Omaha daily bee., 1902-02-17

had not toiled many days before our
worthless became aware that they we're the
only people in the camp who had any Of
the encouraging medicine. The blanket
pony was tied behind a wagon by day and at
evening halts the captain and lieutenant
personally unpscked him.
They had by almost superhuman shrewd-
ness and painstaking care managed to con-
ceal the fact that they had a "nightcap"
and an "eye-opener' at the respective
times each day. There we're occasional
Fumors among their comrades in arms to
the effect that Captain Bill and his trusted
Bunkle smelled Of the "old thing" but
they d%issembled and denied. Many weary
leagues lay between their canitinas of rye
and a further supply, so they did not blame
themselves for the selfish protection OF
their possession. Two jugs we're enough
for them personally. but among so many
officers. II 1t were known, they would soon
be drained.
Along through the buffalo grass and the
gray sage tramped the soldiers-bearded
and dusty and bored. Far out on the plains
they could see at times their wolhsh fol-
lowing. but they did not come near enough
to give them the relaxation Of a fight. At
night, to be sure, they came to shoot into
the camps and wagons, keeping the men
awake. They made very delicate work for
the pickets in the darkness, also for the
oflcer of the guard who had to go stun
bling about in the gloom. All OF this ex-
asperated the men, and particularly the
old general, whose ideas Of war had been
gathered at such places as Chapultepec and
the Death Eagle. He longed to get at
them: he yearned for contact with these
desert hawks, and he pressed them as hard
as his men could leg It or his mules be
whacked along, but to no purpose. He left
ambuscades for them which they never
fell into. He hunted them in the darkness
and the rain; but they we're hunters them
selves. II became utterly discouraging, so
he mentally gave 1t up and just marched.
He ceased to be interested in his own
strategy.
Everyone else felt the same way. Every
one had ceased to expect that the regiment
would get any credit out OF this cherries
war, and one day Van Nick said to Uncle
Billy: ut does seem kind OF low-down OF
us to husband that rum when we could use
it in the interest of the regiment-don't 1t,
now?"
What do you mean. Dick? You don't
dream Of springing it on the fellows?"
"oh, no. captain. that isn't my idea; my
idea is to use 1t strategically."
Use whisky strategically?
"Yes-give 1t to the Indians. 1t might
make them fight"
"Ho, no! / see. That's not a bad idea
but how? It's against orders to have II
with US at ALL"
Dick thought a while and, future genera
that he was to be, finally proposed thai
some day when they were in camp and vel
prepared they should drive the blanket POM
out where the Indians could get him and
rely on the whisky to make the warrior.
brave. So their campaign was arranged
not without misgivings as to the possibili,
ties OF SO sudden a conjunction Of red mel
and red liquor. It might be a powerful
combination or a weak one, but experience,
Of the past said yes. Shortly the trail
made a days resting halt. The mules hat
come in from grazing and were safe within
the wagon corral. Well out on each fouI
sides Of the camp lay a battalion of in
fantry-deployed-loaded and tired Of tn,
motonony which their shifting enemies en-
forced.
Out to the north, on some low bluffs no
500 yards away, a considerable body Of war
riors were squatting beside their ponies
observing the camp. They had no desir,
to come nearer: keeping watch they coul,
both see and understand. Being all read,
and the time propitious, Uncle Billy Burton
and his lieutenant led the poor old blanke
pony outside the line Of soldiers.
Where the - are you going with tina
pony. Burton ?" sang out one OF a grouI
OF officers who sat playing poker on tn
grass.
"oh, I am going to exercise him. H