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372 ■ HORSE STEALINGi overthe prairie m theseTseaijig the pony looked for its b^ead' and meat a?s does a youngster for its candy; Lieiitenant Perez was so attached to his sagacioas gelding that it worried him to contemplate its loss, and Realizing the fact of its being the best looking one in the bunch, he knew the natives would do their best to secure it, so he and Monte would try to sleep near their horse and mule, and several times the neighing and restlessness of the Arabian would wake up both Monte and. Alonso, which thwarted the mid- night prowlers. • But one dark night when too late it is discovered that two horses are being led away; the thieves are not yet mounted, so the sentinel, who dis- covered them, fired his harquebus and shouted, think- ing to scare the two men, who he thought would run, but instead, they mu^t have learned how to back a horse, for they mounted and rode away in the dark- ness. Surely the camp was in great commotion; the commander was giving orders, but Alonso had fore- seen that such a thing might happen, therefore he had schooled Monte what to do in case of such an oc- curence; so while Alonso is buckling on his swor^ and getting ready his firearms, Monte is putting the saddle on the only horse which is likely to overtake the marauders, so several minutes before any other of the party are ready, Alonso is off with instructions for the men to follow. The sound of the galloping horses can be plainly heard, and there is no trouble to toUoyr the direction; but our young soldier is tnOj aware that in aU probability there is a large party se- creted in the neighborhood, so he not only listens to the clickety-click of the horses' feet but gives an ear