SLEPT WITH HIS SPURS ON.

Waikato Times, Volume VIII, Issue 426, 9 February 1875, Page 2

SLEPT WITH HIS SPURS ON.

"Yes," said the old man, with a smile, "I remember one time in pirticular, while out prospecting with an old friend, about twenty years ajfo. We we.ie travelling on horseback, «^^ came across a tavern one night about ten. o'clock. Being very cold and hungry, as soon as we got some supper and something warm to keep the cold out, wa asked to be sbpwn to our room. On looking around we found the room had two beds in it, one of which was already occupied by two strangers, who were both snoring lustily. The fact of there being two beds in the one room did not surprise us as in backwood taverns there were frequently three beds in a room. " We un'lressei, and just as I was going to blow out the light, my friend, who had got into bed, espied the foot of one of the strangers sticking through the bei clothes at tho foot of the bed. " With a suppressed chuckle, he motioned tome to hold on a moment ; he got quietly out of bed, and, going to where the stranger's boots were, he took off a hu^e, sharp Mexican spur, and carefully adjusted them to the bare heel of the unconscious stranger. Witii another audible chuckle as he thought of the consequ^rhjeV tba-t would follow when the stranger drew in his foot, he got back ag<iin into bed, and I blew out the light and fol'owed him. He soon managed to get .-i^lopg a.ti-^w from the bad, and reached over and tickled the stranger's foot. " He instantly drew his legs up until hia knees almost touched his chin. In doing this he drew the spur the whole length of his bed-fellow's leg, making a bad scratch. Tbe victim uttered a .yell, and sprang out of bed with a muttered exclamation that I did not make out, and then he commenced a wild dance around the room, r with his nether garment under his >ym, and making frantic efforts either to dislocate his neck or to see how badly he was hurt, all the while making exclamations that would have made a baggageman with a Saratoga tjrunk on his shoulder turn green with envy. " The innocent cause of the trouble had been awakened at the first yell of*, the victim, and in straightening his legs out, scratcheH^hjmseif most unmercifully. He did not yell, or say bad woi'd.s, bnt he jumped out of bed and made for his friend, with the purpose of taking vengeance, I supposed ; but he had not taken two steps before he had dabbed the spur into his leg ngain. The landlord then appeared with a light, followed by half the boarders in the house, and inquired, what the matter was. An examination brought to light tho spur, which explained the matter. The stranger looked sheepishly at the spur, then at his scratch, and finally exclaimed his boots, and with a sidkly smile, said i * Well, boys, I ha\e lived all my lite amon^ people* who wear spurs, but I never saw a man who cou||j pull off his boots and leave his spur on his foot. JrP treat in the morning." * . V-