is first act of his
military service; and not long afterwards he and Rollo were happily
engaged, under the supervision of Sergeant Higgins, in erecting the
little dog-tent that they were to occupy in company, and settling their
scanty belongings within its narrow limits. When this was finally
accomplished to their satisfaction, they went to the picket-line to
visit the pretty and high-spirited mare that had been the immediate
cause of Ridge's good fortune.

"Isn't she a beauty?" he exclaimed, walking directly up to the mare,
and throwing an arm about her neck, a caress to which the animal
submitted with evident pleasure.

"Yes," admitted Rollo, hesitatingly, as he stepped nimbly aside to
avoid a snap of white teeth. "I suppose she is, but she seems awfully
vicious, and I can't say that she is exactly the style of horse that I
most admire. Tell you what I'll do, Norris. I'll give her to you,
seeing that you and she seem to hit it off so well. You've won her by
rights, anyhow."

Ridge's face flushed. He already loved the mare, and longed to own
her, but his pride forbade him to accept so valuable a gift from one
who was but little more than a stranger. So he said;

"Oh no! Thanks, awfully, old man, but I couldn't think of taking her
in that way. If you don't mind, though, I'll buy the mare of you,
gladly paying whatever you gave for her."

"Very good," replied Rollo, who imagined Ridge to be quite well off,
and to whom any question of money was of slight consequence. "I paid
an even hundred dollars for her with saddle and bridle thrown in, and
if you won't accept her as a gift, you may have her for that sum."

"Done," said Ridge, "and here's your money." With this he pulled from
his pocket the roll of bills that his father, bidding him not to spend
them recklessly, had thrust into his hand on parting, and which until
now he had not found occasion to touch.

Although this left our young soldier penniless, he did not for a moment
regret the transaction by which he had gained possession of what he
considered the very best mount in the whole regiment. He at once named
the beautiful mare "Senorita," and upon her he lavished a wealth of
affection that seemed to be fully reciprocated. While no one else
could do anything with her, in Ridge's hands she gained a knowledge of
cavalry tactics as readily as did her young master, and by her quick
precision of movement when on drill or parade she was instrumental in