The San Francisco call., 1909-03-06


wv HEN No. ?. the big black trans
W port on whieh Brutus sailed (odd
name for 4 horse. you say; yes
mats what the colonel said, but that
comes later. was only a few days out of
Cape Town the first shot was fired and
the war began. As No finally
steamed into the harbor and docked,
Brutus, hdgeting excitedly deep down in
the hold with the other horses Of the
-th lancers. could hear the bells in
the engine room as they changed for
SLOW, the swish and slap OF the sea
against the ships side, and then the
gurgling churh of the waters as the
vibrating engines reversed and held
the ship. Overhead he heard orders
shouted and the steady trample OF men
as the regiments formed aft and went
down the gangplank. two abreast
Then came the thing he hated worst
in the world, which he had gone
through cn embarking. and the sudden
whirl to a giddy height, and the swift
drop made him dizzy. Horse after
horse preceded him, and then came his
turn. He braced himself, feet apart.
the whistle blew shrilly, the cables
ran creaking through the blocks and
he felt himself lifted high IN midaiT
above the ships deck by the great
derrick, swung out over the dock,
where he turned slowly in the air.
kicking Viciously, with sQueal upon
rage and then gently lowered until
scrambHng. he found his feet and stood
ouiverins once more on terra firma-
He was piebald; marked with brown
and white. and stood little more than
j hands. but a horse was horse now
since the British government had sud
denly waked up and put tag on
everything with four legs in sight
He was an American cow pony. and
BY contrast was almost pitiful as he
stood near on officers big English bred
charger. while the soldiers, resting on
their arms. surrounded him laughing
He eyed them Viciously, with his back
rounded like q cats and his ears lad
bstk threateningiy. Then quickly the
soldiers fell back and Brutus saw an
officer pushing lis way through tle
crowd until be stood barely a safe
distance from ais heels. The officer
was adjusting his monocle and trying
70 read what was printed on the Whlte
square OF paper pIastered on the pony
Quarter. Brutus heard linn muttering
..Rrutus. No. 214t Good GaWd! ano
Tor Troop A. TOO.
Rrurus feit the sting of the words and
the insolent manner. It was gooo
thing for this fool, he thought, with
little thrill OF pride. that Jack was
fugitive from justice safe across the
Texan border He'd shot man more
than once for less than an insult to his
pony.
Then he raised his head and saw q
tall lank. sunburned man in SOM
brero talking TO the English officer
Brutus felt A wave Of homesickness
when he saw the hat, but when he
heard the others voice II cheered him
He cooked his ears forward and listened
"If YOU don't want the pony I'll buy
him." the man said. eying Brutus with
q knowing look Brutus moved ster
nearer.
Livingston. YOU war correspondents
have queer tastes" the other replied
sarcssticaily. See the Quartermaster.
Brutus gave q snort or pleasure and
kicked sidewise at an inquisitive troop
er who had come too near. AT any rate
here was a man, one OF his own kind
who knew a good COW pony when he
saw one. even II Il did look q little IN.
derfed and ridiculous and had It's feel
sngs hurt.
A few minutes later Brutus saw Liv-
fnRston coming toward him.
i've got him." he heard him shout tc
the oficer and saw him wave piece
OF paper IN the air Brutus was glad, OF
course. but II wouldn't DO to give ir
without fight before all these snicker-
ing Tommies. and then Livingston would
think better Of him. too-that is. II he
was the sort he looked to be. with those
broad. STOPPING shoulders and the long
loose jOinted arms and legs. He glareC
AZ Livingston and rounded his hack 3
little more and laid his ears back lii
tie farther; then, as the man took &
step nearer. ne barred his teeth, but in
an instant he felt the other astride his
heck and the knees almost squeezing
the wind ont OF him.
Good, This was man-in fash he
was of like a bolt or lightning. buck
ing, rearing and sun fishing. while the
nan on his back belted him about the
head with his big felt hat and hallooed
The soldiers watched them IN open
mouthed wonder until they disappeared
from view.
Fifteen minutes later. gentle and
contented, Brutus cantered quietly
along the main street. while the maa
patted his neck and laughed good ma
turedly. The war had begun in earnest
and the town was filled with horses
and guns, the men in Khaki, while
every day another big transport ar
rived and disem barked more. Brutus
had light work these days. 1t was
only TO csnter every morning down TO
the gable Office and wander about, un-
hitched. for an hour or more. while
Livingston, inside, pleaded and threat
eneo 70 get his message sent. He
could stand it now all right. the
amused smokers and the whispered re-
marks Of the other horses, FOR didn't
he have 3 champion now. that tall.
Vestherbeatefl man standing just in
side the door with his hands on his
hips. legs spread firmly apart, and now
and then patting the big -" IN the
worn leather holster At his. side. as he
said TO the cable operator I'm a delici-
ousiv law drawl:--
We'll, so help me. If that cable isn't
sent before I come back I'll make this
ofice look ike the Fourth of July"
Then. one day. horses and guns and
~. fnr.l.ad info 1-.c-a,lfz IL. =,