did not
want to be a witness of the chaplain's attempt to exhibit a solemn
demeanor, on that circus horse. I thought I should probably die right in
my tracks if the horse acted with him as he did with me, so I remained
in my tent with a wet towel on my head, and saw the regiment ride out
to review, the chaplain on the spotted horse beside the colonel, not
dreaming that it was going to be the most eventful day of his life.

CHAPTER XXIII.

Tells How the Chaplain was Paralyzed by the Spotted Circus-
Horse--I am Court Martialed--I Plead my own Case, and am
Acquitted.

In the last chapter I told of trading my circus-horse to the chaplain,
and how the chaplain had rode away with the regiment for review, and I
remained in camp, pretending to be sick. The result of that scheme on my
part was not all my fancy painted it. I stood in front of my tent with
a wet towel around my head, and saw the regiment return from review, the
chaplain's spotted circus horse with no rider, being led by a colored
man, the horse looking as innocent as any horse I ever saw. Where was
the 'chaplain? Had he been killed? I noticed half the men were laughing
and it seemed to me they wouldn't laugh if the good chaplain was dead.
I also noticed that the colonel and his staff wore faces clouded with
anger, and that they seemed as though they would like to kill somebody.
Before the regiment had got fairly dismounted, a sergeant and three men
marched to my tent, and I was arrested, and was informed that I would be
tried at once, by court-martial, for conduct prejudicial to good order
and military discipline. I knew the sergeant, and tried to joke with
him, telling him to "go on with his old ark, as there wasn't going to be
much of a shower," but he wouldn't have any funny business, and kindly
informed me that I had probably got to the end of my rope, and that
I would no doubt spend the remainder of my term of enlistment in the
military prison. I asked him what the row was about, and he said. I
would find out soon enough. One soldier got on each side of me, and one
behind with sabers drawn, to stick me with if I attempted to get away,
and we started for the colonel's tent. On the way there, the chaplain
came towards us, covered with red clay, and begged the sergeant to allow
him to kill me right there. He was the maddest truly good man I ever
saw. He fairly foamed at the mouth, and said, "O, sergeant, turn him
loose, and let me chew h