The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1917-05-18


that he had enough to eat, to turn
him loose In the corral, and to give him
good rubbing next morning, and to
see that he was fattened up bit be-
fore We tried him with the saddle.
That night l couldn't sleep wink.
Every time / got into a doze there
would be an outbreak of some kind
among the horses, and next morning I
found that mon cheval noir had under
taken to kick every other horse In the
squad, and was carrying this resolu-
tion into effect In the most business
like way. l told Louis we couldn't
have anything like that, and not to let
the horse out of the corral at all that
day, and to make sure that he was
tied up at night so he couldn't get at
the other horses. Louis said he under
stood, but there was another rumpus
that night. Louis said he couldn't find
q rope to tie up the black horse, and
that he had borrowed halter, but the
halter failed to hold. Next night l had
the other horses tethered outside the
corral, and gave my cheval noir soli-
tary confinement.
After good nights sleep, I called
Louis and said to him very sternly:
Listenl Find a cord pour my cheval
noir, vite--and If you can't buy 1t, COM
mandeer 1t, promptement-allez.' Louis
disappeared, and did not see him
for q day and half, and he came
in just as we were breaking camp, smil-
ing as usual, and much elated at his
success. He had une belle blanche
corde for which he said he had paid
seven gourdes, and I gladly gave him
the money. I could fancy myself the
best mounted marine officer In Port
au Prince, and l could almost hear
gentle voice whispering In my ear:
'Etes-vons aussi doux que votre cheval
monsieur
Final Tragedy.
"That night we camped In the buslh
hoping to make Petionvllle In the
course of the morning, and to arrive Id
Port au Prince the following day by an
easy march, and In the pink Of condi-
ton. Unfortunately the commissary
broke down, and I was so hungry that
only the recollection of having cap.
tured two stray pullets far away from
any signs Of habitation sustained mes
Calling Louis, gave orders that the
pullets. be broiled and served at once
Louis soon returned, this time not smil-
Ing. wasn't smiling either by this
time. In fact was almost cross. 7
could see that he brought bad news,
but l was not prepared for this shocln-
Ing statement: 'Helas. NJ. lie Capt.
tainel Votre CHEN, e ave eaten les
poulets.' II you will believe me, l had
forgotten the existence of that d
dog. and hope you will pardon my
way of putting it. i
"Next morning decided to saddle
my charger, and put him through his
gaits, preparatory to triumphant en-
tree dams lie capital. l called for Louis,
but Louis was nowhere to be found.
looked for the horse. 1t had disap.
peared. l sent corporal to fetch In
Louis. Presently he came. 1 demand
ed of him my horse. Louis was not
he was almost in tears. The
horse had decamped. Did not pay
you seven gourdes for une belle
blanche corde to fasten the horse7s
demanded of him. And did / not
order you to tie him securely?' 'Oui,
Dul, NJ. lie Capitaine,' dit Louis, 'mais
le cheval noir, e ave eaten la corde IA
We looked out over the city, as M. le
capitaine finished his story. The lights
on the fleet, save those burning as sig
nails, were out. Port au Prince was
silent, asleep. Above us was all the
glory OF tropical sky at night, with
It's myriad of worlds, doubtless as full
Of JOY and sorrow as our own, but
nowhere could we find consolation for
Capitaine Stack.