The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-06-02

ness and imagined many things ridicu-
lous and impossible. IL seemed that tne
was unsDeakable when at an early dawn
we were ordered to feed mount ana re-
sumo our march. / tried to feel happy
of a new guard and my sense OF respon.
sibility ended, but soon i found thet
sleepliness on horseback was more dread
drop into a doze than / would rouse with
a start from an awful sensation OF falling
from my horse. Everybody was cross.
particularly the smokers for all the nres
were out and few men carried matches.
Then II was that our captain leapeu
suddenly and securely into the anecslohs
ers TO fll their pipes, he tore long
narrow strip from his handkerchief,
moistened II the least bit III one emo
with match. lighted his own pipe and ana
then gave the smoldering rag TO the hrst
sergeant, from whom II passed down the
entire troop. After the pipes were iairy
started there was no more grumbling, ex-
cept from non-smokers
How / wished myself a smoker! Orten
when In earlier days / had asked scnooi-
mates why they took 10 smoking was
told among other excuses. that few
whiffs OF smoke would stop the craving OF
hunger when fellow chanced 70 be play
fishing and having too much luck TO get
home at meal time. Well had learned
smoking. the third day OF our scout would
have been a good time TO test It's remediai
virtues. for my hunger was so intense
that IL drove everything else from my
mind. and the memory OF the bacon ana
me scream with rage. 1t seemed 10 me
the government was mean. despicable ana
standing In its own light 10 give me three
during the first "a hours. II only had
brought that lump OF fat pork which nae
seemed so loathsome when IL was ueail
me- actually longed nfi fSr tnat saw or on on
the ground Just where ! had tossed Il,
before 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 me pa. pa
poor fellow. he was eating his last bit OF
food apparently, for his haversack was
inside out and lying by the fire to dry.
lowed me TO speak 10 him he said:
1T seems too bad TO waste the little
fat that's left In the skii;et. don't II?
Wonder ef thar amt an ear OF corn In
that field that we could roast?'
TITS all too hard" said /. shaking my
head sadly as l remembered my search
Tho harder the better" said he.
never was more willing TO be con-
yinced. In a single minute I was back &
Johnny selected the hardest. shelled II
in his pan. shook IL a little while before
he put II over the fire. then parched Il
II upon the top OF his hat 10 cool. Not
a bit OF the bacon fat remained In the
pan. but each grain OF corn was as
glossy as II vanished.
Thar! said he. after q moment or
two, he poured full half of the corn
into big husk and passed II to me.
ef you wasn't wrong thinkn' the corn
too hard"
Bless that rebel, / do believe that
parched corn saved my life. I resolved
never to go a scout again without
little frying pan I'm one OF my saddle bags
and a lot OF shelled corn In the other.
raging hunger like mine9 It was too
late TO parch more. for the call TO mount
had sounded. AS l hurried down the road
the older troop on which l had bileted
when first I reached the regimental
camp. and he hailed me kindly with:
Well, young feller. how does scouting
well enough. ! replied. If I wasn't
almost starving"
way t fwayi he reped strikes NOW sns b
sharp set. Say, mebbe a piece of pork
would help you out Here 49,
He handed me what looked lkr n dirty
| wad Of wet newspaper. in WHICH l found
about half pound of pork. IL was solid
fat. dingy looking, and on one side: where
the paper had lain closely against IT,
several advertisements had transferred
themselves In reverse, with the general
head. Help Wanted" at the top OF them
/ didn't scrape them off. but ate pork
advertisements and all.
About the middle OF the afternoon
general buzz of satisfaction ran along
the column. We were passing one OF
our picket stations which meant that
we were within an hour or two OF our
camp When finally the march was end
stall and be relieved OF bride. saddle
and blanket that he gleefully kicked the
empty air for several minutes. Several
MIN LAT On q
bare floor OF his tent. his head piliowed
on the rain soaked blanket, was slumber-
ing as sweetly as IL his couch were OF
down, and the ugly calculations of the
weary men who struggled In one by one
were 80 many loving lullabies.
(To Be Continued Tomorrow.)