The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-02-28
CHAPTER 4.


multiplied into something very like dis
cord by the echoes from the great build
ings. gave notice of speedy occupation.
As the band rounded the farthest block,
the echoes ceased and the fun melody
of The Csmpbells Are Comm rang
out clear and crisp. while her majesty s
one Hundred and Tenth regiment of 4 .
Iine-better known as THE Queens Own
Hamilton Highlanders '-detiled i'm fours
onto the parade ground SEQ strong. The
battalion was returning from placticlng
new skirmishiug drill with blank cart
ridge on the sandy scrub at the rear "t
the barracks When the last files We're
well clear Of the barracks. the colonel
turned his horse aside from the head OF
the regiment; quarter column was
smartIy formed on the leading company
and the word was given 10 halt and
stand at ease. At sign from the chief
the officers fell out and grouped them
selves round him; the men were called
10 attention, and the parade was dis
missed. In moment the orderly
formation was dissolved into swarminE
mass OF hungry soldiers hurryiug to their
respective barrack rooms intent on
breakfast.
his horse In the center Of tho parade
ground. surrounded by his officers. This
was the time At which If anything had
gone wrong with the drill. he would i'm
prove the occasion and administer
soldierly lecture 10 the delinquent but
today all the latest joined subalterns
had clear consciences-the drill had been
performed without blunder and there
seemed to be no reason why the GUS
tomary "Good-morning. gentlemen.
should not be spoken at once. There
was no cloud ON the coiorel's hard
featured but kindly face; Re appeared
only thoughtful, and as though he were
waiting. rs n matter Of fact that is
just what he was doing As soon as the
last laEgard OF the rank and file had
passed beyond the possibility Of hearing
he looked down ON the UptUrucd faces
round him and said vely quietly: Gen
tleInen. know YOU will 10 sorry to hear
what 7 have To- tell you. Twice this
morning in the course Of tho practice /
was shot AT with ball cartridge
Discipline prevailed. and no one spoke;
but the little group unCousCiously pressed
nearer. and the combination OF sup
pressed emotion yielded sound Ike a
long-drawn sigh The colonel kpouIv i'm
touch with those confronting him. rN j.
IDENTIFY felt. and was moved by. the an
CRY horror his announcement had called
forth; he STOPPED down and patted his
chargers neck before proceeding: 1T is
not the first time. ON Tuesday 7 thought
] heard bullet pess close io me: but
not being positively certain. / decided.
Tor the credit of the regiment tn say
nothing. Today there was no room for
doubt one ball Just cleared my left
shoulder. within a couple of inches of
d her
mark. Both shots We're fired i'm quick
succession when L was ON thc rough
ground at the rear of the hospital He
held up his bride arm. and, plainly visi-
bic to every one was bUllet-hOle
through the sleeve cuff.
The sight was too much for the senior
majOr-comrade and truSty friend Of the
colonePs since they Tough side by side
as boy ensigHs at Alma. Throwing pa
background etiquette 10 the winds. he
blurted out: Good heavens. Macleod.
you're not hit. are yOu?" while an eX-
cited murmur Of sUrmisc and suggestion
began to be audible among the others.
The colonel held up his hand again
for Silence this time. Il did not dctain
you. gentlemen" he said Ito discuss
the matter here, but merely TO inform
YOU of what has happened, so that COM
pany officers may endeavor to put their
finger on the man who fired at me. At
the same time. you are To take as a
positive order not To let a suspicion of
this leak out. Tell no one but the color
sergenats, and impress il upon them that
they are only taken into confidence i'm
order TO assist your inquiries. If / find
that so much a rumor gets about
amOung the men or outside I'll break
every cOlor-serSenat in the regiment.
For the honor Of the corps we must
discover the delinquent without any
fuss, and that being so directly YOU
have a clue you'll report to me before
making an arrest. In the meanwhile
this is not to be referred to at mess or
anywhere in public. I think that is all.
gentlemen; thank you for your sympa-
thy. and bid you good morning"
Col Macleod turned his horse toward
the officers line and rode off slowly ac-
companied BY the two majors and the
adjutant. The Unmounted officers
strolled after in tWos and threes i'm the
same direction, and it was a relief 10
them 10 hear the chief now that the
stiffness of duty etiquette was re-
Taxed, explaining to his companions that
he was quite unhurt. For Col. Macleod
was adored by officers and men alike.
Stern and unbending enough on duty
and in the field. in private he was the
guide, counsellor and friend of every
one To all ranks the cOlOnel's person
and the honor Of the Hamilton High
landers were the two most sacred things
on earth.
And now both these cherished posses
sions had been threatened with startling
suddenness by the foul deed Of the morn
Ing Small wonder was il that those to
whose astOnished ears the secret had
been intrusted should be agitated and
anxious as they sought their quarters.
The chief point in the minds of all was
the utter absence of motive, for crime, -
In the military sense. was almost non
existent in the happy and contented
ranks Of the regiment, and punishment
with its consequent heart-burnings. was
therefore a rarity. The colonel had not
even had occasion to confne a man 10
barracks for nearly a year.
II is the act Of a mailman; one Of the
men must have gone suddenly mad =" said
stuart Dalzell. the only subaltern of &;
company present with the battalion. as
he paced by the side Of Alec Frazer. his
captain.
That is the only explanation 7 can see
which would not involve disgrace" re-
piled the other Lhoughtfuliy
Is there not the alternative of acct
dent?" asked Dalzell 1T IS not nm
known in other regiments for bali cart
ridges TO get mixed with the blank am
muntiOn"
That must be left out OF the question
In this case" said Frazer The fact
or the colonel having been NARROWLY
missed on Tuesday, and again twice To-
day, bars such a supposition. II there
had been any mistake in the amm,ni-
ton, the odds are a hundred 10 one
that some one else besides the chief
would have heard faIt