The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1896-03-06
CHAPTER 1I1.-Cosr1NuEn


They must not all be killed like
to pass unless they were informed of
idiots to send them marching into q
regular pen. There was but one pair
Of eyes in the corps He would step
forth and make speech. Shrill and
passionate words came to his lips.
The line, broken into moving frag-
ments by the ground, went calmly on
through fields and woods The youth
looked at the men nearest him and
saw, for the most part, expressions Of
deep interest as If they were investi-
eating something that had fascinated
them. One or two stepped with over
valiant airs as il they were already
plunged into war. Others walked as
upon thin ice. The greater part Of the
INFESTED men appeared quiet and alb
sorbed. They were going to look at
war, the red animal, war, the blood
swollen god And they were deeply
engrossed in this march.
AS he looked, the youth gripped his
outcry at his throat He saw that
even If the men were tottering with
fear, they would laugh at his warning.
They would jeer him, and If practicable
pelt him with missiles Admitting that
he might be wrong, a frenzied decla-
nation Of the kind would turn him into
"a worm.
He assumed, then, the demeanor of
one who knows that he is doomed,
alone, to unwritten responsibilities
He Jagged, with tragic glances at the
sky.
CHAPTER ".
The brigade was halted IN the fringe
of a grove. The men crouched among
the trees and pointed their restless
guns out at the fields They tried to
look beyond the smoke
Out Of this haze they could see rum
ming men. Some shouted information
and gestured as they hurried.
The men Of the new regiment watched
and listened eagerly, while their
tongues ran on in the gossip Of the
battle. They mouthed rumors that
had flown like birds out of the I'M
known.
'They say Percy has been driven In
with great loss"
Eyes, Garrett went to the hospital
He said he was sick That smart lieu
tenant is commanding G company.
The boys say they won't be under Car
rott no more If they all have to de-
sert. They always knew he was a"
"Dern this being in reserve, anyhow.
] didn't come here to be in reserve.
II
"Hannises' battry is taken"
at amt, either. / saw Hannises'
batt'ry off on the left not more than
fifteen minutes ago"
well"
1.-THE general he says he is going to
take the whole commanded tn Three
Hundred and Fourth when we go into
action, and then he says Wen do such
fighting as never another one regiment
done"
"Bill wasn't scared, either. No, sir.
It wasn't that. Bill amt a Citing
scared easy. He was just mad, that's
what he was When that fellow trod
on his hand he up and said he was
willing to give his hand to his country,
but he be dumbed If he was going to
have every dumb bushwhacl1er in the
country walking around on It. So he
went to the hospital disregardless of
the fight. Three fingers was crunched.
The dern doctor wanted to amputate
.'em, and Bill he raised heluva row, I
hear. He's funny Teller"
. Hear that what the old colonel says,
boys He says he'll shoot the first man
that will turn an rum"
He'd better try it. I'D like to see
him shoot at me-"
HE wants to look out for his own
self. He don't want to go round talk
ing big"
The din In front swelled to a tremen-
dous chorus. The youth and his fell
lows were frozen to silence. They
could see q flag that tossed in the
smoke angrily. Near it were the
blurred and agitated forms of troops.
There came a turbulent stream of men
across the fields A battery changing
position at frantic gallop scattered
the stragglers right and left
A shell screaming like storm-ban-
shee went over the huddled heads of
the reserves It landed in the grove
and, exploding redly, flung the brown
earth. There was q little shower of
pine needles
Bullets began to whistle among the
branches and nip at the tree-trunks.
Twigs and leaves came sailing down.
It YVES as if thousand axes, wee and
invisible, were being welded. Many
of the men were constantly lodging
and ducking their heads.
The lieutenant of the youths COM
pany was shot in the hand. He began
to swear so wondrorsly that a nervous
laugh went along the regimental line.
The officers profanity sounded conven-
tional. 1t relieved the frightened senses
of the new men 1t was as if he had
hit his fingers with q tack hammer at
home.
He held the wounded member care
fully away from his side so that the
blood would not drip upon his trousers.
The battleflag in the distance jerkei
about madly. 1t seemed to be strug-
CLING to free itself from an agony. The
;billowing smoke was filed with hori-
zontal flashes.
Men running swiftly emerged from
it. They grew in numbers until it was
seen that the whole command was fee
ing. The flag suddenly sank down as
{ if dying. Its motion as it fell was q
gesture Of despair.
Wild yells came from behind the
walls Of smoke. A sketch In gray and
red dissolved into mobilize body Of
men who galloped like wild horses
The veteran regiments on the right
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