The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1902-01-09
zon. Suddenly the lieutenant sprang

zon. Suddenly the lieutenant sprang
up.
"BOys," he said, 'we're out of water.
These wounded men have just got to
have water"
"Well, reckon yer won't find any
pump around here" drawled a south
erner.
"Johnnie, bring nine bottles of beer
right off'n the ice.f shouted the COM
pany wag. They allicackled hilariously.
"This amt no joke lads" said the lieu
tenant hotly, "when are we going to get
some water?" "Well," said one of the
men, "there's plenty in the rice fields
over there but the man who goes after
it will have to be game" The rice
field he spoke of was about seventy
five yards away and directly under the
insurgent fire.
The little lieutenant stiffened up.
"Here's yer chance" he said, "who'll
volunteer to go after water? Mind, this
amt compulsory" With all their un-
kemptness and rough jokes there were
hero hearts beating there. "I will"
said half-a-dOZen voices at once.
zones enough" said the lieutenant,
"the rest of ye keep the niggers off'n
him." He selected Haskins. He had
seen Haskins charge with foam fecked
lips through line of bolomen at San
MateO, three months before. So he Sc
lected Haskins.
They opened the door quickly and as
Haskins ran for the rice field, the can
teens strung over his person clinked
together and poueded him unmerci-
fully. The American fire grew hotter
and hotter. The insurgents yelled in
sanely and ran for Haskins with their
boIos. He cOolIy went on iilling the
canteens. A dead insurgent lay
sprawIed out in the water with a hor-
rid grin on his face. After men get
just so thirsty they overlook little
things like that. Suddenly Haskins
toppled over with bullet through his
thigh. An insurgent bullet had
"sniped" him. The bolomen ran faster.
In the hut strange thing happened.
Billings jumped up and went to the
lieutenant. 81 want to go to him at
once" he said, his breath Kissing slow
Iy through his teeth, 81 must 60 at
once" swell, damn it, gow said the
lieutenant with laugh, as he opened
the door. Billings dashed out with
clubbed rifle. He forgot that this nan
was his enemy. He only remembered
that he was white man; white man
about to be butchered by lot of
sneaking --, he swung his rifle
around and ran faster and faster. "Get
back, you black DEVILS" he shouted.
The insurgents retreated before this
"crazy American who didn't know
enough to surrender when he was
whipped.
"Quickv' he said to Haskins, "place
yer arms around my neck, SO, now hold
tight you damn reckless fool" He
turned and dashed for the hut. A bull
let plOughed his arm but he went on.
A moment more and he was inside,
Haskins. canteens and ALL He fell ex-
hausted "By God." said the lieu:en-
ant admirlugly, "you are brave man. -
The thin, faint voice of the ''deliriOus
singer walled out from the corner.
He was singing Marching Through
Georgia." and the song rang dismally
through the place
bring the good old bugle. boys.
Well sing another sOng.''
"Mistuh Billings" said Haskins, 81
owe you my life, suh." Jaw, it's all
right" said Billings waving his hands.
Sand, Billings, about that hog, 1
reckon my grandpap was little wrong
on that" 1t cost his pride terrible
wrench to say that. CAV, it's all right.
Aw, dern the damn hog anyway ex-
claimed Billingssas he turned away to
hide suspicious moisture in his eyes.
Once again the voice walled out from
the fever stricken darkness of the cor
ner-
'Sing it as We used to sing, fifty thousand
strong"
LEO.