Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1907-03-06

lantly engineered. Sammy held his
horses head to the tail of the gen.
erals bay-it seemed for ages. This
was a night of tragedy and history
making. When it was over-letters
from homel
The masonry doomed ahead. Living
forms and a deadly fire shook in
red mist upon the summit.
The Japanese and American infan-
try were damned at the base of the
wall. Only the commanders and their
stats had retained their mounts.
Hendrie roared orders, and Trum-
peter Sam, ever a shadow at his heels,
interpreted the commands on his
bugle, so that all could hear above
the roar of the battle
In the reek of powder and the gar
ish light Of belching guns the engi-
ueer corps affixed their ladders to the
wall Hendrie, his staff and orderly,
turned over their horses to the men.
Make way for the general on the
laddersl" the adjutant roared.
The Japanese had already reached
the top, and the Chinese were falling
back. Black still figures dropped from
above, the first fruits of the battle
Japanese, who made so sound in
wound or death Hendrie was painting
up the slender scaling-sticks, while
Sam fought to hold his place at the
generals heels. The letters were warm
against his breast. He was not afraid.
This was only a bigger fight than a
score of others that he had ridden in
to and through.
When it was done he would hear
from home. He CROPPED for Hendricks
spurred heel
Over the coping they crawled. The
top of the wall was as broad as a city
pavement The Chinese fired from
within the town and from each side
as they retreated along the wall. The
Japanese leaders started to the left,
the Americans, under Hendrie, to the
right, each column being led from the
swarming ladders. The city below
seemed seething with demons and
fires.
Sammy, still in his place, saw the
Chinese kneel to aim. Many were
pointing their guns at the figure Of
the general. The boy was swung
about by hot, horrid blow upon the
shoulder. There was buzzing in his
ears and his legs melted beneath
him.
But the voice of Hendrie rang clear
ly upon his understanding:
1.-THE Russians have made the West
Gate! Come on, my men! The Ger
mans are pouring"
Sammy, on his knees, played
Charged" with all his might.
Suddenly a soldier cried:
"Hendrie is down! It's taps for the
general"
Then the staff and soldiers swarming
round the leader heard the first notes
of the sweetest call the army knows.
1t was not a time for taps, with the
battle still raging, but "the best trum-
peter in China" was dazed, and his
giant had fallen.
Hours afterward the wounded Of
ficers and men were lying together in
temporary hospital in the Chinese
city. Sammy opened his eyes and sniff
fed the odor of drugs. He could only
move one hand, but with that he felt
that his letters were gone, his blue
shirt removed entirely. Tears came
into his eyes. He called out his great
trouble. His words sounded far off
and strange.
Get Trumpeter Burlage's letters
for him!" said a voice at the right.
'I'll see to it, sir" answered a Red
Cross man. ''His clothing had to be
cut off, and they were in that prob
ably"
General Hendrie-taps!" mumbled
Sammy.
"Not yet, little man." the voice at
the right interrupted. There's lots
of fighting to be done before we take
Peking-and lots of letters to read"
Somebody had the audacity to or
der the general to cease speaking.
Sammy dozed off again, putting his
trust in his chieftian. In full day
light he awoke once more, thinking
that he was at sea; but the nurse told
him he was in a river steamer, being
carried down to the port. He asked
for his letters and General Hendrie,
but the nurse ordered him to go to
sleep, and he obeyed.
Sometimes in darkness, sometimes
in daylight, he made known his de-
sires. but no one seemed to under
stand. Trumpeter Sam had not lost
faith, but he was weak, and the tears
would come.
Days passed dreamily. He was
moved from place to place, and often
got Whit of the sea. He felt strong
er now, and the pain in his shoulder
bothered him less. One morning 1t oc-
cured to him that they were taking
him back on the hospital ship to Ma
nila-without his letters!
He was about to raise his voice in
protest when two men came, and lift
ed his cot up a companionway. Truly
enough. ne was at sea. Sammy de-
1o&fo,.- ond Gnnnpa1 Hem