Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-09-24

shift trlnc on the saddle flap, he head
cd to the boundary. where native Off
Ger was frantically waving a new stick
Before the shouts had ended, Powell was
armed again.
once before In his life The Maltese Cat
had heard that very same stroke played
off his own back, and had profted by the
| confusion It wrought This time he act
cd on experience, and leaving Bamboo to
guard the goal In case of accidents,
| came through the others like n nash,
! head and tail low-Lutyens standing up
| to ease hn-swept on and on before
| the other side knew what was the matter,
| and nearly pitched on his head between
| the Archanges' goal-post ms Lutyens
| kicked the ball In after straight scurry
Of hundred and fifty ycrds. If there
was one thing more than another upon
which The Maltese Cat pridcd himself,
II was on this quick streaking kind of
n run half across tho ground. lie did not
believe in taking balls around tho field
unless YOU were clearly overmatched.
After this they gave the ArchanEcls i've
minuted football; and an expensive fast
pony hates football because It rumples
his temper
s
than Poars in this game lie did not
permit any wrigginE away. but bored
,oyfully into the scrimmage as If he had
his nose in a feed-box ana was looking
for something nice. Little Shikast jump
ed on the ball tho minute 1t got clear.
and every uma an Archangel pony fol-
lowed It. he found Shikast standing over
It. asking what was the matter
tie ri Tor
said The Maltese Cat, II shan't care.
Don't take il out Of yourselves Let
them do the lathering."
So the ponies. as their riders explained
afterwards. "shut-up" The Archangcls
kept them tied fast in front Of their
goal. but 1T cost tho Archangels ponies
all that was left of their tempers; and
ponies began to kick and men began to
repeat compliments. and they chopped
Mt the legs of who's who, and he set
his teeth and stayed whore he was, and
the dust stood up Hike tree over the
scrimmago until that hot quarter end
ed.
They found the ponies very excited
and confident when thcy went to their
sa!scs; and tho Maltese cat had to war;
them that the worst Of the game wa.
coming.
Now we are all going in for tho soc
ond time" said he. land they are trot
ting out fresh ponies. You think you
can gallop. but you'll find you can't
: and then you1l be sorry"
"Bu. two goals to nothing is a halter
long lead" said Kl,tlwynk. prancing.
"IIow long does it take to get goal?'
The Maltese Cnt answered For pity
Inn hD
the game is half won !ust because VI
happen to 20 IN lick now! They'll rid
YOU into the grand stand, II they can
i YOU mast not give EN- a chance. Fol
low the ball"
"rootball. as urual?" said Polaris
"Nv hooks half as Mig as a nose har.
Il Don't let them nave n look at tn
o ball Il you oan help It. Now leave m
alone 7 must get all the rest ! can he
= fore the last quarter"
He hung down his head and let a
o his muscles 60 slack. Shikast. Bamboo
and Who's Who copying his example,
II "Retter not watch the game" he sad
Il I'VE aren't playing, and we shall onl
d take IT ont Of ourselves If We gro'
s. anxious Look At the ground and pre-
: tend It's hy-tino"
y advice 70 follow The hooves were drum
g ming and the sticks We're rafting
g nm and down TIN ground. and yclls {
- applause from the English troops tol
C that tho A-changels were pressing tn
IS Skidars hard. The native eoldiers hehin
n the ponies groaned and grunted. and sal
= things in undcrtoues, ana presently the
Il heard long drawn shout and clatte
Of hurrahs'
z cone Of tho Archanpels" said Shikas
l. without raising his head. Time nearl
Z IN. Oh, my sr.--and dam
q "Fa,z-I-llnh." said tho Maltese cat, q"
l. Won don't play to tho last nail in yot
g shoes this time I'll kick YOU on III
d ground before all the other ponies
Y, .1'N do my best when my time comes,
y said the little Arab sturdily
The saises looked at each other grave
N " as they rubbed their ponies leg
lc This was the time when long purses b'
n gan TO tell. and everybody knew
n K,,tiwvnk md the others came bacl
H the sweat dripping over their hooves ar
Ill their tails telling sad stories.
t. "'They're better than We are sa
Ia Sh,ra2 II knew how 1t would be.
shut your big head" said The Ma
T. tese Cat: we've one goal to the GOO
al yet
st "Yes. but It's two Arabs and ~
l., country-hreds to play now" said Cork
"Faiz-Ulnh. remember!' lie spoke in
at biting voice.
ed As Lutyens mounted Grey Dawn
no lokcd nt his men. and they did not loo
~ pretty They were covered with dust al
IT, sweat In streaks. Their yellow boo
l>atr o. w.,