San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-09-15


with the captain. He was curious
about Tony's ability to stand up
under the exacting demands of an
Atlantic crossing, followed by a sue
cession of train trips and then an
other voyage home. ! assured him
my horse could do about anything
and not suffer from it.
But look here, Tom," he said,
and his eyes twinkled, suppose
something should happen to the ship
and we had to take to the boats?
What would you do about Tony
then?"
"Oh, he's good swimmer" ! an
swered. why on location"
That's all very well, but our pres
ent location is a bit different from
any he's ever been on. At our last
reckoning we were more than 500
miles from shore"
.. FAITH IN TONY
That's a good distance l answer
ed, "but if you arrange for a movie
camera to be placed alongside, i bet
Tony can swim it."
The captain spoke with much grav-
ity:
'"This is no time for boasting, my
boy. For the sake of protection in
case of emergency there is only one
thing to do: We must put Tony
through the lifeboat drill. / would
never forgive myself if something
should happen and we would all be
saved except Tony"
saluted. Right you are, sir.
shall attend to the details at once. I"
And with an assumption of gravity
equal to the captains, turned on
my heel and m e for Tony's stall.
TALKS TO HORSE
Tony still was in a playful mood
and again began to nudge me forcibly
with his nose and to snap at my
hand with his teeth. But I put a
quick stop to that with sharp COM
mand. Tony thought 1 was serious:
his ears cooked UP, his head raised
and he came to attention.
Tony" / began in level, intense
voice which made his ears go up an
other notch. "Tony, you are in
imminent danger. The captain says
so. What do you think Of that?"
He thought it pretty rough on him
and showed it by paving his front
feet and looking at me out of the
corner of his eye.
ANIMAL ANSWERS
"This is no JOKE" / continued,
"and 1 must have your. complete at
tention. Do you know that the closest
shore is 500 miles away"
Tony nodded his head.
"And do you know that if any
thing should happen to the ship you
would have to swim to shore, which
you can't do" Again Tony nodded
his head.
Are you sure you know what I'm
talking about?" / asked. His head
moved quickly up and down.
TONY" l said calmly, you're a
liar" His head dropped and he began
to paw again restlessly. Don't tell
me you're not. This is your first
time at sea and you can't possibly
know what you're up against"
BELL SOUNDS
Tony's head continued to say yes,
but / overlooked it this time and
went on to inform him of the captain S
orders.
He followed me out Of the stable
to his own private run of the deck,
a considerable space about 30 feet
square. Sailors, instructed by the
captain, were on hand. A bell sound.
ed and an officer called the signal to
lower away. A lifecraft swung in
ward toward the deck. Tony watched
it carefully, his head held high. But
there was a puzzled expression in his
eyes.
That's for you, boy. Under
stand?" asked. The boat continued
to swing nearer the deck and Tony
became more excited.
USE LIFEBELT
"He must have a lifebelt, Tom, >
one of the sailors called. NO one
goes into a lifebont without one"
"Good," I answered and took one
which another sailor handed me
Here, Tony. make ready" l asked
and swung the lifebelt over his back
Well, friends. you should have seer
the smile which actually came into
that horses eyes, lie did everything
except open his mouth and laugh
Then he began gingerly to pranct
around and show his mettle.
I was puzzled. "He likes it
Tom," the first sailor cried. "B'li'm,
I think he'd like Tor the tub to &c
down so he could have a thrill. "
raised him on thrills, eh, Tom?"
That explanation was all right fol
the sailor, but it wasn't true. l con