The times., 1897-06-13
Private Green

/, center Of this sink was puddle Of water
such water as q thirsty horse would
hardly have touched with his nose d second
time. In the breast of the sand ridge
was a shallow cave-the home OF the de-
serter.
lis this this where you have been hid
ing.' asked the officer, as he looked atsJIs
him.
For the last ten days-yes answered
private Green Make hourself at Ilorne.
You will have TO wait here until the In
dians clear OUT
That was the water the soldier had
used to quench his thirst the shallow cave
his shelter from To sun andthe night There
was 10 fire-no food He must have had
food to i've bnt he must have been COM
PEELED to eat it raw. No wonder he looked
pinched and haggard and wolfish. He
flung himself down on the sands and turned
away from the officer Had the deserter
been armed the officer would have feared
an attack Whilst he did not fear that. tho
mans singular demeanor bred apprehen-
sion. He had been driven TO desert-to
become wanderer on the face of the
desert-to hunger and thirst and feel that
his life was in peril every hour Capt.
bowers' thoughts were anything but pleas
ant as he sat in the shelter and looked out
upon the recruit who had the outspoken
sympathy OF four-fifths o the garrison. An
hour passed away Then the officer said:
Green, I've been thinking we were
too hard on you. and am free TO Fay
1 am sorry for it. II you'll go back to
the fort with me things shall be differ
ent"
The man stretched on the sands made
no reply. He knew enough of military
discipline to know that cOurt-mar-
tial awaited him for striking his supe-
rior officer and deserving. They must
find him guilty and pass sentence, no
matter how well disposed. He had stood
all hecould, and on thenight ofhisdesertion
be had sworna solemn oath to have revenge
upon his captain before he died Chance
had thrown the officer into his hands
As he lay there he was planning murder.
lie meant to get up by and by and spring
upon the captain, no matter about the pis-
tol Reduced in strength as he was for the
want Of proper food, the thought OF his
wrongs nerved himself up and he felt him
self more than a match for the man
at his back After a while, however, the
thought OF bloOdshed left him, and ne
smiled grimly as he got a new plan.
The sun was almost down as he reused
up and said:
We must be moving-folIow me-
Which way?" asked the officer.
The recruit headed for the west. ous
upon the open desert. without a reply,
and the captain followed him in a dazed
and wondering way. The sun went down
and they toiled on. Darkness came, and
Unr rt.tIl-.
that they were going west When dark.
ness came he lost his bearings, Just as ths
soldier had planned he should BY and by
the two were walking around in a circle.
each piodding along with his head down.
ana neither asking nor answering ques-
tiOns-
of sudden the recruit disappeared Tbs
OFFICER peered through the darkness, bus
Hould catch no sight or human form. He
stopped and listened. but no football reach.
ed MS ear He mad been nervous and AZ.
prehensive before. now he was suddenly
almost eerror-strickeu. He was miles and
miles from the fort-m!les and miles out
upon the lonely desert. A dozen times no
triede6 brace up and fight away the feeling
or heipiessness, but i5 was too strong TO be
shaken off He should have sat down Co
wait for daylight. but his fears kept him
moving He called for Private Green; ne
shouted and shrieked his name a hundred
times; but there was no answer. When he
had grown so hoarse that his voice could
no longer be heard he began running, andhe
grew yet more fearful He was not afraid
of the soldier not afraid Of the serpeuts
and lizards; he did not fear the darkness
He was afraid Of himself Until midnighs
he ran and walked by turns, always hoping
that every darker shadow was tie form
OF the mau he had driven to desertion, but
ever disappointed At length he fell down
from exhaustion, and daylight found him
groNeiing N the sand and human figure
seated beside him When the sun came
up Private GIeen reached out his hand and
quietly said:
Come, captain-we are going to the
fort''
The officer looked up and smiled vacantiy
and talked to himself in whispers. Next
day at noon he entered the post alone, btIs
the sentinel at the gate caught sight Of
another figure down in the bushes, and
knew that officer and deserter hadmet.
Here is Capt. Bowersi" was shouted
By score Of privates and officers as the
man stood at the gate and stared stupidity
around him.
They pressed foI ward to shake the Off
Ger by the hand, and question him about
his adventures, but he drew away and
cast his eyes down and muttered and
smiled He nu longer had a mind aud
Private James Green was Teven ged.
Months afterward the captain got about
again, hut he was so queer that his
resignation was handed In and accepted
and he drifted no one knew whittier.
CHARLES B. LEWIS.