The spectator., 1919-03-04

to be in the last stages of consumption. I told the old fellow to cut out his argument and leave the other fellow alone. Upon hearing this he squirted well-directed stream of tobacco juice through his front teeth, which landed on my shoe. inwardly admired and respected his accuracy. saw my au- thority waning and knew that would have to answer this insult quickly. and swung on his jaw with my fist. His head went up against the iron bunk with sickenipg sound and he crumpled up and fell on the deck, the blood pouring from the cut in his head. I felt sick and faint thinking that he had been killed, but it would not do to show these signs of weakness on my part, so without even moving to- ward him Ordered one of the men to look him over and see if he was all right. He soon came around. From that time on he was the most faithful man in the section and greatly respect ed me. The rest of the men growled and mumbled and I thought was in for q terrible beating. Lying close at hand was an iron spike about eighteen inches long. Grasping this, turned to the rest, trying to be as tough as possibly could:
 If any of the rest of you buns think they are boss around here, start something, and I will sink this into his head" Although I was Quailing underneath, still I got away with it, and from that time on I was boss of my section.
 Now every man was smoking or chewing tobacco. Pretty soon the hold became thick with smoke, and I was gasping for breath, when the voice of the foreman came down the cOmpan- ionway:
 Turn out on deck and give a hand loading the horses. Look alive or I'll come down there and rouse you out pretty - quick"
 I have been in a cavalry regiment when hurry-up orders were received to entrain for the Mexican border and helped to load eleven hundred horses on trains. The confusion on that dock was indescribable. The horses were loaded by three runwayS. My gang and I were detailed on the after run way. The foreman was leaning over the rail, glaring down upon us and now and then giving instructions mixed with horrible oaths. He had huge marlinspike in his hand. On the dock was the second foreman, in his large sombrerO, red neckerchief around his neck, wearing blue shirt with the sleeves rolled up to the elbows. and did ones heart good to see him rope the horses which broke loose. Upon watching his first performance I knew l was correct when l figured him as having Mexican blood in his veins.
 A bleary-eyed drunk was trying to lead horse by the halter up our run. He was looking back at the horse, at the same time tugging and jerkiIN, on the halter. You could see the white in the horses eyes, and I knew right away from my experience with horses. that this was bad one, or. as we would term him in the cavalry. an outlaw" The drunk was cursing and swearing and kicking up at the horses head. The foreman saw this and di- rected his barrage at the offender.
 ''How in h-l do you expect to lead horse while looking at him? Turn your back to him. you lousy bum. You are blocking the whole run. Turn your back to him. say. You can't lead him that way. If I come down there to you, I'll soon show you how to get him aboard"
 The bleary-eyed one became bewil- dered and in his excitement lost his footing on the slippery runway ansl fell underneath the horse, at the same time loosening his hold on the halter chain. The horse jerked his head loose, reared up, turned around and made a break for the deck. The man on the gangway tried to scramble out of the way. The horse, in wheeling. let fly with both heels and caught him below the right ear with his near hind foot. With piercing shriek the drunk clasped both