Arizona republican., 1911-10-21
THE NAN
WHO THOUGHT
BY DONAl HAMILTON HAINES.
Copyright. 1910. by the Pearson Pub
fishing company.
BY DONAl HAMILTON HAINES.

Another man. in the uniform OF
Maine regiment, kept the men abou
him in confusion by persisting in /,
fruitless search for his blanket-rol
which he had dropped somewhere dur
ing the morning.
Il tell We | got to find it." he com
planned as the men about him attempt
ed TO hurry him along. Il left my
pen and paper in there. an my wife in
Bangor'll raise thunder if don't write
TO her."
Far to the rear of the moving mass
came a sudden sputter of firing and
1 chorus of yells. while a few harmless
bullets hummed overhead.
The cavalry" yelled a hatless cor.
poral
"Shucks!" answered Burke reassur.
ngly, but the damage was done. Men
,raned their necks and showed the
1en in front of them. A single gray
lad trooper was seen to splash his
:orsc into the shallow waters of a
'reek and fire his carbine into the
.cnsely packed mass. The corporal
sho lad shouted went down with a
,ullet through his lungs
For Gods sake rum" yelled the
lansan.
In an instant the orderly retreat
became a rush, then a mad scramble.
N utter rout
The crazed drivers OF battery drove
heir lathered horses ;nadly through
he stream of fugitivcs. One of the
gTnners fell from the seat OF the gun
,arriage, clutChed the rail with his
hands. dragged for 4 few feet locking
wildly back at the bobbing caisson be-
hind him. then went under the wheels
with scream. Through the din piped
he shrill voice of the man from
Maine, still hunting his blanket
Let me through there-let me
through"
A gray battery, the only force which
the victors had dared TO send forward,
went into action on the knoll above
the shallow creek. Its shrapnel did
no great damage, but the sound of it's
maddened the fugitives
still more.
Burke fought only to keep his feet
in the rush. Twice he just managed
to dodge the wheels OF guns; once he
knocked the cooked revolver from the
hand of a maddened. weeping lieuten-
ant of New York troops. He stumbled
once and only saved himself by a dive
into a fence corner Finally, stretch
ing across the fields close to the vii
age, he saw the steady, firm lines of
the reserve regiments, and drew a
gasp of relief. He crawled over the
fence. went out into the field and sat
down.
For a few moments he sat still, his
hands pressed to his heavfng chest,
he air cutting his overworked lungs
At every breath. After a time he be-
anne aware of a captain of regular
infantry, sitting on the body of dead
mule. calmly smoking a cigar and
the endless stream Of fugi-
ives pelting down the road.
Lovely sight, amt it?" inquired
Burke casually.
The officer raised one fist in the air
Ind cursed steadily, the war. the on
,ers, the army-everything he could
hink Of Burke listened in open
admiration.
1T amt so bad as that" he said
when the officer paused for breath.
To tell the truth. we needed a good
ickin'. an I'm glad II come early.
Both them armies are green, an they
couldn't either of 'em fight without
earnin' how. One OF EN- had to get
icked-an' we was it, | amt sure
,ut it'll do us more good'n 1T will
hem"
The officer looked at him with sud
len interest.
do you think so?" he asked.
why sure" continued Burke.
Them fellers-" and he jerked his
humb toward the road. will run It'll
here amt no more run in 'em. But
When they stop they'll be good soldiers.
III they needed was a chance to think
hings out for themselves-an' they're
,ettin' it,"
They watched the rout in silence
or a time. The gray pursuit had
eased entirely.
The officer turned toward Burke who
at unconcernedly filling his pipe. eye
ng the road with casual interest
What are you going TO do?" he
sked.
Me-" returned Burke, cooking his
Iead on one side and scratching a
match on the sole Of his boot, I'm
DIN to sit right here an smoke an
leep til the army comes back an
ets me-"
The officer laughed with an air Of
elief.
aTbis lent en- had " he confessed "if