The Color Sergeant's Horse

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The Color Sergeants horse, 'Don," is no animal; it possesses extraordinary intelligence and a great fondness for his master, and this picture proves it, although it embodies a love story about the Sergeant, his sweetheart and the English flag. The Sergeant, before starting for the field, bids his sweetheart good-bye. She presents him with a flag and tells him if he bears it safely through and brings it back to her after the war she will marry him. "Don" seems to appreciate the agreement, and kisses the young lady good-bye. The Sergeant mounts his horse and they leave for active service. In the encounter with the enemy the Color Sergeant is wounded and the flag is captured. When he is lying prostrate the horse takes his canteen and going to a nearby pool fills the bottle with water and revives his master, who tries to rise but falls back exhausted, haunted with the consciousness of having lost the flag and his sweetheart. "Don" follows the enemy, and while they are sleeping the faithful beast stealthily enters the encampment, takes possession of the flag and gallops at top speed back to the wounded color bearer and places the colors over his body. The Sergeant is delighted at the sight of his lost trophy, but cannot raise himself to his feet. He takes a paper and pencil from his pocket and writing a note gives it to "Don" to carry to the English regiment. The Arabs have discovered the flag has been recaptured and start in pursuit of the horse. They follow his footprints and are in hot pursuit when they encounter the English regiment, which has been notified by "Don" of the Color Sergeant's plight. They are defeated, and the Sergeant is saved and brought back, with his flag, to the city and the English headquarters, where we next see him attending a banquet with his sweetheart, now his wife. "Don," who is outside the house, hears the cheering of the guests, walks to the window, looks in, nods a "How-do-you-do," drinks a glass of wine given him by his mistress, takes the Color Sergeant's flag from her hand and waves it triumphantly as his master and mistress lovingly place their arms around his neck and place their faces against his in acknowledgment of service rendered in making two loving hearts beat as one.