The Van Buren press., 1900-11-10
THE SHRAPNEL OF
THEIR FRIENDS
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
placently on the captured Rostina po-
sition. The horsemen were well
pleased and they told how they had
ridden thrice through the helter-
SHELTER of the fleeing enemy. They
had ultimately been checked by the
great truth that when good enemy
runs away in daylight he sooner or
later finds place where he fetches
up with jolt and turns to face the
pursuit. The Hus~ ars had discreetly
withdrawn, displaying no foolish
pride of corps at that tine.
There was general admission that
the Kicking Twelfth hao taken the
honors of the day, but the artillery
added that If 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withdrawn many rifles that would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, bnt the Kickers
smiled easily and indulgently. A 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 were congratulated they simply
smirked, suggesting that the ability
Of the Twelfth had long been known
to them, and that the charge had
been 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
his officers, and the losses had been so
great that Timotl y Lean got COM
mand Of company. 1t was not much
of q company Fifty.three smudged
and sweating men faced their new
commander The company had gone
into action with the strength Of &c.
The heart of Timothy Lean beat high
with pride. He intended to be some
day II general, and II 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 yagabonds, He scanned the
faces and recognized with satisfaction
one old sergeant and two bright
young corporals. Now" said he to
himself, ~ have here a snug little
body Of men with when can do
something" In him burned the usual
fierce fire TO make the best company
in the regiment. He had adopted
them; they were his men. 81 will do
what ] can for YOU" he said, "Do
you the same for me-"
The Twelfth bivouacked on the
ridge, Little fires were built and
there appeared among the men In.
Vulnerable blackcned tin cups, which
were 80 treasured that faint sus.
picion In connection with the loss OF
one could bring on the grimmest
Of fights, Meantime certain of the
privates silently readjusted their kits
as their names were called out by the
sergeants, These were the men con.
demned TO picket duty after u hard
day Of marching and fighting. The
dusk came slowly, aud the color "
the countless fires spottlng the ridge
and the plain grew In the falling
darkness. PARKWAY pickets fred at
something.
One by one the mems heads were low.
cred 10 the earth until the ridge was
marked by two long shadowy rows OF
men, Here and there an officer snt
muslng In his dark cloak with the ray
~ Q weakening Hro cleaning ON his
sword-l,iii. Prem the plain there came.
ut times, the sound OF battery horses
moving restcssly at their tethers, and
a a