Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1897-12-10

their turn at me. Something 'ud loom
UP like figure in Il fog, big and sudden.
There'd be little private fight, and one
of us was down bitin' at the sand, OF
ciutchin' ut the air, or beatin' a tattoo,
or just simply still. And the sound il,
your ears was maddenin,' SO that the
eyes seemed useless. Threc-and-forty
times 1 lunged and parted, and three.
and-forty niggers made earth, and still
they popped up. And was diggin'
luzily away ut 'em wild my bayonet,
downin' of 'cm, when 1 woke up in u
field hospital tent, and Sam was holding
my hand.
"'I found him. he says, after bit.
"'Who" says l.
"'Cap'n.'
"'Didn't know he was lost says.
and went to sleep again.
''When was gcttin' well I heard all
about it.
1T seems the cap'n had got separated
in the rush, wild between four and five
bluejackets-"
Between four and five, Chatty?" I
asked.
Did say between? That's how it was
telt me. surmise there was budding
A. b. amongst 'em then, an 0. D., but
don't know for certain. They was sur
rounded by a howlin' mob, no doubt
fought away blind like did. But one
went down, and another went down,
and on'y Cap'n Bunson and one blue
jacket was left, back to back, when Sam
Calhoun came boundin' into the circus.
yellin' out 'Stamshaw for cver!' which
he Il made a kind O war-cry; and 'Wayo
Wuz-Fuz!' and SIGH things. The other
pore fellow was speared at that mint
by a big buck niger, but Sam was on
the sportsman at the same instant and
spread him out so that he never spoke
no more.
''Then he stood by the cap'n and they
fought silent. except when Sam used
hi: navy revolver or his sea-servicc cut
lass wild effect. Then he'd remark loud
enough for the cap'n to hear: Brass
buttons retired hurt, SIR referrin' to Il
chap who wore a coat but no trousies,
vino was particularly active. The brass
buttons jist shone up in the starlight,
ye understand. Chap wild a white shirt
sicked off, sir The cap'n answered not
word. but fought grim. He was breath
in hard. too. At last the crowd seemed
to melt away. and they two thought
they was safe, when another mob in full!
retreat rolled along, and pore Cap'n
Bunson fell wild shovel-headcd spear
in his chest.
The battle was ended. the enemy
WAS gone home, and the British army
camped where it stood. Search parties
went out lookin' for the wounded. but
the battle had been scattered, and no
ambulance came near Samuel, where he
stood by the cap'n. So at last he i1oisted
him up, and staggered wild him towards
the nearest camp fire, far away.
1.-The cap'n got about before I did.
My wounds was not any of 'cm dan
gerous, but they was in great plenty.
got Is hurt certificates. Just your
luck says Sam, 4 go in the same battle
and on'y git four! Look ut the honor
you've got'
"'Well, you should a stood by me, I
said, then you could Il shared it. for
all care. I amt cap'n though, l
amt
Now. Chatty,' he says. you're
Wound No. IL amt quite
healed: Go to Sleep
''The cap'n made full inquiries about
Snm's evolutions ON the battlefield. He
offered to git him promoted to war
rants billet. But Sam wouldn't take
warrant at any price. He said he wasn't
Goin' to be no salt beef squire; it was
bad enough to look after cap'ns, let
alone gunners' and boatswain' stores.
His head wasn't good enough for any
lseepin' of accounts, he said: and he was
goin' to be cap'n's cox'n and nothin'
else, except adm'ra'ls cox'n later on,
when Cap'n Bunson got his hoist to the
flag rank.
1.-The cap'n argued the point, but Sam
could always beat him ut that.
$50 the cap'n give in. But he had
forwarded an account of it all, and IL
strong recommend for the Gross. And
he got it too, did Calhoun, and the queen
herself pinned it on.
For once in a way Sam lost his
bearin's. The queen held out her hand
Tor him to kiss, and Sam ups and shakes
il hearty. She laughed, and so did the
prince, and all of 'em. Sam seen the
point then, and when the prince
stepped forward holdin' out his hand.
Sam dropped on his knee and went to
kiss it. But the prince wouldn't have
it, and they shook like old friends, and
all the court crowded around in the next
room to shake with the tall sailor. wild
For Valor' on his chest, and asst him
how he done it, and he said he didn't
know, he supposed he was excited at
the time.
"And now the cap'n's full admiral,
and Sam is adm'ral's coX'n, and his
beard torpedo-rig-which is pointed
and all goldy colorcd: the finest made
cox'n in the navy, and that is as mucl
as to say the whole world.
"And when lady visitors secs him
sittin' in the starn-sheets of the
barge, wearin' the little iron
Maltese cross, they say: The Victoria
CROSS! Dear me, how did you get that,