Daily camera., 1899-11-27
Copyright. Ises. y F. Tsnnyson Neely.l
CHAPTER III.

had been dismal. soft south wind
had kept the fogs of the Pacific far out
to sea and cleared the summer sky of
every wisp of vapor. The sun of early
August shone hot and strong upon the
sandy wastes between the western lin
its of the division camps and the foamy
strand beneath the low bluffs, and beat
upon the canvas homes of the rejoicing
soldiery, stacking cloth and cordage SO
that the trim tent lines had become
broken and jagged, thereby setting ahe
teeth of "0ld Squeers" on edge as he
gazed grimly from under the brim of his
unsightly felt hat and called for his one
faithful henchman, the orderly. Even
his adjutant could not condone the regi-
mental commanders Objectionable
traits, for a crustier old villain of a vet
eran lived not in the line of the army
"Ould Canker" the troopers had dubbed
him during the few years he had served
in the cavalry. transplanted from foot
regiment at the time of the reorganiza-
ton, so-called, of the army in II; but
few years OF mounted duty in Arizona
and later in the Sioux country had sick
ened him of cavalry life and he gladly
accepted a chance TO transfer back~to
the infantry. Now, 20 years after,
risen by degrees to the grade of lieuten
ant-colonel, he found himself in com
mand of famous old regiment OF regu-
lars, whose colonel had douned the stars
OF general officer of volunteers, and
the pet name-save the mark-of cav
airy days had given place TO the unfiat-
tering sobriquei derived from that hor-
ror of boyish readers the ill-fayored
schooimaster OF DolErb boys hall. He
=. had come to the -teenth with n halo
of condemnation from the regiment in
which he had served as major and won
his balcful name. and the boys" OF his
command soon learned to ike him even
less than those who had dubbed him
"Sgucers." because. as they explained
there wasn't any privilege or pleasure
he would not do the boys" out of II he
possibly could. Gordon had promptly
rendered his resignation as regimental
adjuiant when his beloved colonel left
the post to report for duty in the army
destined for Cuba, but Lieut.-Col. Can
ker declined to accept II. and fairly told
Gordon that. as he hadn't friend
among the subasterns, there was no one
else to take IL. Then, too. the colonel
himself added a word or two and settled
the matter.
A big review had been ordered for
the morning. An entire brigade OF
sturdy volunteers was already forming
and marching out by bai,alions TO their
regimental parades, the men showing
in their easy stride and elastic carriage
the effects OF two months hard drill and
gradually increasing discipline. The
regulars were s;ill out in the park. hid
den by the dense foliage and busy with
their company drills. The ndjutant and
clerk were at their papers in the big
Office tent, and only the sentries, the
sick and the special duty men remained
about the body of camp. There was no
one, said Private Noonan TO himself, as
he paced the pathway in front of the
coloners tent. after having scrupulous-
ly snluted him on his appearance: NO
wan fur the ould man to whack at. bar
rim it's me but even Cankcr could
find nothing to "whack at in this vet
cran soldier who had served in the
ranks since the days of the great war
and had borne the messages OF such
men as Sheridan. Thomas and McPhcr-
son when Canker himself was sweating
under his knapsnck and muskct. Like
most men, even most Objectionable
men. Canker had some redeeming fea-
lures, and that was one OF thcm-he
had been private soldier, and brave
one, too, and was proud oft.
But life had little sunshine in II for
one OF his warped. ill-conditioned na-
ture. There was a profound conviction
in the minds of the company officers
that the mere sight of happiness or con-
tent in the face of n subordinate was
more than enough to set Canker's wits
to work to wipe it out. There was no
doubt whatever in the minds OF tho
subal,erns tha, the main reason why
Squeers was so manifcstly down on"
Billy Gray was the almost indes,ruct-
ible expression OF good nature, jollity
and enthusiasm that aad shown in the
little fellows face ever since he Joined
the regiment. III we call the old man
Squeers we should dub Billy Mark Tap
ley said Gordon one day, when the
lad had laughed off the effect of an un-
usually acrimonious rasping over .
trivial error IN the guard report book.
Hes no end kind when fellows in q
FIX" said Gray. In explanation, "nnd all
the time he was soaking me was think
ing how he stood by Jimmy Carson in
his scrape"-n serious scrape it was,
too. for young Carson, detailed to escort
certain prisoners to Alcatraz and in
trusted with certain funds TO be turned
over to the chief quartermas,cr OF the
department, had unaccountably fallen
into deep sleep aboard the train and
awokc to find both funds and prisoners
gone. Explanations were useless. The
commanding general would listen to no
excuse; n court-mar,ial was rdered.
and very worthy young officers milf
tnry career seemed about TO close under