The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-03-15

= horizons combining distance. That
*ras the boundary line, and it drew d
circle about the spot where the paymas-
,sr of the military department of Texas,
ritb his picked escort of a dozen sinewy
men in blue and brown was pitching camp
for the night.
His wall tent was raised, and the mon
sy chest containing pay for the soldiers
4 If the department was underneath his
bpnk: and he stood erect in front of the
tent eyeing the rise of the Sibley, the
cutting of wood. the hobbling of the
mules. the kneading of camp bread on
the level tailboard of the wagon with
the keen delight of the professional SOL
der in the little hardships that make
. mn the active part of his existence. a
4 man Of responsibilities, he thought of
possible danger from highwaymen, and
then let his glance range again over his
.htle command. They were unhandsome
men, ingrained with powder, yet pos
sessing the peculiar alertness that BELTS
soldiers, and caring for their rifles with
Eafectionate solicitude. AS the paymaster
4 took this in he nodded to himself and
whispered that he guessed-they-woul
Il The sergeant of the escort came and
stood before him and made a salute that
Knew no bounds to military courtliness.
4 1.-The paymaster responded mechanically:
F.. he was not good at a salute. "What is
. h. sergeant?"
Some of the men. sir, are grumb-
''Whatw
"A little, sir, about. the grub. Say
thrNrf rsc fplr nf rot ions
All! Bread, beans and bacon, eh?"
Yes sir. There are some good hunt
ers in the party, sir, and If they could
morning, say an hour before daylight,
. they might get a deer"
Now, the paymaster was a brave man
4 with the knife and fork, and he knew
i the value of deer steaks broiled on a
stick over a camp fire of mesquite roots.
But he was three days from the last
fort and four from the next, and all the
art and science of war was against a
division Of force at such distance from
support. He temporized-and was lost.
Who says deer? Who thinks so?" he
asked, incredulouslyA
Armstrong, sir. And Hakkerson. And
tFeeney and Gutter would be in the party,
ror they're great chums, sir. That will
leave US eight"
Huh Armstrong and Hakkerson-best
men I've got. Well, don't see why not"
lThe memory of his last camp venison oil
FED the connection between his brain and
stomach filled his mouth with the sweet
|juiCe Of remembrance. "AlI right-let
Them go"
Yes, sir" The sergeant swept heaven
and earth with another salute, and remOv-
led himself to the circle of the enlisted
|men. Deep grunts of approval marked the
delivery of the paymaster'S permission.
Then night fell; a running guard was es-
|tablished; pipes were out; the camp slum-
|bered trustfully in it's charmed circle,
watched over by the, Infinite.
The earth had yet on his death mask
|of sleep when the four stole out the next
morning, their belts buckled over cold
|penetrably gray. At rods distance they
could not have seen camp. But they were
confidently proud of the distinction cast
upon them. Armstrong was the leader;
but Armstrong had brains in his head,
and Hakkerson had only a soldiers drill
machine. Feeney and Gutter tramped
along on either side of these men. 1t was
"A mark of favor to be in a party that
had Armstrong at its head.
It's a lucky number we are" re-
marked Feeney, presently his head full
lher tn shtage, an nothin' can eschape."
You take your cue from the old man"
feloined Armstrong. He got hold of Fee
ahead down the road. We've got to keep
a lively gait for five miles before we strika
me place where we lay for our meat. Eth,
1uo GIDOuL SIOW16u I1dhhGISOii
That's where Dead Mans Gully-anoth-
er canon-runs into this" Armstrong con-
unued; The likeliest spot 1 know. And
we II lie behind the rocks opposite, and
crack away at every thing that shows"
An mines tn first shot at deer,
remimber,' interrupted Feeney. "'Tis me
to tn country, bein only
d recruit, an tn courtesy is due"
Hakkerson expelled two grunts, which
stood with him for a laugh. . F yu don't
ore on the first shot, yu en- have twenty
pre- an twenty after that. We won't
nder. He won't stan bein' shot at like
target"
The quartette laughed, and Feeney play
July applied the butt of his gun to Hak-
~erson as a propelling force. Shame to
ye' ,pokin' fun at tinderfut. Be rights !
shud shift yer jaw a pace ter tn lift
Iuf mot. l cud, we know
on, yes, know" said Hakkerson, !
srunting amiably.
=, Inc road lay across the prairie with |
'nght regard to undulations, till sudden I
y It dipped behind one and never rose /
again. 1t dropped to the bottom of a
,aea a that showed distinctly upon the
sarth, deepening as it went, becoming |
,,ae5nyon with constantly growing walls, and !
YEA now and then by other canons, like !
Iloutary streams. 1t widened in places |
70 extensive meadows, then narrowed to |
| pass. Through the heavy grass of the |
anon bottom, the wagon track wandered |
Ioin SIDE to side, seeking the line of least |
\, eesIstence. 1t rounded a jutting shoulder !
IN behind it, close to the mouth of |
1ead Mans Gully. Here the party left |
,,, ana made straight for the rough wall |
:, bachelor jack rabbit, reused from his |
'eep IN the long grass. galloped away to
: SAFE distance and sat up, cooking his |
Vi, Ung ears suspiciously; a prairie hen |
SnnHTed heavily up; and in the brush of |
.io ufy Water-course a covey of blue quail |
an about and peeped fearfully at the men |
u odshlng through. Without delay, and |
,eI casting appreciatiVe glances about, the |
zen Kept on through the tall grass down |
he steep bank of the water channel, up |
he he other side, and still on, halfway up |
u, fe canon bluff, until they reached a shelf |
~ rock and thin soil, supporting some /
,ttrupby brushes. There they lay down. |
~ eIchlng themselves comfortably behind |
~ natural screen and tenderly disposing 1
. .ae!r rifles at their sides. The gray in the |
~ mad lifted, and streaks of orange pro-
/, od5lIled uhe coming of the sun. They drew |
~ S4Sep elastic breaths of the cool air. and /
~, ,o9Sueq knowingly at one another; for they /
-, - lne satisfaction of robust men in |
e--a n comradeship, and the successful /
az, eIopment of a PLAN They spoke in
six ok hunder t the gully?" asked Hak-
40 ION, squirting the distance and finger
3 MS rear sight lightly.
Al mstong nodded six hundred srood
lie liz a,p oant Of windage-a 9 O'Clock Wind
~ tsu gWn sights were already set.
ev " e ua ye use tn peep?" demanded Fee