The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1925-03-04
Minute Tells a Story

--ND LIE I'll @9h-RPCAc NAADf az
sumo you are ready to hear a tale OF
two" said Captain Ira, and there wal
humorous twinkle in his eye
Yes" answered several shippers,
And If you please. Captain Ira, I'd
Ike TO hear more about that pony
named Minute" added Bobby Treat
las l told you some time back" be
gan the captain, Il didn't really 20
along all the way with Minute. Some
Of the things | know about him were
told 10 me by his friends. Other
things l just had to surmise for my
self
Suppose 1 tell you this story as
Minute himself might, il he could
talk Well see how close l can como
TO talking ike you may think a horse
should and to having horse-feelings,
and horse-sense. Try TO imagine these
things with me. Ii was Ike this
And Minute thinks 10 himself
Well, there 1 was tied tight and fast
10 this new manila picket line. There
wasn't even bit Of grass TO nibble,
and | was so hungry that 1 could have
deyoured a bale of hay
pretty soon, some soldiers came,
and they led US all away TO a big
courtyard where We were sorted out.
Then We were assigned TO certain
men, These men looked US over with
a great deal Of interest They patted
US on the nose, and examined our feet,
and some Of them thumped US in the
ribs till IL hurt like everything.
Finally. we were all led back to the
picket line and tied fast again
If you have ever been real good
and hungry, you know just how
grouchy it makes a fellow feel 1 was
grouchy. sure enough Besides that.
some big horses near me started TO
shove and to make remarks about my
size 1 stood all / could of il, then 1
began to kick Now, I'm q pretty good
kicker. even though do say il myself.
and ii was no time at all until / had
all those big horses standing away at
respectable distance.
about that time, the soldiers came
along TO feed US. One of them saw
me standing there all by myself. and
he stepped close and looked me over
In that calculating way men have when
they are thinking Of buying one Of Us
horses Only. Of course. he couldn't
buy me. He could only pick me out,
TO ride and to take care Of Also, IL
you don't mind my saying it, so that
could sometimes take care of him
Then / heard him call to some one fur
Their down the line: Here is the horse
want" Next. he went away and then
came back with a big feed of-oatsl
l never tasted anything more delicious.
That soldier and l soon grew to be
firm friends He took good care of me-
q" lone day my soldier and l were to
go on guard at one end OF a big ar
tillery practice range. The idea was
that We were to keep everyone from
going down a road which led TO the
far end Of the range, where the shells
exploded. 1 don't know how it came
about, but in some way q farmer and
his wife, with cart drawn by two
black oxen, had gone past the soldier
who was on guard before we came
A friend of the farmer told US of it
He also explained how We could make
a short cut through the hills and reach
the farmer before the firing started
Away we went at a gallop- Down
q lane; across q brook; through a
into cowpath; helter-skelter
we scurried along for mile or two.
Then. right in front of US. a great
long cliff doomed up. 1t was high as
a three-story house, sleeper than the
steepest roof and studded with jutting
ooulders as big and broad as q door.
MY soldier was very angry. I'm
afraid he said something which wasn't
Tery nice. Then he jumped of my
back and decided to hasten on afoor /
IS 1t looked all he could do TO climb |
he cliff himself
up the cliff he started Never 1
,nce did he look back at me- When 1
saw that. decided to do some climb 4
ng myself. 1t was a hard phil. Once
thought l couldn't make il. But / 1
scrambled on and. just as my soldier
vent over the top Of the cliff l snorted
o get his attention and 10 have him 1
rait for me.
Ibid he wait? Well. you can just
'elieve he did He actually Rugged
ne in JOY when 1 reached his side.
Then he swung into the saddle and
way l galloped.
1--WE caught the farmer and his wife
nd maybe saved their lives. They
rere grateful TO us, at any rate.
"Well. that is all to that tale, and I'm
Ding for trot. Come around soma
Their time and III have more war
ales to tell you"
With that. Minute starts eating. and
II we can hear Is his strong teeth