The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-08-14

see the rough riders position. They were lying
down on the ridge. under flre. and every once
In a while one would pop up. throw up his hands
and drop again. Then another would do 1t and
another. l couldn't made IL out. With the first
one l thought It might DO a death leap. but 1
decided they wouldn't all be dying the same
dramatic way. BY and by a wounded man came
dragging back from tho front, and 1 said to
him:
What makes those Johnnies jump up and
throw up their hands and dropT 1 asked.
H Rrinned through the blood on his face
and said: oh. the darned fools are 40 full Of
ginger they Just can't lie still. and every once
ana while ono OF them Just jumps up and
gives a Comanche yell. to let of steam
There was nothing the matter with our men
at Santiago and Guasimas but, I'm telling you.
we had the kind Of officers a man would follow
to hen"-and the man leaned back on his pill
lows. looking as though he had at least been to
the outposts OF the region mentioned.
The Spanish sharpshooters did az much
damage down there "a the big guns, and they
took pains to pick out the men with stripes. I
suppose they thought they were the fellows We
valued most. That accounts for the number Of
officers wounded and dead. But, bless you.
there was no use pinking one OF our leaders.
They had to plug him through the lungs or
W ~ AAAbAs = eNV -hS ANAA~N
OF them badly wounded. but paying no atten-
ton to 1t at all. The doctors couldn't keep
them at the rear II they were able to toddle.
why. our Lieutenant, Byram, got O bullet
through his head. In at the temple and
out at the topaz eighth Of an inch
swerve would have settled him. He plunged
right ahead with his men; but some OF them
got hold OF him and forced him to go back TO
the rear. The doctor saw to him. bandaged
htnNN Nn wA,N Ii. 4. L1--l --l A-Il
him he mustn't stir. He waited till the doctor
was out Of sight. then he made a sneak through
the brush. caught up with his men. and went to
fighting again as though his head wasn't all
tied up In bandages. He kept 1t up like a good
one until he began to stagger and lurch and
couldn't keep his feet; and then he was swear
Ing mad because the men made him go back to
the doctor. That's the kind Of men we followed
down In Cuba"
The happiest moment I had In Cuba was
while / was in the hospital at Siboney." said
the handsome Congratulations in spite Of
his Cuban complexion-and he grinned remi-
niscently, I'D been lying there half starved
and wholly miserable. The doctor had dressed
my foot and told me I could save it II 1 could
get it dressed twice a day. Sometimes 1 got 1t
dressed once a day and sometimes once in
three days. and l wasn't happy.
U "o kOI u llilp VI " hlu iulhIuCk
for meals. That's all right. It's soldiers fare.
but I'm not denying it pals on q fellow who is
sick and cranky. 1 thought I'd sell my soul for
something good to eat; and. one day. q fellow
who had been in our tent came in and slipped
something into my hand. What do you think 1t
WASP A can Of devilled ham Ye gods! but that
ham was goodl l could have cried for happi-
ness over it. 1 lay there and ate 1t with my
fingers and thought OF all the picnics where I'd
eaten devilled ham sandwiches. and Of all the
pretty girls who were at the picnics. until l had
a regular pipe dream. q sybarite sort OF an
orgy. and forgot all about my foot. Don't talk
to me about nectar and ambrosia. Give me
devilled ham.
DO you know. 1t breaks my heart to think
we fellows can't be turned loose on the summer
resorts. Just wouldn't we have the time Of our
livesl In q year or two we'll be blasted PEN
%sioners; but now we're heroes, and any one OF
us could be q bowling social success. We're
wasting our sweetness here. Now. II we could
just flock to the resorts. we could all marry
rich and hero-worshipping young women. and
that would relieve the Government Of paying
us pensions. I feel I'm missing the opportunity
OF my life. but that leg isn't in shape for sea
bathing or mountain climbing" And he
looked cheerfully down at the bandaged stump.