Brutus, Cow Pony 



"Attention" as the regiment's colonel stepped 

 forward. 



"Who'd beheve it possible," he said, his hand 

 stroking Brutus' nose. 



"The plucky little chap. Brutus, you say he 

 was called. Odd name for a horse. *The 

 noblest of them all,' " the colonel mused. "By 

 Jove, I wonder. Why, Livingston, you must 

 ride almost twelve stone!" he exclaimed as they 

 turned to go. 



"Twelve stone three," Brutus heard the other 

 reply. The horses could hear the colonel talking 

 as the men disappeared in the darkness. 



"Now that's the trouble," he was saying, "with 

 these big animals like that gray." The gray 

 stood over sixteen hands. 



"Thej^'re useless in this country. Government 

 should" — The rest was lost in the night. The 

 gray looked straight ahead, as if he had not heard, 

 but the chestnut snickered delightedly. 



"That's one on you, old boy," he chuckled, and 

 gave the other a spiteful nip. Brutus smiled to 

 himself. 



"Good night," he said pleasantly, "I guess I'll 

 turn in," and with a grunt of contentment and 

 good will toward all he stretched his still weary 

 legs and lay down to sleep. 



147 



