The times., 1897-06-13

or the eighteen recruits who came out
to the Fourth Cavalry once upon q time,
as it was stationed at Fort Bascombe, was
Private James Green, who was assigned to
Company B. From the first hour he
came among us, we realized that be was
OF good birth, well educated. and that he
had enlisted in order to disappear from the
world for q time. There are plenty Of
such cases, and they excite no particular
interest or remark. Unless a soldier
wishes to talk OF his past, he is seldom
questioned by his comrades. II recruit
is set down as gentleman. the Inference
is that family troubles or some wild aH
venture was the cause OF his enlistment,
and the matter is never referred TO unless
he makes an enemy among his comrades.
1t was the misfortune OF Company b to
have a captain who was hated by his men,
and not well liked by the officers of the
regiment. But for the fact that he was
blood relation OF the coIonel's, his posi-
tion would have been made so unccmfort-
able in one way and another that he would
have been forced to resign He not only
drank too much 10 keep his dignity and
maintain the respect due an officer, but
was fault-finding and tyrannicaI, and was
given To IBeddlng with petty affairs which
were none Of his business
Capt Bowers excuse for getting down"
on private Green was that the recruit was
impudent and arrogant. When this was
sifted down it was found that he hadques-
toned the soldier regarding his past life
and the reasons which had induced him to
enlist, and his curiosity had been by no
means satisfied. He may have been u
little stiff in lis refusal, as was his right
under the circumstances, but his refusal to
unbosom himself made the captain his
enemy, and fer months he was prosecuted
man Few officers descend from their
pedestal to mag an enlisted man, but
Capt Bowers did it 70 his own shame and
TO the scandal of the post. That he was an
enemy Of Private Green made ali Che ser
geauts and corporals down OF the man, and
as Il consequence he put in more days in
the guardhouse than in his barrack. It
was the general belief that the recruit
was trying his best, and that he was by
no means given show. Capt. Bowers
knew that this was the feeling, but that
only made him the more persistent in his
course
After three or four months something
happened which should have made the
captain change his program and feel that
he owed private Green debt OF gratitude
Companies and ID were scouting along
the eastern edge OF the great stake1
Plains of Texas in search OF Indians. with
whom we were then at war. At noon one
day the two companies separated To beat
up both sides OF ridge, and after d mile
or so the 3 nsen wert suddenly charged b.
abogt TOO Indians, who had been con
cealed in a. fringe OF bushes. The troop
ers were taken by surprise, but made
good fight OF it, and. after ten minutes,
beat off their assailants-
In their first rush the Indians surrounded
Capt Bowers who was few yards ahead
of his company, and they sought to make
him captive instead Of killing him But
for the actions OF private Green, who dashed
forward to the help of his officer while ali
others were confused for the moment, the
captain would have been taken. 1t went
down in the military reports that the new
man killed three redskins with his own
hand, and all his comrades declare tnat ne
saved the leader OF the troop. For the next
two or three weeks there was cessation
OF the nagging, but the fact that he owed
his life tothe man hehad prosecuted ranked
in the captains breast and after awhile
some excuse was found for sending Private
Green to the guardhoIse in disgrace. The
man made up his mind that he was being
bounded and that life would be made
miserable, and he decided 10 desert IL is
probable that the sentry on duty at mid
night winked at the escape from the guard
house, but it was unfortunate for Private
Green that he should meet his captain
face To face before he was clear OF the
grounds So it came about, and Capt
Bowers seized and sought TO detain him.
In the struggle he was knocked dow1 and
re ndered unconscious for time, and
next morning the chase after the deserter
was taken upand pushed with greatenergy.
The country was secured for days and days,
hut Private Green had disappeared like
shadow.
a month after the assault and deser-
tion Company b was ordered out alone
for a scout over the same ground as before,
with orders TO pick up the tran of any
small war party and follow il up vigor-
ousy Such a trail was found leading
straight out upon the sandy desert, hut il
had not been followed above two miles
when the troopers ran upon large force
of Indians in ambush behind ridge OF
Capt Bowers horse was wounded at the
first yolley. and, mad with pain and fright,
dashed off TO the west, and could not he
checked. The troop broke up under the
fire of the Indians, and after suffering a
heavy loss, de back to the fort III a state
OF panic. closely followed by the eNultant
victors. After a mad rush of seven or
eight miles, the captains horse fell ex-
hausted. and soon died The officer knew
tnat his command had been routed. and
that he was cut off from it; that the In
dians did not pursue him WAS probably y
because of their desire to annihilate the
company by following swiftly on its heels.
he had ridden beyond their ken, and the
strong wind had already covered his trail
in the sand, but the fort was twelve
miles distant, and he was on foot and cut
oSf from it. He had lost his saber, but
still retained his revolver, and was seated
on the dead body of his horse and planning
what move he should make when trooper
suddenly appeared beforehim-
You is it you, Green?'' exclaimed Capt
Bowers a. he sprang TO his feet.
The other stood with folded arms and
made no reply. 1t was Private Green, the
deserter of a month ago. His uniform was
torn and stained, and the man had hag-
gard, wolfish look He had not been hiding
among the hills where the soldiers had
looked for him, but out among the sand
ridges, where his only living companions
were serpents and lizards He had been
driven there by the persecution Of the Off
Ger who stood before him. The officer
knew it as well as he, and he drew his
pistol to defend himself from the attack.
1t was two or three minutes before an