The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-08-06
What Would You Do, Sir !?

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an American soldier. Across his mouth
from corner 10 corner a bolo had
Slashed, and the bleeding flesh hung
loosely over the jaw. His head was
sunk forward, but he was not dead as
his captors had intended he should be
after a few days lingering.
His "bunkie'' who had first seen the
pitiful figure, cut the heavy hemp. but
the column waited only a moment a
hospital corps man was LETT behind
with detail, and the troop took up
lts march the more cautiously for
knowing that it was hot on the trail.
The subaltern felt that his nerves
were strained to the breaking point
through the throbbing whirI OF his
brain came a sickening thought. II
the natives We're capable OF such a
deed as this, how would they treat the
other two prisoners? Surely they would
not dare to harm an American officer
IT'S mind refused to comprehend the
thought of Ellard cold and lifeless
The image OF his classmate and ohuna
was too fresh, too wildly active TO be
rendered nuil. No, the natives could
not be so cruel, they could not be so
lnhuman- And yet that bound figure
by the tree. How slowly the men
moved! Why did they linger when
every minute might mean life or death
TO the prisoners?
The men passed over another spur
-, tOPPSO INTO the valley below.
WITH every step they moved more eau
tiousiy. Tense and alert, the subaI-
tern erept onward, braced for he knew
not what, He saw the captain. crawl
ing on all tours, become entangled in
q Idsilhg vine, and felt an uncomfort-
aDle desire TO laugh 1t was broad day
now, and the heat grew stiding in the
hreathless woods.
"A shogt and distant laughter echoed
aefoss the valley, and the captain
haited abruptly, After a moments
eon~Slltation the troop divided, and at
the head Of his creeping file the subaI-
tern turned 20 the right. Nearer and
nearer sounded the native voices. and
the men knew that they were close
breaking minutes they WoPned their
way over the damp, brown loan. now
ana again catching a glimpse of the lit
tie clearing. until they had made a
complete hale CIRCLE
SLOWLY they drew near the edge of
the trees. and the subaltern heard the
SOUND or hasty digging. A strange
look appeared on the set faces of the
men, but Wilcox did not notice He
wondered what the natives We're doing.
ieafing TO look for dread OF what he
nishI nave 10 See, and yet impatient
20 Know II EilaPd was alive He moved
MS body until, dirt color himself. he
could waueh unseen.
4, h"iih tEod- AT the opposite end of
the clearing stood Ellard upright and
unnamed Before hinl, In the center
OF the held, was a triangular hole like
a grave, and the natives were throw
ing the earth ciods into it, Evidently
they We're burying someone who had
qied, out why did they seem amused?
Brady was nowhere in sight. Was il
the body they were burying2
Yelling like an army OF blue fiends
t uIe oaptain,s detachment burst into the
clearing. surprised and confused, the
lnsurrectos turned to flee, and met the
weapons OF the subaltern's men.
As soon as he could break away VIII
cox ran to one side; Ellard was stand
ing as before, still bound hand and
loot His face was half aVeFted. but
on II the subaltern saw a look of the
most intense horror and dread, With
a cry OF dismay he dashed forward.
put naked, brown figure WAS before
him, Twice the shining kris flashed
III the air as the defenseless prisoner
toppled backward. Then, lodging the
subaltern's bullet. the native turned
ana fled. Two priVates cornered and
put In finishing blow. Wilcox had
shouted;> Hold on there! Wait till
L COME"
AS yon have mercy. put me out of
this life! moaned Eliard,
The tan, strong, young athlete OF a
moment before lay helpless on the
ground. a bleeding. legiess. trunk.
Sobbing, the subaItern dropped to his
knees beside his friend, and beat pas
sionately at the earth with clenched
fists
Don't. don'tw shrieked the wounded
man. II stood here poWerIess to move
Whiie they first cut up and then buried
Brady alive, but didn't cry! XIII me
shoot me, have mercy on me for
christ's sake, but don't 'cry,s
hospital sergeant came running,
the captain. white with horror, at his
heels. The fight was over, and a group
OF men were working at the grave
Wilcox staggered to his feet. a
strange curse on his lips. The beads OF
sweat ploWed deep courses through the
gfteie on his cheeks. Slowly. with in
Unite elaboration. he reloaded his re-
Volver, and STROBE TO where the troop
ers held the insuFFeeto on the ground
As he went he muttePed ike a man
searching for some forgotten thought.
The measures used are adopted as
arise and must be cruel
or barbarouS as the necessity calls for
as the necessity calls for 80
Three times he fired into the pros-
trate body. "One for Brady, one for
Wright, and one for Eilardr' and then
he began 20 laugh.