River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1898-11-24
THE DESERTER WENT
DOWN THE RIVER.
! STORY OF MILITARY DISCIPLINE.


I reigned also. lowering IN dense swarms
over the willows near the rivers edge
mosquitoes whose spiteful sting was
altogether out of proportion TO their
size. Even the stoical Indians from
/ the eros Ventres village, two miles
north. lust over the boundary line in
/ Montana, were visbly affected by
! those ubiquitous pests. and waved
/ eagles wings before their imperturb-
1 able, grave faces as they stood upon
/ the banks, while a cargo of military
supplies was being unIoaded from a
down river" boat.
Hitler and thither, across the parade
/ ground, figures in blue we're moving
+ slowly soldiers with the dull, apa-
/ thetic countenances characterizing so
/ many troops upon the western from
/ tier. But to-day there was Frightening
4 of faces, a quickening of steps, for the
''dowu-river" had brought letters from
/ the states and home.
An unusually generous mail, too.
/ Several men laughed when they saw
+ lack Brayton with a deeper bronze on
/ his cheeks and letter in his hand.
/ He had never been known 10 receive
1 one since the coming of the company
/ to Fort Buford He was a tall, awk-
ward fellow, one of those shambling
men who suggest some mistake on the
+ part of nature in choosing material too
/ hastily. He stood now just opposite
/ The gymnasium, the letter tluttering ia
/ his grasp, the torn envelope crushed in
one strong hand He had read it over
/ twice. and was beginning at the first
/ page again, mumbling il indistinctly:
/ You and me amt been as much 10
each other as husband and wife Oughter
/ be. If We had. YOU wouldn't never have
/ goneaway. Eve kept silence long time,
waiting foryouto say you cared, but you
don't say that yet; and now it's NY
cough and the strange feelings all over
me that make me write. The doctor
says it won't be long-and there's little
Jim and the baby"
lie stopped suddenly and crumpled
the pitiful scraNl in his brawny fist
and pushed the back of his hand across
his deep-set eyes.
Il don't know rightly what III do.
! he began, desperately; aud then he
Strengthened up, as comrade ap-
preached. laughing.
Lots Of news, Zack?" he queried in
a teasing way.
Ten minutes later Zaek Braytou
stood more awkwardly than ever, be
fore the highest authority in the fort
| That officer had received pleasant news
from home. and he uubent his military
dignity to a surprising degree, and was
chatting merrily with several subor
/ dinates.
"Wel. my man." was his remark
when lacks presence was noticed
The private saluted awkwardly, lie
began to speak in low, hesitating
voice.
"Beggin your pardon, colonel, bit
I've got a word I'd like to say-icast
wise. if"
Talk to your captain" interrupted
the officer. recalling his dignity now
He was tired OF hearing complaints anc
there had been too many OF late.
Not as Id oughter bother you sir
but the fact is"
Well speak out. What is ito" sale
the officer, with some show of impa
fence
MY wife" he began, huskily, she
is sick. and I lowed maybe you had &
wife. colonel, an you'd know how
Where is she?"
Back in Missoury."
And you want a furl0ugh? It's i'm
possible, sir. If we needed half the re
quests we shouldn't have soldier lef'
en- the post. Don't you see, my good
fellow
Yes. sir" replied lack. simply.
When he was clear Of the quarters he
leaned against post as if needing sup
mort of some sort. Yet Zack was
strong man, certainly
In this high latitude the sun cheats
YOU out of the evening hours, and sets
at nearly ten O'Clock. \ detachment
OF troops were assisting the steamb boat
oustabouts in unloading military sup
plies. At dark AambeauN were tiaring
from the boats guards, by the light OF
which they completed their laoors
Then the bluecoats marched back tC
the barracks, preceded by train OF
government wagons.
4 few roustaboujs, huddled upon the
boiler deck. were grum bling uniledis
about some trihe, as Missouri river
roustabouts have habit of doing. The
ri.ht became very dark at Iast-so dark
that even had one been looking in that
direction he would not have noticed a
man who crept out Of the willow bog
and. stepping cautiously into al Indian
bull-boat" at the wharf, driftei off
with the swift current under cover OF
friendly shadows.
III a few moments. at best. the man 5
absence from the fort would be dis
covered Ii was one chance in a hun
bred. but Jack Brayton took his
chance. and foated down the river. The
lights OF the steamer receded in the
/ GarkueSs. not sound broke the still
ness save the plash, plash of the pad
die. Bending forward straiuing his
+ ewes TO catch the first glimpse of danger
in whatever form. the current bore him
on.
Only for her-her and her children, u
he muttered, under his breath, while
his eyes grew moist. He wiped them
hastily, as though anyone could per
.eive his weakness
On-on, The water undulated great
ly under he boat as he f1oated Oh its
broad dark bosom. Now the current
set in near the shore, and mysterious
sounds were borne out TO him from
those wild forest depths sounds
neither man nor beast could make. 4
lone owl hooted dismally from a tree
top. Instantly the woods seemed alive
with the strange responses. He felt
awed. and heayed a sigh of relief y hen
he current bore him far out into the
stream once more.
With the first flush Of dawn tho sol
der guided his primitive craft TO the
shore. drew il up out Of the water and
managed 20 hide the unwieldy bulk in
| he bushes Tie looked at the stretched
buffalo skin with affection, thinking