SLEPT WITH HIS SPURS ON.

Auckland Star, Volume V, Issue 1492, 21 November 1874, Page 5 (Supplement)

SLEPT WITH HIS SPURS ON.

" Yes," said the old man, with a smile, " I remember one time in particular, while out prospecting with an old friend, about twenty years ago. We were traveling on horseback, and came across a tavern one night about ten o'clock. Being very cold and hungry, as soon as we got some supper and something warm to keep the cold out, we asked to be shown to our room. On looking around we found the room had two beds in it, one of, which was already occupied by two strangers, who were both snoring lustily. The fact of there being two beds in the room did not sui^prise us, as in backwood taverns there were frequently three beds in a room. We undressed, and just as I was going to blow out the light, my friend, who had got into bed, espied the foot of one of the strangers sticking through the bedclothes at the foot of the bed. With a suppressed chuckle he motioned me to hold on a moment; he got quietly out of bed and going to where the strangers' boots were he took off a huge, sharp, Mexican spur, and carefully adjusted it to the bare heel of the unconscious stranger. With another audible chuckle as he thought of the consequences that would follow when the stranger drew in his foot, he got back into bed, and I blew out the light and followed him. He soon managed to get a long straw from the bed and reached over and tickled the stranger's foot. He instantly drew his legs up until his knees almost touched his chin. In doing this he drew the spur the whole length of his bed-fellow's leg, making a bad scratch. The victim uttered a yell and sprang out of the bed with a muttered exclamation that I did not make out, and then he commenced a wild dance around the room, with his nether garment under his arm, and making frantic efforts either to dislocate his neck or to see Kow badly he was hurt, all the while making exclamations that would have made a baggageman with a Saratoga trunk on his shoulder turn green with envy. The innocent cause of the trouble had been awakened at the first yell of the victim, and, in straightening his legs out scratched himself most unmercifully. He did not yell or say bad words, but he jumped out of bed and made for his friend with the purpose of taking vengeance, I supposed; but he had not taken two steps before he dabbed the spur into his leg again. The landlord then appeared with a light, followed by half the borders in the house, and inquired what the matter was. An examination brought to light the spur, which explained the matter. The stranger looked sheepishly at the spur, then at his scratch, and finally examined his boots, and with a sickly smile, said : " Well, boys, I have lived all my life among people who wear spurs, but I never saw a man who could pull off his boots and leave his spur on his foot. I'll treat in the morning."