The times., 1899-05-21

would not be one of the firing party. He
wondered if his mother would know of his
disgrace and if she would be there. He
remembered now that he had heard her
voice singing Rock of Ages some time
last night, just as she used to when he was
a little chap and she sang him TO sleep
at night.
The officer started to read something
from large roll of manuscript, but stop
ped with an oath. You know what is is, -
he said; forward march," And Private
George Morton took his blanket from the
floor, rolled il up properly as became
1 United States Regular. and followed his
! lieutenant to the scene Of his death.
Here it was as he had pictured it a nun
dred times thought that long, terrible
night. The regiment was drawn up on
three sides of a square. in light marching
order The firing squad that was so soon
to put an end to his earthly existence
stood at ease little TO one side, and here
he must stand in front of that ugly black
hole which was TO be his grave. They did
not bind his eyes or tie his hands, but
there he stood, erect and firm as though
on duty-on sentinel duty. he grimiy
thought, where he was not likely TO fall
asleep.
He began 20 wonder how it would feel
to be hit; whether he should know any
H.
to die. He watched the firing squad as II
slowly filed into position. He counted
them as they wheeled into place. One,
two, three, four five, six, and the officer.
Why did il take so many to kill man! !
But. then, not all the guns were loaded.
1t seemed TO take a long time to get
everything ready, though perhaps his
thoughts were running a little more rapid
ly than usual One thing brought him sat
tI,a ba nile of iffe
to sleep after it was all over
His Imagination must be playing him
false again, else how was it that he saw
the white, agonized face of his mother
there, breaking through that solid line Of
blue on the right? He wanted to rush to
her and tell her it was all dream that
he would not be hurt. but he could not
bring his limbs to obey his Will. and then
in moment the stern, fixed faces Of the
men in front brought back with sickening
force the reality and awfulness of it all.
: 1t must come to an end some time. Yes,
the officer at the head of the squad had
stepped forward, and command was Civ
en- that he could not understand, but the
guns were lowered with jerk; another
command and with jerk and clang the
/ guns came TO aim" and all seemed point
ing directly into his eyes. 1t would soon
/ be over.
{ There was a flash, but he could hear
1 no report Would those bullets never
! come or must he stand there through all
. eternity waiting for the end? Could they
have missed him? Perhaps he was dead
already Death had come with the flash.
and death was not so different from life,
after all. Then Yes. by God. | am
hit after alli'' he shouted, grabbing fran
{ tically at his left arm. which suddenly
/ seemed a mass of molten iron. "Of all
/ those guns only one was loaded, and that
/ has taken off my arm"
Dazed and stupid from sleep and pain,
! he opened his eyes to see the relief still
some tweny yards away, but moving with
| the brisk swing of the regulars to his post.
! His left arm seemed on fire yet, but he
managed to bring his gun into position
/ and challenge in the usual manner
| How Is this ?" said the officer. Wound
1 ed? II must have been that shot that just
came across the canyon" ''Yes, believe
I I'm struck bit said Morton. but it
/ don't amount to much, and I'm mighty
| glad to get out OF this hole even II my
arm is broke. It's a id sight better
( than having the whole six in my carcass.
I With those rather unintelligible words
Private Morton fell in" and marched
! away to his quarters.
! After the surgeon had fixed up his arm
/ il was some time before he could reconcile
! his mind to dreaming so much in the time
1t took that relief to march thirty steps.
o. God, how sweet 1t was to sink down
at last upon that glorious couch, his army