The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-05-23

from the main body or the army, Salu
a young soldier "Of course, we knew
what it was to do picket duty That
part of soldering we had learned at
Peekskill. But somehow or other every
man in our regiment seems to dread
performing the same duty here in
Cuba, and when the sergeant told me
that was detailed for the squad to be
sent out. that evening, L would have
given all that possessed to have been
seized with apoplexy or any other
trouble that would have enabled me to
escape the ordeal. The sergeant (you
remember Billy?) said he was awfully
was nothing to do but get ready to
start out for the Ito mel unknown
place at which l was to be left alone
TO listen Git was too dark to see) for
the approach of the Spanish volunteers.
1t was just about sunset when we were
drawn up and counted by the sergeant.
who reported to Captain Smith that all
were present.
Then the captain gave the COM
mand: BY twos right, turn, forward
and we (there were 20 of us) started at
a walk toward forest on the slope of
a mountain, which was q couple of
miles from camp. We had not gone
more than half a mile when a ragged,
long-haired Cuban. who seemed to
emerge from the road, stood before us.
He looked for all the world like a cut
throat, and my heart stopped beating
as he raised his rifle and pointed it
directly at Tom. Before we had time
to know whether he was going to shoot
or not, he said something in Spanish.
Tom lifted his regulation felt hat and
nlaced II on the pOmmel of his saddle.
MI HE
rifle. and, bowling almost to the ground.
advanced with outstretched hand.
Tommy and Bill rode few PAGES
ahead of us, and. after talking q few
minutes, Bill came back and ordered
us to march The Cuban and Tommy
went 10 or Is feet ahead of us. We
could catch word now and then and
l discovered that the Cuban spoke
English all right. The country is full
to leave your horses we'll in the rear.
If YOU insist upon keeping your ami
mails, their hoofs must be wrapped in
blankets; otherwise the noise of their
shoes striking the stones will be a dead
giveaway.'
Tommy at once ordered a halt, and
in a remarkably short time we had cut
up our thin blankets and tied them
around our horses feet. The Cuban
then started on foot, with Tommy rid
ing by his side and the rest of us fol-
lowing, twos front. This order pre-
vailed until the edge of the forest was
reached. Then Tommy ordered us to
dismount and tie our horses to the
trees.
After a consultation between our
captain and sergeant and the Cuban,
the order was given in d whisper for
IS of us to prepare to spend the night
there with the horses, and the other
four, including Billy, to follow the Gu
ban, who was to post us wherever he
pleased. Tommy shook hands with us
four and said: Boys, you're now go
ing on a dangerous expedition, but II Is
even more honorable than dangerous.
Upon you depends the safety, not only
of those of US whom you are to leave
here, but of the entire army as well.
Your orders are TO fire upon anybody
whom you may see-if you can see in
this jungle-and then, if there seems to
be an enemy near, fire twice, as quickly
as you can do so. We will hear your
shots, and if you fire only once, shall
send a man to you. If you fire three
times as l have ordered, you will have
to look out for yourselves. You will be
posted 200 yards apart, and your beats
will join, enabling you, jointly, to see,
or at least hear, all that goes on along
the southern or furtheSt slope of the
mountain. The counterSign which you
are to give one another, and which we
shall give to you when we relieve you
at daybreak is ''Sigsbee forever
with these directions We started
afoot, led by the Cuban, and were soon
lost in the forest. This man said never
a word until we came upon a Dromon-
tory overlooking the ground which we
had Just traversed. In the distance,
like stars in a half hazy night, I saw
hundreds of bright specks, which l con-
| cluded were our campfires. The Cuban
whispered something to Billy. who
| halted us. I was told that this was my
post and that 1 was to walk one hun
dred PAGES to the west and retrace my
steps, using the campfires as a guide,
until they were put out, which would
be about o'clock. I was to stop walk
ing every few seconds and listen If
heard the twigs cracking was to lie
down and watch. My neighbor would
whistle softly one long note. and by this
was to know him and challenge.
The boys babe me good luck, and |
was alone.
For the first time in my life 1 knew
what solitude meant. The air was
heavy, and the stiffness filled me with
a strange feeling of utter hopelessnesS.
1 stood where l was when the boys left
for their posts until the sound of crack
ling twigs was lost in the general muir
muir of the wilderness of INTERVIEWING
| foliage. Perspiration came upon my
face. l heard my heart beat in rhythm
with nv watch. Strange sounds kept
me in a state of tension. 1t seemed an
| hour since my comrades left me, and