ng else that a
thinking bronco can indulge in to get rid of his rider. But Billy
enjoyed it. He banged the horse over the head with his big hat, smote
him with the quirt, and used the spurs, till the mad animal raced in
fury a mile or two, only to come back with froth down to the hooves. But
Billy had him under thorough control, quiet enough to eat out of his
hand. And when Billy pulled off the saddle he remarked casually to the
astonished officers who had expected an inquest over him, "Out in my
country that hoss would cut no figure, for out there we can ride
anything with legs under it, even if it is a consarned centipede." The
Canadian Mounted Rifles 1st, 2nd and 5th, had some 220 officers and men
of the Mounted Police, while Strathcona's Horse had only some forty or
so, though the rest were men accustomed to the kind of irregular warfare
they found on the veld. The fact that Strathcona's Horse was raised,
equipped and wholly paid for out of the private purse of Lord
Strathcona, the only case in the Empire during the war, gave that corps
a unique place in the public eye. Lord Strathcona, who was a member of
the House of Lords and High Commissioner for Canada, placed it in
command of Superintendent Sam B. Steele, a widely known officer,
entertained the corps lavishly both before and after the war, fitted it
out as no other regiment was equipped, brought the officers and men into
contact with Royalty, kept it more or less in touch with the Associated
Press--and all of this tended to put this regiment more in the limelight
than others from Canada. This, of course, did not make their task any
easier, but rather the contrary, since any failure on their part would
have been quickly known. As a matter of history they did their part in
such a way as to bring the utmost credit to all concerned. The corps was
officered by highly capable men. The Mounted Police officers, serving in
Strathcona's Horse were: Superintendent S. B. Steele (in command),
Inspectors R. Belcher, A. E. Snyder, A. M. Jarvis, D. M. Howard, F. L.
Cartwright and F. Harper: included also were, Ex-Inspector M. H.
White-Fraser, Sergt.-Major W. Parker and Staff-Sergt. H. D. B. Ketchen.
The two last named were granted commissions in the Army and Colonial
Forces. The commissions of the other officers of this corps were all in
the Imperial service. Strathcona's Horse took part in many major
engagements, did much scout and patrol work, and one of the Mounted
Police s