Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1900-07-23
The Making Of A Hero

Perhaps it would never have happen
| ed had a comrade given him a word OF
| encouragement But the men were too
intent on the grim work before them,
so, in the hail of lead. when Private
Cory dropped to the ground it was
generally understood that bullet had
knocked him over Such, however,
was not the case, as the ambulance
corps following in the rear soon dis
covered. He had merely tainted from
fright.
The doctor turned over the shivering
bit of humanity to look for the wound,
found none, and smiled Cases of this
kind were not unknown to him. Poor
fellow" he murmured. Let him re-
main with the rest
mo, he was not hurt at all, he
said to one of his assistants. His
wound will come afterwards, when he
RECEIVERS from that faint, and God help
him then. There is no bullet wound
that will give him the agony that is
before him"
''Shall I throw bucket of water
over him, sir?" asked the man with a
blood-stained bandage around his
head, but sufficient of his face left I'M
covered to show it's intense disgust at
his comrade.
mo, you must not disturb him,
was the curt answer, and he turned to
give his attention to the burdens
which the stretchers were now quickly
depositing in the improvised hospital.
Poor lad" he unused. as he bent
over his work, Il must give him a
word of encouragement when he comes
round"
But when later on, Private Cory
staggered to his feet the kindly doctor
was too busy to notice him. He look
ed wonderingly round the tent. Then
the remem brance of what he had done
seemed to rise up and strike him full
in the face. He sank down again with
a choking sob. He clutched the earth
with his hands, as men do when struck
down in battle with mortal wound.
It was a burning hot day-the
wounded were suffering terribly from
the intense heat-but he shivered with
cold Outside, the shells were scream
ing, while now and again came the
subdued but harsh growl of the
smaller arms. 1t seemed as if a thous-
and voices were shouting at him and
reproaching him for his cowardice.
Then a human voice joined in the wild
orchestra.
"You bloomin' cur. Call yourself a
MANI"
1t was the stern surgent of his com
pany, who had been brought III
wounded in three places before he gave
up. His face was gray with the pain
he was enduring, but he must needs
give vent to his disgust at such
pusillanimity. A contemptuous smile
played about his bloodless lips.
Il call it gettin' money under false
pretenses. You're clothed and stuffed
with the best O. everything the country
can send out, includin' briar pipe and
baccy, and then yer go and-Pah!"
and he broke off, Il couldn't hev
believed it O. any man in the whole
bloomin' company
He stopped because the pain Of his
wounds became too great, and he bit
hard the piece of Cavendish he had in
his mouth to stifle groan, but other
men took up the cue.
No agony of the battle field could
equal what Private Cory was now en-
| during He quivered as if acted by
some powerful electric current, but he
made no answer to their taunts, and
continued to lie with his face turned
| to the ground. He tried to reconstruct
| the wreck of his manhood, but his
| brain was still in q whirl land those
shrieking shells outside still seemed to
| be telling the world that he was a
miserable coward.
A man was handing around some
broth He had been hours without
food, and the savory odor caused a
craving hunger to take possession OF
him. 4 pannikin full was being
passed, from which men took drink,
their expectant comrades looking on
with eager, wistful eyes. Cory raised
| his head, hoping his turn had come,
but he was Immediately greeted with a
storm of curses that caused him to
drop it again. Fool that he was to ex-
! pect it. He might have known.
At that moment the doctor came up.
Give Cory some of that soup. Hold
up, my lad" he said, not unkindly;
''you may make soldier yet. Drink
this" and he handed him the tin yes
SCI.
HE is broth of a boy" shouted a
man, and this poor joke was greeted
with laughter even by those who knew
that they had but few hours to live.
Cory sat up. The soup seemed to
put life into him. and ne ceased 10
SILVER. He was barely out of his
teens. but his face. in its ashy gray
! ness. looked more like that of man
| who had passed his prime.
eFellin a bit better now?" began
| the sergeant.
He'll run for it as soon as he's
listen." he broke off. as shell ex-