He rode him
around the yard only once, and then jumping down, pulled from his
pocket a fat roll of bills, counted off the amount for horse, saddle,
and bridle, and then, without saying one word more than a curt "good
morning," he mounted the horse again and rode out of the yard and
away. I saw the whole transaction from a window--saw it as well as
hot, blinding tears would permit. Faye thinks the man might have been
a fugitive and wanted a fast horse to get him out of the country. We
learned not long ago, you know, that King had been an Indian race pony
owned by a half-breed named Bent. He sent word from Camp Supply that I
was welcome to the horse if I could ride him! The chaplain has bought
Powder-Face, and I am to keep him as long as we are here. Hal will go
with us, for I cannot give up that dog and horses, too.
Speaking of Hal reminds me of the awful thing that occurred here a few
days ago. I have written often of the pack of beautiful greyhounds
owned by the cavalry officers, and of the splendid record of
Magic--Hal's father--as a hunter, and how the dog was loved by
Lieutenant Baldwin next to his horse.
But unless the dogs were taken on frequent hunts, they would steal off
on their own account and often be away a whole day, perhaps until
after dark. The other day they went off this way, and in the
afternoon, as Lieutenant Alden was riding along by the river, he came
to a scene that made him positively ill.
Pages:
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165