Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1894-04-24
A DECEPTION.

The bombardment had come to an
end. Every fort along the line had been
silenced, and in con mon with the other
men of-war lying in the harbor we were
sending landing parties ashore
As chief surgeon on board was busy
below with the poor fellows who lay
suffering unspeakable agonies with COM
pressed lips and white, haggard faces.
Bending down with my assistants
over the PROSTATE body Of young mid
dy, I did not hear footsteps approaching
and started when some one laid his hand
on my shoulder. It was Lieutenant
Harold Patterson.
Garter, old man," he said as stood
up and wiped my hands, ''this rough
work has fingered me bit. I've got
nasty knock here, see?" He lifted up his
left arm painfully with his right hand,
and then saw that the dark blue cloth
was torn and stained and stiff with con-
gealed blood.
"Bit of small shell" he continued,
with easy carelessness. ~ want you to
doctor it up bit, for I've got to 60
ashore with Teaser."
Teaser was his gun. 1t was a light
machine gun, capital weapon for
square or retreat work. Patterson was
perfect child with his gun. He treated
it as if it were one Of his greatest friends
on earth.
"There's going to be some sport on
the other side Of those batteries, I can
assure you, he said, pointing with his
thumb through the portfolio toward the
land.
cold Teaser's going to make things
hum round there bit, Or she's going for
old iron when we get back. Candidly,
Carter, did you ever see gun like her!
Did you ever see piece of metal pump
bullets like she does? Lord, I'd stick
against a dead wall and buck up 500
bowling niggers with her single hand
ed
When had fixed him up, we went on
deck. The hot air between the bulk
heads made me feel sick and dizzy, and
I wondered at a government like ours
taking it into their heads to send out
women as nurses among the'wounded
Out in the ofing I could see the trans
port that was bringing the soldiers and
the women.
The advent of the women was con-
founded nuisance. I told Harold SO.
"Fie, DOCTOR" he said II should
never have thought it Of you! Shame on
you for speaking Of the ladies in that
disrespectful way. Why, the little
dears, they'll be the means Of bringing
round the fellows lot more quickly
than you and your crew could ever hope
to. Three cheers for the ladies, I say"
And as he raised his cap and waved it
round his curly head I felt that there
was soft place in his heart for women
in general by reason of the fact that one
Of them far back in England was sigh
ing for her bronzed and handsome lover,
who was just now SO enthusiastically
championing their cause.
But although had been in his COM
pany for at least three weeks he had
never once mentioned to me the name Of
the girl was now convinced was respon-
sible for this outburst of vehemence
His wound did not prevent his taking
his place in the pinnace. Teaser was
there in the bow, carefully wrapped in
yellow tarpaulin.
watched them take her ashore and
saw through my glasses how carefully
and tenderly he superinteded her ma
nipulation until at length the whole bat
terry disappeared from sight through a
breach in the Notifications.
A couple Of hours later the big trans
port arrived She brought out two regi.
ments and half dozen voluntary nurses
One Of them came to our ship. Ifear
the reception gave her wasn't very
cordial one, but I didn't want her there
at all and expressed my annoyance in
my actions.
The expression of the face, tanned by
exposure during the voyage, was firm
and intellectual, and there was look
Of businesslike suavity about her man.
ner that we doctors always admire in
any one. But time alone would show
her worth.
In the cool Of the evening I had the
sick brought up on deck. There were
few serious cases, and for these could
do no more than I had already done.
Nurse sat reading by one Of them. She
had o remarkably clear and we'll bal
anced voice, and could sec tho poor fell
lows on either side straining their ears
to catch the sweet sounds that had been
foreign to them for SO long.
leaned over the bulwarl1s and
watched landing parties returning to
their respective ships. ! could see cou.
pie of tho men Of our boat impatiently
walking up and down the beach, while
the others stood with boathooks keeping
the pinnace few yards out and off the
bottom.
Then through the breach 20 yards
above them came the remainder Of our
party. They were walking slowly and
carrying some OF their number. could
not see the gun.
When they came alongside, the tive
wounded were handed up. One was o
seaman. He was taken below. The other
came up.
His face and part Of his body was COW
cred with blood stained cloth, but saw
the legs and the sturdy arms, and big
! lump came up in my throat, As I turn.