The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1899-04-06
REAR.

fS -. TOT OF those
things which he
HE SPED TOWARD THE imagined.
REAR The lieutenant
sprang forward, bawling. The youth
saw his features, wrathfully red, and
saw him make q dab with his sword.
His one thought of the incident was
that the lieutenant was peculiar
creature, to feel interested in such
matters upon this occasion.
He ran like blind man. Two or
three times he fell down. Once he
knocked his shoulders SO heavily
against a tree that he went headlong. i
Since he had turned his back upon
the fight his fears had been wondrously
magnified. Death about to thrust him
between the shoulder blades was far
more dreadful than death about to
smite him between the eyes.
As he ran on he mingled with others.
He dimiy saw men on his right and on
his left, and he heard footsteps behind
him. He thought that all the regiment
was fleeing pursued by these ominous
crashes.
AS he went across little field, he
found himself in the region Of shells.
They hurled over his head with long,
wild screams. AS he heard them he
imagined them to have rows of cruel
teeth that grinned at him. Once, one
lit before him and the livid lightning
of the explosion effectually barred his
way In his chosen direction. He grow
eled on the ground and then springing
~
bushes.
The youth moderated his pace when
he had left the place Of noises behind
Later, he came upon a general of d.
vision seated upon horse that pricked
its ears IN an interested way at the
battle. There was great cleaning of
yellow and patent-leather about the
saddle and bride. The quiet man,
astride, looked mouse-colored upon such
a splendid charger.
A jingling staff was galloping hither
and thither. Sometimes the general
was surrounded by horsemen and at
other times ne was quite alone. He
looked TO be much harassed. He had
the appearance of a business man whose
market is swinging up and down.
The youth went Sinking around this
spot. He went as near as he dared try
ing to overhear words. Perhaps the
general, unable to comprehend chaos,
might call upon him for information.
And he could tell him. He knew all
concerning it. OF surety the force
was in a fix and any fool could see that
if they did not retreat while they had
opportunity -why-destructio
He felt that he would like to thrash
the general, or, at least, approach and
tell him In plain words exactly what
he thought him to be. It was criminal
to stay calmly in one spot and make no
effort to stay tempestuous defeat. He
loitered In fever of eagerness Tor She
division-coinmander to apply to him.
But, moment later, the youth saw
the general bounce excitedly in his
saddle.
eyes, by heavens, they have" The
officer leaned forward. His face was
afame with excitement Eyes, by
heavens, they've held them. THEY'VE
held ther"
He began to blithely roar at his staff.
He beamed upon the earth like sun.
In his eyes was a desire to chant a
pseon. He kept repeating 'sThey've
held 'em, by heavens
His excitement made his horse plunge
and he merrily kicked and swore at It.
He held little carnival of Joy on horse
back
CHAPTER VII.
The youth cringed as if discovered
at q crime. BY heavens, they had won
after all. The imbecile line had re-
manned and become victors. He could
hear cheering.
He lifted himself upon his toes and
looked in the direction of the fight.
A yellow fog lay wallowing on the tree
tops. From beneath it came the clat-
ter of musketry. Hoarse cries told of
an advance.
he turned away, amazed and angry.
He felt that he had been wronged. The
brittle blue line had withstood the
blows and won. He grew bitter over
it. 1t seemed that the blind ignorance
and stupidity of those little pieces had
betrayed him. He had been overturned
and crushed by their lack of sense in
holding the position, when intelligent
elaboration would have convinced
them that it twas impossible. He, the
enlightened man who looks afar in the
dark, had fled because of his superior
perceptions and knowledge. He felt
great anger against his comrades. He
knew it conld be proven that they had
been fools.
He went from the field into thick
woods as if resolved to bury himself.
He wished to get out of hearing of the
racl1ling shots which were to him like
voices.
The ground was cluttered with vines
and bushes and the trees grew close
and spread out like bouquets. He was
obliged to force his way with much
noise. The creepers, catching against
his legs, cried out harshly as their
sprays were torn from the banks of the
trees. The swishing saplings tried to
make known his presence to the world.
He could not conciliate the forest. AS
he made his way it was always calling
out protestations. When he separated
embraces of trees and vines the dis
turbed foliages waved their arms and