The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1899-09-23
HIS PRIVATE HONOR.
ny Rudyard Kipiins. sit{i
Copyright, 1891 by the Authors Alliance. All
rights reserved.

q. 49,
- me-but it could not have so come
Id ha' made him cut-his wisdom teeth
on his sword hilt."
81 don't think he knows himself what
h meansyto do" said.
81 should not wonder, said Terence.
There's a dale av thinlsin' before a
..oung man whin he's done wrong an
llows tan is stndyin' how to put inf
right. Give the werd from us to our
little man there, that sif lie had ha' told
on his superior orf'cer I'd ha' come ont
"a fut TO Fort Amara to kick him into
tle fort ditch, an that's forty fut
trop!' @s}iE 3 ~
Ortheris was not in good condition to
TALK to, He wandered up and down
With Learoyd, brooding, so far as
could seeS over his, lost honor, and, us
ing, as could hear incendiary Lam
guage. Learoyd would nod andspit, and
,moke and nod again, and must have
been q great comfort to Ortheris--al-
most as great comfort as Samuelson
whom Ortheris bullied disgracefully
II the Jew opened his mouth in the
most casual remark Ortheris would
plunge down it with all arms and ac-
eoutrcments while the .barraclS-room
stared and wondered.
Ouless had retired into himselfSto
mediate, a saw him now and again
and he avoided me because had wit
messed hisshame and spoken my mind
on it. He seemed dull and moody, and
found his half cOmnaIlV ANYTHING but
pleasant TO drili. The men did their
work and gave him very little trouble,
but just when they should have been
feeling their feet and showing that
they felt them, by spring and swing
and snap, the elasticity died out aud Il
was like drilling with war.gaine blocks,
There is a beautiful little ripple in a
well-madc line of men exactly like the
play Of a perfectly tempered sword.
ouicss' hair company moved like n
broomstick and would have broken as
easily.
was specializing whether Ouless had
sent money to Ortheris, which would
have been bad, or had apologfzed to
him in private, which would have been
worse, or had decided to let the whole
affair slide, which would have been
worst OF oil, when orders came to me to
leave the station for awhile. had not
spoken directly TO Ortheris for. Ibis
honor was not my honor, and he was
Its onlys guardian, and he would not
say anything but bad words.
| went away, and from time to time
thought o great deal Of that subaltarh
and that private in Fort Amara, and
wondered what would be the upshot of
everything, ,g...,,.y.4..,,:,..,sg.
ew sE CHAPTER III. 4 9sssFf .'ss
When returned it was early spring. :
j company had been shifted from the
fort to regular duty in canton
ments, the roses were getting ready
to bud on the MALL and the
regiment, which had been at a camp
Of exercise, among other things was go
ing through its spring musketry under
an udjUtaut who had notion that its
shooting average was low. He had
stirred up the company officers, and
they had brought extra ammunition for
their mcn-the government allowance
was just sufficient to foul the riding
aud = company, which counted many
marksmen, was vaporing and offering
to challenge all the other companies,
and the third-class shots were very sorry
that they had ever been born, and ali
the subalterns were a rich, ripe saddle
colur from sitting at the butts six or
eight hours o day.
went off to the butts after break
fast very dull of curiosity to see how
the new draft had come forward,
Ouless was there with his men by the
bald 'hilloek that marks the six hum
dred yards range, and the men were in |
gray-green khaki that shows the best
points Of a soldier and shades off into
every background he may stand against,
Before was IN hearing distance l |
could see as they sprawled on the dusty |
grass, orstood up and shook themselves, |
that they were men made over again |
wearing their helmets with the cock OF |
swinging easily and |
jumping 70. the word al command. |
Coming nearer, heard Ouless whistle:
= :. 'LSalk!lA 4eolebs between his teeth as he
looked down on the range with his
binoculars, and the back of Lieut.. |
Ouless was The back of,a free man and
an officer. He nodded as l came up,
and heard him fling an order to q nom
commissioned officer in sure and GER
tain voice. e The flag ran up from the
target and ortheris flung himself down
on his stomach to put in his ten shots.
He winked at me over the breech block
as he settled himself, with the air of
man who has to 60 through tricks for
the benefit of children. -
Watch you, men, !; said ouless, to the
squad behind. "He Is half your weight,
but ne isn't afraid of his
rifle" = ~
ortheris had his little affectations
and pet ways, as the rest of us have. He
weighed his rifle, gave it a little kick
up, euddled down again and fred across
The groand thatwas beginning to dance
Ia the sun heat.
'Missl" said man behind.
'.TooInuch blooTnih, ground Ia front"
Ortheris muttered. rl9 j
Il should give two feet for refrac-
lion, . said ouless.
sortheris fred again, made his outer
,rept in, found the bull and STAYED
here, the noncommissioned officer