The record-union., 1898-07-24

|
ed away. but hung about on the still
air, and presently concealed the village
and those nearest to it, The marines
We're moved up nearer, and half of
them were led round to the rear, just
| in time to see issuing from the huts
the desperate natives, who fired upon
their advancing foes, and then turned
and fed. The marines opened fire upon
the fugitives, and they, realizing that
their retreat was cut off, rushed back
| to the Village only to be met by the
merciless black volunteers and the Spa
his. Some of the unfortunate wretches
! advanced boldly against the marines,
killing one of them and wounding two
others, but they could not withstand
the heavy fire directed against them,
and the few who We're left alive fell
upon their knees and Frustrated them
selves. crying for quarter
The French officers. ~ dint of driv-
ing back their allies with threats and
blows, even shooting few of them.
managed to save the lives of a small
remnant of the gallant foe, but most
of them lay dead or desperately wound
ed by the time the firing had ceased
GaSpard was sick at heart as he
marched past those groanng or silent
boulSS, MS cneeFeO anu
laughed. but it had come home 20 him
with appalling directness that he was
a murderer! Never before had he seen
his position clearly In the excitement
and the confusion he had fired as he
had been taught to do, and two men,
at least, he had seen fall after he had
aimed at them. The fisher lad had not
the heart of a soldier for all his courage,
and in his mnid perpetually was the
cry. Il have slain man to my wound
ing, and a young man to my hurt
That day the victors rested in the
captured village, and toward night the
women came from the country outside
and tried to carry off the bodies of their
men, wailng out their death chants
with an awful, piteous monotony that
depressed the most eXuberant Of the
marines. Fascinated yet Mortified.
Gaspard watched their 1.-the forms as
they tore their hair and flung their arms
above their heads in gestures of wild
grief, and wept over their dead. One
of the women, who was crouched beside
the body of a fine young warrior, turned
upon Gaspard as he passed and spat
at him, uttering words which, from her
manner of delivering them seemed
to be curses. Gaspard wondered if that
!
head was a tiny wound, from which
the dark blood had oozed thickly, and
his face wore look of pain and anger
'Accursed be the weapons of death;
accursed be the hired murderers who
slay at the word of command those who
have never harmed them,"
! GaSpard looked at the woman: he
met the full gaze of her eyes of hatred,
of savage agony mad savage love and
he flung down his rifle with a catter
and marched on.
Private Meudon. what means this?"
shouted Sergeant Croix. Go. pick up
your rile,'
Il shall not use it again, Sergeant
Look at that woman
What have the black cattle to do
with you? You have done your duty;
it is enough Pick up your rife!"
Gaspard STROBE on and never an
sWered, and so the Sergeant picked UP
the rifle himself, and reported Private
Meudon to the Lieutenant, and the cul-
prit was sent for.
DO you know what you deserve?"
asked Lieutenant ValIon, who was a
kindly man although a severe disciplin-
arian, and who had no wish to be Sc
we're with a man who had fought his
first battle gallantly.
Gaspard was silent
Death is the punishment" hazarded
the Lieutenant He had no exact
knowledge Of what the punishment was
for such unprecedented behavior. Clear
ly, however, Gaspard had been guilty of
disobedience of orders while in an en-
emy's country
Gaspard was unmoved 1t was evil
dent to thetofficer that this man was
no coward, and so he tried to reason
with him.
You must have had some motive for
throwing away your rifle. Come out
with it. my lad."
Il have killed men" The words came
out slowly, reluctantly, and Lieutenant
Nallon laughed outright at the answer.
And what do you suppose your rifle
was given TO you for? To light a fire
with, eh?'
They are murdered, Their wives
and children are broken hearted. l
know it,
You know nothing. you fool. These
pigs do not value life so much as you
value your cigar. If you hadn't killed
them they'd have killed you"
Then | would have died without the
guilt of murder my SOUL
You'd have died like a pig dies,
squealing a protest, that's all. What
were you before you joined the ma
rines?"
"A poor fisherman, Lieutenant"
And how many fish did you make
widows and orphans?" asked the Lieu
tenant.
Fish have no souls, but all people
have, even black people, SO the cure
used to say
But you haven't killed their souls,
mani"
mo, but in taking the lives of men
I have lost my own SOUL
"Pouf I'll absolve you, mon en-
fant.'
1T is impossible, Lieutenant"
What The officer was angry at
the mans obstinacy now. What?
Speak to your officer like that, Here,
Sergeant, put this imbecile under ar
rest We haven't any cells, but do
your best to make him feel what a fool
he is"
The Sergeant grinned intelligently
and marched the prisoner off to hut
and placed a guard at the door. The
hut was filthy and the air foul. but
there Gaspard had to remain, thirsty
and restless and silent, until the guard
was relieved, and then he asked for
water.
"Sergeant's orders are that you are to
pOna until Won recover yOllr