Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1899-08-19
FROM THE
SEVENTH MILE
TO THE TRANSPORT.
By Ridgeway ID. Hall.

| Darrach trudged along in senicon-
scious fashion. scarcely giving heed to
anything that was going on around him.
| He was acutely impressed. however, with
depressing feeling of fatigue, which
was almost overpowering. He could have
| taken an oath that the ag-Jorgensen
rife which he was carrying weighed 100
pounds instead of the so which he knew
| to be correct. His cartridge belt also had
| gained. Darrach had had no idea of how
much go rounds of ammunition could
weigh after seven mile march until now
it was proved beyond doubt If that in
fernal tin cup would only stop banging
up against him at every step. What a
| fool he had been to lug those cigars in his
knapsack. Why hadn't he let Curtis
pack them in with the commissary sup
plies?
A small stone was in the way of his
right foot, and Darrach stumbled heavi-
ly.
He delivered himself of a carefully
thought out curse-not at the stone for
being in the road. that was incidental, but
at the right foot for not avoiding it. That
right foot always was careless. The ir-
regularity of Darrach's step moved the
captain to half turn his head long enough
to say. STEADY, corporal; keep your dis
tance."
Darrach noticed with keen glee that
the captains cheek under its coating of
dust had lost its usual ruddy hue and was
gradually assuming that peculiar blush
white color which predicts physical col
lapse. Would the captain survive till the
port was reached? He hoped not. No;
not death; simply complete breakdown.
What a satisfaction it would be to have
Lieutenant Trowbridge command the
company. He at least would give man
credit for an honest endeavor.
How hot it was. Surely the colonel
would order a minutes brief halt-iust
long enough TO get pull ut the canteen.
What? 'Battalions attention." In
credible, Why march in close order
down deserted road?
Never mind; it s an order.
CLOSE up. Murphy. Come on, men;
line UP. Hep. hep. hep Now you got
it, can't you keep it? Hep. hep. hep!
Steady, Barnes; back a little: keep the
line straight"
Oh, the band, Well. what are they
going to play? Bride Elect" Ha,
hal Many's the two step he danced to
that march. Well, two-no. three-weeks
more of this hell and then lie could dance
again-and with her. Darrach felt now
that he had regained control of his feet.
Hep, hep, hep" Wonderful how
march time revives you when on the
road, especially the road that leads to-
ward home.
Home Gee, Hadn't thought Of that.
Wen soon lie there now Wonder what
civilization does look like anyway? One
good thing-be sure to sleep late in the
morning for awhile after. Just think,
no pulling out for roll call at reyeille!
Cinch? Well, rather. No company
clerk" work to do either. Present for
duty, 81. On special detail, 18. Sick in
hospital, I. Total company strength, 79."
No guard mount either.
"Noncommssioned oficers-front and
center-hrrrgh!' "Guard to its post
right forward, fours right-h-r-r-r-gh!"
Oh, say, nearly overi Can't believe it,
And after 1S4 days of it too.
Well, well, well! Say, that music GER
tainly does cheer fellow up. Let's see,
it took the Chester six days to come down
here. She was an old ferryboat, though,
not even fit to haul freight This boat
u
Wen spend Thanksgiving in Gods own
land at any rate. What il she don't
make it? Oh, well-here's hoping she
does.
Eyes to the front there, Barnes. You
don't want to rubberneck that way when
we march up Fifth avenue" Will they
let us go home for Thanksgiving? They
ought to. If they furlough us as soon as
we get in. we can catch the midnight
train for Philadelphia. Wonder how the
old town looks. Bet it's as cold as
hades. Always is this time of year. Miss
the Cornell game, too, even then. Well
it's been i'll good cause.
WHAT'S that? At the plaza already.
My, but those last three miles were
short! All. there's the pier. Company F
did good work when they built that
| guess my legs are all right now That
two step certainly did revive me all right,
all right. Listen. ''Battali-o-ns, haltr'
Rest Gracious, it's good to get a
chance TO set that gun down They |
shouldn't make them so heavy Phew, |
Let ME sit down, | feel faint What's |
the matter ?-everything going around
MISUNDERSTANDING
who let that man 90 into the ranks to |
march down here?' The surgeon major |
was plainly very angry. Captain Howe,
did you order Corporal Darrach to march |
i'll the ranks down here? What's that |