The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1900-12-25
lowered. and each was filed with men
with carbine. ammunition belt and pts.

Lieutenant Pauks will take charge
Of boat No. 1, Lieutenant Owen of No.
2" said the commanding officer You
have your Instructions, gentlemen.
| Good luck to you. IN an hour or two I
shall expect you back with the infor-
nation and the scouts
Boat No. was lying ready and Inn
| patient when Mr.. Pauks swung him
self in the stern.
"Give wayA men," said he. "See if /
+, re can't beat the other boat ashore. |
"Now them he added to the Cuban at
| tlfe tller. Took out for the reef. I'd as
soon get there dry as wet.
"Where is No. 2Y' q soldier queried
as they shot forward.
! Lieutenant Oweni said the COM
! handing officer impatiently, what is
the matter? Your men are all in the
boat"
A voice from the stern of the boat
spoke up gently, sedate and respectful
as need be, yet with curious note in
it.
''The things is all with me, lieuten-
ant There's nothin left behind" it
said.
Owen started at Spud's rebuke, re-
buke only to his ears. and in his turn
swung over and seated himself in the
stern close to his attendant.
""Give way" he said, but there was
no jolly appeal to his squad to beat the
others. The men looked fretful as
they noted the start the others had.
Them fellows have the luck" one
1o1 will No fire n ~
Spud had corner of his eye on Ow-
ems face. In the crowded small boat
their shoulders touched. The oficer's
face was gray, his form trembled.
"This is black ruin. thought Spud;
''black ruin and disgrace for him and
the ward. If If daredw
He watched the men furtiyely. One
, man nudged another, and both looked
! at Owen and sneered. Spud ground
his teeth and marked them for future
! slaughter.
= .They know; they see it." he in
wardly groaned, land We'll be eternal
}, ~ disgraced. Oh, Sammy, Sammy, II
}. only l could give ye jolly good hidin
9 to wake We up!''
q He slipped hand to a hip pocket
. and half drew something from it, but
. showed it back again with great dis
= tress of face.
whats to be done? On the kid
n doctor! Shall burst the cure Or Oh
this is the devil surev
:. The other boat was drawing away
"a ahead, for their officer was cheering
a the oarsmen Oh. He waved from his
10 place in the stern hand to Over
and cried back gayly, you're not in it
10 Owen"
The men looked at Owen. He mad,
"A no response There was certain hon
r. or in being first to set foot on tn
If shore, but the soldiers saw disgustedl.
h that their officer did not desire it. Dan
ia ger was there, and he-he funked II
:. That was the sudden thought tina
20 sprang to each mans mind, and the
f. looked blackly on him.
Fl Spud moved in the boat, standing u
al so that he hid the lieutenant while h
stopped on some pretense. He he'll
he out black bottle and whispered ar
Nv grily:
o. Drink. Sammy, drink. and God fol
re give us both!"
" The lieutenant looked at him in SUI
,is den horror. 1t was as though one
If. guardian angel, who had watched fe
To long, should abandon his task and a
M sumo demons form.
Ie "You--you want me tor
re "Drink and say nothin," said poe
nd Spud, 'for if fightin's to be done tn;
he kid DOCTORS ruined We for it. Drink!
er And he, drank quickly and deepl
flo Ee handed the bottle back to Spu
who slipped it away. In a minu
in Owens face flushed, and his el
,le frightened. He stood up and spoke
TX the men and babe the rowers pull.
,is was more like himself, and their fac
he frightened.
Ell "Pull boys" he said, land We'll be-
+" those fellows for all their start Mu
w ply" he whispered as he sat dow
For again, "give me that bottle"
,ss Spud moaned, but the first step WI
no taken. He passed it over, and aga
the officer drank. and this time he Ike
.ha the flask Over the blue waters thu
skinned The reef was near.
be 1.-TWO to one in VS. we beat 70
h;s Owen!' sang Parks.
r,s Ozone. Give way, men" Ow'
,et. cried, and the men laughed. -Spl
,av frightened up The poison was wor
tbe ing. He knew what the doctor wou
to say, but bade the morrow begon
IN Enough to live bravely@ through t
600 day. At the reef false turn at t
ith tiller capsized Pauks' boat, and Ow
ms gained and passed them. They clear
av. the surf. They ran high on the viii
ar+ shore. They formed as skirmishers
,di. yards apart and plunged into the ju
gle without waiting fog the other boz
- These were almost Immediately aft
III them, however, yet Owen had time
stop and liz the shelter Of bush gu
down another drink. The blood das
ed through his veins. Blood filled
-. eyes. He was new man from t
.s listless craven an hour ago. Dang
~, certain fighting, was before him. a