Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1902-08-28
A Soldiers
ReparatiOn
BY EDWARD B. CLARK.

StCOuu lleulSudut III lAC -N4HCOSOhth
cavalry. 1t was during the height of
the Geronimo trouble, and Tracy,
with his troop, dismOunted, and after
soul and body wearying march on
the trail of the willy Apache, found
himself in the heart of one of the
dreariest, most God forsaken noun
tain countries in the whole range of
the southern country.
The troop was exhausted and prac-
tically without water, the men hav-
ing not a drop to drink save what
was in their canteens. They had cut
loose from river in the early morn
ing, expecting to find another when
the day was done, but not as much as
rivulet had they found. There was
no coffee that night and there WASH t
light heart in the outfit.
Tracy was unhappy. Itwasn't Who'll
ly his suffering condition and that OF
his men which weighed on him. Just
before leaving the Arizona post he had
received news that his younger broth
er, John, had been committed to states
prison in a far northeastern state.
The officer had seen his home only
once since his graduation. He had
stayed away purposely. His brother
had been a trusted bank employe.
Then came suspicion, then conviction
and a sentence. John Tracy protested
his innocence of the crime charged
against him, and his family, knowing
the lad, believed him, but the circum-
stantial evidence was Overwhelming
and in spite of the efforts of the aged
father, who spent his time and his
money in the lads defense, he went
to prison.
Before the troop had left Fort Banks
with its nose to the hot red trail of &C.
ronimo there had joined as an en-
listed man a strapping young fellow
who said that he came from st. Louis.
His name was Barlow, and he was
assigned to the troop of which Tracy
was the junior officer, and he went
with it on its chase across the border
after the Apache chieftain.
Barlow on every occasion possible
attached himself to Tracy's person.
Whenever there was a scouting party
detached from the main body and put
under the second lieutenant's com
mand Barlow asked that he might be
assigned to it to share in the scout
ing duty. He was reserved fellow,
and apparently of superior education.
There was no camp jokes for him.
He was grave and taciturni to a. de-
gree. Tracy had noticed the evident
attachment of the man to him, and
as he was a capable soldier and will
ing to dare and do anything he was
glad to have him part of his outfit
when on detached and dangerous serv-
ice.
On the morning following the night
that the troop was practically without
water and in a country as devoid of
green things, save the forbidding cac-
tus, as is the Staked Plain of Texas,
the troop commander told Tracy that
he had better make a short recon
noisance, feel out the country for the
enemy and above all try to locate wa
ter. To attempt a march under that
hot Mexican sun with the men, and
with any idea of effective service, was
foolhardy. They must first strike wa
ter.
Tracy told his captain that he would
take but one man with him; that they
would strike southwest, where it was
thought better prospect of water
lay, and that they would return as
soon as a find was made. He selected
Barlow for his companion, and the
two struck out through the black, sum
scared country.
They went on for three hours. Not
a drop of the element of which they
were in search. Their tongues were
olistered. They drank sparingly of
the water in their canteens, pressed
on for another hour and then knew
that they must return.
Back they started. They followed
their own onward trail as well as they
could, but at times it was lost, and
then circling was necessary to take it
up again. At noon they lost it, and
could not find it again. There was a
great jagged rock rising to the west
ward which neither recognized.
lieutenant" said Barlow, we're
going wrong. We never came this
way. The sun doesn't sit right. 1t
should bear more to our right. be-
lieve that we are going almost direct
ly at right angles to the camp"
They circled again and again, but
no trace of the trail Then the con-
clusion forced itself on Tracy that
they were lost. They wandered on un-
til the sun went down beyond the
black rocks. Then they each drank
sparingly of the precious contents of
the canteens, and lay down on the gray
desert to sleep.
The sun came up like a red-hot
round shot. Tracy and Barlow ate the
last of their single ration, and took
one swallow of water apiece. Then
on they went again. Twenty-four
hours passed. The sun came up once
Amore, and with its coming they stag
Agered forward. The canteens were
Amply. They looked for the cactus
pose leaf yields juice that helps
E ut off the demon of thirst. They
IA not find it, The only vegetation
occasional clumps of stunted
{ ny pear cactus, the juice of whose
accentuates thirst.
4 Aher "a hours. The men cheered
her on like the soldiers they