The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-02-01

0SbpcCC 1Of II h8w NeCruiI~
1t was on the Calamba expedition.
and the dismounting cavalry regi-
ment had been alternately fighting and
hiking all day. About three-fourths
OF the command were raw recruits,
and the day had been very trying
one to them. At night they were al
most too tired to lie down and sleep,
and some would have slept standing
up If their friends had not pushed
them over, SO that they lay upon the
ground. One of the recruits, the small
eat and newest man in the regiment.
had been toled off for post duty and
sent to keep watch on the edge of
river that flowed some 600 yards away
from the camp. At 9 O'Clock the officer
of the day came around inspecting the
outpost. The recruit was sitting on
the bank of the river holding his feet
straight out in front of him. The
corporal had told him that If he sat
with his feet held up he would not go
to sleep. The recruit was SO busy
holding out his feet that he did not
see the officer of the day, who hap
pened to be the lieutenant who
scorned raw recruits. The recruit fin
ally realized that the officer of the day
had come up, and he arose, clumsily
enough. and tried to look as soldierly
as the rest Of the men. But the Of
f1cera of the day looked at the little boy
in the khaki soldier clothes with con-
tempt. Then he glanced across the
river, and happy idea struck him.
missioned officer Of the outpost, you
ought to have man across the river.
II they come in on us there we could
be forming while they were coming
across, if we only had man over
there to give the alarm" Eyes, sirk
said the sergeant. you go over !<|
said the lieutenant e
and watch close. If the gugies sts
for us, fire once, anyhow. Then you
can drop over the bank and come back
to the outpost"-the lieutenant paused
for moment, and then concluded
maybe" The little recruit shivered
SO that his teeth ratified, and to hide
his fear he merely saluted and hastily
waded into the cold, dark river and
across. The current was swift, and at
one time the water came up to his
armpits, but he got safely over, and
then, alone in the enemy's country, he
sat shivering through the night, try
ing to make out the fantastic shapes
that doomed up in the darkness: About
midnight he heard some one walking
along the beach on the American side
OF the river. He raised his rifle and
challenged halt" The figure across
the river halted. Who's there?'
asked the recruit. "Officer of the day.
came back the response in the unmis-
taxable voice of that individual. "Ad-
vance, officer of the day." commanded
the recruit with all the dignity of q
brigadier general ordering the forma-
ton of his brigade, land be recog-
nized." 20. that's all right, my man,
said the officer of the day. II cant
advance across this muddy river. you
know. How is everything over there?'
Advance, officer of the day." came
from the recruit on the other side
and be recognized" Then followed
Q peculiar click such as is made when
the safety catch is thrown back SO as
to permit the firing Of rife. The
officer of the day hesitated no longer
He plunged into the cold water and
waded across. He stepped into a hole
and went in over his head. He walked
ashore so wet he could have been
wrung out by hand. The recruit looked
at him. Its all right" he said, toss
ing his gun to port, II recognize you
Everything is quiet. sir" Then he
stood waiting for the officer of the day
to empty vial of wrath upon his
head. But nothing of the kind hap
{ pened. The lieutenant asked the usual
questions, then waded back. And he
never showed by word or action that
he remembered the thing afterward
Except that he seemed to have more
respect for raw recruits, and FOR one
raw recruit in partic nla t.-Chicago
Tribune.
Heroes In Blue.
IN the year 1876, during the Sioux
uprising, Gen. Terry, whose camp was
onsthe Big Horn, wished to communi-
4 cate with Gen. Crook on the Powder
ryor = oo,,-A~,. a.. -.