Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-12-14
CHAPTER vi
The Duel in the Snop

HITEE-HAW! Ho! How brayed Balky
III Sam, not a bit awed by the size Of
the German war horse. Come on. old
oose-stepper and get what's coming TO
you"
Fear Naught snorted angrily at this
taunt.
Before we meet on the field of battle,
must know your station. l will not fight
an Inferior
You're not going to fight an inferior but
a superior, you'll find mighty quick"
brayed Baky Sam, rearing up on his hind
legs in circus fashion. I'm an American
army mule, and that means I'm better than
any German war horse"
AN army mule, oh dear me, / wouldn't
think of fighting any such low creature as
thati" sneered Fear Naught
We'll you'd better be thinking of it."
retorted Balky Sam, barring his teeth in his
fighting grin. you've accepted my chal-
lenge, and I'm going to sail into you as soon
as / count three. One, two"
But Balky Sam didn't get as far as
three" Fear Naught saw that Balky Sam
really meant to fight, so in the German way
he tried to hit first. With gigantic leap
forward, he struck at Balky Sam fiercely
with his sharp shod front feet.
Balky Sam wasn't there to be struck. He
nimbly lodged aside and Fear Naughts
hoofs famed the empty air. Balky Sans
hard hind hoofs shot out and caught the
war horse right in the ribs. 8
.Imph! Ugh! Ow-ow." grunted Fear
Naught. the breath knocked out of him,
Rearing up high on his hind legs, he adj
vanced in a mighty rage. Balky Sam also
reared up. but he was so much smaller that
he looked like bantam beside a Plymouth
Rock rooster. Fear Naught paved thu air
like a boxer. -. 7
'"Hee-haw! Ho. Ho! Look at the dancer r.
brayed Balky Sam moclIngly. -
Fear Naught struck at him savaSly. but
again Balky Sam lodged. This N.sme he
tried a football trick. and threw his whole
weight against Fear NauRht's hind laRz
Crash Down went the big war horse with
a thump that shook the earth. Before he
could roll over his feet Ballly Sans
Ihoofs landed with machine gun speed on his
ribs and shoulders.
Fear Naught squealed and screamed and
struggled He tried to gain his feet but
each time he got part way up, Balky SAM
hurled his weight against him and topplcd'
him over. And each time he toppled 'er.
Balky Sans hoofs beat a tattoo on hisa ..s.
"Hee-haw! Hee-haw," cheered the mule
army.
| horses.
Fear Naught screamed loudly, and finally
his scream merged into just .one word !:
"Kamerad Kamerad" With that he rolled
over on his back and held up his hoofs in
| surrender, just like a whipped dog. Balky
| Sam braced himself for one final kick. but
| held it back.
You've got enough, / guess" he brayed
And besides ! don't want to spoil your use
u
| a good plow horse. Get up and join the
| parade"
And rousing parade il was. The freed
| Belgian horses led the way. Next came the
| German horses, and they didn't seem a bit
sorry to leave Germany for quiet lives in
Belgium. Last of all came the mules, all
walking on their hind legs in imitation of
Balky Sam Behind them like the clowns
at circus. were Johnny Bull and Billy
| Goat, mounted on their horses and guarding
| Fear Naught, who limped sadly along at
| the rear, frt
AS the parade neared Belgium It grew
| longer and longer. for at every stable the
mules kicked in the doors to look for Bel
gum cattle. Lots of cows were found
cows taken from Belgium during the war
| and badly needed there to feed the lSddIes.
When the parade reached the Belgian bor-
| der the mules hurried on home. creeping
| quietly back into their stables They were
| busily eating their suppers when the sur~
| prised cavalrymen came back and found
| them there
well, / call that some war and good
| Job DONE" brayed Balky Sam to Peggy
Tell them back home that I'm q real
| fighter" h.
| Before Peggy could answer, the airplans
| buzzed loudiy--whisk-k-is. II went, ana therS
| she was safely back In her own snug fooms
thousands Of miles from Germany
4nother sti'ri~s edpsnfurs % 5piiou