The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1925-07-01
minute"

N1 O@ENNA@@ AA1 TO ~
strOked the velvet-smOOth muzzle Of
Tommy RadnOr's new pony. Mean
while, the other nine boys Of the club
had gathered around and were admir-
ing the sleek little fellow. All sorts
Of names were suggested. Finally,
Bobby Treat asked the captain if he
didn't know Of some famous pony aft
er which TOmmy's might be named.
Eyes, several Of them" replied Cap
tain Ira. There was one In particu-
lar.
They waited for the captain to start.
But he stayed silent for a time.
Reaching out for a clover blossom he
pulled it from the stem. Then he
plucked out a thumb and finger full
OF the little pink petals and sucked
the hOney-sap from the base Of them.
There was a far-away look In his eyes.
Boys" he said at last, "Tm about
to tell you Of a famous pony. But he
was a pony who never had his name
in any printed story and he was not
cited in any dispatch book. His fame
now lives as a happy memory In the
hearts Of several thousand men. X
is really a story Of a half dozen parts.
I'll only tell you Of the one which /
know best, today. Some other time.
II you like. I'll tell the others.
ut was while the big war wal going
on. I was in command Of an old P. &
o. liner. which had been converted
into a horse transport. -Four trips we
had made and, despite ell the talk
about submarines, our most exciting
moments had been when a horse had
broken loose now and then and started
a ruction between decks.
"The fifth trip across began as IN
eventually as the others. The only
out of the ordinary thing had been the
antics of a small bit Of hOrsehesh
which the hOstlers had nicknamed, on
account Of his size, Minute
"H0w Minute ever won past the In
spectOrs, I can't say. He was under
size something like five hundred
pounds. The shoe he wore was as
dainty as a wOman's wedding ring. in
comparison to the average. After he'd
known you for two minutes. he'd be
nuzzling through your pockets for su-
gar Jumps. And If you let him loose,
he'd follow anywhere. One calm day
I sighted him strolling along the for
ward hurricane deck. apparently with
his mind made up to mount the bridge
and visit me as soon as he could find
the way up.
From then IN he was the ship pet.
1 had a stall rugged out for him in an
unused runway between two cabins.
Things went SO far that the ships
tailor fashioned him a set Of four soft
rubber boots, so that he could walk
the deck without slipping.
"Then the UNEXPECTED happened
Out Of a clear sea, M night, a sub
marine popped its p~eriscepe. Mex
thing, a torpedo crashed into us. We
Started TO sink. I had the lifebOatl
lowered. Our wireless sputtered Z
continuous S. o. S. for help. In abOu.
twenty minutes my ship slid gently
into the sea, almost as though she wer,
glad Of the long rest which awaited hei
1T was a very dark night and, q
my command, the boats had rowe,
away as fast as they could from tn
ships side. so they would 0 be en-
quilted with her when she went under
Thus, after the ship had gone down
] found myself floating In the chill
sea. hampered from active swimmin
by my clothing, and with little hop
Of being able to keep on top until
should be picked up.
There was a snort In the water b
side me. II was Minute, as I foun
out later. Then, with a thankful hear
I seized hold Of his name. he was
strong swimmer and bore me easil
until one Of the coats found Us.
was hauled aboard.
"Since the boat was a goOd-size
one and could easily bear his add
tiOnal weight. It was decided 10 q
and save Minute also. III never forg,
how patient be was just as thong
He knew the danger ne was IN an
that we would have trouble saving hii
"A makeshift tackle was at last 81
together and he was dragged abOar
You would have laughed TO see no
he looked with his feet waving Fri
in the air ard laced fast on them Il
ungainly rubber boots which the tail.
had made for him.
Later we were picked up al
Minute was delivered 70 the army
France"
After the captain quit speakln
Tommy thought e bit. Then ne sal
"Do you mind % I cali ny POI
Minute'P
"No. indeed" replied Captain q
y "And some other time IA ten ,
more about Minuts and his ezplo.
= Cd France