Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1945-08-17
CHAPTER v


Harris's white face and the sound
OF single profane shout as he swept
past them. Leaning back like a
steeple-chaser, he kept his seat and
his knee-grip, allowing his body to
whip plainly from side to side. Any
guidance or control Of his mount
was out Of the question and he did
not attempt it-merely held the
reins and let her 60.
Charley Sargent chuckled. "Even
an artilleryman don't often take
part in such charge as that"
The mares disappeared over the
crest of rise and then, for a few
moments, all that Rob and Charley
could see was cloud of dust above
the mountainside.
Howard and Ken had the gates
to the pasture open. The mares
knew the way. As Banner got them
close he slowed up. They made the
turn. Presently the stable SER
geant and the Colonel's orderly
burst into EXPLANATORY and profane
speech which expressed their adj
mlration and establishment at the
sight of the red stallion bringing
the band of mares and colts at
headlong gallop down through the
pasture and into the corral.
Gus closed the gates.
Only then did the two soldiers see
that their Colonel was in the band.
He was dismounting from Taggert,
Strengthening his hat with a hand
that trembled slightly. His face
was very white. Gus took the mares
bride.
Some ride!" he remarked, brush
ing himself off, for he was COW
cred with dust and foam and bits of
gravel. The orderly presented him
self and saluted.
where's the mare?" asked Har-
ris.
He might have saved himself the
question, for Banner was already
rearing and paving at the gate of
the eastern corral.
The men opened the gate and the
stallion went in.
Charley and Rob rode down to the
corral with innocent faces, and the
Colonel met them, impassive,
thoughtful as ever, his eyeglasses
neatly on the bridge of his nose.
"You yelled something as you
passed u.s." said Rob. II didn't quite
catch it."
The Colonel grinned. "You may
not have heard-just as well you
didn't. But you knew what I was
saying all right. However, it's over
now, and it's all right-it's all right
-" he turned away grinning. Quite
an experience. I wouldn't have
missed it,
makes you feel good now, Mort,
don't it," said Charley, "to be
standing here in the corral, all
safe and sound and on your own
two legs, nice sunshine - dinner
comm up"
II must have been asleep at the
switch when I let you two hand me
that mare"
Ken and Howard arrived at a gal
lop and flung themselves off their
horses. The Sergeant and ORDERLY
were blanketing the mare again and
Banner was put back with his own
mares by Tim.
Gus and Tim filled the feed boxes
which stood on the ground near the
corral fence with oats and the
mares and colts began to feed.
There was nipping and kicking and
some scrimmages. Rob supervised
the process, his harsh voice quell-
ing the disturbances. He had Ban
ner's share of oats-a generous half.
bucketful-in his hand, and the stall
lion would put his head in cautious
ly, his eyes looking up over the edge
into Rob's face, then withdraw it
and chew the oats, turning his head
to watch the mares, then dip it in
again and take another mouthful,
The process of covering his eyes
and nose-upon which depended the
safety of his mares-outraged his
every instinct and he shook all over.
Only his trust of Rob made it pos
sible.
At last Rob dropped the bucket
and told Tim to open the corral
gates. "That's ALL" he said to Ban
ner, there isn't any more" He
gently raised his arms and ad-
vanced toward the mares, as it
were, pushing them before him.
"Take 'em back, Banner" he said
to the stallion.
The band drifted slowly out
through the gates and began to
Craze on the long lush grass beside
the little stream.
"What'u they do now?" asked
Harris.
They'll hang around the corral
for while, grazing and thinking
about oats. Then they'll work up
through the pasture to the county
road gate. It's open. They'll 60
through it and on up to the range
again. Banner'n hold them together.
Tim, keep a lookout. When they've
all gone through the county road
gate. close it."