The times., 1897-11-08
THE MAKING OF A COWARD.

His name was on the muster-rolls as
William Smith, but tile men Of Comrany 5
B hailed hin. as Johnny Raw and fresh
fish, ana had no end Of fun al his ex-
pense. II was always thus with raw re
cruits, especially If there was but one.
1t was a privilege OF the old veterans To
chaff and guy and refuse comradeship
with him until be had passed through, his
first battle. They were not II-na tufed,
but they stood on their privilege. They had
enlisted at the outbreak OF the war, no
matter whether imhued with PATRIOTS n
or carried away by excitement. He rad
| remained at home until cities and towns
and wards paid bounty for recruits. lie
might gain comradeship after awhile but
he must pay the penalty Of lis hone-Iiager
ing first.
Johnny Raw hadn't been with his reg!-
rent week when his company was de
tailed for picket duty on the regimentai
front, and pushed out two miles from ca mp.
II was nothing new To the other G,en lit
was new aud strange to him, and they
should have given him show. When the
guard was made up and he was assigned
to post No. some of the veterans should
have said to him:
Look here, Johnny Raw, your post is
within eighty rods of the enemy, and
though sou want to keep your eyes
open, there Will be nothing to get rat
lied over. You viii hear strange noises
in the quiet of the night, but don't let
that upset you. Don't fire your lnusket
or raise an alarm unless you are sure
that men are moving about. Itn be
lonely trick, but don't get to shaking
over it
But no one advised him thus. on the
contrary, as he was making ready 70 20
out, one OF the men locked at him in q
plying way, and said:
Better say good-bv TO us, Johnny. and
write farewell liue 70 yoar wife. You'll
br a dead man before your time IS
outl
"Why-why should they kill rne?'' asked
the recruit in reply.
TO MAKE one Yankee less. You've
got the worst post of ALL Last month
the bushwhackers killed four different men
on that post. Better have d fit all of
Sudden and get off the detaI.''
Are there bushwhackers arouud?''
Lots of 'en,, and you'll get a knife
into your back or I'm liar. GoUd-by,
Joining Rawi Sorry to lose you, but Wen
have To pull along some how
Johnny Raw vas no coward. On the con-
trarG, lie had the right sort OF material in
him to make a good fighter. 1t was latent
and needed time to develop, but trey were
not giving him time. He did not exactly be
leve the statements Of the veteran, but
at o clock 9t night, when he fell in
with the relief TO take post No. 8, his
nerve y as shaky. 1t seemed to him that
the guard was in great hurry TO get On
and leave him to his lonely vigil, and he
eagerly listened to the retreating footsteps
and shivsred little when they could no
longer he heard Before him, behind him.
to the tight and left was the forest, and
almost at his feet was a brook which ran
haboling away through the undergrowth.
1t would have been a lonely spot without
the periIs OF war.
What's tlIat?''
Johnny Raw had been leaning a ga inst the
big beech tree, on which some one had
cut g rude figure .'5.'' He started up
with a fear in his heart as the November
breeze came soughing through the forest
aud whipped the branches about and tore
away the dying leaves. He thought it the
sound OF rushing footsteps at first and
there was such lump in his throat that
his challenge could not have been heard
ten feet away. Fer the first time in his
life he found his knees trembling and his
teeth chatlering with fear. He could not
define the danger, but he felt that he was
menaced. Tney had not told him that he
must remain on his feet. If they had he
would have been obliged to sit down at the
foot OF the tree through weakness. Eyes
and ears Were yigilant, however and as the
minutes passed and no new sound came to
threaten him. bis heart ceased to jump.
"Rustlel Rattlei Rustle!"
1ohany Raw was on his feet III an III