The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1912-09-25

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kept TO the woods, but on both sides of
them the table-land was being cleared OF
their own men. Across, beyond the houses
they could see gray figures about the wreck
of the two wasted batteries. And then, far
to the left, the heads of fresh gray columns
appeared. The brown lines did not break;
the men did not run. They simply stopped
fighting and started in the other direction.
Burke, keeping his little cluster of men
well in hand, and making his slender stock
of cartridges count, saw the sudden receding
of the brown wave and grinned through the
CRIME on his face.
"Hullo" he exclaimed, "the army's
goin' home"
He rose to his feet, then crouched down
and commenced scuttling through the
brush, then rose to his feet and ran.
"Herep bawled the tall soldier behind
him, "where you goin'7"
"I'm goin' to get out" replied Burke
without hating.
A wave of that useless, impotent courage
which turns men into fools Tor heroes9)
smote the tall man suddenly.
"You amt" he shouted, "you're comm
back with me here blong. You've
been hollerin' about what lot O. fools we
are, an now you're tryin' to run. You
come backp
He ran few steps, reached out long arm
and gripped Burke by the sleeve.
"You come backP' he repeated
Burke turned upon him a look that was
not quite amusement nor yet anger, drew
back his rifle and struck the tall man
squarely in the pit of the stomach with the
ironshod butt. The tall man grunted and
sat down abruptly-the breath driven from
his body.
Now" said Burke unfeelingly, "you
look about as foolish as you arel Better
toddle along when you get your windp
He passed into the midst Of a scene of
pitiful confusion. The brown regiments,
hopelessly mingled together, were all NOV
ing one way. At first there were no signs
of panic; the men were even good-natured
In an instant the orderly retreat became
a rush, then a mad scramble, an utter
rout.
Burke fought only to keep his feet in the
rush. Finally, stretching across the fields
close to the village, he saw thesteady, 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 few moments he sat still, his hands
pressed to his heaving chest, the air cutting
his overworked lungs at every breath.
After time he became aware Of a captain of
regular infantry sitting on the body of a
dead mule, calmly smoking a cigar and
watching the endless stream Of fugitives
pelting down the road.
Lovely sight, amt it?" inquired Burke
casually.
The officer raised one fist in the air and
cursed steadily, the war, the officers, the
army-everything he could think Of
Burke listened IN open-mouthed admira-
ton.
at amt so bad as that, +" he said when the
officer paused for breath. "To tell the
truth, we needed a good licllin', an I'm
glad it come early. Both them armies are
green, an they couldn't either of 'em fight
without learnin' how. One of 'em had to
get licked-an' we was i'll / amt sure but
it'lrdo us more good'n it viii them"
The officer looked at him with sudden
interest.
"Do you think so?" he asked.
''Why sure" continued Burke. "Them
fellers-" and he ierked his thumb to-
ward the road, "will run It'll there AIM no
more run in 'em. But when they stop
they'll be good soldiers. All they needed
was chance to think things out for them
selves-an' they're gettin' it!'
They watched the rout in silence for z
time. The gray pursuit had ceased en-
tirely.
The officer turned toward Burke who sat
unconcernedly filling his pipe, cycling the
road with casual interest.
what are you going to do?" he asked
"Me2" returned Burke, cooking his head
on one side and scratching match on the
sole Of his boot, "I'm goin' to sit right here
an smoke an sleep til the army comes
back an gets me-" r.
The officer laughed with an air Of relief.
"This isn't so bad, +" he confessed, eff the
rest of the army are all like you"
"Sure they are" grinned Burke, "but
they had to get it licked into 'em, an |
come by it natural"
Again the officer laughed, then he rose
from the body Of the mule and held out his
hand.
81 believe you," he said. al guess you
stand for our green system-and maybe
it'll work as you say. I'm going now to
bring back the army. You sit right here
and wait for it, And-I'n buy you a
drink in Hornburgh the day we take it!'
Burke grinned, thenhe deliberately studied
the captains shoulder straps.