A BARRACK ROOM STORY.

Northland Age, Volume IV, Issue 48, 20 July 1908, Page 2

A BARRACK ROOM STORY.

A young cavalryman, whilst campaigning, was boiling some pieces of ham for himself when the alarm sounded. Anxious to “save his bacon” he dumped the half-boiled meat into his saddle-bag and joined his companions. Two minutes later his horse became restive at a most inopportune moment, for on surmounting a ridge they found themselves confronted by a Russian force of infantry. On they rushed at the order to charge, anti now our young trooper’s horse had become frantic and quite uncontrollable. He sprang away far in advance of tho charging line. Usually a horse refuses t.o leap at bayonets, but this one jumped furiously at the kneeling front rank, and such were the momentum and fury of the beast that the Russians immediately in front of him lost nerve, broke, and gave him entrance. Through the gap thus made others sprang, striking right and left, and in ten seconds the Russian infantry was demoralised. A few hours later the General of Cavalry rode up to the captain of the troop that had so distinguished itself, complimented l him, and said :

“By the way, captain, who was that splendid young officer that led you all in ?” .“He wasn’t an officer ; that was only one of rriy boys.” “Not an officer ! May the bullets strike me if I don’t make him one ! Call him here at once.”

Tho general shook hands with the youth, promoted him to a lieutenancy then and there, and gave him a place on his staff. Some days later when the captain called at headquarters, he sought out the new leiutenant, whom he found dolefully contemplating his unsaddled horse, which had a huge, raw wound on each side. “What on earth is the matter with your horse?” asked the captain. “Oh, nothing much.” “But what made those terrible wounds ?”

“The same thing that made me a lieutenant,” said the hero, “a big chunk of ham in each saddlebag ; but for the love of the saints, don’t tell the general or the boys.”