The National tribune., 1900-08-02

| with an intense desire TO prove tnat ne
could face bullets as we'll as others, even
if he was afraid and his cheeks paled.
He did not blame the Captain for Ieav-
ing him behind. for he knew perfectly
well he was not fit to go upon campaign,
| to march long distances in the hot sun
and live upon the rough fare the men
would have in the field, but if he could
only get into one battle and show them
he could stay and fight as well as the 9th
ers he would be satisfied to be sent back
| again and stay in Camp Coldfoot until
he was well or dead. Little did he think
that more than one of those who put on
so brave front as they marched away
would have been glad of so good a reason
| and opportunity to remain behind, for n
bold front covers many weak heart on
| the eve of battle.
During the day he learned that the regi-
ment had gone but four miles from the
city into the intrenchments at Caloocan,
and that the next day it was to assault
the heavy Filipino defenses of Malabon.
Here was work to try the mettle of the
testers in good earnest. He studied on
the matter all day and gradually evolved
plan to get sent back to duty. At sick
call the next morning he gave such good
! reports Of his condition that the Surgeon,
who knew nothing about his case except
what he learned by questions, returned
him to duty. fastening to quarters, Will
lard seized his gun and equipments and
started out to join his company, fearful
he might be too late to get there before
the assault was made.
jorl fba iphf hafo {ho
ment had been moved quietly into the
trenches fronting the almost impregnable
defenses of Malabon. Careful were the
steps and the commands were whispered,
so that no unusual noise should give the
enemy intimation that something special
was afoot. Quietly the men lay down to
sleep, and nothing broke the stiffness but
the sweet notes of taps. There was SOL
emnity in the very silence, and even the
lcudest of the early morning testers could
not keep his thoughts from dwelling upon
the uncertainties of the morrow. An hour
before daylight the clear notes of the bu-
! gle rang out the first call and then the
reveille, and a few minutes later coffee
and crackers were served for breakfast.
Then the lines were formed behind the
breastworks, and the regiment stood in
idle impatience until o'clock, listening
to the sounds of battle on it's right and
waiting for orders to begin its work
! Finally the word came. The battalion
commander had just given the Captain of
Wizards company orders TO prepare to
advance, when that breathless soldier
rushed up, saluted and stood at attention
What are you doing here?' asked the
| astonished officer.
''The Surgeon sent me back to duty,
SIR"
He did? Why, you're so weak now
you can hardly stand up; but / can't stop
| to look into the matter now. Fall in with
your squad"
The entire company had witnessed his
| arrival and wondered at it, but as he fell
in at the place indicated by his Corporal
discipline prevented any comment With
white and rigid face and hand that trem-
bled as he clutched his gun, he stood reso-
luteIy IN line awaiting the order to ad-
vance. 1t was not long delayed. The
bugle rang out Attention." and then
Forward" and in an instant every man
had leaped over the top of the trench and
was moving forward toward the Filipino
trenches in the swamp and woods Up
10 hat time all had been quiet in their
front, bnt now there broke out a cracking
of AIauser rifles and the steel bullets sang
about the ears of the advancing men like
swarm of angry bees. First one man
went down and then another and another
They were shooting now and yelling as
they advanced. In q few minutes the bu
gle rang out Charge and then, with n
yell that might well strike terror to even
stOuter hearts than beat in the breasts OF
the Filipinos sheltered behind their con>
cealed intrenchments, the entire regiment
sprang to the front and q minute later
swept over the trenches.
just as the charge was sounded Willard
threw up his hands, turned half way
round and plunged face downwards upon
the ground. The two men next to him
stopped and kneeled down beside him, and
one of them took his first aid package
from his haversack, while the other began
looking for the wound. He soon found
Manser bullet hole through the body
from breast to back. While they were
the wound could be bandaged, he tried
to struggle TO his feet, saying, Don't
mind me. I'm all right. Go on and
fight" but they made him lie still until
they had tied up his hurt and somewhat
stopped the flow of blood He insisted that
he could tnd his way to the rear alone,
and so they lifted him to his feet and
hastened on to overtake the advancing
line just starting again after a short
breathing spell in the first line OF cap
| tured trenches.
Slowly the stricken soldier worked his
way toward the rear, using his gun for a
support, the bullets still singing about his
ears, until he came upon another wounded
| man lying upon the ground, whose hurt
| had not been bandaged. Sick, wounded
and weak as he was, he stopped to ad-
| minister to his fallen comrade. In his
effort TO kneel down beside the fallen man
he fell over almost helpless, but with
| painful eXertion he managed to draw him
| self up to his knees and feel in the mans
| pockets for his first-aid package. Taking
out the strip of gauZe he laid it over the
hole in the mans thigh, and then attempt
ed to wind the bandage around it, but the
| effort was too much for him, and he fell
across the body in faint Thus the lit
| ter bearers OF the hospital corps FOUND
| them a few minutes later while making
their rounds picking up the dead and
wounded from the field. As they started
to move him he regained consciousness
and insisted that he WAS all right and
urged them to go on TO the front and
| fight. Then he refused to be taken on
| the stretcher unless the other man was
taken first, and while insisting upon this
he again tainted. They placed him upon
the stretcher, and while the bearers moved
away with him in the direction Of the field
| hospital the man in charge of the party
remained 10 dress the wound Of the sol
der left behind. Slowly the bearers APP
preached the dressing station, carrying
| their burden as gently as possible. At
last they arrived and set the Stretcher
down where the Surgeons were at work