Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1900-03-30
CIIAPTER Ill.


|
CHAPTER III.
\ day had dawned on the Preside
Heights as brilliant as its predecessor
had been dismal. y soft south wind
had kept the fogs of the Pacific far out
TO sea and cleared the summer SKY of
every wisp Of vapor The sun of early
August shone hot and strong upon the
sandy wastes between the western linn
its of the division camps and the foamy
strand beneath the low bluffs, and beat
upon the canvas homes Of the re joicing
! so'dicrv slackin" cloth and cordaoe so
, BROKEN and ia""ed. thereby setting the
teeth Of "Old Squecrs" on edge as he
, LIS from u- ~ - 1~'~ ofhis
unsightly felt hat and called for his one
faithful henchman, the orderly Even
| his adiutant could pot condone the regi-
mental commanders Objectionable
traits, for a crustier old villain of vet
eran lived not in the line of the army.
"Ould Canker" the troopers had dubbed
him during the few years he had served
in the cavalry transplanted from a foot
regiment at the time Of the reorganiza-
ton, so-called, of the army in II; but
u Jew years Of mounted duty in Arizona
and later in the Sioux country had sick
ened him OF cavalry life and he gladly
accepted a chance to transfer back~to
the infantry Now, 90 wears after.
risen by degrees to the grade of lieuten-
mand of famous old regiment of regu-
lars, whose colonel had donned thestars
OF a general officer of volunteers, and
the pet name-saye the mark-of cav.
airy days had given place to the unflat-
tcrinr eobriouct derived from that hor.
ror of boyish readers-the ill-favored
schoolmaster of Dotheboys hall. He
had come 10 the -teenth with a halo
OF condemnation from the regiment in
which ne had served as major and won /
his balcful name, ana the boys" of his !
command soon learscd TO like his even
less than those who had dubbed him |
'Squccrs,' bccaus-, -s they explained, !
there wasn't any privilege or pleasure |
he would not edo the bows" out of il he
possibly could. Gordon had promptly /
rendered his resignation as regImental /
Gtjutant wheH - beloved cc,..-l -
the post TO report for duty in the army
destined Tor Cuba, bat Lieut.-Col. Can
ker declined 10 accept it, and fairly told
Gordon that, as he hadn't a friend
among the subaltcrns, there was no one
else ~ taAe il. Then, too. the colonel
added word or two and settled
the matter.
4 bio review had been ordered for
,ne morning. An entire brigade OF
sturdy volunteers was already forming
and marching out by battalions TO their
regimental parades, the men showing
In their easy stride and elastic carriage J
IL Cdc Go Of ~ % months hard drii. aad
gradually increasing discipline. The
regulars were still out in the park, hid
len 10y the dense foliage and busy with
heir company drills. The adjutant and
Jerk were at their papers in the big
'iaiCe tent, and only the sentries, the I
-ck and the special duty men remained
bout tta bod. IF camp. There was no {
me, said Private Nocnan to himself. as q
lie paced the pathway in front Of the '
oloners tent, after having scrupulous- &
v salnted him on his annea pa noe. NO I
van fur the ould man 10 whack al, bar 7
in it's me- but even Canker could
nd nothing to "whack at" in this vet. {
ran soldier who had served in the a
anks since the days OF the great war r
nd had borne the messages of such
len as Sheridan, Tsoor,rS and McPhcr. n
on when Canker himself was sweating il
ndcr his knapsack and musket Like
lost men, even most Objectionable 4
zen, Canker had some redeeming fea- Il
lres, and that was one Of them-he a
ad been a private soldier, and a brave Il
ne, too, and was proud of il. G
But life had little sunshine i'm il for II
ne Of his warped, ill-conditioned ma Il
ire. There was a profound conviction a
the minds of the company officers W
lat the mere sight of happiness or con- Il
nj in the face of subordinate was &C
ore than enough to set Canker wits fl
work TO wipe il out. There was no q
)ubt whatever in the minds of the as
lbaiterns that the main reason why in
lueers was SO manifestly down on OF
lily Gray was the almost indestruct. ra
Ie expression Of good nature. iollitv hi
ia ~ntnusiasIn tnat mao SHOWN ia the
tie fellows face ever since he Joined
e regiment. IF we call the old man
I1esis We snouid 1up Dill, MARX Iau- TO