The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1914-11-21
CHAPTER VIII.
Close to the White Posts.

Niobe 10 tnc Wnlte fO6k6.
On Saturday evening the 12Sth regi
! ment of the Grays was mustered in
field accoutrements and a full supply
Of cartridges. In the darkness the
first battalion marched out at right
angles 20 the main road that ran
through La Tir and South La Tir. AT
length Company b, deployed in line
OF sklrmishers, lay down to sleep on
its arms.
I'VE wait here for the word, Fra
casse. the captain, whispered TO his
senior lieutenant. IF IL comes. our
objective is the house and the old
castle on the hill above the town
The tower OF the church showed
dimly when a pale moon broke
through cloud. by It's light Hugo
Mallin saw on his left the plnched
and characterless features OF Peter
kin. A few yards ahead was a white
stone post.
That's their side over there" whis-
pered the bankers son, who was next
to Peterkin.
when we cross war begins said
the manufacturers son.
Il wonder II they are expecting US !"
said the judges son a trihe huskily,
In an attempt at humor, though he
was not given to humor.
Just waiting TO throw bouquetsl"
whispered che laborers son. He. too.
was not given to humor and he, too,
spoke a triae huskily.
And we'll fix bayonets when we
start and they Will run at the sight
OF our STEEL" said Eugene Aronson.
lie and Hugo alone, not excepting Pill
ger, the butchers son, spoke in their
natural voices. The others were try
ing TO make their voices sound natu-
raj, while Pliers voice had deyel-
oped certain ferocity, and the liver
patch on his cheek twitched more fire.
quently why, Company B is in
front! We have the post of honor, and
maybe our company will win the most
glory OF any in the regiment Eu-
gene added oh. well beat them!
The bullet Is not made that will get
me-"
Your service will be over in time
for you to help with the spring plant
ing, Eugene whispered Hugo. who
was apparently preoccupied with many
detached thoughts.
And you 10 be at home sucking
lollipops!" Pilzer growled to Hugo.
THAT would be better than murder
Ing my fellowman to get his property"
Hugo answered, so soberly that It did
not seem to his comrades that he was
joking this time. Pliers snarling ex-
clamation OF White feather!' came in
the midst OF a chorus OF indignation.
Captain Tracasse, who had heard
only the disturbance without knowing
the cause. interfered in a low. sharp
tone:
Silence As / have told you be-
fore, silence! We don't want them 10
know that we are here Go to sleep!
You may get no rest tomorrow night"
But little Peterkin, the question in
his mind breaking free of his lips, UNI
Willingly asked:
"Shall-shall We fight in the morn
ing?"
Il don't know. Nobody knows!" an
swered Fracasse. we wait on orders,
ready to do our duty. There may be
no war. Don't let me hear another
peep from youl"
Now all closed their eyes In front
OF them was vast silence which
seemed 10 stretch from end TO end OF
the frontier, while to the rear was the
rumble OF switching railway trains
and the rumble OF provision trains and
artillery on the roads. and in the dis
lance on the plain the headlight OF
locomotive cut swath in the black
night. But the breathing OF most OF