Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1903-04-25

Dut lnat yous should carefully keep
your presence secret from the attack
ing force until the last moment so
tnat you can enfilade them as tn "
advance up the slope. The other
tWo-tn1rds of your company will form
the attacking force. They will adj
vance against your right, in line with
an imaginary brigade extended along
the whole length of the position. OF
course they must not be apprised be-
forehand, that you are posted in toe
wood. Indeed, the success or failure
OF the whole defense will depend upon
your concealing this from them until
they are delivering their attack. DO
| make myself clear?"
Quite. I think it is a splendid
plan," cried Polly with enthusiasm.
Next morning arrived. The La
cles' Corps paraded, thirty strong, on
the lawn at Drakewortn Hall. Ten
OF them were told off under the COM
mand of Captain Polly, to form the
defending force, and they marched
away to take up their position. The
L
tenant, Miss Amy Mcintosh, then
fell out for about an hour, at the
end of which time, having reassem-
bled, and having received their gener-
al instructions from Major Merilees,
they proceeded to the field of opera
lions. AS soon as they were fairly
off, the major ordered his horse to
be brought round, and then rode away
by himself to the eminence from
which he was to watch and criticise
the maneuvers.
Capt. Polly, with ner skeleton force
and occupied the wooded hill to the
left of the main position. Here they
remained, lying on their faces and
talking only in whispers until the
attacking force came in sight. Soon
the latter, who were extended in Skin
mishing order, began to open fire.
The perpetual crack, crack. crack of
their carbines (Which were loaded, of
course with blank cartridge) had an
Immediately exciting effect upon the
defenders in the wood, who began
to fidget and finger their weapons
nervously.
STEADY! Steady!" said Captain
Polly, in voice that trembled with
eagerness.
AS she spoke the attacking force,
who had been advancing at smart
double, appeared to meet with sud
oI D~111 4o1,S %1nY
through her field glasses, distinctly
described Lieut.. Amy Mcintosh seat,
ed on the fve-barred gate and en-
gagged ESQ it appeared) in an indig-
nant and animated conversation with
rustic who was driving a herd of cat
ladies had next to cross.
1T can't be-no, it can't be-that
they are afraid of cows" cried poor
Capt. Polly, in angry dismay.
The words were hardly out of her
mouth before she became aware OF a
sudden perturbed movement among
her own chosen ten, two of whom,
had already sprung to their feet and
were waving their cowboy hats
around their heads and repeatedly ut
tering the exclamation "Choo! in
a most violent and excited manner.
STEADY! Steady! Lie down there! =
exclaimed their indignant captain.
"Wasps."
It made even the dauntless captain
pause. She started. She turned
pale. But she pulled herself to-
gether and manfully-I beg pt-fdon-
womanfully-tried to encounter her
sister warriors.
Never mind A few wasps won't
hurt you," she declared in tremul-
Gus tones, involuntarily waving her
pocket handkerchief around her own
head.
"a few wasps!" cried one of the
Amazons, shrilly. "There are hun
dreds of them, and oh, look, look!
Do YOU see them pouring out of that
hole there? 1t is-yes, it. is-wasps'
nest
"Wasps" had been a fearsome word,
but wasps' nest was unendurable.
The ten damsels broke and fed in
precipitate confusion down the Mill.
Their captain. be it said to her credit,
was the last woman to leave her post.
Moreover she did not run as the
others did. She merely walked fast
five miles an hour-casting her
nervous glances alternately over her
right and left shoulder.
At this point Major Meri1ess came
CALAMITY up to Polly.
What has happened?' he inquired.
"Why have you abandoned your posi-
tion?"
"Wasps."
"Wasps?" inquired the major, with
a puzzled look
cit was-Was-Wasps, you Know
that caused us-the others, | mean
to abandon our-their post In the
wood. They found they were lying
almost on top of a wasp's nest. AND
of course, you couldn't expect them 10
stand that, could your"
mo. to be sure" replied the major,
alphabetically
But, l say, please Major Meri-
loco went IN Polly in hurried tones,