Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-24

their number are shot down. These men
had suffered the loss of more-just more
than half And now poor Haydens voice
was again uplifted, feebler far, and to his
former plea for help WAS added the prayer:
For Gods sake-water" There was not a
full canteen among them. Some few were
already empty. Dolan was drinking long
from SCOTS; his own, pierced by a bullet,
had leaked out every drop. In their fevered
state and in the fierce and glaring heat the
wounded men were already moa ming for
more.
Fame signaled with his hand. Corporal
Scott bent over him. 'One of you shout to
Hayden to be patient little longer" said
he. I'VE are coming to get him" And
Scott, with shake of the head at the con-
Guiding words, nevertheless told Mullins to
shout as ordered. Mullins obeyed and for
response there rose a derisive cheer down
by the tanks-a few loud words in the
Tonic dialect and then a chorus of taunts,
yells and laughter from on every side It's
that ID scoundrel, the Kid" said Scott.
between his teeth. He picked up English
with his living around the garrison, and
now he's playing interpreter. his
hide!'
But Fame was paying no heed to taunt or
laughter He was bordering deeply. Life
had been sweet to him through his young
manhood. Born and bred in the army, he
had grown up stepped in its tenets and ira
dltlons: had gone early to West Point, a
reward for the brilliant services of his SOL
der father, and now that father was COM
manding his regiment in the distant east
hoping again to wear the stars before re-
tirement. The loving mother, and the girls,
his sisters, were there on the seaboard with
him, and well did Fame know with what
confidence and pride they watched the dis
patches from the Pacific slope.
He, the only son and brother, would never
fail them The name had never known a
Stirk or coward Thus far in their reports
his seniors had spoken we'll of him. Thus
far he had upheld the traditions of his
house but all had been plain sailing, so to
speak. Never until now had there come
supreme test, but come at last it had. Now
it was for him TO decide to act to take his
life in his hands and, daring all, to do or to
die. There was a dream, hope that had
been fondly and secretly cherished ever
since the previous summer. Even Pet, his
contldante among the sisterhood of three,
had never been told He meant to tell her,
though, if all went well and the answer to
his letters, sometimes four weeks on the
way should warrant it, There was girl
In cloudland and a distant eastern state
who had looked with favoring eyes on the
young trooper: had danced with him rather
more, and ridden much more, than with
any one else the previous summer at the
Point. She was acknowledged belle, and
a partially acknowledged beauty. She had
been spoken of, commercially, catch,
which Fame heard with inward shrinking
it hurt his chances for one reason though
there were others Such letters had
come were pleasant reading, very friendly
quite encouraSing-just such society letters
inexperienced fellows could have told him,
that girls send when they wish to hear
more than has yet been said without for
their part saying anything. Fame thought
them charming, if vague; but then why
should she-hoW could she-say more when
as yet he had made no definite proposition?
If she knew anything, and he believed she
knew much, she knew he cared for her far
more than for any girl he had ever met;
only-how could a man ask any girl to give
up such home as hers to dwell in Arizona?
Another year, probably, the regiment would
be eastward bound-that had been almost
promised-and then, then with his captincy
surely not four years away, he might pluck
up courage and go and ask her
But meantime here was his little force
reduced one-half by death wounds, by
arrow or bullet; cut off from food friends
or water by a host of circling and savage
foes-foes that took few chances and gave
no quarter. Meantime here, only eighty
yards away, in the scorching sun, crippled,
tortured and imploring. here was young
Hayden, shrieking In his misery, praying
for aid, and he, the responsible officer, had
said, mo matter who drops, the others
must keep on. Get our wounded there first,
then we can rescue any who are hit" Hay
den lay demanding the fulfillment of SOL
dier's promise-tlre keeping of a knightly
word.
Then Fame rose slowly to his knees I'VE
must have this off now, corporal" said he
quietly. Il have got to look about me-"
Silently the soldier obeyed his hands
trembling a bit as slowly and cautiously
he removed the sodden folds. One end of
the jagged rent began again to bleed
Draw the edges together, said Fame, land
stick on a strip of court plaster" Scott
knew what that meant and glanced APP
pealingly at Dolan, lying fiat in the scant
shade of a little cedar
THE lieutenant surely will not try it,
began Dolan, rising to his elbow. IT'S
certain death, sir
you tried it," answered Fame briefly,
o,,I Ln, i'm, rrrith hot
bl!nked in the insupportabe glare. In
spite of scorching heat how wan and drawn
were the faces all turned now full upon
him. The strain was indeed telling on
one and all.
I'VE tried. sir. when there seemed
chance was Dolan's answer. They made
us understand there was none. / beg the
lieutenant to wait till evening, till dark,
then two of can venture down and
ride him up on Higgins blanket" From
the eyes of every man came responsive
pleading, from the lips of every man re-
SponSiVe murmured protest. From down
the slope again there came, though fainter,
feeber still, the wailing cry of that tor
tured boy. "Oh, for Gods sake, fellows,
help-water," and now Fame shook loose
the restraining hand the corporal had ven
tured to place upon his shoulder, and
crawled to the edge of the shelf of rock
whence he could peer through the cedars.
Meantime the men lay, looking helplessly
into each others faces until Dolan spoke:
1t Will take the neart out OF Wnat S
left of us, sir If anything happens to you.
Let Sutton slip down to him with a can
teen. The boys willing to try"
The boy might have been-two hours
earlier, but he had seen and suffered too
much. There was not a soldier left sound
and stout-hearted enough to make the des-
perate essay, and Fame saw and realized
it. "Give me my belt and revolver" was
his only answer In silence he buckled 1t
about his slender waist. Now, a pull at
a canteen," he presently added. mo, not
the flask" for Scott glanced up inquiring-
ly. 1T may have to be slow work, not
DASH Rinsing his mouth, he then poured
a little over his wrists Now. listen"
said he. II know how firemen carry
heavy men. My muscles are sound and
strong, thank God, and Hayden doesn't
weigh much more than a child. I'll crawl
till l get to him, give him swallow or
two, then hoist him and start. You men,
all of you, blaze away at every head in
every direction. and believe we can make
it. If we-don't, then Sergeant Dolan's In
command until the captain comes, and you
can count on his coming"
geant. For Gods sake, wait till evening,
SIR" Once more the appeal from below.
For Gods sake. come-Im dying
Don't you hear?" said Fame THAT poor
lad won't last till nightfall, even If the In
dams don't get him. Remember the in
StructiOpS now That's all"