Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-05-27
A FIGHTING SOLDIER.
From the New Peterson Magazine.

From the New Peterson Magazine.
NNHEY DID SAY BUCK LEWIS WAS A
Il fighting man before ever he came to the
fort. but he certainly did not look it. He was
not understood especially, but then he was not
big nor husky, and he did not 60 around with
lowering brow and swinging shoulders and
clirched fists and the terror-compelling voice
Of a bruiser.
He was rather slender than otherwise. very
straight, but beardless and even sallow. His
eyes had a perpetual laugh in them, for we
found, before he had mounted guard three
times. that he could hugh when angry as well
as when plessed-only it was such a trying and
unfair advantage to take of an adversary
What made his proves the more surprising
was his habit Of singing and his easily proved
acquaintance with lines of life unknown to the
rank of the regular army. He had some books
on a little shelf above his bunk. and he had o
way of addressing Saddler Smith as ''Horatio'
and assuring him that there were more things
In heaven and earth than any man in G troop
ever dreamed of.
Sometimes, as he sat on the little bench in
front of the quarters, Furnishing his carbine
or bufing his buttons, he would wall a line or
two about the heart bowed down or MARBLE
"Come, for my arms are empty" or throw out
his chest and beat sort OF bass-drum reso-
nance on the words, ''The King Of kings, and
Lord Of lords,'
And that was why we thought he couldn't
fight
But. then. it wasn't the first time reputation
had outrun a recruit, reaching the fort before
him, and leaving a long time before ne IeiL
And SO G troop waited for sign
It came soon enough Marcus Sheedy, hlgn
private from the second squad room, mad oeen
detailed for kitchen Cuty when he thougnt rs
should have had a day OF leisure. he was IN
very bad temper and we had long ago learned
to agree with Marcus when the worid wen.
wrong with him OF course. We wanted 'has
"trial bv battle" But, / think, after al, We
felt little thrill of dread when we saw Buck
Lewis strolling down the plank WALK 1rom .he
suffers store and knew Marcus must meet NM
Get out of NV vayr' yelled Marcus. MS Ter
rible front trembling IN passion against VIC
very body OF the slighter man
That was about the time OF farSue eau; anu
before the bugler sounded assembly Tor
guard mount the trouble was all over BUCK
Lewis was washing his hands In the warm
spring. and looking down at tattereo PAIR OF
trousers: for he was a very tidy soldier. Ana
Marcus Sheedy was sitting exhausted on a
cracker bex his limp and useless arms ~ ms
sides. his heavy head bent forward and buried
In the problem we all were studying; "How did
Il happen?'
first lieutenant
Jim Honan came back to the fort from detail
duty with the paymaster, and we thought ne
would challenge this gay young fenows rlgnt
TO eminence. But Jim was prudent, and
seldom risked his hard-won and long-worn
lanrels unless the venture seemed to offer good
returns.
He came from ride mp the valley one day.
and lay down on his bunk for q bit of sleep.
Buck Levi, was sewing patch on the sleeve OF
his jacket and singing something about those
DAYS of old, when knights were bold and barons
held their sway, and a lot more of militia nom
sense. when Jim raised up and launched boot
at the minstrers head.
The proiectile was heavy enough, and it came
with force enough but the range was bad, and
II beat the wall with thunderous bump and
fell 20 the floor noisily just as Lewis announced
gayly:
My loves beyond compare"
"Shut upr' roared Honan. 81 want to get a
little Sleep
Young gentlemen in the military should
learn that the night is made for sleeping, and
the dsv for singing sewing on patches,
responded Buck Lewis, his smile lighting hit
tie. and his steel blue eyes ranging over his
weapons there on the wall before they lifted to
Mr.. Honan's towering height.
Mr. Honan took up another boot and
SQUARED to throw 1t, but Lewis, his vagrant
tongue still lettering along the lines
Though death be nigh:
live for love. and die"
with prolonged dwells on the verbs-reached
up gently and fingered the hilt OF his saber.
IL was a challenge read instantly. and he had
accepted it as became a swordsmsn. They were
front to front in the middle of the room. They
were in such earnest as knights of old" them
selves could hardly have surpassed They were
fighting with weapons made for mortal combat
And for what? For nothing. One was
piaued and angry at beng defed; one was
resolute against tyranny. But both were reck-
less and prodigal. as becomes q soldier fed on
tho air Of the mountains and famed by dan
ger.
II was no stage clashiug Of steel on steel. 1t
was the swift advance, the light retreat, the
thrust the guard the feint, the fierce right
cut. till We slight men, packed between the
windows. forgot to breathe, and lived alone
with our ewes.
Jim Honan's wrist was bleeding. There was
. rent in the tight blue flannel that covered his
thigh-a rent which marked partial failure Of
his parry. There was touch upon his fore
head. where the red blood looked out butwould
not flow.
And there was the heavy tramp Of a spurred
boot down the porch outside, and we knew
''the old man. was coming.
"'Tention-offcer of the day. called the
orderly, throwing open the door of the squad
room Just across the hall. He would be here
in a moment and all discipline demanded
truce.
But the sound might as well have been the
tap Of an oak leaf on the roof as far as Buck
Lewis was concerned He was pushing the
fight. his left hand clasped on his back, his
right foot advanced, his blade flashing better
obedience to his resolute will with every minute
that passed
Honan, catching the first opportunity, ADAM
doned his guard and retired to his corner.
Good thing for you," he growled. for an
1rishman's tongue is never vanquished- Lewis
looked at him a moment in surprise and disap-
pointment. Then he said:
I'm go down to the hay corral with you, Jim,
and argue this out
He found no response and had but time to
stand at attention as the officer of the day
walked into the room.
What's the matter with your forehead.
Honan?" asked .'the old man." for his swift
eyes saw everything.
scratched it, sir, replied the soldier, for he
was loval
.'Pick up these thngs men. and keep your
room in order, commanded the officer, and he
was gone.
In the moment Of that visit Buck Lewis re-
gained his steady temper. and he dropped his
saber in its scabbard again. But ne could not
forego applying the lesson.
Don't try to turn day into night in the
army. Jlm.' he remarked as he threaded his
needle anew According to general orders,
taps don't come for hours aud hours vet"
And after that Buck Lewis ranked any major
IN the regiment.
OF course we didn't run from him or trem-
bic in his presence or anything like that
When n soldier man, however formidable wants
fight he can always get it. That is what re-
cruiting officers are for. But we respected