The National tribune., 1902-03-20

them take to cover again. Though they
then very well knew that but a single
man was in their way, they had no stom-
ach for rushing him, as Americans would
have done. For time silence prevailed.
| Billy looked back and saw that the men
had laid down their burden, and while
one remained by the wounded officer the
other was fastening down the road to-
| ward camp as fast as his legs could carry
him. AS this promised to get a Surgeon
so much the quicker for the wounded
! man he approved the move. 1t was his
task to keep the enemy at bay long
enough to have this accomplished.
Turning again to look to the front he
was struck with the fact that no bullets
were coming his way. This must mean
something. Possibly they We're stealing
upon him under cover of the other side of
the pike. He must cross over to see. He
crawled up the bank upon the top and
across the road TO where he could get
view along the flank on the other side.
His suspicious We're correct. Half a dozen
natives were wOrmng their way along in
| the mud and water at the base of the
pike, and had already approached within
| 100 yards. Taking deliberate aim he
! fired twice, and both times found a mark.
| The men immersed themselves in water
and stopped advancing, while those still
in the woods opened brisk fire. But two
cartridges We're left now, and he must re-
serve them for an emergency.
Crawling cautiously back to the first
| side again. he discovered that still an
other party was stealing forward there
| also, and he had 10 use one of the cart
| ridges to check this movement. Again
| storm Of bullets was poured into him,
and this time one Of them found IOdg-
ment i'll his left arm rendering it useless
and making him faint for Il few minutes.
1 cilnp.n o,,,I ,Ipllnnnl L., att
ties on both sides of the road, and they
continued their Stealthy advance. His
faintnesS passed away and he saw the
near approach of the enemy. He must
delay them longer. His last cartridge
must be used. Painfully he worked his
useless arm into position TO serve as q
rest, and then, taking deliberate aim at
one whom he took to be the officer in COM
mand, he fired his last shot and had the
satisfaction of seeing the officer fall into
the water and his party thrown into con-
fusion. FaintneSS again came to him and
his last impression was that of n scatter
ing v0llcy and shouts as his senses de-
parted and his eyes closed in what he be-
lieved to be his last look upon this world.
His next consciousness was of n sharp
pain in his arm and hearing voice say:
He's all right; only tainted"
He opened his eyes and saw several Of
his comrades standing over him. while in
the woods TO his front he could hear the
cracking of rifles; but to his practiced ear
they seemed to be all Springfields, as in
deed they were, the rcScung party that
had come just in the nick of time using
their guns on the last of the fleeing ma
tivcs.
COrpl William Dalton was the hero of
the hour. He was publicly commended
for his bravery in general orders read be-
fore the entire brigade and recommended
for a medal of honor. His wound healed
rapidly, and in a month he was back to
duty again with n Sergeants stripes on
his arm. As for Lieut.. Fred Warren, his
life was saved, but the Surgeon said that
another half hour without surgical atten-
ton would have been his last. After he
was well enough to travel he was in
valided home and mustered out, and a few
months later the entire regiment was sent
home TO be mustered out also.
Standing on the deck of the transport
as she dropped anchor in San Francisco
Bay was Serg't Dalton, eagerly scanning
the faces that crowded the launches and
tugs and small steamers that had come
out to meet the ship. AT last he discOv-
cred a handkerchief being waved vigOr-
ouSly in his direction, and as the tug
bearing the waver came closer he saw
than it was Marion. His heart gave a great
bound and then sank again as his eye
caught the form of Lieut.. Warren stand
ing by her. But wait. Who was that
clinging to the Leutenant's arm? He
was bewildered. 1t was another Marion.
What could it mean? The tug came
closer, almost touching the ships side,
and Marion, crOwding to the side, looked
up into his face with a proud smile and
said mischievously:
Il thought | would come ont and see
if could meet a man." with special en-
i,hasis on the last word. Then seeing his
puzzled look and his eyes fastened on the
other couple, she said:
'.Billy, this is my cousin, Marion. Ex-
Guse me, / mean Mrs. Marion" and she
bowed profoundly TO the smiling couple
beside her. ''They We're married yester-
day"
Serg't Billy Dalton was speechless for