Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1902-07-09
WHEN BOYS were men.
9x JoHN HABBERTON
Author of 'Helen's Babies,' "GeOrge Wash
ingtOn,' Etc.


freely, our captors being quite willing
to converse and the conversation ran
as entirely to farming methods as If
there was no war or other special sub
ject of interest Two or three hours
after dark the sergeant said to US:
"Now. gentlemen. any Of you that
tries to get away IL be shot like dog,
but If you behave yourselves you can
sleep as comfortable as If you was at
home. Just lie down on the floor where
you are whenever you like, or sit up,
but keep to that side Of the room. Wen
keep to this side. II you even put your
hands to your feet you'll be shot, SO
don't do It"
l said something to the effect that
we weren't fools. Meanwhile my
friend and the third man dropped upon
the floor. with their guns and our car.
bines. while the sergeant sat down
upon q box in front Of the fire. cooked
double barrelcd shotgun and kept bis
eyes upon us. Conversation languish.
ed after that. 1t is hard to talk to q
man whom you know Is ready to take
your life on sufficient provocation. We
exchanged remarks occasionally with
one another. but they weren't at all
hilarious. l was just dropping asleep,
still sitting on the bench. when Brain.
ard whspered:
"Any water in your canteen. Jack?"
/ I hadn't thought before Of the cap.
tain's canteen Of whisky. Would 1t be
safe to tell Charley in the hearing OF
the guard that the canteen across my
shoulder was full Of whisky? Suppose
the Johnnies should learn Of it, drink
it and get fighting mad and kill US? !
answered Brainard, NO"
Then. remembering some jar inscrip'
tions that he and had spelled out to.
gether in our village drug store and
persuaded the druggist to translate. l
continued. trusting the sergeant did
not understand Latin. "Spiritus fru.
menti."
The surprise that cleaned through
Brainard's eyes would have startled
the sergeant had he seen it. Before |
dropped asleep again the guard was
changed by the sergeant rousing the
man Of the three who seemed to
amount to least. He was thin. rath.
er feeble looking fellow. with stupid
face, the lower half Of which had been
left unfinished soon after 1t was be-
gun. He threw fresh wood on the fire
so as to keep the room alight. then he
sat down with the gun and yawned so
fearfully that | feared he might fall
asleep with his hand on the trigger and
rouse the house, perhaps to our serious
injury. Finally. however, he got en-.
tirely awake. and then he seemed to
feel dismal amid SO much silence, so he
tried to chat with us. He was a poor
talker, but Brainard helped him along
TO the best Of his ability. They drawl-
ed along for an hour, and under the
soothing influence Of their monotones,
the snoring of the sergeant and the
wheeling Of the other Johnny began
to drop asleep again just as the guard
was explaining a lot Of bad feelings he
had from time to time.
II could cure you. think, If you
wouldn't get me into trouble" said
Brainard.
"Ef you've got any medicine Of any
kind. stranger" said the guard. 40
the Lawds sake. gimme some. don't
keer what 1t is. know it'll do me
good some way"
wouldn't whisky be the very best
medicine you could have" Brainard
asked.
The mans face looked like beatified
saint In a fourteenth century picture
as he placed hand on his waist and
murmured "Oh"
IF find you some right here With
out stirring. will you promise to leave
me little Of it" asked Brainard.
"Of co'se will" said the guard soft
ly. "But how Sho! Quit your fool
in"
I'm not fooling," said Brainard.
You promise. too not to wake your
friends to help drink it all? don't be-
lieve in whisky except for sickness,
and your friends don't look or act as
If they had any bad feelings"
Stranger" said the guard hoarsely.
I'D promise anything. excep' to be
Yank or to let YOU cit out. fo' one drink
of whisky"
"All right" said Rrainard. taking the
captains cantrrn from my neck. draw
ing the cork and holding it out to the
guard.
What Rrainard was up to I could
not imagine. and closed my eyes as
the guard stepped toward him. fear
ed Charley had some desperate idea Of
SeiZing the mans gun as he passed
the cantcen. In such case discretion
would he the better part Of valor-for
the rest Of us. But there was no scene.
The guard quickly resumed his seat.
and out of q mere slit Of my eye
could see he had his gun ready for us
with one hand while he raised the can
teen to his mouth with the other.
"Al want, you said?" lie whisper
cd after he had ascertained that it
really was whisky.
"All you want" was the reply. 80
you leave me little in case Of sick
ness"
How that cantcen did gurglc for a
full minute! When the drnker was
compelled to stop for breath. lie held
the canteen in front Of him with n
"you have saved my life" expression Of
countenance that was really touching.