The National tribune., 1902-02-06

| sidclong glance at the browning shad.
I've come to rejOin the army, and I'm
( going TO ask, as Il favor to me, and a
compliment to you, that you be again
| placed under my command"
The faces of the boys did not express
| eXultatiOn mt this prospect, but they gave
| the Colonel another cheer as he turned
on and walked in state through
| their camp. But he could not help turn
/ ing a longing look over his shoulder ut
| the tempting layout now being placed on
the table. He was as empty and hungry
as the Deacon, and the fragrance was
sufficient to tempt any epicure.
| He turned and walked back. The Dea-
con had been put at the head Of the table,
and the most luscious morscl that cOul'l
he found of the planked shad, with roe
Drowned to exactly the right shade, had
been placed on his plate. All the boys
were eagerly watching his face for a
symptom of his feelings.
Good gracious, amt that luscious.
gasped, the Deacon, after the first taste.
"Melts in your mouth like whipped
cream, and for flavor quails amt no
where"
The boys gave n gratifed cheer.
Col. Boncsteel came up.
''Ah, my men," he observed, that is
a very peculiar way in which you have
been cooking your fish, and it seems a
quite successful one, from the looks and
smell. Probably, as your commanding of
ficcr, it is my duty to examine it crit
ically. Sergeant. hand me bit to taste"
Certainly, Colonel" said 81, jumping
up to get it. ''Sit down there mt the head
of the table, Colonel, along with father,
and join us. Awful glad to have you.
This Shad's just great, and you'll enjoy
it"
To sit down to table with enlisted men!
No man had ever dared suggest such
thing to the Colonel. He gasped at the
cnormity of the proposition, made in such
an Of-hand. matter-of-course way, by
man who, wearing SergcantS stripes,
should have known far better. He re
Trained however, from administering a
proper rebulie, but stood in rigid expect
ancy of his order being Obeycd.
ST picked up clean tin-platc. put n bit
OF shad on it, and handed it with fork
to the Colonel.
Eyerybodys attention was ccntered on
the Deacon, and they gave no further
thought to the Colonel.
The effect of the mou:hful on the
Colonel was electric. He wanted a whole
lot more and at once. He cleared his
plate. and cleared his throat. to call at
tcntiUn 20 himself and his wants. but they
were all too much interested in the Dca-
"on to notice Il mere Colonel. even of the
Engineers. They could see COlOnels any
moment-saw too much of them, in fact
while fatherIy old gentleman straight
from home was sight to make the heart
glad.
The Colonel looked at the table, on
which there were other things quite as
appetizing as the shad. His hunger be-
came consuming. He walked down to
Pete who was busy pulling the shad-
bones from his mouth.
Boy" said he authoritatively, ego get
me Il lot more Of that fish, and some
oysters and sweet potatoes, and Il cup Of
coffee"
But Pete. who had boys antipathy
to all officers not of his own company and
regiment, and delighted when he could
show his independence Of them, answered
saucily, as he started with a choice NOR
sci for the Deacon:
'Go long with you. Won't do moth
ing of the kind. Get your own grub.
Who was your waiter last year?'
The Colonel was speechless with rage
Something attracted Sis attention. and
he OWNED the Colonel's wants. and called
called out heartily:
Say, Colonel, here's an extra fine
piecc-buck shad-you know the bucks
are much better eating than the cow
shad-that I've picked out for you. Sit
down with your plate right there by Pap,
and III bring it to you, with some OyS-
tcrs, cooked as only Gid Mackall can cook
oysters. lie beats us all in cooking most
everything, but when it comes to OyS-
tiers he's away up out of sight. He can
the army. Sit down, please for ! want
you to see just what Co. Q can do"
There was a pitched battle going on
between the COlonel's compulsve dignity
and his raging appetite. For once in his
life dignity was defeated.
"They are volunteers" he began to
compromise with dignity. every differ
ent from enlisted men of the regulars.
Very different conditions generally in war
time than in garrison. Many officers be-
lieve that assOciating rather freely with
volunteers helps encourage them ard
makes them better soldiers. These men
are Of my old command. they were very
respectful and obedient, and | believe
will just try 1t for once. There do not
seem to be any officers around to COM |
ment on it."
He seated himself beside the Deacon.
Si and Shorty saw to it that he had some !