Hoof Beats 



short, with thirty wounded in the ambulances, 

 and reported the engagement still going on. 

 Brutus was hobbled in his old place in the horse 

 lines of the troop. There were a good many va- 

 cant spaces now, but the tired horses snickered, 

 made quite a fuss over him, and came as near as 

 their ropes would allow. 



"Bully for you," shouted the sergeant-major's 

 chestnut. "We're proud of you, we are." Bru- 

 tus was a plain pony and praise embarrassed him. 

 He bobbed his head modestly and reached for a 

 mouthful of hay. 



"And, old chap," said the gray,"I'll take all that 

 back, you know; you're a well plucked one and 

 I couldn't have done better myself." The chest- 

 nut snickered outright. 



"You!" he scoffed, throwing up his tail dis- 

 gustedly. "Why your bloomin' bones 'ud be 

 rottin' in the sun by now!" 



Brutus turned away, he didn't care to hear their 

 petty squabbling; he had done his duty and was 

 glad. He heard voices in the distance, and look- 

 ing down the lines saw several officers and Living- 

 ston strolling leisurely toward him. 



"Here he is," he heard the latter say. 



"Not much to look at, but his heart is as big as 

 his body." All the troop horses stood rigidly at 

 146 



