Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-08-07

wished. The only living beings who
did not seem in the least disturbed
We're the prisoners.
As for myself, i think I lost my
senses several times during that dread
full night. Only as hours before, the
Job of loading the revolyers had rob-
bed me of an entire night Of rest. Now
was doomed to another. / had to
tramp the muddy road TO keep myself
awake. but my head dropped asleep
once in awhile on its own account and
with wide open eyes | bcheld many
strange visions in the darkness and I'M
agined many things ridiculous and i'm
possible. 1t seemed that the night new
err would end, and my gratitude was
uuspeakable when at early dawn we
were ordered to feed, mount and re-
sumo our march. | tried to feel happy
when the prisoners were placed in
charge of new guard and my sense
of responsibility ended, but soon l
found that sleepiness on horseback was
more dreadful than on foot. No sooner
would drop into n doZe than | would
rouse with Il start from an awful SEN
sation of falling from my horse. Every
body was cross, particularly the smok-
ers, for all the fires were out and few
men carried matches.
Then it vas that our captain leaped
suddenly and securely into the afec-
lions of his men. Passing the word
for smokers 60 fill their pipes. he tore
a long narrow strip from his handker.
chief, moistened it the least bit lit one
end with a match, lighted his own pipe
and then gave the smoldering rag to
the first sergeant, from whom it passed
down the entire troop. After the pipes
were fairly started there was no more
grumbllng. except from nonsmokers.
How wished myself smoker.
Often when in earlier days l had asked
schoolmates why they took to smoking
| was told. among other excuses. that
few whiffs OF smoke would stop the
craving Of hunger when fellow
Glanced to be playing truant for day
or OFF hunting or fishing aud having too
good luck to get home at mealtime.
Well, had learned smoking, the third
day of our scout would have been a
good time to test its remedial virtues,
for my hunger was so intense that 1t
drove everything else from my mind,
and the memory of the bacon and hoe
cake of the night before almost made
me scream with rage. 1t seemed to
me the government was mean, des-
picable and standing in its own light
to give me as three days ration some
food which had eaten during the first
"a hours. If only l had brought that
lump Of fat pork which had seemed so
loathsome when 1t was dealt me!
actually longed for that bit Of adipose
tissue, longcd until ] saw it on the
ground just where had toss it, saw
it rs distinctly as If 1t were really be-
fore my eyes.
Really. when we halted about noon
my hunger had made me mean spirited
enough to go deliberately IN search of
my friendly enemy who owned the ba-
con and frying pan, Fortunately for the
poor fellc :. he was eating his last bit of
food apparently. for his haversack was
inside out and lying by the fire to dry,
He recognized me, and as the guard al
| lowed me 10 speak to him he said:
ut seems too bad to waste the little
fat that's left in the skillet, don't IT.
! Wonder eff thar amt an ear of corn IL
that field that we could roastT'
ITS all too hard" said l, shaking my
head sadly as remembered my search
Of the day before.
"Thc harder the better" said he.
never was more willing to be con
vInced. In a single minute I was bach
Johnny selected the hardest, shelled 4
In his pan, shook 1t a little while before
he put it over the fire, then parched /
until it was deem brown and poured
It upon the top Of his hat to cool. No
bit Of the bacon fat remained in tn
pan, but each grain Of corn was a
glossy as If vanished.
Thar" said he after a moment O
two, as he poured a full half Of tn
corn into big husk and passed 1t I
me. Just hist yerself outside tina
an see eff you wasn't wrong thinkir
the corn too hard"
Bless that rebel. I do believe tha
parched corn saved my life, I resolve
never to go on a scout again without
little frying pan in one Of my saddle
bags and a lot OF shelled corn in tn
other. But what was half an ear {
corn to raging hunger like mine?
was too late to parch more, for the ca
to mount had sounded. As hurrie
down the road to rejoin my compan
| met veteran of the older troop G
which | had been billeted when first
reached the regimental camp, and |
hailed me kindly with:
: "Wcll, young Teller, how does scou
ing agree with you"
well enough" replied, III I WASH
! almost starving"
:, 1T always strikes greenhorns TIL
. way" he replied. Now, ! amt b
y sharp set. Say, mebbe piece OF pol
:. would help you out. Here"
), He handed me what looked like
=. dirty wad Of wet newspaper, in whic
:. found about half pound Of pork.
!, was solid fst, dingy looking, and {
one side, where the paper had la
closely against II. several advertis
z ments had transferred themselves
reverse, with the general head HE
! Wanted at the top of them. II
words were eminently appropriate,
> | didn't scrape them off, but ate por
u adv ertisements and ALL