58 SADDLE AND CAMP 



told some of the scoffers that "the trouble with 

 them was they didn't know a real good cayuse 

 when they saw one, and they acted plumb 



locoed." 



However, a fine black-brown pony was offered 

 me at a reasonable price, and I purchased him. 

 He was a four-year-old and a little beauty, with 

 tail sweeping to the ground and a colt's face — 

 the most innocent face and expression I ever saw 

 upon a horse. He was apparently gentle as a 

 kitten and rubbed his head against me and tried 

 to put his nose in my pocket, when I looked him 

 over. "Shorty" was his name, and I felt very 

 proud of him. Shorty had traits that did not 

 show on the surface, but found expression later. 



Fort Apache possessed more of the ordinary 

 brand of house flies than any place I ever was in. 

 They settled in clouds upon everything and one 

 could not avoid them. The post itself is about 

 as unattractive and dreary as a place can be, 

 forage was hard to get, and we were glad to 

 pack and saddle up on the second morning after 

 our arrival, and at seven o'clock rode out upon 

 the desert. 



