The times., 1898-07-03

at least lie mad seen ldu dIteT he hdo
aimed at them. The fisher-lad had not
the heart of a soldier for all his courage,
and in his mind pereptually was the cry,
II have -slain a man to my wounding, and
a young man to my hurt"
That day the victors rested in the cap
tured village, and toward night the wo-
men came from the country outside and
tried to carry off the bodies of their men,
wailing out their death chants with an
awful, piteous monotony that depressed
the most exuberant of the marines. Fas-
cinated. yet horrified, Gaspard watched
their 1.-the dark forms as they tore their
hair and flung their arms about their
heads in gestures of wild grief and Wept
over their dead. One of the women, who
was crouched beside the dead body of
fine young warrior, turned upon Gas
pard as he passed and spat at him, utter
ing words which, from her manner of de-
liyering them, seemed TO be curses. Gas
pards wondered if that man had died by
his hand. In his forehead was tiny
wound, from which thecdark blood had
oozed thickly, and his face wore a look
of pain ana anger ~
''Accprsed be the. weapons of death; ac-
cursed be the hired murderers who siay
at eswordsof, command those who have
never harmed themp
Gaspard looked atathe, woman; he met
the fun gaze of her eyes of hatred, of
savage agony ana saFage love- and he
flung down his Titlss with a ciatter and
marched on
Private Meudan,-what means this?"
shouted Sergeant Croix. Go, pick up
your srfiier' Ac.=$s'<
Il shall not use it again, sergeant. Look
at that wonian!'
What 7have the black cattle to do with
you? You have done your duty; 1t is
enough. Pick up your rjae"
(1aSDar6 stroda on and never answered
and 80 the ergeants picked up the rife
himself. and reported Private Meudon 10
the lieutenant, and the eulprit was sent
for
do you know what you deserve?" ask
ed Lieut.. Nailon, who, was kindly man,
although a severe disciplInarian, and who
had no wish 10 be severe with man who
had fought his first battle gallantly.
Gaspard was silent.
Death is the punishment" haZarded
the lieutenant. He had no exact knowl-
edge of what the punishment was for
such unprecedented behavior. Clearly,
however, Gaspard had been guilty of dis
obedience of orders while in an enemy's
country
Gaspard was unmoved 1t was evident
to the officer that this man was no cow
ard snd so ne tried To reason with him.
You must have had some motive for
throwing away your rifle Come, out with
it, my lad
II have Killed men, The words came
out slowiy,s reluetaptly and Lieut. Vallon
laughed outright al the answer.
"Andswhat do you suppose your rifle
was gwen TO you for? To light fire
with, chr
They are murdered. Their wives and
children are broken-l hearted. / know it!'
'.You know nothing. you fools These
black pigs do not value life so much as
you value yoar cigar If you hadn't kill
ed them they'd have killed you"
Then I would have died without the
guilt Of murder on my soul"
You'd have died Ike a pig dies.
sQueaiiag a, protest, that's all. What
were you before you Joined the marines?''
"A poor fisherman, lieutenant"
And how many fish did YOU make
widows and orphans?' asked the lieuteu-
ant.
Fish have no souls. but all people
have even black people. so the cure used
10 say
But you haven't killed their souls.
manr.
mo. but in taking the lives of men 1
have lost my own soul"
"Pouf! III absoiye you, mon enfant"
1t, is impossible. lieutenant"
Wharf.-The officer was angry at the
mans Obstinacy now. What? Speak to
your officer like that, Here. sergeant,
put this imbeciIe under arrest! We
haven't any cells. but do your best 10
make him feel what a fool he is
The sergeant srinned inteIigently and
marched the prisoner of to a hut and
placed q guard at the door. The hut was
filthy and the air foul, but there Gaspard
had 10 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
have none until you recover your senses,
comrade. Come. be q mani was the SEN
tinel's reply.
y am a mani Gaspard said proudly.
and he waited without complaint un:n
morning, when the sergeant fetched him
and marched him 10 the lieutenant.
Wen. prisoner. are you going 10 do
your duty2" asked the officer.
Il cannot kill" was the hoarse .replv.
and the swollen tongue and the cracked
purple lips told what agony OF thirst the
man had endured. In that not climate
thirst Is the most fiendish of tortures.
and the sergeant had chosen a stronc,
measure to bring Gaspard TO right
mind
Very well, said the lieutenant. do
with him as you suggest, sergeant"
PRISONER! Right about face! March,
cried the sergeant, and. joined by the
guard at the door they marched TO a
stake that had been set up in the village
street, and Gaspard was bound to If
There, in the burning ravs of the sun
half-crazed with the heat and the long
ing for water, Gaspard remained until
late in the afternoon. Then the sergeant
approached him, bearing in his hand
flask OF water and a cup. into which he
poured some of the cool LIQUID raising
the flask high so that the water fell into
the cup with sound that there is no for
getting, (saSnardS c~la 4.
lshly, but his lips and tongue We're SO
swollen that he could not utter a sound.
Private Meudon, will you obey or
ders? asked the sergeant
Inc poor scorched head nodded assent
and the mouth moved feebly; the SER
geant poured little of the water between
Gaspards lips and he tried to swallow II.
Then, in a moment his eyes frightened.
and he opened mis- mouth for more. and
swallowed 1t, and mumbled that he want
ed still more.
SO, having surrendered he was cast
loose and carried 10 a hut where he Law
for week between life and death. and
when three weeks had passed he came
again upon parade hollow-cheeked
sunken-eyed wreck, hardly able TO stand.
His rifle was in his hand, and mechanic
ally he went through his drill, managing
TO last out until parade was dismissed
and he could rest again.
Next day'ssome of the soldiers went. as
was their daily custom, to battle in the
river, and while there they were sur
prised by body of Mandingoes, who kill
ed ten or twelve of them before helm
could arrive. There was-a fort Just out
SIDE the village, and the garrison twenty
In all, had rushed out to the rescue. but
they, too, were SO far outnumbered that
they could only show a bold front and
retreat %