New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-02-09

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huts inhabited by typically lazy and
trcachcrous natives.
Thirty days on scant rations and without mail had
been the fortunes Of Company /, whose men and Off
GERS had taken up quarters in Old npa rooted Span
sh building standing apart from the village and near
20 the bay shore This old tribunal had two stories and
the Americans used the upper Toadd to their dscon-
tent there was no hope 50 far as they knew OF soon
rcjOinng the regiment at Rombon.
Perhaps Willett Stowcll. the trumpctcr, took the
hardship Of isolation heart least OF all And. it should
be remembered. he was the youngest and smallest man
Of the entire hundred; in fact he was little more than
a boy both in years and in size. However, some have
said that he the biggest in certain other ways. He
was dark eyed, dark haired, and fair skinned he was
first rate buglcr and when he wanted 10 he could sing
And it whispered that he was teadiy going To- the
bad, despite the good influences Of his closest friend
Corporal Tom AlcLain. The two were Misslsspplans,
the only Southerncrs in the company.
III you fellows can't find any place TO sit except on
my bunk Stowe was growing to some OF the bigger
boys. I'll stick couple Of sawflsh noses under my
blanket. This comes of having my place too handy
much too handy, I'd better say
"Oh Kid" rctorted Big Payne, "do hush You ought
O. be willing take little of o your friends in such
place as this. Gee ten thousand miles from home and
bell onl"
Stowcll nudged Ayres. payne" he said jocularly,
thinks he's COW on Pas ranch back home. Did you
hear him. Say Aub, amt it ptifu to hear big husky
Of rail splitter wang like that Then he turned to
PAYNE "You big hulk" he laughed, "youre getting
more to eat and more to right than you ever
got before your fe got pretty straight that they
had to you down with hounds to get pair OF shoes
on you. You've got reason
"Cut it out, Boysl" intcrrupting voice from
the Captains ITS nine O'Clock. Blow taps,
Stowell.'
Every man hurried to his blanket and hastily began
70 undress himself except Stowell who took up his
buge from the head Of his army cot and went to win
dow. There he blew into the starry night the goto-
sleep song OF the soldier.
A MOMENT later every candle had been put out
leaving the big room in total darkness. The little
trumpeter sat down. removed his shoes noisily whis
pcrcd goodnight 10 the nearest him. buCklcd his
revover-laden belt about his slim waist and Crcpt
silently 70 the stairway At the foot of the steps he
waited in the shadows until the camp sentry had gone
70 the farthest end Of his beat then stole out the
dim starlight. For a hundred yards he crept through
the bamboos and tall grasses with all the caftncsS Of
native Satisfied that no one had him. he put on his
heavy army shoes and walked fearessy to the central
part Of the village.
And although Stowell did not know it, there followed
with equal noiscessness tall, heavy with loaded
rifle and fixed bayonet
The trumpcter turned into a squatty bamboo house
over the door Of which hung i'll painted sign pro-
claiming the sale within Of bnd-bnd and hbd. Incl
denty several other beverages native and otherwise
operated by brown skinned sraght-hared girl named
Honabebe Naturally the soldiers had quickly changed
it to Honeybabe.
Stowe stopped to get in at the rdiculousy low door
way and approached the sleepy native girl with super
fetal swagger. 1t comical that swagger. Anyone
might have that it was not Of long growth