Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1896-10-22
THE DISPATCH BEARER.
The Story of a Brave Deed.
BY r. N. STEPHENS.

W nCh uuO uCudOAlluCAU uCdICu ULlS
town at evening, the Captain com.
manding was surprised to see that ii
was already occupied by small in
fantry regiment of the enemy, who
had hastily thrown up earthworks on
the side accessible by land.
So the Captain made a halt and
sent back an orderly to the Colonel
for reinforcements or orders. The
night was spent in digging trenches
and raising rude temporary fortitl-
cation within musket shot Of the
enemy.
All the next gray, sunless day the
opposing forces irregularly ratified
forth their mutual maleVolence
across neglected fields, like two dogs
barking at each other from behind
fences on opposite sides Of a street.
At o'clock, when the dusk was
gathering, a man was wanted to risk
his life. The mounted orderly re-
turning with the Colonel's dispatch
from another direction than that in
which he had set out, had foolishly
ridden up across the line of the enc
my's fire. When within a few hun
dred yards OF the trenches he had
thrown back his head clapped one
hand to his side, held his message
aloft in the other hand, and fallen
forward-dead-upon his horse. Fiji
ty feet nearer the animal had plunged
in pain and rolled over upon his
bleeding rider. Both lay in the dust,
and the captive cried:
"a volunteer to bring the ColonePs
dispatch!"
Four tired and dusty privates
shambled forward. The Captain
looked from one to the other of their
gaunt faces. Before he had made a
selection, q shrill voice was heard
from somewhere crying:
"I'm off, CaptainW
At the same time form was seen
to scramble to the top Of the embank-
ment to leap forward, and to disap-
pear outside.
"Some ones gone without orders,
Captain" said the Sergeant.
The Captain thought for a mo-
ment, then addressed the four voluL-
teers:
swat till we see how this one
makes out. Who is he, Sergeant?"
The Sergeant stood at one of the
embrasures tnat had been scooped in
the parapet, his eye fixed on the small
perspective of country visible through
the opening. Others peered through
other embrasures. The Captain stood
near the Sergeant, but did not ex-
pose himself to the small chance Of
being entered by a bit Of lead that
might stray through the opening.
81 can't make him out, muttered
the Sergeant, in reply. It's too dark
to see plain. He's down on his belly
crawlin' along the ground toward the
orderly's body like snakes"
"That takes time" grumbled the
Captain.
"But '' he ran for it on two feet
their sharpshoOters would bring him
down sure" observed the Sergeant.
"They don't seem to notice him, :"
said the First Lieutenant, who had
posted himself at an embrasure.
"Have they sent any out to bag the
dispatch?" inquired the Captain. ap-
prehensiyely.
II can't see, their works are so far
away, and its quite dark over there,
except where a few of their lights
move about. No one has come in
sight, anyhow, replied the First Lieu
tenant
This happened when warfare was
yet primitive as compared with pos
sible military operations in these days
of tremendous guns and search-iights
and other means which make it easy
for battles to occur between armies
several miles apart.
The Captain was thirsty but wished
not to leave his place at the embra-
sure until the dispatch should be in
his hands. He sent private for his
canteen.
sect it from Billy" he directed.
Billy was boy he had recently taken
from the ranks to be his personal at
tendant-a youth of Is, who had en-
listed when the company mad been
formed, having succeeded in being
accepted by the recruiting officer in
spite of his non-conformity with the
requirements.
The private came back without
having found Billy, butwith the can
teen, which a corporal had picked UP
in trench.
81 wonder where the scamp'sgOne.
said the Captain to the First Lieu
tenant. 'Deserted, I'll betl He was
a young coward. 1 told him so the
other day, when he was afraid to "a
out to the we'll for water under fire.
81 know" said the Lieutenant
withdrawing his eyes for moment
from the embrasuTe. "Billy told me
about 1t himself. 1t nearly broke the
youngsters heart. 1 found him lying
with his face to the ground behind