Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1916-09-29
'OOOOOOSSSOSOsssosoososOO
.FerguSOn'S
Stratagem
II Was intended TO Cap
ture a Post Of WO-
men Soldiers.
By OSCAR COX


the Evellne out Of commission for the
winter. He collected such Of his men
friends as were able to get away some
of them took their vacations late-and
the party set sail we'll equipped for
breezy time,
They had been out several days when
they came in sight Of an island on the
summit of which noated a United
States flag Passing a man In boat
fishing, they asked him If the flag mark.
ed government military post, They
were Informed that 1t did not, A num-
Der Of young women who believed IN
preparedness had leased the Island for
women's barracks and drill ground,
They had formed n company and were
drilling regularly
This information interested the young
men greatly. After leaving the inform
ant Hathaway said;
"Boys, ] can't think Of any better
way to train these girls In the art of
self defense than TO attack the island,
The way to learn how to do a thing Is
TO do It. II they are obliged TO defend
themselves against us they will know
how to take care Of themselves when
called upon to confront real enemy"
"What are TyG -aiaS g "-h: on
WITH" asked Bob Elliot,
"Well, we have the little salute gun,
We might fire stones over their heads
with it" replied Hathaway.
"That wouldn't scare them" said FL.
liot. zone Of the principal parts in
war Is strategy, Suppose we try 1t on"
ut is my opinion" said Luke Medge,
the homellest man of the party, that
any fellow who tries strategy with a
woman will get beaten"
BY this time they were within few
hundred yards Of the island and were
met by roWboat containing four girls
in uniform, with a coXswain, who told
them that only men in company with
women were allowed on the island cX-
cept officers of the United States army
who were sent there to give instruc-
ton. Hathaway replied that their
party had no intention whatever of IN
trudlng upon the post and commended
the ladies highly for their patriotism.
Elliot, who had had marked success
with girls and always carried such
munitions of war as he considered
especially effective in his conquests,
hurried below and returned with two
pound box Of candy. The eyes Of the
oarsmen glistened at sight of 1t, but
/ the coxswain, who was in command Of
the crew, cast contemptuous glance
at Bob and ordered them to give way.
This produced a laugh on Bob who
had proposed strategy, but he bore
the ridicule with equanimity
There were five girls IN the boat"
he said, "and four of them were ready
to sell out for the sweets. The cox.
swain had a temporary advantage, but
there were four to one to be tempted,
Well see who shall laugh last"
How would 1t do" suggested Billy
Charnley, "for one Of us to personate
a United States officer sent to drill
the company"
THAT would involve one man effect
ing an entrance" said Hathaway,
land he would have to be unknown as
belonging to ourparty. If he got into
the barracks he might connive at the
rest of us following him. Is there a
man among us who knows anything
about military matters?"
A poll was taken, with the result
that not man had ever handled a
musket. Ferguson had been q mem.
Der Of crack cavalry troop, but had
always shirkcd drill. Besides, 1t was
not likely there were any horses on the
island, From all appearances the school
was devoted to infantry training.
However, 1t was decided to sail for
the mainland, where Ferguson, who
was to personate an army officer, pro
cured In a secondhand store q cap
Ornamented with brass buttons. Hlr
ing a single sticker without lib, II
was manned by two Of the crew OF
the Eveline, who had not left theil
berths when the patrol boat was met
and consequently they had not beer
seen by the girls. These fellows pur
chased canvas suits, the shirts having
blue collars, and when rugged out II
them would very well pass for navy
tars. Then the Nautilus-that was the
single sticker's name-sailed for the Is
land, followed by the Eyeline.
On nearing the island the EvellnG
dropped farther astern while the
Nautilus sailed on straight for the
dock, flying the stars and stripes from
the masthead, indicating-so 1t wa!
hoped-that a government officer was
aboard. A sentry was walking past oil
the dock, a girl with light hair ant
blue eyes, little Of the hair being visi
BILE, since 1t was tucked away undeI
military felt hat with a large brim
Ferguson sprang out of the boat, and
walking as If stiffened in his spine b,
a ramrod, he triangulated to the sentry
and asked where he would find the com
mander Of the post. The sentry called
the corporal of the guard, which wa
posted n short distance away, anC
when she came Ferguson asked to Sc,
the commanding officer, stating briefly
, ! that he WAC IN Government husinae &C