The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1900-11-16
THE SHRAPNEL OF
THEIR FRIEN DIS
rROM far over the knobs came the
BY the late Stephen Crane.

IRON far over the knobs came the
tiny sound of cavalry bugle
singing out the recall, and, later, de-
tached parties Of his majesty's Second
hussars came trotting back to where
the Spitzbergen infantry sat COM
pacently on the captured Rostina po-
sition. The horsemen we're we'll
pleased and they told how they had
ridden thrice through the helter-
skeiter of the fleeing enemy. They
had ultimately been checked by the
great truth that when "A good enemy
runs away in daylight he sooner or
later finds place where he fetches
up with a jolt and turns to face the
pursuit. 4 he Huss irs had discreetly
withdrawn. displaying no foolish
pride of corps at that tine.
There was general admission that
the Kicking Twelfth had taken the
honors of the day but the artillery
added that IL the guns had not
shelled so accurately the Twelfth's
charge could not have been made so
successfully, and the three other
regiments of infantry OF course
did not conceal their feeling that
their attack on the enemy's left had
withdrawn many rifles that would
have been pelting at the Twelfth.
The cavalry simply said that but for
them the victory would not have been
complete.
Corps prides met each other face TO
face at every step. but the Kicke-s
smiled easily and indulgently. few
recruits Dragged. but they Dragged
because they were recruits. The older
men did not wish it to appear that
they were surprised and rejoiced at
the performance of the regiment. If
they we're congratulated they simply
smirked. suggesting that the ability
of the Twelfth had long been known
70 them. and that the charge had
bsen a little thing, you know. just
turned off in the way Of an after
Moons work.
Maj. Gen. Richie encamped his
troops on the position which they had
taken from the en- my. Old Col
Sponge. OF the Twelfth. redistributed
hi. officers, and the losses had been SC
great that Timotl y Lean got com
mand of company. 1t was not much
OF company Fifty-three smudgcd
and sweating men faced their new
commander. The company had gone
into action with the strength OF Sc
The heart of Timothy Lean beat high
with pride. He intended TO he some
day general, and If he ever became
general that moment of promotion
was not equal in JOY to the moment
when he looked at his new possession
of SO vagabonds. lie scanned tho
faces and recognized with satisfaction
one old sergeant and two brighi
young corporals. Now" said he &c
himself II have here snug LITTLE
body Of men with which / can ds
something" In him burned the usua
fierce fire TO make the best compan,
in the regiment. He had adopted
them; they we're his men. II will d.
what | can for you" he said. ID
you the same for me-"
The Twelfth blvouacked on thu
ridge. Little fires were built ans
there appeared among the men in
Vulnerable blackcned tin cups. which
were so treasured that faint sus
picion in connection with the loss o
one could bring on the grimmes'
OF fights. Meantime certain OF tn
privates silently readjusted their kit
as their names were called out by tn
sergeants. These we're the men con
defnned to picket duty after a har'
day Of marching and fighting. Tn
dusk came slowly, and the color o
the countless fires spotting the ridg
and the plain grew in the falling
darkness. PARKWAY pickets fired a
'omething.
One by one the mems heads were low
cred to the earth until the ridge wa,
marked by two long shadowy rows o
men. Here and there an officer sa
nusing in his dark cloak with the ra,
o. weakening fire cleaning on hi
sword-hilt. From the plain there came
q. times, the sound Of battery horse
moving restlessly at their tethers, an'
one could imagine he heard tn
thrSaty, grumbling curse of tn
asoused drivers The moon died sy!sss