Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-04-22

nudged another and both looked at Owen
and sneered. Spud ground his teeth and
marked them for future slaughter.
''They know, they see it, he inwardly
groaned, and We'll be eternaIly disgracei.
Sammy, Sammy, if only l could give you
a jolly good hiding to wake you up
He slipped hand to hip pocket and
half drew something from it, but showed it
back again with great distress of face.
whats to be done? Din the Kid doc
tor! Shall I burst the cure orc! this is
the devil surer
The other boat was drawing away ahead,
for their officer cheering the oarsmen
on. He waved from his place in the stern
hand to Owen and cried back gaily: you're
not in 1t, Owenn
The men looked at Owen He made no
response. There was certain honor in
being first to set foot on the shore, but the
soldiers saw disgustedly that their officer
did not desire it. Danger was there and
he-he fiunked it. That was the sudden
thought that sprang to each mans mind
and they looked blackly on him.
Spud moved in the boat, standing up so
that he hid the lieutenant while he stopped
| on some pretense. He held out black bot
| tie and whispered angrily:
Drink, Sammy, drink, and God forgive
| US bothr'
The lieutenant looked at him in sudden
| horror. 1t was as though ones guardian
angel, who had watched for long should
| abandon his task and assume a demons
| form.
''You-you want me top
&C.. Drink and say nothing" said poor spud,
| for if fightings to be DONE that Kid doc
tors ruined you for it, DRINK
| And he drank quickly ana deeply He
| handed the bottle back to Spud, who slipped
| it away. In minute Owens face flushed
| and his eye Frightened. He stood up and
| spoke to the men, and babe the rowers pull
| He was more like himself, and their faces
| frightened.
| Pull, boys" he said, land We'll beat
those fellows for all their start. Muir
| ply" he whispered, as he sat down again,
| give me that bottle
| Spud moaned, but the first step was
taken. He passed 1T over, and again the
| officer drank, and this time he kept the
| flask. over the blue waters they SKINNED.
| The reef was near.
Two to one in VS. we beat you, Owen!'
| sang Pauks.
Done. Give way, men, Owen cried; and
| the men laughed. Spud frightened UP. The
| poison was working. He knew what the
doctor would say, but babe the morrow be-
gone! Enough to live bravely through the
| day! At the reef false turn at the tiller
| nearly capsized Parks boat. and Owen
gained and passed them. They cleared the
| surf-they ran high on the white shore.
| They formed as skrmishers, twenty yards
| apart, and plunged into the jungle, without
waiting for the other boat. These were
! almost Immediately after them, however,
| yet Owen had time to STOP and, in the
shelter of a bush. gulp down another drink.
| L ne DlOOu QdSISu his VelIlS. blOOu
| filled his eyes. He was new man from the
| listless craven an hour ago. Danger GER
tain fighting, was before him, and he knew
and welcomed it, Spud was by him, and
| was astonished. If the doctor had been
there, the Kid could have told the dog
| rohber that lisl master had been returned
| nervously to a boyish condition, and the
liquor would act on him as 1t would on a
boy who had never touched it before. But
Spud was almost scared, so red were Owen s
cheeks so full of viyacity his manner as he
led his men, now following him with cheer
full amazementd In the jungle the two boat
loads Joined and completed skirmish line
of some fifty men. II They painted onward
crash From in front of them came q sud.
den volley.
Down. yelled Parks Down and
steady! Return the fire lying!'
| Down they went, and the Spanish bullets
flew over their heads They fired back al
the puffs of smoke, but Owen stood up wav
ing his sword. Parks was his senior ani
called out to him.
| "Owen, they are in force, and must be ir
rifepits. We should draw back to the boats
| for further orders, until the gunboat shells
them out What do you say?
| Owen was hidden from view for a mo.
ment. When he appeared again he had
finished the fateful bottle, and thrown ii
and discretion away
Nonsense he cried. ''They are only
Spaniards, anyway At them, boys! Cease
; firing! Forward! double time! Commence
firing!'
The men obeyed cheering, and gained
! | twenty yards by the rush, when they wen
down again and peppered away.
u Again Owen commanded and again they