New-York tribune., 1903-06-28
CHAPTER XII
on THE GREATER lesson

on THE GREATER lesson
: turned for look behind and below At
the foot Of the slope. where daylight had Just
17er71n 10 touch the dark shadows. stood q line
of mules animals scarcely taller lhan Ihe IOd1s
-bev carried which a crowd OF portuguese hao
already begun 10 unpack; and already on d
7fs-aau 70 the left Of US. half dozen markers,
with ouarterruaster, were mapping out camp
-or the I'D. They went 10 work so deliberately,
ana took such careful measurements with their
long rares that even tyro could no longer mis-
take this for an ordinary halt
I looked Al Sergeant Henderson Word had
3ust been given 10 the ranks TO stand easy
and he returned my look with a humorous wink
.Tba1'u do. eh?" He nodded toward the
markers
What does II mean?" asked.
1t means that we've done with cold baths
nv son and may leave EN- TO the other divi-
Efors What else II means you'll discover be
fore vou sleep" He glanced UP at the ridge.
-oze-5 which at a dozen different points our
san-ries were creeping-some Of them escorted
Fv knots Of of7icers-and ducking low as they
zleared the sky line
May 20 down and watch" I asked again,
-7oi-4inc At the plateau; for I was young enough
4o ind all operations of war amusing
"Ay-if you won't get in the way and trip
over The. pegs. III be down there myself by =
b. with a fatigue party
left him and strolIed down the hill. The
,,o-nfnr air was cold and the turf. here on the
north side Of the hill frozen under foot But
: felt neither hunger nor WEAKNESS. Here was
srar. and I was in IT.
As drew near the plateau young officer
rarne walking across it and, hating beside the
ruar1errnaster. held him in talk for a minute
He wore the collar, of his greatcoat turned up
high about his ears. but recognized him at
pnce Il was Archibald Plinlimmon
Leaving the quartermaster he strolled toward
The edge Of the plateau, hard by where STOOD
halted again and Eazed down through his held-
glasses upon the rnuleteers unloading beneath
Is, but by-and-by closed his glasses with snap
and facing round was aware Of me.
.F4ullo," said he, as I saluted: but his voice
was IistIess and thought him looking wretch
.zlv I'll You're in Number Four Company,
are YOU not? I heard that you'd joined"
+ struck me that al least he might have
smiled and seemed glad 10 welcome me. He
did indeed seem inclined TO say something more.
but hesftated and fumbled as he slipped back
the glasses into their case
ARE they looking after yoU?" he asked
7-or5 hin, Of the sergeant But are you well,
rre- I made bold to ask
He nut the question aside. "Eenderson's a
good man" he said. 7 wish We had him in our
company. All he broke Of, they won't be
long pitching tents now"
He swung slowly on his heel and left me, at a
pace almost as Hstless as his voice. felt hurt.
rehufre5 To be sure. he was an officer now,
ana q small augler; still. without comproTnls-
ing himself he might Il felt) have spoken more
kindly.
The fatigue party descended. the tents were
brought up and distributed, and at a silent sig
faI sprauE up like lines Of mushrooms and eX-
panded- The camp was formed; and the o2d,
fu hlgh good Euuor opened their haveTsacks
EHd fell To their b.ea kfast-
The meal over. the men lit their pipes and
stretched themselves within the tents 10 make
a. arrears of sleep Il does not take boy long
- learn how 70 snatch nap, even on halI
1hawe5 cCrf packed with moisture. and 10 man
pge ii without claiming much room We were
eleven Ia our tent. not counting the sergeant
who had gone Of On some errand which he did
E9t explain. but which interested the men
enough TO Keep them awake for while dis
Guessing IT Ia low voices.
7 was a- once too shy 10 ask questions and
Zoo sleepy 10 listen attenuvely. Here was war.
told myself. and I was in IT, To be sure. l
La6 not yeC seen q shot fired and-saVe for the
2LfreGuent boom Of a gun beyond the hill
had heard none and Yet all my ideas Of war
were undergoing change NY uppermost
Es1se-0dd as il may seeua-was one Of infinite
rhese cheerful men about me. joking and swear
ing. ] could come 10 much harm. II surprised
ne after my months Of yearning and weeks Of
tramptas 10 reach this army. TO discover how
ntue ry presence was regarded even in my
own regiment The men took me for granted.
asking 10 questions might have strolIed in
Uuon them out Of nowhere. with my hands in
ny pockets. And the officers. # appeared, were
equally iHcuEtoUs Captain Lockhart com
znanclng the company. had scarcely flung me q
look The colonel I had nor seen; the adjutant
had dismissed me 10 The devil; and Archibald
Finlinnon had treated me as have told. All
rms indifference contained much comfort. be-
gan 10 understand the restfulness Of a great
Rrny-a characteristic LEFT clean out Of account
II a boys inlaginings. who thinks Of war
Series q combats and brilliant personal efforts
a. once Tar more glorious and more terrifying
than the reality.
So I dreamed. secure, until awakened by my
Comrades voices lifted all together and all ex-
cifedly questioning Sergeant Henderson whose
head and shoulders intruded through the flap
Bay.