The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-09-01
copyrsglnt, 1896. by Irving Bachelor
CHAPTER

CHAPTER i.
THE DARK uniforms Of the men were so
~.a,ea wftn dust from the fncesaDt wrest-
49, ~ the two armies that the regiment
.frna~t seemed part OF the clay bank
--.srt shielded them from the shells. On
ne too Of the hill battery was arguing
- .rsneueous roars with some other guns
80 ~ the eye OF the infantry. the artii-
,s-~r,an. the guns. the eaissons. the
s.-.s~ were distinctly outlined upon the
- srv when o piece was fred a red
s.ss.k as round as log flashed low'fn
-. heavens Ike n r1cnstrous bolt OF
u-bt-snv The men Of the battery wore
rss.o duck trousers, which somehow en-
,hasszcd their legs. and when they ran
90 crowded tn little groups at the bid
Arg az the shouting officers. u was more
,..rvessfve than usual TO tina infantry.
rrred Collins, OF A company, was saw
a.. ..rruudar, I wisht ] had a drink.
asn.t there any water round here7" Then
.oyaebody yelled: There goes tn bug
Der"
AZ the eyes Of half % the regiment
.rent IN ore rnachine-like movement
,hera Was an .nstant's picture OF horse
a. a great convulsivo leap of a death
round and a rider leaning back with a
e-aoked arm and spread fingers before
his face. On the ground was the crimson
ser~or OF an exploding she'll with fibres
~ Game that seemed Ike lances. A gilt
tsrinr bugie swung clear OF the riders
hack as fell headlong the horse and the
mar. In the air WAS an odof as from
confagration.
Sometime they OF the infantry looked
down at q fair little meadow which spread
Al their feet. Its long, green grass was
rinoiiug gently IN a breeze. Beyond II
was the gray form of q house half torn
10 pieces By shells and by the busy axes
IF solalerS who had pursued fre-wood
The line OF an old fence was now dimly
marked By long weeds and by an occasion
nj post A shell had blown the we'll house
10 fragments. Little lines of gray smoke
ybboniEg upwards from some embers in
cleated the place where had stood the
barn.
From beyond curtain OF green woods
there came the sound OF some stupendous
scuf4fe as If two animals OF the size of
islands were fighting. At distance there
we're occasional appearances of swift
moving men, horses, batteries, flags, and,
with the crashing OF Infantry, volleys were
heard. often wild and frenzied cheers. in
ne midst of IL all Smith and Ferguson.
two prlyates OF A company, were engaged
IN a heated discussion, which involved the
greatest question of the national exist
ence
Tn battery on the hill presently engaged
IA q friEnfful duel. Inc Wnlte legs OF the
gunners scampered this way and that
way, and the officers redoubled their
shouts The guns. with their demeanors
OF stodity and courage, were typical OF
something infinitely seif-possessed In this
elamor OF death that swirled around the
hill.
Que OF Swing team was suddenly
emitten. auivering. 10 the ground. and his
rnaddened brethren dragged his torn body
IN their struggle to escape from this tur-
mol and danger A young soldier astride
one Of the leaders swore and fumed in his
saddle and furiously jerked at the bride.
An officer screamed out an order so vio-
lently that his voice broke and ended the
sentence in falsetto Shrek.
The leading company of the infantry
regiment was somewhat exposed. and the
Colonel ordered itsmo~ed moro fully I'M
tlaf the shelter of the hill. There was the
clank OF steel against steel.
A lieutenant of the battery rode down
and passed them, holding his right arm
carefully In his left hand And IL was as
n this arm was not at all n part of him,
but belonged TO another man. His sober
and reflective charger went slowly. The
officers face was grimy and perspiring,