Daily Arizona silver belt., 1910-05-10

 country presented scenes of unparal- leled military activity.
 The meager troops of the defenders were gradually re-enforced by the op- erations of the recruiting forces, which were sometimes ruthless in their man. ner of "persuading' men to join the army. And there was need of men grave need.
 The commander of the British forces, Sir Edward Pakenham. had In his forces the picked veterans of foreign wars. 10000 of them in all--men who had braved the terrors of continental campaigns under Wellington-men of brawn and skill and courage. who side by side with the bearded Prussians. had shattered the Old Guard of Napo- leon at Waterloo.
 Surely this proud array would make brief work of Andy Jacksons raga- mullins: surely this rawboned Ameri- can rebel, with his combined force of only $500 soldiers, most of whom were but half trained. had no hope of pre- vailing against the flower of the Brit ish army. Thus reasoned Sir Edward Pakenham and his staff of gilded ad- visers, little remembering that those men are twice armed who war for home. for country and for right.
 The closing days of the war of 1872 were homentous ones for the Ameri- can people Proud Britain, shorn of her briefly tolerated right" to search American ships for supposed subjects in the ranks of the seamen and pre- vented from perpetrating other gross injustices on Americans and American property, was battling on land to re- gain the prestige which Yankee bray cry had so sorely shattered on the high seas. And 1t was in the general neighborhood of New Orleans that was to be struck a decisive blow to demonstrate the superior force of the one time mother country.
 But when nation produces Gilbert Steeles to wage it's wars in the ranks. throwing their lives in the balance risking life and love for the stars and stripes that wave above them. then indeed must invaders look sharply to their muskets and their saber edges ard learn to weigh opponents in scale giving record that does not lie.
 Dawn. following the night when Gil. bert Steele left Madeleine de Valette at the planters house, found him stretched in troubled sleep on the ground in the camp with his mates. As yet the hastily mustered detach- ment to which he belonged had not been able to secure tents for any save the officers. for the infant nation was but i'll supplied with funds to provide necessities for its defenders.
 Shortly after the first streaks of morning light painted the eastern sky bugle sounded. followed by the rat-a- tat-tat-tat tat of a drum-reveille-and the rows of sleeping men unwound themselves stiffly from their blankets, gathered the rolled coats which had served as pillows and proceeded to fall in line before the crudely constructed cook shack. where coffee and beans would be served to them for breakfast.
 The day had come. and over Gilbert Steele there stole houghts--thoughts of Madeleine de Vaette-which sub dued his ordinarily gay spirNs and caused his comrades to survey him in wonder and regret.
 The day of the big fight and Gilbert Steele was sad and gloomy. Some thing wrong with him, sure," was the comment bar died about among his fel low muskete ITS
 True, he had been sharply repri- manded by the captain for his delin- quency of the day before. He had promised Wolf, back in the forest, up the river. that he would not delay if given perlnissi to stop few mo- ments to talk with young lady. He had failed to keep his promise to the letter, for he had not caught up with the squad of backwoodsmen under Wolfs command when they reached their boats at the rivers edge.
 They had waited and hallooed for him. He did not appear and had been compelled to walk the entire way to the camp. arriving after midnight thus tiring him for the work of the day in which every ounce of energy he could command would be required.
 Yes. the captain had been angry with Gilbert. but his good points were so well known that he was not penal ized in any way. Therefore the lads associates were certain that this sub Ject was not the one that was worry ing him.
 Perhaps, after all, it was the girl that the men with Wolf had seen him with who was responsible for his dropping spirits. Yes, that must be it, the men finally reasoned. But they could not understand why of all men Gilbert Steele should be disturbed over girl. Surely youth of his makeup and personality would never lack at tention from and admirers among the women folks. No, indeed! Of this they were assured.