The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1900-02-15
CHAPTER I.

the nearest reg1mental camps, regular
and volunteer, were sslined up" along
the sentry posts and silently, eagerly
watching and waiting. For a week
rumor had been rife that orders for q
move were coming, and the brigades
hailed it with delight. For a month
.shivering atsnight in dripping, drench-
ing fogs drifting in from the Pacific, or
drilling for hours each dayon the bleak
slopes of the Preside heights, they had
been praying for something to break
the monotony of the routine. They
were envious of the comrades who had
been shipped to Manila, emulous of
those who had stormed Santiago, and
would have welcomed with unreason-
ing enthusiasm any mandate that bore,
promise of change of scene-or duty
The afternoon was raw and chilly; the
wet wind blew salt and strong from the
westward sea, and the mist rolled in,
thick and f1eecy, hiding from view the
familiar landmarks of the neighbprhood
and forcing a display'of lamplights in
the row of gaudy saloons across the
street that bounded the camp ground
toward the setting sun, though that in
visible luminary was still al hour high
and afternoon drill only just over.
Company after company in their CAM
paign hats and flannel shirts, in worn
blue trousers and brown canvas leg
gings, the men had come swinging in
from the broad drivewayso of the beau
tiful park to the south and, as they
passed the tents of the commanding
general, even though they kept their
heads erect and noses to the front, their
wary eyes glanced quickly at the un-
usual array Of saddled horses, of car
~riagesand Concord wagons halted along
the curbstone, and noted the number
of officers grouped about the gate.
Ponchos and oNercoat capes were much,
in evidence ON every side al the men
broke ranks, scattered to their tents
to stow away their dripping arms and
belts, and then ans streaming out to.
stare, unrebuked, at headquarters. 1t
was still early in the war days, and,
among the volunteers and, indeed,
among regiments Of the regulars whose
ranks were sprinkled with college men
who had rubbed shoulders but a few
months earlier with certain snbalterns,
the military line of ~demarcation was a
dead letter when Athe boys were out
of sight and hearing of their seniors,
and st it happened that when a young
officer came hurrying down the path
way that led from the tents of the gem
eral to those of the field officers of the
Tenth California, he was hailed by more
than n group of regulars along whose
lines he passed, and, as a rule, the query
took the terse, soldierly form of whats
up, Billyw
The lieutenant nodded affably to sew
eral of his fellows of the football field,
but his hand crept out from underneath
the shrouding cape, palm down, sig
mailing caution. "Orders-some kind,'
he answered in tones just loud enough
to be heard by those nearest him. "Seen
the old man anywhere? The general
wants him." and, never hating for re-
ply, the youngster hurried n
He was a bright, CHEEKY, brave-eyed
lad of 90 who six months earlier was
StuA1Ol1nS lAAoaSA lAC SCiCACcS di L1Ic
great university on the heights beyond
the glorious bay, never dreaming of
deadlier battle than that in which his
pet eleven grappled with the striped
team Of a rival college. All on a sud-
den, to the maze of the. elders Of the
great republic, the tenets and tradi-
tons of the past were thrown to the
winds and the Hermit Nation" leaped
the seas and flew at the strongholds of
the Spanish colonies. Volunteers sprang
up by the hundred thousand and a re-
luctant congress accorded a meager
addition to the regular army. Many a
college athlete joined the ranks, while
a limited few, gifted with relatives who
had both push and "pull," were per-
mitted to pass a not very ~exacting ex-
animation and join the permanent es-
Establishment as second lieutenants forth
with. Counting those commissioned
in the regular artillery and infantry.
there must have been a dozen in the
thronging camps back of the great city,
and of these dozen, Billy Gray-"Bellig-
erent Billy" as a tutor dubbed him
when the war and Billy broke out to-
gether, the latter to the extent of a
four-days' absence from all collegiate
duty-was easily the gem of the lot.
One of the "brightest minds" in his
class, he was one of the LATEST; one of
the quickest and most agile when
aroused, he was one of the torpids as
a rule. One of the kind who should
have '.gone in for honors," as the fac
ulty said, he came nearer going out for
devilment. The only son of a retired
colonel of the army who had made Cali
fornia his home, Billy had spent years
in camp and field and saddle and knew
the west as he could never hope to know
Haswell. The only natural soldier of
his class when, sorely against the will
of most, they entered the student bat
talon, he promptly won the highest
chevrons that could be given in the
sophomore year, and, almost as prompt
,ly, lost them for ''lates" and absences.
When the varsity was challenged by a
neighboring instituted to a competitive
drill the scouts" of the former report
ed that the crack company of the San
Pedros had the snappiest captain they
eyer saw, and that, with far better ma
terial to choose from, and of it.
Rhe varsity wouldn't stand a ghost ofa
chow in the eyes of the professional
judges unless Billy would "brace up"
and stake hold" Billy was willing as
Barkis, but the faculty said it would
put a premium on laxity to make Billy
q varsity captain, even though the pres
emit incumbents yer ready, any of
them. to resign in his favor. "Prex"
said no in no uncertain terms; the chal-
lenge was declined, whereat the rival
institute ,crowed Justify and the thing
got into the papers. As a result a select