Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1917-05-04

among the horses, and next morning
found that mon cheval noir had under
taken to kick every other horse in the
squad, and was carrying this resolu-
ton 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
a rope to tie up the black horse, and
that he had borrowed q halter, but the
halter failed to hold. Next night had
the other horses tethered outside the
corral, and gave my cheval nOir soli-
tary confinement.
AFTER good nights sleep, 1 called
Louis, and said to him very sternly:
Listen! Find cord pour my cheval
nOir, vite-and if you can't buy it, COM
mandeer it, prOmptement-aliez' Louis
disappeared, and / did not see him
for day and half, and he came
in just as we We're breaking camp, smil-
ing as usual, and much elated at his
success. He had un6 belle blanche
Feordes s46swfdehea Sh1( Ak ,haf, tssd
seven gourdes, and' I gladly gave him
the money. l could fancy myself the
best mounted marine officer in Port
au Prince, and 1 could almost hear
gentle voice whispering in my ear:
Etes-vous aussi doux que votre cheval,
monSieurY
Final Tragedy.
"That night we camped in the bush,
hoping to make PetiOnville in the
course of the morning, and to arrive in
Port au Prince the following day by an
easy march, and in the pink of condi-
tiOn. Unfortunately the commissary
broke down, and was SO hungry that
only the recollection of having cap
tured two stray pullets far away from
any signs of habitatiOn sustained me.
Calling Louis, gave orders that the
pullets be brOiled and served at once.
Louis soon returned this time not smil.
ing. l wasn't smiling either by this
time. In fact 1 was almost cross. i
could see that he brought bad news,
but l was not prepared for this shock
ing statement: Helas, NJ. lie Capt..
taine! VOtre chien, = ave eaten les
poulets.' If You will believe me, had
forgotten the existence of that d
dog, and 1 hope you will pardon my
way of putting it.
Next morning I decided to saddle
my charger, and put him through his
gaits, preparatory to a triumphant en-
tree dams lie capital. called for Louis,
but Louis was nowhere to be found.
L looked for the horse. II had disap-
peared. / sent a corporal to fetch in
Louis. Presently he came. demand
ed of him my horse. Louis was not
smiling; he was almost i'm tears. The
horse had decamped. Did / not pay
you seven gOurdes for une belle
blanche corde to fasten the horseY
L demanded of him. sAnd did ! not
order you to tie him securely? 'Oui,
oui, NJ. lie Capitaine,' dit Louis, .mais
lie cheval noir, e ave eaten la corder"
We looked out over the city, as NJ. lie
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
its myriad of worlds, doubtless as full
Of JOY and sorrow as our own, but
nowhere could we find consolation for
Capitaine Stack.