The times., 1897-08-01
An Enemy's Bullet
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go to sleep again If you can. It's my
last night on earth, and 1 cant close my
eyes
But who can say you'll even be-
scratched tomorrow protested the cor
poral.
Let me tell you something. / haven't
the courage TO go through battle which
may last fer hours. I shall want TO run
away at once. Then I shall do this
And lie pulled his revolver from its
holster and just put the muzzIe to his tenn
pie, and for half minute the men
looked into each others eyes and neither
broathed- Then the corporal gasped:
Its awful, sir-iG's just awfuIi''
But II sio it," said the captain, as
he rose up and moved away.
The sun was scarcely above the tree
tops next morning when the battle opened.
1t began on the right wing aud rolled down
along the front as you have seen a great
wave run along breakwater. Ina quarter
OF an hour from the first crash OF mBsketry
the center was fighting for its life. The
men OF Company Who had said to each
other the afternoon before, Watch the
captain" gave him no thought on this
morning. They saw the battle lines OF
the energy marching out one after an
other to attack them, and they waited
with bated breath for the first shock.
Only the corporal had his eye on Capt.
Bligb. AS the men reused up from sleep
and took hasty bite. the captain moved
among them. As the order came to form
battle lines he repeated them. He was
| pale-faced, hut he held himself erect and
| his lips Were compressed.
| eft will he ton Foiuutoc mora Of fbf1
| waiting" said the corporal, to himself.
as he looked across the fields at ths
| traInping lines. '-If he can hold out for
| ten minutes he will pull through the
/ batte."
| Tramp. Tramp Tramp, 4 host OF men
N gray, with flags ripping in the morning
breeze and lines dressed as II on parade.
| moved across the barren fields with stern
set faces Along the lines IN blue the men
| lay in thousands behind the breastwork of
rails and dirt, with every musket at the
full cock and every finger on the trigger.
| ''God. but how pale he isr'' whispered the
| corporal, as he turned his head TO look at
the captain They are eorning-they VIII
be in range in three minutes more-he will
pull through
Tramp, Tramp, Crashi Crash! 4 wall of
smoke iolling over the meadows-ten thou
sand cheers and yelIs and curses as the
shock came Before the volIey there had
hee1 silence in tue ranks of Company B. As
the sheets OF flame leaped out every man
began To cheer or curse
This viii break the strain and bearten
him up all Iight now said the corporal, as
he Pee red through the smoke
Five minutes later as ne was pulling a
dead man aside tHe captain stood before
him He had deserted his place. His face
bUTe the palloT of death, even when seen
through the heavy smoke, and hiseyes Ioox-
ed the terror which WIS eating at his soul.
go back captain-for Gods sake go
back.'' shouted the corporal, as be POINTED
to the head of the line.
I'm running ava running wavi'' re.
piled the captain, as ne grasped the man by
the shoulder, and screamed Tire words in 70
his ear. Il told you 1 couldn't stand It,
and / told you--f
In his right hand he had his revolver.
He lifted the weapon toward his face. and
the corporal seized it and cried:
Don t. captain-don'ti You are all right
nowl &C baek-go backl No, I WON'T
, God, hut look al that!''
A bullet from over the breastwcrk had
struck the captain in the head an i srat
tered tie corporal with his blood II wa.
thousand times better that than dishonoI
OF suicide.
CHARLES B. LEWIS,