The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1901-03-06

HlOuB, ntE DuiWtIkS lllpu "lln NtlCI'
full armed men, whose wide, gray cam
paign hats topped her sides. The sill.
yer beach stretched, Il shining ribbon,
along the edge of the sea, and great
clouds OF urf sparklcd in the sun as
the waves broke ON the coral reefs II
little out from the shore. The and
within lay n garden Of the gods, as
green, as fruitful, to all seeming NJ
peaceful. a net of jungle, of trailing,
thorny vines and tropical bush. with
bamDOoS II banyanS and ClumpS of
cocoa palms, reached back from the
beach, rising gently until some miles
inland the dark ridges OF the hills
doomed in the horizon.
No sound came from the land, no foe
showed himself us the ship driftcd
gently in and then lay still some hun
dreds of yards from shore. Swiftly
from her sides two longboats were
lowered. ana each was lllcd with men
with carDine, ammunition belt and DiS-
tol.
Lieutenant Pauks will take charge
Of boat No. l, Lieutenant Owen of No.
g" said h commanding officer. You
have your instructions, gentlemen.
Good lucli to you. In an hour or two l
shall expect you bach with the infor-
nation and the scouts"
Boat No. l was lying ready and i'm
patient when Mr.. PaukS swung him
self In the stern.
"Givc way, men," said he. "Sce IL
We can't eat the other boat ashore.
NOV then" he added to the Cuban at
the tlllcr, look out for the reef. I'd as
soon get there dry rs wet"
Where is 10. 90 soldier queried
rs they shot forward.
Lieutenant Owen" said the COM
handing officer impaticntly, what is
the matter? Your men are all in the
boat"
\ voice from the stern of the boat
spoke UP gently, Scdatc and respectful
as need be, yet with n curious note in
It.
The things is all with me, licutcn-
ant. There's nothin left behind" it
said.
Owen started ut Spud's rcbukc, Il re-
buke only to his ears, and In his TURF
swung over and seated himself in the
stern close to his attendant.
"Give way" he said, but there was
no jolly appeal TO his squad to bcat the
others. The men looked frctful as
they noted the start the others had.
Them fellows have the luck" one
growlcd. "Thcy will be first ashore"
Spud had n corner Of his eye on Ow.
ems face. In the crowded small boat
their shoulders touched. Tho officers
face was gray, his form trcmblcd.
This Is black RUM" thought Spud
"black ruin and disgrace for him and
the ward. If I-if darcd!"
He watched the men furtively. One
man nudged another, and 10Th looked
at Owen and snccrcd. Spud ground
his teeth INC marked them for future
slaughter.
They know: they see it," he in
wardly groaned, land we'll be eternal
ly disgraced. Oh, Sammy, Sammy, II
only l could give yc n jolly good hidir
to wake We up"
He slipped II hand TO n hip pocket
and half drew something from it, bur
showed it back again with great dis
trcss Of face.
whats to be done? On the kiC
doctor! Shall | burst the cure or Oh
this Is the devil sure"
The other boat was drawing awaN
ahead, for their officer was cheering
the oarsmcn on. He waved from his
place in the stern q hand to Over
and cried back gayly, you're not in 1t
Owen"
The men looked at Owen. He mad,
no response. There was q certain hon
or In being first to set foot OH the
shore, but the soldiers saw disgustcdlS
that their officer did not desire it. Dan
ger was there, and he-hc funked 1t
That was the sudden thought tina
sprang to each mans mind, and they
looked blackly on him.
Spud moved in the boat, standing VI
so that he hid the lieutenant while h,
stopped on some p%rctcnsc. He hclC
out a black bottle and whispered an
grily:
Drink, Sammy. drink, and God for
give us both!'
The lieutenant looked at him in sud
den horror. 1t Il as though onc's
guardian angel, h had watched fol
long, should abandon his task and as
sumo n demons form.
"You-you want me tot"
Drink and say nothin," said poor
Spud, 'for IL f%ightin's to be done that
kid doctors ruined We for it. DRINK"
And he drank quickly and deeply
He landed the bottle back to Spud
who slipped 1t away. In n minute
Owens face flushed, and his eve
frightened. He stood up and spoke to
the men and babe the rowers pull. He
wa more like himself, and their faces
frightened.
Pull boys" he said, and Wen beat
those fellows for all their start. Muir.
ply" he whispered as he sat down
again, give me that bottle"
Spud moaned, but the first step was
taken. He passed 1t over, and again
the officer drank, and this time he kept
the flask. Over the blue waters they
skinned. The reef was near.
1.-TWO to one In VS. we beat you
Owen!' sang Pauks.
Done. Give way, men!' Owen
cried, and the men laughed. Spud
frightened up. The poison was work
Ing. He knew what the doctor would
say, but bade the morrow begone!
Enough to live bravely through the
! day. At the reef n false turf Mt the
tiller capslzed Pauks' boat, and Owen
gained and passed them. They cleared
the surf. They ran high on the white
shore. They formed as skirmishers 20
yards apart and plunged into the jun
gle without waiting for the other boat.
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