Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-12-30

| uel NaCnln nefe! he shouted iOuQ III
I sistent, imperative. A dozen voices an
swered. a dozen hands indicated the
way. 1.-THE general wants you at the
footbridge at once, sir" We're the add
ed words, and there was but scant re-
spcct in the tone. There was utter
scorn of the etiquette of the service
that demands of a mounted officer that
he alight before addressing a senior
afoot. Drowning men grasp at straws.
Anything to tcmporiZe, Nathan seized
eagerly the preteXt "If you intend
that remark for me, SIR" he said, you
will dismount and convey it with prop
er respect" but the aid had not even
stopped to listen. He was squirting
swiftly down the line of the Washoes
crouching at the roadside. and there
was marked difference in the tone with
which he asked for Colonel Langdon.
"Here" sang the prompt answer as
that officer instantly dropped his chat
with the gunners and refined out into
the road. The red was in the sky, the
! pallid light of dawn already strong
| enough to outline forms and figures
/ close at hand, but all mems faces were
drawn and wan. There had been long
nights of vigil and later the strain of
long hours under fire. Two men of the
nearest company, close to the high.
road, turned over on their backs, one
with strange anguish In his boyish
face, the other. after moments strug-
| gle. with staring. sightless eyes. Strong
i arms raised and bore them to the ref
uge of an adjoining wall. Low flying
Mausers had found their billet in the
recumbent line. First blood for the
Filipino" muttered grizzled major,
with an upward glance at Langdon,
who was herding his men like shep-
herd with his flock closer within the
shelter of the lane. AYE, but We'll have
full satisfaction after sunup," cried the
aid-de-camp, his voice quivering with
excitement "The general is waiting
| just across the little footbridge TO-
ward the knoll. sir. You can see al
most their entire position from there.
BE wishes you to join him a moment.
I'll guide you"
Along the lane they urged their
steeds. A minutes swift trot brought
them to the southern outskirts of the
village, and the fats of the ricefields,
scanned by little ridges of stiffened mud
and streaked by winding estuaries, lay
before them-the banks of the main
stream, the Trlpa, fringed with letting
| fires. A narrow path ran to the edge
OF the slough that split the brigade in
| twain and turned back toward the
rearward city. Beyond it dimly out
lined forms crouched in the open fields
behind the firing line of the Column
bias. A frall footbridge, thrown up by
the engineers, spanned the sluggish
tide, and white chips few from the
hand rail as the top was grazed by
whistling lead. Under a clump of
bamboo at the edge of the lane three
orderlies were holding little bunch of
horses. The officers. throwing them
selves from saddle and bending low,
sped swiftly out along the narrow dixie
and over the swaying bridge. where's
Colonel Nathan:" demanded the chief
as he saw his aid and Langdon. IT
told you to find him first.''
Il did. sir, and gave the message"
was the instant reply.
Up from the knoll. where the field
guns We're laundering, with soldierly'
salute came the stalwart colonel of
the Columbias. The commander of
the Evergreens. silent and attentive,
was already there and listening to the
rapid instructions of the brigadier.
These in swift, terse words were re-
peated to the other field officers as they
reported. There was no installing the
intensity of their zeal and interest.
But still no Nathan appeared. Never
mind" said the chief. pointing to
where the Columbus were volleying at
the lines across the Tripa. We'll find
him out there with his men probably"
and he led the way back across the
slough. Not much we won't" growl-
ed the colonel of the. Columbus in sa-
tiric aside to silent Langdon. 'Tf the
general knew him as Melville does.
I.he'd-know better Big luck for Nathan
he isn't in Melville's brigadew
s"Oh. never you fear but the old
man'll cinch him" spoke up staff
officer in eager loyalty to his chief.
stumbling ON the dixie as he spoke.
after you, colonel. BY heaven, there's
Nathan noww
The light had broadened. The roofs
and walls of Santa Ana stood in sharp,
blacl; silhouette against the orient sky.
Forms and even faces now could be
recognized a dozen rods away, and
here at the edge of the Paco suburb,
still sheltered by the walls, stood Ma
than in crouching attitude, peering at
them as they came. The general, turn
Ing abruptly to the right, had moved
away toward the firing line His aid
swiftly followed, and Langdon, return
Ing for his horse came face to face at
the end of the lane with the man who
almost ten years before had driven him
from the army. The silver leaf that
told of equal grade in the volunteers
cleaned on the shoulder of each, but
one had worn it since the LIST of May,
the other not until three months later.
With the sound Of every volley from
beyond the Tripa flight of bullets
whistled across the dixie and foot