The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-09-11
CHAPTER XIX.
After the Fight.

After the Fight.
I must have been stunned by the
blow on my head. What occurred after
that I could not tell. II must have
been after some time that gradually
became conscious that I was lying IN
the open air. and that the sun was
shining in my face. I could hear sew
eraI persons about me talking.
I had no desire to move, or to open
my eyes. only wished to remain
quiet. Some one bathed my face gith
cold water, which seemed to refresh
me, but when my head was touched.
and my hair brushed back. I felt a
singing sensation-the pain being so
acute as to cause me to cry OUTPUT it
was only for an instant, and after IL had
passed opened my eyes.
The first person I saw was Mr.. Mel
rose. He vas sitting near me. his face.
as white as that of a dead man. but be-
grimed and blackened with powder,
which served TO give him all the more
Of CHASTITY look.
The sight Of him brought me back
to the scene Of the fight, and was sud
denly possessed with the idea that it
was not over. Where are they? Let
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attempt TO rise.
A soldier held me back, but I think
| there was little need OF his doing so. for
a sharp pain caught me IN the si,Ie 50
suddenly that I fell back in a faint.
, When 1 again revived my vision was
more distinct, and I seemed to under
stand that the fight was over, and that
/ we were victorious. I was content 10
remain quiet My head had been tied
up. and 1 1elt but little pain.
/ So long did I lie In this kind of stu
| por-yet conscious all the time OF what
was going on around me-that my at
! tendants became alarmed. heard them
| talking. and something was said about
the probability Of my living.
I wondered how badly I was hurt.
| An officer came up. 1 heard him ad-
dressed as captain. He inquired after
| ehe "American-the fellow pulled out
! Of the heap" I knew he meant me.
and listened TO hear what answer would
/ be made.
| Some one Informed him that the wound
on my head might be nothing more toan
a scalp wound naturally would be
little dazed from the blowout that It
was feared that was injured inter
nally. 7 felt relieved, for I had an idea
that possibly the top Of my head had
/ been shot of.
J Sull, seemed powerless TO move,
and so lay there listening TO their con-
versation. The sensation 7 felt was. as
! nearly az 7 can describe ~, as II had
/ left my body, or that 1 was not a part
Of myself; and. on the whole, It was not
/ an unpleasant sensation. though rather
| a queer one.
! 1T was a miracle that any OF us es-
| caped."I heard Mr.. Melrose say II
did not think that he ever could come
out Of that fight alive" he continued.
They beat him down. and then tramp
ed on him"
'Oh. he IS young" replied the officer
| the one who had inquired about me. 1T
| takes a good deal OF rough usage to
| kill a healthy man-sometimes. And
with the constitution he has, he ought
to pull through. He is not dead yet"
| He had stopped down and was feeling
my pulse. This caused me to rouse
myself. and I again attempted to get
UP. but this time more slowly than be-
| fore.
! one OF the soldiers supported me To a
sitting position. so 1 was able to look
| about me. There were, perhaps, a Coz
/ en- soldiers to be seen One Of them
/ gave me some brandy from a flask.
What did l tell you? said the cap
tain. He win be all right soon.
have seen many a wounded man in my
life. and L know a dead man when I
| see him
q am not dead yet" replied.
No. it's the other fellows who are
| dead" he said with laugh. The men
who stood by laughed. too. though I
saw nothing to laugh at.
You are hurt?" I asked, turning to
/ Mr.. Melrose
Not much, my boy" he replied,
roac hing forward and taking nv hand
You seem 70 have suffered most You
went mad. and then YOU got into the
thickest Of the fight and fought the
villains off until the soldiers came"
| / smiled family at this statement
That I went mad. seemed q strange
thing for him to say. Yet | did go
mad; but IL was the madness of des-
peration, for l expected TO be killed
1T was a terrible place" continued
Mr.. Melrose. and I saw him shudder.
But for the soldiers we might rever
have seen the light of day again. .,
But how did it happen that the SOL
/ diers came TO our assistance" 7 ASKED.
! II was explained 10 me that the adj
vance guard Of a detachment of the
! army had been moving along the same
road we had taken, and were NOT Ear
! behind us. Hearing the firing tbe, had
! hurried on and came up Just in time 10
have hand in the business. Failing