The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1896-10-03

hdpply put lutm out VI lntAE hAAncAJ
forever; here, overborne. crushed, suffo-
Gated by numbers, pouring their own
blood into the flood and tumbling after
IL with their helpless bodies, they
damned the stream, until, recoiling, red
and angry. il had burst its banks and
overlooked the cotton field in brave
pool now sparkling in the sunlight
But below this human dana mile
away-where the brook still crept slug
gishly, the ambulance horses shifted and
started from IL.
The detail moved on slowly, doing
their work expeditiously and apparent
ly callously, but really only with that
mechanical movement that saves emo
zion. Only once were they moved TO an
outbreak OF indignation-th discovery
of the body of an officer whose pockets
were turned inside out, but whose hand
was still tightly grasped on his but
toned waistcoat, as il resisting the out
rage that had been done while still in
life. AS the men disengaged the stiff
ened hand something slipped from the
waistcoat TO the ground. The corporal
picked IL up and handed IL TO his officer.
II was a sealed packet. The officer re-
ceived IL with the carclessness which
long experience of those pathetic mis-
sives from the dying TO their living re-
lations had induced, and dropped IL in
the pocket OF his tunic, with the half
dozen others that he had picked up that
morning. and moved on with the de-
tail. A little further on they halted in
the attitude of attention as mounted
officer appeared riding slowly down the
line.
There was something more than the
habitual respect of their superior In
their faces as he came forward. For it
was the general who had commanded
the brigade the day before-the man
who leapcd with one bound into the
forward rank OF military leaders. 1t
was his inyincible spirit that had led
the advance, held back defeat against
overwhelming numbers, sustained the
rally, impressed his subordinate officers
with his own undertaking purpose, and
even impressed among them an almost
superstitious belief in his destiny OF
success. Ii was this man who had done
what was deemed impossible to do
what even at this time il was thought
unwise and unstrategic TO do-who had
held n weak position, OF apparently no
Importance, under the mandate OF an
incomprehensible order from his supe-
rior-which ut best only asked for a
sacrifice and was rewarded with a vic
tory. He had decimated his brigade,
bnt the wounded and dying had cheered
him as he passed, and the survivors
| had pursued the enemy until the bugle
called them back. For such q record he
looked still too young and even effemi-
nate, albeit his handsome face was
| dark and serious and his manner taci-
turn.
His quick eye had already caught
sight of the rifled body OF the officer and
contracted AS the captain OF the de-
tail soluted him he said CURLY:
81 thought the orders were 10 fire
upon anyone desecrating the dead2"
They nre, general, but the hyena'
don't give us chance. That's all yon
der poor fellow saved from their claws,
replied the officer as he held up tho
sealed packet. ut has no address"
The general took il, examined the en-
velope. thrust it into his belt and said
81 will take charge OF it,"
The sound OF horses hoofs came
from the rocky roadside beyond tn,
bush. Both men turned. A number
Of field officers were approaching
"The division staff" said the captain
in lower voice, falling back.
They came slowly forward, a centra
figure on n gray horse leading here, al
in history. a short, thiclS-set mar
with grizzled beard closely cropped
around nm inscrutable mouth, and tn
serious formality OF n respectable coun
try deacon in his aspect, which even thu
single star on the nhoulder-strap OF hi
loose tunic and his soldicrly seat in TIN
saddle could not entirely obliterat'
He had evidently perceived the genera
OF the brigade and quickened his hors
as the latter drew up. The staff fol
lowed more leisurcly, but still with SOM
curiosity 10 witness the meeting OF tn
first general OF the army with the latest
The division general salutcd, but al
most instantly withdrew his leathe
gauntlet, and offered his barred hand q
the brigadier. The words of the heroc
are scant. The drawn-up detail, tn
waiting staff listened. This was al
they heard.
bullock tells me you're from Call
formal"
Eyes, general"
"Ahl l lived there too in the carl
days. Wonderful country. Developc
greatly since my time, suppose"
Great resources. Finest wheat
growing country in the world, sir. 70
don't happen 10 know what the actuo
crop was this year?"
Hardly, general, but somothin
enormous"
: Eyes, always said twould be. ITav
a cigar2"
lie handed his cigar case TO the brig
adler. Then he took one himself, lighr