I've proved it fifty times over," was
the answer.
'And have ye got heart in yer
bosom?"
"As big as beer-keg"
'And would you murder a helpless
baby?"
"Cuss me if / would! I know what
you are driving at and you leave it
to me-
Half mile across the valley they
came to the fringe of bushes and en-
tered them. Eureka had but the
slightest use of his leg, but he hobbled
on after fashion and made no com,
plant. On the contrary, he snorted
and sought to dance around as in the
days of his strength. BY and by a
grassy glade was reached Here was
food and water for hundred horses.
and the corporal called halt.
DAILY and Henderson, listen to me-"
he said. ''The orders are to shoot
Eureka. I'm hanged if 1 do!"
Bully for you, old mani" they
shouted.
81 shall have to report him dead,
but it will be lie, and if either Of
you ever betray me I'll have bullet
ready for you in the first sKirmish that
takes place. If I was cold-blooded
enough to shoot down a horse like
this I'd want Uncle Sam to kick me
out of the army and me own mother
to go back on me- Make ready now
aim-fire!"
The carbine shots rang out. The
| noise did not startle the horse in the
least, but it might have been heard
at the fort by any one listening. The
men had aimed above the horse, and
| their bullets went singing rough the
| tree-tops.
| SIS he finished?" asked the corporal,
as he turned his back on the feeding
horse.
'He is, sir" answered Daily.
"Then heaven rest his soul for a
| good horse, and forward march!"
| Z For four or five days thereafter the
men of the entire garrison looked
askance at the three men and drew
away from them. They had acted
under orders, but they had shot down
| Eureka They knew what allied their
comrades, but they hept their own
counsel. The report Of the corporal
was accepted without question. and the
/ incident passed into history.
Had Eureka been well in limb he
would have made his way back to the
fort before dark. AS it was, he fed
and drank and slept They had given
him his discharge from the service
had made an outlaw of him, and ne
had no further right on the lines or In
the stables. He did not move OUT OF
the glade that day or night. ABOUT
midnight a big timber wolf came out
of the foothills and circled around
him and glared and growled, and the
horse rose up with painful e1ort ana
made ready to defend h1mseif WIN
teeth and hoof. The wolf did not at
tack, however, and when dayngnt
came the cripple hobbled up the valley
in search of a more secure retreat.
That was in the last days OF May
The valley was not settled, ana Lne .'
| horse had it all to himself except TOT
the few deer, buffalo, and wild norses'
that strayed in occasionally.
June, July and August came anu
went. and one day early in September
the battery. was taken out for drill
It had been at work for an hal1 an
hour with evolutions when It suddenly
wheeled into position, unlimbered ana
went into action and the guns pesan
to boom. Of sudden tho men SET up
i wild cheering. Captain, HeuteAaues