Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1910-03-11

resist the temptation to sit down of,
fered by a large stone that stood toe,
conveniently near me. Leaning my
gun up by my side, proceeded to de-
vote my undivided attention to keep
ing awake. and before l knew 1T tired
natures sweet restorer" lit upon my
eyelids, and I was fast asleep. 1 need
not tell my soldier comrades what
sleeping ON duty means in such times
of war; but to the young men Of to-
day who sigh for war as the path to
glory or the way to fortune, l will
explain that 1t means a dtsgraceful
death. Suddenly I awoke and reached
for my gun, but it was not there
Then indeed was awake-wide awake
no room on my lids for balmy sleep
TO f1utter her sable wings any more
that night OF course some one-prob-
ably an officer-had taken my gun
while / slept, and now the relief guard
would soon come and them was
lost! Oh, the horror Of the next few
moments, as in imagination | saw my
self the next day standing before my
coffin, by new-made grave, facing the
loaded muskets of my comrades,
awaiting the fatal order to fire that
would close my eyes in sleep forever
and send my soul into eternity! How
sweet hone-my dear old home
seemed then. / almost tainted with
fright, and was about to "disperse,"
when an idea struck me. The disci'
pine Of the place required the sol
diers mounting guard to have their
guns polished to a glitter. In my ex-'
tremity, | remembered that at the
guard-mount that morning my gun
was not clean" and a comrade had
kindly permitted me to take his. My
own gun was at the barracks by my
bunk not ten rods away. Would it
be possible to leave my post, reach
the barracks, and return undiscovered,
and before the relief-guard had come?
There was no time for hesitation /
made the effort and the sound OF my
hurriedly returning footsteps was
only partially concealed by the slight
ly heavier-measured tread OF the
guard, who appeared a moment later
But | knew that the gun with which
I had mounted guard must be in the
hands of those who could convict me,
and that the only thing which could
assist any extraordinary combination
of circumstances that might arise to
favor me was to put on as bold a
front as possible. My plan Of action
was instantly formed, and I stood
there as calmly as a boy with new
crow-gun, and as the relief came with
in the proper distance I sang out:
Halt! who comes there?"
Relief" was the answer.
Advance, corporal, with the coun-
tersign.''
The officer of the day came forward
! brought my gun down to charge
bayonet, and demanded Of him the
countersign, which he gave me. | said:
''Countersign is correct; advance re-
lief" Then the officer said to me:
Where did you get that gum"
Il drew that gun the other day"
Impossible! for I took your gum
from you not an hour ago"
Sir, you must be mistaken, for this
gun has my name written on the
strap
He said no more, but ordered the
corporal to take me to the guard
house When we arrived there he took
my gun and looked at the name writ
ten on the strap. 1t was my gun, sure
enough. Giving a wink to the Ser
geant, he turned to me and said, grave
ly: You have played your part we'll.
fully understand; but, as you are
young and unaccustomed to army life,
we let you off this time but be care
full in the future"
/ was completely taken back, having
entertained little hopes of mercy from
him My boldness was now gone, and
[ burst into tears. | would have em-
braced and kissed that stern officer
then and there, had l been sure it,
would not prove breach of discipline.
which | had resolved, if possible, never
to commit again.