Warming to his discourse, he threw wide his arms, hurling

to gain than to the performance of duty (a few such are always to be

found in armies) quickly learned this, and determined to profit by

it. Consequently they began a regular system of stealing horses from

the people of the country and proffering them to me for purchase. It

took but a little time to discover this roguery, and when I became

satisfied of their knavery I brought it to a sudden close by seizing

the horses as captured property, branding them U. S., and refusing to

pay for them. General Curtis, misled by the misrepresentations that