The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-08-01

made this gentle little meadow the OBJ
ject Of the red hate OF the shells and
each one as II exploded seemed like an
imprecation In the face Of q maiden.
The wounded officer who was riding
across this expanse said to himself:
why. they couldn't shoot any harder
II the whole army was massed here"
A shell struck the gray ruins OF the
house and as. after the roar. the shat
tered wall fell In fragments. there was
a noise which resembled the tapping Of
shutters during q wild gale Of winter.
Indeed the infantry paused In the shell
ter OF the bank. appeared as men stand
ing upon shore contemplating n mad
ness Of the sea. The angel OF the ca
lamity had under Its glance the bat
terry upon the hill Fewer white-legged
men labored about the guns. A shell
had smitten one Of the pieces and after
the flare. the smoke. the dust. the wrath
OF this blow was gone. 1t was possible
to see white legs stretched horizontal
ly upon the ground. And at that in
terval to the rear. where 1t Is the busl-
ness OF battery horses to stand with
their noses to the fight awaiting the
command to drag their guns out Of
the destruction or into dt or whereso-
ever these incomprehensible humans
demanded with whip and spur-in this
line Of passive and dumb spectators
whose flu.tering hearts yet would not
let them forget the iron laws OF mans
control Of them-in this rank Of brute
soldiers there had been relentless and
hideous carnage. From the ruck Of
bleeding and PROSTATE horses. the men
Of the Infantry could see one animal
raising its stricken body with Its fore
legs and turning its nose with mys-
tic and profound eloquence toward the
sky.
Some comrade joked Collins about his
thirst. We'll. IL yeh want a drink so
bad. why don't yeh go git IT."
"Well. will in minnet II yeh don't
shut up"
A lieutenant Of artillery fioundered
his horse straight down the hill with as
great concern as II 1t were level ground
As ne galloped past the colonel Of the
infantry. he threw up his hand In swift
salute. We've got to get out Of that"
he roared angrily. He was a black
beared officer. and his eyes, which re-
sembled beads. sparkled like those Of
an insane man. His jumping horse
sped along the column Of infantry.
The fat major standing carelessly
with his sword held horizontally be-
hind him and with his legs far apart.
looked after the receding horseman
and laughed. He wants to get back
with orders pretty quick or there'u be
no batt'ry left" he observed.
The wise young captain Of the second
company hazarded to. the lieutenant
colonel that the enemy's infantry
would probably soon attack the hill.
and the lieutenant colonel snubbed him.
A private in one Of the rear COM
panies looked out over the meadow and
then turned to q companion and said:
Look there, jim" 1t was the wound
ed officer from the battery. who some
time before had started to ride across
the meadow. supporting his right arm
carefully with his left hand. This man
had encountered shell apparently at
a time when no one perceived him and
he could now be seen lying face down.
ward with a stirruped foot stretched
across the body Of his dead horse. A
leg Of the charger extended slantingly
upward precisely as stiff as a stake.
Around this motionless pair the shells
still howled.
There was a quarrel in A Company.
Collins was shaking his fist in the
faces Of some laughing comrades
"Dern yeh! amt afraid T. go. II yeh
say much. I will so!'
"Of course, yeh will! You'll run
through that there medder. won't yeh ?"
Collins said. In a terrible voice: "You
see. noww AT this ominous threat his
comrades broke into renewed jeers.
Collins gave them a dark scowl and
went to find his captain. The latter was
conversihg with the colonel Of the regi-
ment.
Captain" eaid Collins, saluting and
standing at attention. In those days
all trousers bagged at the knees. Cap
tain. want I: git permission to 90 git
some wafer from that there we'll over
yonderw
The colonel and the captain swung
about simulaa neously and stared across
the meadow. The captain laughed.
you must be pretty thirsty, Collins?"
Eyes. sir: I am"
"Well-ah." said the captain. After
a moment, he asked: Cant you waltz"
'tNo. sir"
The colonel was watching Collins
face. Look here. my lad" he said, In