Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1918-06-25
CHAPTER xiv.
That Sick Man From San Antonio.

That Sick Man From San Antonio.
1t was part of the strategy practiced
by the Cuban leaders to divide their
forces into separate columns for the
purpose of raiding the smaller Spanish
garrisons and harassing the troops sent
to their relief, reassembling these
bands only when and where some tell
ing blow was to be struck.
When O'Reilly and Branch enlisted
in the Army of the Orient they were
assigned to the command of Col. Mig
uel Lopez, and it was under his leader
ship that they made their first ac-
quaintance with the peculiar methods
of Cuban warfare.
There had been, at first, some doubt
OF Branch's fitness to take the field at
all-he had suffered severe hemor-
rhage shortly after his arrival at Cubi-
tas-and it was only after historical
demonstration on his part that he had
been accepted as soldier. He simply
would not be left behind. At first the
Cubans regarded him with mingled
contempt and pity, for certainly no
less promising volunteer had ever
taken service with them. But upon
the occasion of the very first fight all
ill-will disappeared as If by magic. for.
although Branch deliberately disobeyed
orders, he nevertheless displayed such
amazing audacity in the face of the
enemy, such theatrical contempt for
bullets. as to stupefy every one More
over, he lived up to his reputation; he
continued 70 be inSanely daring, vary
ing his exploits to correspond with his
moods, with the result that he attained
a popularity which was unique, nay,
sensational.
0'Reilly alone understood the reason
for the fellows morbid irritability, his
suicidal recklessness; but when he pri-
vately demonstrated he was gruffly told
to mind his own business. Branch fiat
ly refused to modify his conduct; he
seemed really bent upon cheating the
disease that made his life a misery.
But, as usual, fate was perverse;
she refused 10 humor the sick mans
hope. When. after blindly inviting
death. Leslie had emerged from sew
eral engagements unscathed, his sur
priSe-and perhaps a natural relief at
finding himself whole-became tinged
with a certain apprehension lest he
survive those deliberately courted dan
gers only TO succumb to the ills and
privations of camp life. The fellows
tongue grew ever sharper; his society
became intolerable, his gloom oppres-
sive and irresisibly contagious. When,
after several weeks of campaigning,
the column went into camp for a short
rest. O'Reilly decided that he would
try to throw off the burden of Leslie's
overwhelming detection. and, if pos
Sible, shift portion of it upon the
shoulders of Captain Judson.
On the day after their arrival O'Reil-
ly and the big artilleryman took adyan-
tage of pleasant stream to battle and
wash their clothes; then, while they
lay in their hammocks, enjoying the
luxury of tattered oil-cloth shelter
and waiting for the sun to dry their
garments, O'Rei'ly spoke what was in
his mind.
I'm getting about fed up on LESLIE
he declared. He's the worlds cham
pion crepe-hanger, and he's painted the
whole world such deep. respondent
blue that I'm completely dismal. You've
got to take him of my hands"
O'Reilly's youthful assistant, who at