The Princeton union., 1899-04-13

dAu S4AOSC1N, 41O
with a phosphorescent glow. These
faces expressed in their lines the deep
stupor of the tired soldiers. They
made them appear like men drunk
with wine. This bit of forest might
have appeared to an ethereal wanderer
as scene of the result of some fright
full debauch
The fire cracked musically. From
it swelled light smoke. Overhead the
foliage moved softly. The leaves with
their faces turned toward the blaze,
were colored shifting hues of silver,
often edged with red. Far off to the
right, through a window in the forest,
could be seen a handful of stars lying,
like glittering pebbles, on the black
level of the night.
The youth sat in a forlorn heap until
his friend, the loud young soldier,
came swinging two canteens by their
light strings ''Well, now, Fleming,
OF boy" said the latter, "we'll have
yeh fixed up in just about a minnit."
He had the bustling ways of an anna
teur nurse. He fused around the fire
and stirred the sticks to brilliant ex-
ertions. He made his patient drink
largely from the canteen that con-
tanned the coffee. 1t was to the youth
a delicious draught. He tilted his
head afar back and held the canteen
long to his lips. The cool mixture
went caressingly down his blistered
throat. Having finished, he sighed
with comfortable delight.
The loud young soldier watched his
comrade with an air of satisfaction.
He later produced an extensive hand
kerchief from his pocket. He folded it
into manner of bandage and soused
water from the other canteen upon the
middle of it. This crude arrangement
he bound over the youths head, tying
the ends in a queer knot at the back of
the neck.
There" he said, moving off and sur
veying the deed, ''yeh look like the
devil, but bet yeh feel better.'
The youth looked at his friend with
grateful eyes. Upon his aching and
swelling head the cool cloth was like
tender woman's hand
"Well, come now,' continued his
friend, ''come on. I must put yeh t.
|
rest"
The other got carefully erect and
the loud young soldier led him among
the sleeping forms lying in groups and
rows. Presently he stopped and picked
up his blankets He spread the rub.
ber one upon the ground and placed
: the woolen one about the youths
I shoulders
.sThere now,' he said, ''lie down an
git some Sleep 81, = sz~s
; The youth with his manner of dog
like obedience got carefully down like
q crone STOPPING. He stretched out
with a murmur of relief and comfort
The ground felt like the softest couch
An exquisite drowsiness spread
through him. The warm comfort Of
the blanket enveloped him and made 8
gentle languor. His head fell forward
on his crooked arm and his weighted
lids went down softly over his eyes
! Hearing a splatter Of musketry from
the distance, he wondered indifferently
if those men ever slept. He gave 8
7 long sigh, snuggled down into his blan
e ket and in a moment was like his com
: rades.
/ CHAPTER Kill
: When the youth awolxe, itseemed tt
I him that he had been asleep for thou
i sand years and he felt sure that he
> opened his eyes upon an unexpected
world. Gray mists were slowly shift
J. ing before the first efforts of the sun
i rays. An impending splendor could b,
seen in the eastern sky. An lev dew
: had chilled his face and immediatel,
d upon arousing he curled further dow1
d into his blanket. He stared for awhil,
8 at the leaves overhead, moving in ;
8 heraldic wind of the day.
The distance was splintering an,
blaring with the voices Of fighting
There was in the sound an expression
IS Of deadly persistency as If it had no