Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1901-08-03
CHAPTER ".

and dropping into the chair from which
he had risen, he laughed long, but not
loud. And Jean, or Jack" Marat, as
the men called him, who was listening at
the door of the next room, heard the
major say:
why, the fellow dropped right into
my hands. Ha, ha, ha! Oh, | have him
now; / have him right here; and he
held up thumb and finger and pressed
them together as If he were pulverizing
something. He was about to resume his
writing, when Judge Loring came in,
looking very much troubled.
why, Judge, you look as if you had
seen ghost" said the major.
and 1 feel as if 1 might soon see one"
replied the judge, dropping into the chair
to which the major waved him.
what do you mean?'
Il mean that before the sun rises again
we shall have such a storm as has not
swept the Sound for many a day"
''Well, what of that? Fort Clark can
stand tornado; and if it cannot, why it
will be no great loss"
I am not thinking about the Fort or
the people on land" said the judge.
The reason for his visitors anxiety
dawned on the majors foggy brain, and
he fastened to say:
"Oh, yes your daughter. But surely
there can be no danger on the Sound;
and then you know the bark Arrow may
still be out on the Pacific"
II think she has come through the
strsats. | have just seen the captain of
a cutter that has come to anchor under
the headlands; and he reports that early
this morning he saw a bark beating down
Admiralty Inlet, off the southern point
of Whidby's Island"
ooh, well, she will be here by dark.
If not, Captain Ford knows where he
can come to anchor
NO, Major, that is just the trouble.
The Sound is so deep, and the shores so
bold, that it is a difficult thing to find
anchorage"
The judge got up and looked out the
window. The distant line of the Cas-
cades was blotted out, and black cloud
banks, like sooty avalanches, were sweep
ing over the valleys and hills.
Major Germon got up and consulted
barometer hanging on his Office wall The
mercury was falling rapidly, but he did
not tell the judge, nor was there need
to do so, for he had been too long in that
land not to know its varying moods.
Captain Ford is a good sailor; none
better on the Pacific" said the major
He knows all about these waters, and l
think we can trust him to come In all
right. | have been very much provoked
to-day" continued the major, no doubt
with the intention of diverting the mind
of his guest from the storm gathering
without. II had to reduce to the ranks
and place under arrest one of my SER
geants."
"Ah, indeed" said the judge.
Eyes: a fellow l should like to have
aided, for, strange as it may seem, our
families are connected by marriage"
What is the mans name?
''Morton-Colin Morton. The East got
too hot for him. and like many others, he
preferred to enlist, and thus have his
identity swallowed up rather than run
the risk of going to prison. | wish the
fellow was at some other post; but as
soldier must do my duty. Eth! well, sir,
what do you want?'
The majors exclamation and inquiry
were called out by the appearance at the
office door of q tall, handsome young
man, bearing on the sleeves of his blue
coat the chevrons of quartermaster ser
geant.
Il am Sergeant Robert Bracebridge,"
said the soldier, removing his cap, and
so displaying the high, snowy forehead
aud crisp, curling yellow hair.
''Well, Sergeant Robert Brace bridge,
what the de-deuce do you want?" asked
the major.
Il wish, sir, to be reduced to the ranks.
Here is my application, with the reasons
for my request therein given"
Robert Bracebridge handed the appi-
cation to the major, and the major tore
open the envelope, and saw at a glance
that it was the production of a man of
no ordinary education.
Having been appointed at the same
time and for the same reasons as my
friend, Colin Morton, l cannot, with re-
Epect to myself, retain a position for
which the commanding officer chooses to
deem him unworthy
This the major mumbled over as his
protruding eyes went down the page.
Dashing the sheet angrily on the desk,
he asked:
What does this mean, sir?"
Certainly no disfespect to you or any
other superior Officer" replied Robert
Bracebridge whose calmness and good
breeding were in striking contrast with
the brutal bearing Of the commanding
officer II believe | have the right to go
back to the ranks if | so desire it,
You have no right to do anything
here, sir, that does not meet with my APP
prevail. or that is in violation of military
order and discipline Go to the adjutant,
sir. and report yourself under arrest"
Perhaps the officer of the day would be
the person l should report to-" said Rob
ert Bracehridge. who in this matter was
quite right.
why, what is wrong with you?" asked
Colin Morton, when the sergeant of the
guard conducted in his friend.
Nothing. but that ] choose to be in
the same boat with You" laughed Robert
Bracehridge, pointing to the place on his
. arm from which the serCennt'G cheYernn