Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1903-10-09

you'll stop two bullets tub my one,
any day" And he piached slyly at the
ankle of man lying in front of him.
But Sam silently drew his foot away.
He was in no humor for jestlng; his
heart was heavy with disappointment
and hate; disappointment that his
glorious dream had proved unreal, and
queer hatred that vanished instant
ly whenever for moment his thought
was not concentrated upon it, but
hatred, nevertheless that boded no
good for the comrade lying almost at
his side. Presently the bugles sound
ed Attention. and with a bound the
regiment was on its feet. Just then
band back at headquarters struck up,
and instantly every man began cheer
ing wildly-all but Sam. He stood 81
lent, quivering from head to foot, his
head back, his eyes flashing, his nos
trils distended. 1t was "Dixie" that
the band was playing.
With his mind, his every sense, in
toxicated by the sweet notes of the air
death, he was seeing a vision, living
his dream of charging lines Of gray.
Deaf to all but the band. he did not
hear the bugle calls and quick-follow-
Ing commands of his officers, but with
the Instinct Of the soldier stepped out
as the men at his sides moved forward.
Looking to neither right nor left, he
strobe on: and then, as the regiment
surged ahead at the run, "Whoop- ee,"
the rebel yell, came ringing from his
lips, and running his best, he led the
way to where the Filipino flag hung
Imply in the still. hot air. =. ~
The greater number of the Filipinos
bolted before the Americans came
within striking distance, but some of
them were from the far interior of the
island, savage bolo-men, who had not
yet tasted the mettle of their enemies,
| and these stood their ground With a
wild yell the Americans poured into
the first trench, and on the instant Sam
and those near him found themselves
| engaged in q fierce hand to- hand con-
fiict with the bolo-menr A long brown
}arm shot out at Sam, and a cleaning
blade came whistling down at his
head, but he DETECTED the blow with
1.-The. barrel of his rifle, receiving a
| wound In the arm, and quick lunge
sent his bayonet into the others
! breast. It was action quick and sharp.
Close at hand an American was bat
Ting single-handed with a circle of
foes, and he sprang to his assistance.
Thrusting, parrying, clubbing with
the butt Of his rife, the other man
turned his face just then, and Sam
| saw that 1t was the face of the son of
| the man that killed his fathertthe face
of Tom owens With the thought
that he had only to keep his hands off
to see his fathers death avenged dart.
ing into his brain, he stopped, but the
next moment the sight Of half a dozen
| bolos uplifted to- strike, drove all tile
| hatred from his. heart, letting in in
| stead the love and kindly feeling that
had preceded It. His arms shot out,
catching the descending blades on his
rifle. and then before another blow
could:be struck on either side, volley
at short range from a body of their
comrades ended the fight. =" ...-
Toms rife slipped from HIS bleeding
fingers, and he turned to Sam. Ibid
tyou know, it was me, old man?" he
asked, with a catch in his voice. h'''
For answer Sam held out his hand,
and the blood streaming from 1t mfh-
gled with that Of Tom's.-San Fran
| cisco Argnnant