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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/31366-h.zip b/31366-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..af05436 --- /dev/null +++ b/31366-h.zip diff --git a/31366-h/31366-h.htm b/31366-h/31366-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..61708a2 --- /dev/null +++ b/31366-h/31366-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,2709 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<!-- $Id: header.txt 236 2009-12-07 18:57:00Z vlsimpson $ --> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of A Little Dusky Hero, by Harriet T. Comstock. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> + +body { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; +} + +p { + margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; +} + +hr { + width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; +} + +table { + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; +} + +.pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; +} /* page numbers */ + +.linenum { + position: absolute; + top: auto; + left: 4%; +} /* poetry number */ + +.blockquot { + margin-left: 5%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + +.sidenote { + width: 20%; + padding-bottom: .5em; + padding-top: .5em; + padding-left: .5em; + padding-right: .5em; + margin-left: 1em; + float: right; + clear: right; + margin-top: 1em; + font-size: smaller; + color: black; + background: #eeeeee; + border: dashed 1px; +} + +.bb {border-bottom: solid 2px;} + +.bl {border-left: solid 2px;} + +.bt {border-top: solid 2px;} + +.br {border-right: solid 2px;} + +.bbox {border: solid 2px;} + +.center {text-align: center;} + +.smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + +.u {text-decoration: underline;} + +.caption {font-weight: bold;} + +/* Images */ +.figcenter { + margin: auto; + text-align: center; +} + +.figleft { + float: left; + clear: left; + margin-left: 0; + margin-bottom: 1em; + margin-top: 1em; + margin-right: 1em; + padding: 0; + text-align: center; +} + +.figright { + float: right; + clear: right; + margin-left: 1em; + margin-bottom: + 1em; + margin-top: 1em; + margin-right: 0; + padding: 0; + text-align: center; +} + +/* Footnotes */ +.footnotes {border: dashed 1px;} + +.footnote {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 0.9em;} + +.footnote .label {position: absolute; right: 84%; text-align: right;} + +.fnanchor { + vertical-align: super; + font-size: .8em; + text-decoration: + none; +} + +/* Poetry */ +.poem { + margin-left:10%; + margin-right:10%; + text-align: left; +} + +.poem br {display: none;} + +.poem .stanza {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} + +.poem span.i0 { + display: block; + margin-left: 0em; + padding-left: 3em; + text-indent: -3em; +} + +.poem span.i2 { + display: block; + margin-left: 2em; + padding-left: 3em; + text-indent: -3em; +} + +.poem span.i4 { + display: block; + margin-left: 4em; + padding-left: 3em; + text-indent: -3em; +} + + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of A Little Dusky Hero, by Harriot T, Comstock + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: A Little Dusky Hero + +Author: Harriot T, Comstock + +Release Date: February 23, 2010 [EBook #31366] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A LITTLE DUSKY HERO *** + + + + +Produced by David Edwards, Mary Meehan and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/cover.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h1>A LITTLE DUSKY HERO</h1> + +<h2>BY HARRIET T. COMSTOCK</h2> + +<h3><i>AUTHOR OF "CEDRIC THE SAXON," "TOWER OR THRONE," ETC.</i></h3> + + +<h4>NEW YORK<br /> +THOMAS Y. CROWELL & Co.<br /> +PUBLISHERS</h4> + +<h4>Copyright, 1902,<br /> +<span class="smcap">By Thomas Y. Crowell & Company.</span></h4> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/title.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h4>THIS LITTLE BOOK<br /> +IS<br /> +LOVINGLY DEDICATED<br /> +TO<br /> +Philip and Albert<br /> +BY<br /> +THEIR MOTHER</h4> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/frontis.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> + +<h3>COLONEL AUSTIN STAGGERED TO HIS FEET, LEANING UPON THE LITTLE SHOULDER.</h3> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> + +<!-- Autogenerated TOC. Modify or delete as required. --> +<p> +<a href="#I">I. <span class="smcap">George Washington McKinley Jones</span></a><br /> +<a href="#II">II. <span class="smcap">The Box from up North</span></a><br /> +<a href="#III">III. <span class="smcap">The Little Gauntlet and Sword</span></a><br /> +<a href="#IV">IV. <span class="smcap">Waiting in the Turret Chamber</span></a><br /> +<a href="#V">V. <span class="smcap">The Boy up North</span></a><br /> +<a href="#VI">VI. "<span class="smcap">War, G. W.</span>!"</a><br /> +<a href="#VII">VII. <span class="smcap">The Battle on the Hill-Top</span></a><br /> +<a href="#VIII">VIII. <span class="smcap">The Colonel's Body-Guard</span></a><br /> +<a href="#IX">IX. "<span class="smcap">I'se Got de Colonel</span>!"</a><br /> +<a href="#X">X. <span class="smcap">In the Tent Hospital</span></a><br /> +<a href="#XI">XI. "<span class="smcap">It's all yours, G. W.</span>!"</a><br /> +<a href="#XII">XII. <span class="smcap">A History-Evening at Oakwood</span></a><br /><br /> +<a href="#THE_GOLDEN_HOUR_SERIES">THE GOLDEN HOUR SERIES</a><br /> +</p> +<!-- End Autogenerated TOC. --> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="A_LITTLE_DUSKY_HERO" id="A_LITTLE_DUSKY_HERO"></a>A LITTLE DUSKY HERO.</h2> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="I" id="I"></a>I.</h2> + +<h3>GEORGE WASHINGTON MCKINLEY JONES.</h3> + + +<p>Scratch! scratch! scratch! went Colonel Austin's pen over the smooth +white sheets of paper, sheet after sheet.</p> + +<p>The dead heat of Tampa hung heavy within the tent; the buzz of the flies +was most distressing; but the reports must be got off, and after them +there were letters to be written to "the Boy and his Mother" up North, +telling them—especially the Boy—what a glorious thing it is to serve +one's country under <i>any</i> circumstances. The present circumstances were +extremely trying, to be sure, but the firm brown hand glided back and +forth over the long pages in a determined manner that showed how Colonel +Austin believed in doing his duty.</p> + +<p>Scratch! scratch! scratch!</p> + +<p>Buzz! buzz! buzz!</p> + +<p>"Good-mornin', sah!"</p> + +<p>It was a soft little voice, and it droned away into the buzz of the +flies and the scratching of the pen so that the writer at the rough +table took no heed.</p> + +<p>"Good mornin', sah!"</p> + +<p>This time Colonel Austin turned. He was a firm believer in discipline, +and the unannounced arrival annoyed him. He swung around and gazed +sternly about six feet from the ground. There was nothing there! His +eyes dropped and finally rested upon the very smallest, dirtiest, +raggedest black boy he had ever seen. But the beautiful great eyes of +the forlorn mite looked trustingly up at the surprised officer, and +Colonel Austin noticed that the grimy cheeks were tear-stained though +the childish lips were smiling bravely.</p> + +<p>"Good mornin', sah!" again piped the soft voice.</p> + +<p>"Why, good morning to you!" the Colonel replied. He was always tender +with sick soldiers, women, and children, and the pathetic little figure +before him touched his sympathy. "Who are you, my small friend?"</p> + +<p>"George Washington McKinley Jones, sah."</p> + +<p>"Just so; and where are your folks?"</p> + +<p>"No folks any more, sah. Daddy he done got put in prison fur life, sah, +'cos he killed a frien' of his, an' my mammy she done died yesterday. I +jus' come from her buryin', sah." Two slow tears fell from the soft +brown eyes and rolled over the stained cheeks.</p> + +<p>Colonel Austin's throat grew dry, as it always did when he looked upon +suffering things bearing pain and trouble bravely.</p> + +<p>"And why do you come here, my child?" he asked kindly.</p> + +<p>"I likes de look ob your face, sah, an' I'se hungry—I'se starved, I +is—an' 'sides I want work!"</p> + +<p>The boy certainly was not over nine, and was undersized and +childish-looking even for that.</p> + +<p>"Work!" smiled the grave Colonel, "what in the world can you do?"</p> + +<p>"Why, sah, I'se de best shot you ebber saw; I reckon I'se what you call +a real crack shot; dat's what I am, sah!"</p> + +<p>The ring of pride in the piping voice reached the Colonel's heart. "Oh! +I see," he nodded. "You wish to be a soldier boy, is that it?"</p> + +<p>The grimy little applicant drew himself up to his extreme height, and +replied with magnificent scorn. "No, sah! I does <i>not</i> wish to be a +sojer boy. I wish ter be one ob dem heroes, sah!"</p> + +<p>A joke was a rare thing in those dull, waiting days, and George +Washington McKinley Jones was delicious. The Colonel smoothed the smiles +from his mouth as best he could. But not a quiver of mirth ruffled the +dirt-stained countenance of the child. His severe stare sobered the +Colonel, and he asked in a gentle tone, "Do you know what a hero is, my +boy?"</p> + +<p>George Washington drew his ragged coat about him with a gesture of +patient pity, then answered with a slow, pained dignity. "Co'se I knows +what a hero is, sah. How could I know dat I wanted ter be one if I +didn't? A hero is a pusson, sah, what ain't afraid to tackle a job too +big fur other folks, an' goes right froo wid it or dies a-doin' it!"</p> + +<p>Something in the quiet words drove all desire to laugh for good and all +from the listening officer. "I have a character on my hands, evidently," +he thought; aloud he said, "George Washington McKinley Jones, I presume +you haven't any particular job in heroism in sight at present?"</p> + +<p>"No, sah. I jes' wants to go 'long wid de boys, an' watch out fur my +chance. Mammy done tole me heaps ob times dat if I jes' was wid sojers, +I was boun'ter be a hero some day, shore. She 'lowed she had visions."</p> + +<p>"You shall have your chance, comrade!" The Colonel got up and took the +thin little hand in his. "If you have told me the truth, my boy, I will +take you along with my regiment and give you a show." He called to an +officer who was passing the tent. "Martin!"</p> + +<p>The man stopped and touched his cap.</p> + +<p>"Martin, we have a young volunteer here. He's no common soldier, please +understand; he's enlisted as a hero. Feed him up, give him all that he +can hold, and let him report to me later."</p> + +<p>Lieutenant Martin's face never changed expression; he simply held out +his hand gravely to George Washington McKinley Jones, saluted his +superior officer, and led the volunteer out of the tent.</p> + +<p>While George Washington ate, solemnly and long, investigations were made +as to the truth of his story. Colonel Austin made them himself. He +wished to make sure, for his sympathy was deeply enlisted, and he did +not intend to be deceived. He found the little fellow had not departed +from the facts in the least particular. He belonged to nobody; but every +one who knew him had a kindly word for him. He was known as an honest, +good-natured little waif, with a reputation for hitting the bull's-eye +every time any one would lend him a gun at a rifle-match.</p> + +<p>Upon the evidence gathered the boy was taken into the army as the +"mascot of the Ninth," and before long he was the pet of the men in that +city of white tents, and became known as "G. W.," for who in that hot, +lazy place could waste time in calling him all of his various historical +national names? It was "G. W." here and "G. W." there. He danced for +them and sang for them, and was never weary, never ill-tempered.</p> + +<p>When once he had had enough to eat—and for many days the men thought +that he never could get enough—he became the healthiest and ruggedest +of boys, and beyond doubt one of the happiest that ever breathed.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="II" id="II"></a>II.</h2> + +<h3>THE BOX FROM UP NORTH.</h3> + + +<p>One day a box came from the North. It was addressed to "George +Washington McKinley Jones, care of Colonel Austin;" but as G. W. was +incapable of reading he sharply questioned the messenger who delivered +it.</p> + +<p>"How you know dis 'blongs ter me?" asked he.</p> + +<p>"There's your name," said the messenger.</p> + +<p>"Whar?"</p> + +<p>The patient messenger traced the boy's illustrious name.</p> + +<p>"What's dar 'sides my name?"</p> + +<p>"Care of Colonel Austin."</p> + +<p>"Oh!" said G. W., understandingly, "dat means I'se got ter take care ob +it fur my Colonel! I reckon dey needn't took all de trouble to write dat +foolishness out! Co'se I'll take care of it."</p> + +<p>G. W. ran straight to Colonel Austin's tent. The officer was sitting +inside, and, as it happened, alone.</p> + +<p>"Hello, G. W., what have you there?"</p> + +<p>The boy held the big box out gravely. Colonel Austin read the address. +"It's for you, my boy," he said. "Open it and let us see what is inside. +Here, let us drop the tent-flap and keep the surprise to ourselves."</p> + +<p>When the Colonel said the package was for him all doubt fled from G. +W.'s heart. Others might step from truth's narrow way—but his Colonel? +Oh, never! The exciting thought that the box was really for himself made +the sturdy little form quiver. His hands shook, and the big brown eyes +stood open, as round as full moons.</p> + +<p>The heavy papers were off at last. Upon the box itself lay a square +white envelope, breathing forth a fragrance of violets, and stating as +plainly as could be, in delicate lettering, that the contents of the +envelope were also for G. W.</p> + +<p>"There's something for you in the letter—open that first," said the +Colonel. He was eyeing the scene with a strange look upon his face. +"Shall I read it for you, G. W.?" he added.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sah! I guess you'll have to, sah, sump-in' seems de matter wid my +eyes," said G. W. "You jes' read it, Colonel. Read it slow an' <i>exactly</i> +what it done say, kase I doan't want any mistake, sah, 'bout dis sort ob +thing."</p> + +<p>"All right, old man,—just tell me if I go too fast."</p> + +<p>Then the Colonel began:</p> + +<blockquote><p>"<span class="smcap">To George Washington McKinley Jones</span>,</p> + +<p><i>private in the Ninth Infantry</i>:</p> + +<p>"<span class="smcap">Dear Sir</span>: The enclosed are for you. They were made in Uncle Sam's +workshop, just where all the brave boys have theirs made"—</p></blockquote> + +<p>"You reads too fast, Colonel!" gasped G. W., tiny drops of perspiration +standing out on his face.</p> + +<p>The Colonel began again at the beginning, and then went on, reading +slowly:</p> + +<blockquote><p>"I am sure they will fit, because a little messenger brought me the +measurements. Accept them with our love, and wear them like the +hero you will certainly be some day. There is just one way you can +thank us; bring Colonel Austin home to us safe and sound, well and +strong. See that he obeys you where this is concerned. We wish him +to do his duty, but do not let anything happen to him.</p> + +<p>"God bless you, little soldier! That is the daily wish of</p> + +<p>"<span class="smcap">The Boy and his Mother</span>."</p></blockquote> + +<p>There was silence in the tent.</p> + +<p>Then said the Colonel, "Well, why don't you open the box, G. W.?"</p> + +<p>The boy was kneeling before the box, but his eyes were fastened upon a +photograph on the rude table. It was a photograph of "the Boy and his +Mother," G. W. felt certain; and he was realizing that these two, far +away in the unknown, had spoken to him.</p> + +<p>"Open it, G. W.," again the Colonel said.</p> + +<p>"You do it, sah! I clar I doan't dare!"</p> + +<p>The officer laughed, and cut the string. Within the box, neatly folded, +but in such a way as to hide none of their charms, lay trousers and +jacket of army blue resplendent with flashing buttons.</p> + +<p>Colonel Austin took the garments out, and held them up at arms' length. +They were small, but perfect.</p> + +<p>"Lawd!" gasped G. W.; "for de Lawd's sake!"</p> + +<p>A moment of breathless silence followed; then Colonel Austin said, "They +are yours, G. W., try them on! You are 'one of the boys' now for sure +and certain, buttons and all! See, there is a '9' on every button!"</p> + +<p>Slowly the surprise cleared away in G. W.'s brain. He gave a low +whistle, like the note of a bird, and struggled to his feet, for he was +still on his knees by the box.</p> + +<p>"Colonel," he whispered, "you ain't never tole me a lie—but dis here +'sperience done tries my mind! Turn away yo' head, sah."</p> + +<p>Colonel Austin turned away his head and waited.</p> + +<p>Behind his back arose a rustling, with mutters of impatience, as buttons +refused to comply with the nervous efforts of awkward and trembling +fingers. Then came a long breath of content, as things began to run +smoother, and presently a sigh of superhuman bliss; then a voice, new +and deep, gasped forth:</p> + +<p>"Look at me!"</p> + +<p>The Colonel turned. There, his face and hands in a tremble, but all +exultant, stood G. W. in the uniform of the Ninth. The coat was buttoned +crooked, the cap, which G. W. had discovered at the bottom of the box, +was hind part before—but what of that? In all the army of the great +Republic was no manlier soldier than the little fellow who now faced his +Colonel with a look of rapture on his round, dusky face.</p> + +<p>"Comrade, give us your hand!" There was a mistiness in the Colonel's +eyes, a queer chokiness in his voice. "You'll never disgrace the +uniform, my boy,—it isn't in you to do it!"</p> + +<p>G. W. saluted, and then gravely placed his hand in Colonel Austin's.</p> + +<p>"Dese clo'es," he said, "are jes' goin' to help make me a hero for sho! +An', Colonel, I'se goin' ter take care ob you jis' like de Boy an' his +Mother tole me. I is sho! Nothin' ain't goin' to happen 'long o' you +while George Washington McKinley Jones knows what hisself am about! I'se +goin' ter put dis letter in my breas'-pocket, an' it's goin' ter stay +right plumb ober my heart, till I take yer back to dem two all right! +Now, sah, let me show de boys. Lawd! I clar if my mammy"—the proud +smile quivered—"should see me, I jes' reckon de visions she'd have +would make her trimble!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="III" id="III"></a>III.</h2> + +<h3>THE LITTLE GAUNTLET AND SWORD.</h3> + + +<p>The sunlight beat down upon Tampa until every man in camp shed his coat +in despair, but not one button did G. W. unfasten!</p> + +<p>He strutted and sweltered, and complained not. He gave daily exhibitions +of his sharp-shooting—which, by the way, was an accomplishment truly +remarkable. For the first time in his life he was absolutely and +perfectly happy.</p> + +<p>While all "the boys" felt a personal interest in the child, it was a +well-understood fact that he belonged to Colonel Austin. To that officer +alone did G. W. report, and from him alone did he accept orders as to +his outgoings and incomings.</p> + +<p>As the long languid weeks dragged on, G. W. became the life of the camp. +His "break-downs," danced with wondrous grace and skill, set many a lazy +foot shuffling in sympathy. He sang songs to a banjo accompaniment which +made the listeners forget their pipes and cards, and set them to +thinking of home—and other things. He appeared to be singularly +innocent and child-like for such an uncared-for waif. He seemed to have +gathered only good nature and a love for the brave and noble from his +starved, cruel years. As Colonel Austin watched him from day to day he +became more interested in him, and began to wonder what he should do +with the odd little chap when the business with Spain was settled, and +life assumed its ordinary aspect once more.</p> + +<p>Perhaps the Colonel's hunger for the Boy up North made him glad of the +companionship; perhaps it was only his noble heart always yearning over +the needy. Be that as it may, the little black boy and the handsome +young Colonel became daily closer comrades.</p> + +<p>There was one regulation which Colonel Austin had insisted upon from the +first. G. W., who was to sleep upon a mattress in his tent, was to go to +bed early, as a child should. The men might bribe or coax him for a +dance or a song during the day; but the little soldier had his orders to +"turn in" at eight-thirty, and although G. W. often longed for an hour +more, he obeyed like the hero he meant some day to be. Love and a strong +sense of duty governed the heart beating faithfully under the hot, +trimly-buttoned uniform. He might wish to stay where the fun was, but he +never varied his obedience by an extra five minutes.</p> + +<p>When it was possible the Colonel took a few moments from duty or +pleasure at the twilight hour, and followed G. W. into the tent. When +the flap fell to after the pair, not a soldier but knew that the Colonel +was not to be disturbed except upon the most urgent business. When the +Colonel came out of the tent the look in his eyes made more than one man +remember it.</p> + +<p>Old General Wallace was once known to have taken off his hat as he came +face to face with G. W.'s Colonel at the tent door, after one of those +mysterious twilight talks. When the older man realized what he had done +he jammed his hat down over his eyes, and, with an impatient laugh, +said, "What in thunder is the matter with you, Austin? You look like a +Methodist camp-meeting!"</p> + +<p>G. W.'s Colonel saluted and passed on.</p> + +<p>One night when he went into the tent after G. W., he found the boy +divested of his splendid regimentals, kneeling in a very scant and +child-like costume before the table—which, by the way, was composed of +two soap-boxes covered with a flag—and scanning the faces of "the Boy +and his Mother." A strange yearning in G. W.'s eyes caused the officer +to speak very gently.</p> + +<p>"What is it, old fellow? Surely you are not envying the Boy up North? +You, a full-fledged soldier of Uncle Sam!"</p> + +<p>Envy! why G. W.'s heart just then was filled with pity for that boy +nearly as old as he, who was obliged to wear humiliating garments. +Actually there was lace on his collar. And the boy wore curls! not long +ones, but curls nevertheless. G. W. had by this time acquired tact +sufficient to forbid mention of these pitiful details, but he said +slowly, "I'se right sorry fur de Boy, Colonel, kase he's 'bliged to stay +away frum being wid you!"</p> + +<p>G. W. was too sincere to be laughed at, and the Boy's father replied +gently:</p> + +<p>"Well, you see, comrade, it is this way: the Boy is serving his country +as well as you. He'd like to be here first-rate,—a drum-call sets him +prancing like a war horse,—but there's the Mother, you know. It would +never do to leave her quite alone—he's taking my place by her side +until the country needs me no longer and I may go home. There are a good +many ways of serving, old man.</p> + +<p>"G. W., once I was walking through a gallery of an ancient castle, and I +noticed among the armor and weapons which lined the walls a little +gauntlet and sword. So very small were they that I questioned the guide, +and he told me this story:</p> + +<blockquote><p>'In the dark days of long ago, when a man's castle had to be +defended from his foes, and every one was on guard against an +attack, there was a knight who had four sons and one fair daughter. +Three of the sons were great stalwart fellows, but the fourth was a +crippled lad who lay upon his bed in the turret chamber week after +week, dreaming his dreams and looking out across the wide parks +over which he was never to ride to wage war against a cruel foe. +The pretty sister sat much with him and wove wondrous stories from +her busy brain to help while away the weary hours; and she got the +father to have the slender gauntlet and sword made, so that the +patient soldier upon the bed might the better believe himself like +the strong, brave heroes of her tales.</p> + +<p>'Now it came to pass that a very wicked lord of an adjoining +country wished to marry the pretty sister, and take her to his +gloomy castle. To that the father and brothers said, "No!" They +vowed that they would fight to the end rather than that the wicked +lord should have his way. And soon they saw that they must indeed +fight if they would keep her, for rumor reached them that the lord +had raised a mighty company and was nearing their castle. Then +every man prepared himself for battle, and in the turret room the +small warrior lay upon his bed with the gauntlet upon his hand, and +the keen sword ready in case the foe should enter. Day by day the +fair sister, white and full of fear, knelt beside him, and tried to +be brave for his dear sake.</p> + +<p>'At length the day of conflict came. The two in the high room saw +the banners of the wicked lord advancing, and the little brother +said valiantly, "I will defend you!"</p> + +<p>'The struggle came on. Long and nobly did the knight and his men +strive to keep back the terrible lord, and many fell in court-yard +and hall. But at last the wicked lord and his followers triumphed, +and with shouts of victory strode to the turret-room.</p> + +<p>'There knelt the maid, her golden head bowed beside her brother. +His left hand pressed her fair curls, but his right hand was ready +for its task. The lord bent to grasp the prize for which he had +fought, little heeding the crippled boy; but as his fingers were +about to close upon the girl's arm the keen slender sword was +raised in a hand made strong for the deed, and a desperate blow +fell upon the wrist of the lord, and his hand was nearly severed +from the arm. An awed silence followed the doughty deed. Then out +spoke the lord: "Let no man touch the pair. Of all warriors this +cripple is the greatest, because in his weakness he has dared all +things for love!"'</p></blockquote> + +<p>"So you see, G. W., the poor young stay-at-home was a soldier, too!" +said the Colonel. "I have always loved to remember the story. And now I +often think of the Boy up North defending his mother from loneliness and +foreboding—he is doing his share, G. W."</p> + +<p>G. W.'s soft, big, brown eyes were fixed upon his Colonel's face. The +great hero-tales of legend and history were new to his empty childhood, +and this one thrilled him to his heart's core.</p> + +<p>"Dat's a mighty fine story!" he mused. "When you was telling me dat +story, Colonel, it done seem as if nothing was mean in all de world; it +seems like every one was brave!"</p> + +<p>"Never reckon out any honest service, old man," the Colonel went on; +"very little things count in this world, and oftentimes the weakest do +the greatest deeds. That little hero of long ago stretches forth a hand +to every child who tries to do his part!"</p> + +<p>A gleam of admiration flashed into G. W.'s eyes. "Well, I 'low dat de +Boy up North is a bigger soldier dan I 'magined. I knowed from de fust I +done got to take care ob <i>you</i>, Colonel, but now I jis' feel like I 'd +be glad to do something fur de Boy hisself!"</p> + +<p>Colonel Austin seemed to understand. "Well," said he, "you and he are +both taking care of me. You are helping him and he is helping you, and +maybe some day you may tell each other all about it."</p> + +<p>There was surely one thing the Colonel's two "boys" had in common: they +both had the same devouring passion for hero-stories.</p> + +<p>During almost every spring evening of that year, by a bedside in a cool +Northern home, a pretty young mother had sat and told to an eager little +lad thrilling tales of bravery and courage. Always she began with the +one the Colonel had told to G. W.—the story of the crippled boy in the +old castle turret. There was something in that legend that stirred Jack +Austin in a wonderful manner.</p> + +<p>It had been hard for Jack to be separated from his father from the +first; but now, whenever he heard from his father's letters about G. W., +and realized that among war's perils there could be a place for a small +boy, his heart simply ached with longing. G. W., a boy little older than +himself, was there beside Daddy! But at this point Jack always recalled +the story of the gauntlet and the small sword, and stifled back the +tears and looked lovingly at his pretty mother. No matter how he envied +G. W., he would stay, patient, in his "turret chamber." His place was +beside his mother until Daddy came marching home. How many times his +father had sent him that message! Jack dreamed almost every night of his +father coming home, keeping step to the cheerful drum; so he had marched +away, and so he would return, with G. W. at his side!</p> + +<p>Near his bed, at night, always lay Jack's own splendid suit of +make-believe soldier clothes. It was hard sometimes for him to think +that they were make-believe clothes, while the suit of blue his mother +had sent to G. W. were real, true ones, and worn by the dusky little +soldier who lived in his dear father's tent. There often seemed to him +an unendurable difference between G. W. and himself.</p> + +<p>Poor little Jack! he was braver than he realized when he turned away +from this feeling and smiled up into his mother's face.</p> + +<p>But Jack's mother knew all about this feeling.</p> + +<p>"And so you see, dear," the stories for Jack always ended, "that though +you are but mother's obedient little boy now, your chance in the great +world's work will come!"</p> + +<p>And in the tent, beneath the glorious sunsets of Tampa, at about the +same time "Daddy" would be sitting and smoking beside a small mattress +bed, urging the same line of conduct upon another boy "hero" with a +heart under the brown skin as pure and innocent as the one throbbing +beneath the snowy night-gown so far away.</p> + +<p>"Your chance will come, G. W.!"</p> + +<p>And both boys generally fell asleep with the resolve that they would do +the things and bear the things of the present, and "wait" without a +murmur, because heroes had done the same since the world began.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="IV" id="IV"></a>IV.</h2> + +<h3>WAITING IN THE TURRET CHAMBER.</h3> + + +<p>It was never clear to G. W. why the "boys" were always anxious to be +"going." For him the lazy, fun-loving life was never tedious or +unpleasant. From all that he could gather by endless questioning, war +was not half so agreeable, although he granted it must certainly be more +exciting.</p> + +<p>"When will the order come for us to move?" That was the daily question +in camp.</p> + +<p>At last it came! They were to sail at once. Of course the President of +the United States, whose illustrious name G. W. bore himself, meant all +the thousands who were encamped in Tampa; but to G. W. the order meant +that <i>he</i> and "de Colonel" were to "pull up stakes" and sail away to +that strange, mysterious Cuba, and face war!</p> + +<p>The little dusky fellow in blue suddenly felt that his hands were pretty +full.</p> + +<p>He it was who packed all the Colonel's belongings, giving special care +to the photograph. He polished up the guns and swords, and even his own +buttons. He meant at least to command the respect of the foe. He often +grew hot and tired, during those days, but never made a complaint. And +when the hurried camp preparations were completed, it was G. W. and "de +Colonel" who marched down the long pier to the waiting transports. To G. +W.'s mind, it was for them the cheers rang out, and for them did the +band play the inspiring music that set his feet dancing. Oh, it was the +proudest moment of G. W.'s life so far. His buttons almost burst over +his swelling chest. He was marching straight into the glorious future. +He was going to be a hero without further delay. He saw "visions," like +his mammy. Somewhere, off in the misty distance, his "chance" was +waiting for him; he felt as certain of it as he was that under his +beloved uniform he was surely melting.</p> + +<p>The days in the crowded transport put little G. W.'s endurance to the +test. But during the wretched hours one glance at the Colonel's face +gave him courage to suffer and be—still!</p> + +<p>His Colonel saw it all.</p> + +<p>"Bear up, old chap! Heroes grin—and conquer things," said the officer, +while his heart ached for the silent child; and in the end, through +sea-sickness and a longing for old easy days, G. W. did grin and +"conquer things."</p> + +<p>Then they came to Cuba! Under the dark palms and cacti, once more the +white tents were pitched; and facing the fact of approaching battles, +the men made ready, but still lightened the heavy hours by song and +joke, and boisterously welcomed the old comradeship of G. W.</p> + +<p>G. W. revived when once his feet touched solid land. "I doan't like de +water," he explained; "it's shaky an' onsartain an'—an'—wet! Dere's +too much ob it too, an' when it gets wobbly, whar are yo?"</p> + +<p>So the boy cheerfully took up again his dancing and singing. War grew +again to seem to him a matter of some other day. The regiment seemed +merely to have shifted its pleasure-ground. To be sure, there were fewer +hours alone with the Colonel, for he was very busy, but G. W. followed +him about at a distance whenever and wherever he could. If love could +shield the young officer from harm, surely never was he safer.</p> + +<p>But presently G. W. began to form new and more personal ideas of war; +his imagination, fed by the stories he had heard, sprang to life. +Perhaps war wasn't anything they would know about beforehand. That might +be the reason for the look of anxiety he had noticed upon the face of +his Colonel. Possibly war was like a great cloud hurled along by the +hurricane—G. W. knew how <i>that</i> looked. They might all be sitting by +the camp-fire some night, when suddenly war would descend upon them and +find them unprepared. With that thought G. W.'s face took on an +expression of anxiety. He clung closer to his Colonel; he did not intend +that war should find his Colonel unattended by body-guard.</p> + +<p>Colonel Austin often took heed of the faithful little shadow, and began +to fear anew for the time when he might be obliged to "go to the front" +and leave the boy behind.</p> + +<p>"G. W., you must never go beyond that point alone," he said one day, +naming a hill a half mile or so distant. "These are not play-days, +comrade; I want to feel that you are safe. I cannot afford to worry +about you now. Obedience first, old man, you know, and then you are on +the way to being a hero."</p> + +<p>"Yes, sah!" The small black hand gave the salute gravely. G. W. never by +any possible chance forgot his military training. "But, Colonel, you +goes furder dan de hill right often."</p> + +<p>"That's true, G. W., but my duty calls <i>me</i> beyond; <i>your</i> duty bids you +stay this side of the hill—that's the difference, G. W."</p> + +<p>"Yes, sah! but how is I goin' ter take care ob you, wid you trapesing +off de Lawd knows whar?"</p> + +<p>Colonel Austin smiled. "You must try to be willing to trust me out of +your sight, my boy," he said, "just as I have to trust you when you stay +behind."</p> + +<p>"But, Colonel, jes' 'spose war should attack you, wid me fur off? How +does yo' 'spec I 'se goin' ter report to de Boy an' his Mother?"</p> + +<p>Colonel Austin saw trouble ahead unless he got G. W. into shape.</p> + +<p>"Look here, old fellow," he replied, taking the young body-guard between +his knees. "War isn't going to catch us napping. We'll know at what +minute to point our guns at the enemy. We shall know and we shall obey +our orders. And you'll know, and <i>you</i> must obey <i>your</i> orders, comrade. +You must stay in your turret chamber, like the brave boy of old. You +mustn't follow me past that point. If you do, G. W.,"—Colonel Austin +had never threatened the boy before,—"unless you promise me, G. W., +I'll tie the flaps of the tent upon you every time I leave it."</p> + +<p>The childish lips quivered in an un-soldier-like way. "I'll promise, +Colonel!"</p> + +<p>"All right, then, and give us your hand. Comrade, you've taken a load +from my mind."</p> + +<p>The days following grew to be hard days for the boy, so long petted by +the regiment. Food was scarce, and when there was plenty it was often of +a kind that he turned from. The evenings in the tent were very long and +lonely before he fell asleep. No stories now. His Colonel's absences +grew more frequent and more prolonged. G. W.'s only solace was to gaze +at the picture of the Boy and his Mother.</p> + +<p>The half-mile hill became more and more every day a dread landmark. From +that hated point of view he had to watch the Colonel's tall figure +disappear only too often, while he stayed behind to return ingloriously +to the tent. Where was the "chance" that was going to make him a hero if +he must always stay behind in the place of safety? Did the Colonel think +heroes were made on hill-tops a half mile from camp? G. W. grew +sarcastic. He kept his buttons bright and his uniform brushed and trim; +not because he loved it as when he expected to soon wear it as a hero, +but because the Colonel kept himself in order—his faithful G. W. could +at least follow him in that.</p> + +<p>But at last came a thing that roused him from this mood. Fever broke out +in camp, and G. W. developed into a nurse of no mean order. He carried +water and bathed aching heads. Hot hands clung to him, forgetting how +very small and weak he was. "Sing to us, G. W.," often those weary, +suffering fellows said, "and don't give us the jig-tunes, old man, but +something soft."</p> + +<p>With his brown, childish face upraised G. W. would sing the old +camp-meeting songs that his mother used to sing in the days of long ago +before he had dreamed of being a hero.</p> + +<p>Was it the religious thought in the quaint words, or the tender quality +of the airs, or was it G. W.'s pathetic voice that had the power to +quiet the delirium and make it possible for the tired sick men to rest? +How can one tell? But as the boy sang stillness settled down over the +rough hospital, and many a "God bless you, G. W.!" came from thankful +lips.</p> + +<p>Colonel Austin watched the little comforter bustling to and fro, and +with a grim smile he thought that the hero-side of G. W. was developing +fast.</p> + +<p>The boy had grown thin, and an anxious, worn look made the small dusky +face very touching; but weariness, disappointment, and bodily discomfort +never dragged a complaint from the firm lips.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="V" id="V"></a>V.</h2> + +<h3>THE BOY UP NORTH.</h3> + + +<p>Just before the Colonel and G. W. had been ordered by President McKinley +to "move on," Colonel Austin had had the dear dusky little attendant +photographed, dazzling uniform and all and had sent it to little Jack +who was playing his harder part away up in the Northern home. Underneath +he had written, "My Body-Guard."</p> + +<p>After Mrs. Austin had gazed long and searchingly at the radiant little +soldier, she had surprised her son by suddenly bursting into tears.</p> + +<p>"Why, Mamma-dear!" cried Jack, "don't you like his looks?"</p> + +<p>"Oh! I do indeed, Jack; I like his looks so well that it almost breaks +my heart—poor little fellow!"</p> + +<p>"Poor little fellow?" Jack fell to pondering. He examined every detail +of the fascinating photograph—the suit of "real" soldier clothes, the +straight, proud wearer with that look of exultation upon his round face. +Why "poor little fellow"? Jacky would have given anything in the +world—except his mother—to have been in his place.</p> + +<p>"Mamma-dear," he sighed at last, "I'd rather be G. W. than President of +the United States!"</p> + +<p>Mrs. Austin laughed and wiped away her tears.</p> + +<p>"That's because you are Daddy's boy," she replied; "but poor G. W. has a +hard way to travel through life, and your mother was wondering just +where he will fit in when heroes are not required."</p> + +<p>"Heroes are always required," Jack answered sagely, "and I bet G. W. +will be brave anywhere. He's got brave eyes."</p> + +<p>"I believe you are right, Jack," said his mother. "Put his photograph +upon your table, and try to be the same kind of boy you think he is. He +certainly is a dear little chap!"</p> + +<p>So upon the table in Jack's room G. W.'s photograph was placed; and +often and often when he was quite alone Colonel Austin's son visited +with his father's small dusky body-guard until, on Jack's side at least, +the two became intimate friends.</p> + +<p>Then into the Northern home came Daddy's letters telling of the approach +of battle and the change of scene. Nothing of G. W.'s doings was ever +omitted by the Colonel; he knew Jack's hunger for hero-news.</p> + +<p>The little mother was less gay during those early days of summer; a +shadow rested upon her sweet face, and she clung to Jack with a sort of +passion. Jack was full of comfort and cheer when he was with her, but he +had his hours of unhappiness too, and then he used to go into his room +and stay with G. W.</p> + +<p>One day Mrs. Austin went to drive with a friend, and Jack took that +opportunity for a private drill, with G. W. to look on. Up in his bright +sunlit room he put on his soldier suit and marched to and fro with +swelling chest and mighty stride.</p> + +<p>Oh! if he were only to be with his father in the battles to come! He +might keep danger away if he were with him. No one would hurt a little +boy—he would go, in every battle, in front of his father!</p> + +<p>At last he went to the table and kneeling down scanned the likeness of +G. W.—the boy who was filling his place, Daddy's body-guard! He grew +very unhappy as he looked at the small colored boy.</p> + +<p>"I'm a toy boy," he faltered, "and G. W. is a live soldier!" Then he +thought of Daddy's last letter, in which he had written of the hill +which marked G. W.'s boundary.</p> + +<p>"I bet that makes you turn hot and cold, G. W.," he mused. "Oh, I know +just how you feel!" The blue eyes searched deep into the pictured ones +of brown. "Oh! G. W., I wish you knew how to manage Daddy as Mamma-dear +and I do! Daddy'll let you do what's necessary always, if you just know +how, but he's awful particular about being obeyed. I wish you could make +him change his mind about that hill. Of course they won't fight a battle +<i>there</i>; if there was any danger of that Daddy'd set your limit at camp! +But, G. W., if you should go ahead and do a brave thing, like saving a +life, he'd forgive you; he'd punish you, I guess, but he'd forgive +you—Mamma-dear and I'd make him, anyway. If <i>I</i> were in your place, in +the very clothes of the Ninth, I'd dare a good sound punishing to be by +Daddy's side. I'd just ask him what he called me a body-guard for."</p> + +<p>The tears blinded Jack's eyes, and through their gleam G. W.'s face +seemed to grow rigid with disapproval.</p> + +<p>"I know," half sobbed Jack, wiping his tears upon the sleeve of his blue +"make-believe" coat; "Daddy's trained you to think you <i>must</i> obey; but, +oh, I wish that particular old hill wasn't in Cuba!</p> + +<p>"I'm going to tell you something, G. W.," Jack went on. "Once, the +summer before Daddy went away, I had a 'sperience with him. I was a year +littler than I am now. He told me not on any account to go down to the +river without him. I wanted to, for Daddy had taught me how to swim and +I wanted to float about and practise. Every day I went near, to look at +the water, and every night Daddy would say, 'Now remember, Jack, for no +reason go to the river without me.' But I went nearer and nearer, until +one day I could see the other boys in, and then—I pulled off my clothes +and in I went, too! I hadn't been in long when Don Grover—he's my best +friend, but a year littler—got out further than any one else, and +suddenly he put his arms right up in the air and screamed that he was +a-drowning. We were all scared, and the other boys swam to the shore to +get help. I couldn't think of anything but Don, and I swam right out to +him, and he didn't grab hold of me or anything, but let me kind of tow +him in; and course it was awful far and we were nearly dead, and I kept +thinking how I had disobeyed Daddy, and seeing Mamma-dear's mournful +eyes. But Don and I didn't talk, only just swam. When we got to the +shore we crawled out and lay down and went to sleep, but when the boys +came back with some men I waked up and told them to take Don home and I +could go alone. G. W., I was terribly fearful to go, for you know how +particular Daddy is about obeying and waiting in your own place of duty.</p> + +<p>"I ached, and my knees just fluttered. When I got there Daddy and +Mamma-dear were sitting on the piazza, and the minute I looked at Daddy +I was sure he knew I had disobeyed. 'Where have you been, Jack?' he +said, solemn. I said, 'Swimming.' He got up, and Mamma-dear began to +cry, but Daddy took me in the study and he—he whipped me, G. W., like +anything, for disobedience. I wouldn't cry, because I <i>had</i> been +disobedient.</p> + +<p>"That evening Don's father came over and told Daddy how I tugged Don in, +and I saw Daddy's eyes looking like two big steady stars, and the +whipping was just nothing, and Mamma-dear cried the same as if Don and I +were drowned dead. And, G. W., what do you think Daddy did? When Don's +father finished, Daddy came and said, 'You deserved the thrashing, Jack, +for not obeying, you know; but let me shake hands with you because you +are a brave fellow,' and I almost choked. I said, 'Don't mention it!' +but I shook his hand like anything. Oh, G. W., if only I could make you +know just how to be a true body-guard to Daddy! If you should go over +that hill he'd punish you for disobeying, sure, but if some time you +just <i>had</i> to do it for a brave reason, he'd shake your hand, G. W."</p> + +<p>The boy in the photograph seemed to be listening to Jack, and trying to +understand him, and to be thinking about it, as if he knew that Jack's +very heart was in what he said.</p> + +<p>Presently a slow smile lit up the features of the make-believe boy in +blue. "G. W.," he whispered, "I'm not going to worry any more about +Daddy! You'll do the right thing by him, I'll bet! When you come home, +G. W., you shall have half of everything I own. We're going to be +brothers!"</p> + +<p>Little Jack Austin ran down to meet his mother when she returned, with a +cheery smile, because he had in his heart a sure trust that G. W. would +save the day, no matter what the danger that threatened Daddy!</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="VI" id="VI"></a>VI.</h2> + +<h3>"WAR, G. W.!"</h3> + + +<p>G. W.'s wanderings from camp became less and less frequent. He thought +no longer of going anywhere but to the hill-top; and that detested limit +became more hated as oftener and oftener the Colonel passed beyond the +faithful little guardian's gaze.</p> + +<p>"I'd jes' like to know whar de Colonel goes <i>all</i> de time!" sighed G. W.</p> + +<p>Colonel Austin was not unmindful of the boy, but evidently he was deep +in business and anxiety. An occasional pat upon the little woolly head, +or a word of cheer, was all the devoted comrade received; yet, with only +that to feed upon, the childish devotion continually grew.</p> + +<p>He took to talking aloud to the Boy and his Mother, in the long silent +hours of evening. They became as alive and intimate to him as he, all +unknown to himself, had become to Jack. He made solemn promises +regarding the Colonel which, had Jack heard, would have set to rest any +doubt as to G. W.'s capabilities of "managing the Colonel."</p> + +<p>"Doan you-uns be frettin'," he whispered one night when his own heart +was like lead in his body; "you kin jes' keep on a-smilin' an' +a-smilin'—I 'low I can take care ob de Colonel. Dat hill gets de best +ob me, jes' fur de minute, but you min' I'm a-thinkin' 'bout dat ar +hill! I'se goin' git de bes' ob dat der hill, yit!"</p> + +<p>One hot day when G. W. had smothered as usual his loathing for his +limit, and followed at a respectful distance the tall, well-beloved +figure of his Colonel, he had a hard fit of sighing. "I reckon if de +Colonel knew 'bout how I is feelin' dis minute," he said, wiping the +perspiration from his face, "he'd jes' holler back 'howdy' ter me." But +the Colonel not knowing of the faithful little henchman's nearness, sent +back no word of loving cheer—did not once turn.</p> + +<p>The two were plodding along the road called the Santiago Road at the +time, and the long strides of the officer presently put him beyond G. +W.'s vision.</p> + +<p>Suddenly G. W. sighed aloud. "He's gone!" There was a break in the soft +voice. "I clar ter goodness, he's always gone! I'm bressed if I doan't +wish de war would come an' be done wid! Dese days done w'ar me to +frazzles!"</p> + +<p>A low, deep, rumbling sound made G. W. start. By instinct, he crouched +under some nearby bushes.</p> + +<p>"What's dat?" he muttered, his eyes growing round and full of inquiry. +"Dat ain't thunder!" The ominous, threatening sounds were drawing +nearer, approaching over the road along which he had come, and along +which he must return to camp.</p> + +<p>"Lawd!" gasped G. W.; "jes' 'spose dat is war a-comin' an' a-ketchin' me +alone by myself; good Lawd!" The small face became terror-stricken. He +clutched his hands in the pockets of his trousers.</p> + +<p>The rumble grew louder. Suddenly the sun flashed upon a strange object +being drawn up the rough trail.</p> + +<p>"Cannoneers, forward!" came a full loud cry that echoed and re-echoed in +G. W.'s brain. Then the boy perceived, as far as his gaze could travel, +soldiers and cannon filling the familiar road. He forgot his terror, and +thrilled and palpitated as he gazed from his leaf-covered hiding-spot.</p> + +<p>Then a new thought made him reel backward. Was the entire American army +marching away from camp, leaving him behind who was bound to return +there?</p> + +<p>The Colonel had left no orders for him; and the hill stood, as ever, +between him and any following of the soldiers. Then came a thought that +relieved him—there would be the sick in camp; surely they could not +join this rushing company and he would remain with them until the +Colonel remembered him.</p> + +<p>Back toward camp he sped, keeping within the tangle of bushes and out of +sight of the oncoming men; pushing and tumbling, he made his way as fast +as his uniformed legs would carry him.</p> + +<p>When he reached camp, panting and heated, he found a scene of great +excitement; and as far as he could judge, the men, both sick and well, +were all there! The Ninth, at least, had not gone over the hill-top!</p> + +<p>"What's goin' ter happen?" G. W. gasped.</p> + +<p>A boyish soldier who was writing a letter home looked up and answered,</p> + +<p>"War, G. W.! that's what's going to happen, and mighty quick, too."</p> + +<p>"And is us all goin' to de war?" G. W. sat down beside the soldier; +indeed, his legs could hold him up no longer.</p> + +<p>"There are no orders yet, but I reckon we'll get our chance. Two more +transports are in, and a lot of guns."</p> + +<p>"I saw dem," said G. W., thrilling again. "Miles ob dem an' millions of +men! Lawd, Corporal!" Then, after a pause, and very softly, he said, +"Say, Corporal Jack, if—if my Colonel don't send orders back fur me to +come ter him, an' if youse all get orders ter go on, will yer jes' fur +my sake try ter find de Colonel an' tell him a message? Jes' tell him +not ter fret 'bout me, cos I'se goin' ter remember de hill!" G. W. had +never humiliated himself by allowing any one to suppose he cared to go +beyond the hill-top. "An' jes' tell him I'll take care ob de picture!"</p> + +<p>There were tears rolling down G. W.'s upturned face. Corporal Jack laid +down his pen and pad. "Well!" he cried, "you're a brick, G. W. But the +Colonel is not going to forget you, G. W. Brace up and hold on. And just +give us your hand, comrade!"</p> + +<p>The two clasped hands gravely; then Corporal Jack went on with his +letter, and G. W. passed into Colonel Austin's tent, to have all things +ready in case there came an order to march.</p> + +<p>Late that night, as G. W. lay upon his camp-bed (for he had been +promoted from the humble mattress) in the dismantled tent, Colonel +Austin entered. He was very weary, very pale. The boy upon the bed +watched him silently. The moonlight was streaming in the opening, and +the tall figure was distinctly outlined as the Colonel paused within the +doorway and glanced about the bare, disordered place. All at once he +seemed to understand; a smile flitted across his worn face. He went over +to the soapbox table, shorn of its gorgeous cover, the photograph alone +adorning it. He took the picture, looked long and tenderly at the two +faces, then slipping the card out of the frame he put it in his breast +pocket.</p> + +<p>A moment later he came over to G. W.'s bed. The boy looked up +trustingly.</p> + +<p>"I'se awake, Colonel."</p> + +<p>"Good for you, comrade. I want to have a little talk with you."</p> + +<p>A thin brown little hand slipped itself into the large firm one, and G. +W. sat up.</p> + +<p>"G. W.," said the Colonel, "I'm going to the front. You know what that +means?"</p> + +<p>"I 'low I does, Colonel. When does we start? I'se been a-workin' ter get +ready."</p> + +<p>"But, comrade, <i>you</i> are not to go!" The poor little body-guard had +feared this. In his misery he looked up into the Colonel's face and +gulped helplessly.</p> + +<p>"Don't take it that way, my child," said the Colonel, smoothing the +little woolly head burrowing back in the pillow; "it would be impossible +for me to take a little fellow like you along. There's just a chance, +you know, G. W., that I may not get back. I've thought lately that I did +wrong to bring you from Tampa; but you had nothing there, and we have +had each other here, comrade, and <i>that</i> ought to count for something."</p> + +<p>A tightening of the little hand replied.</p> + +<p>"If I shouldn't come back, my child," the Colonel continued, "I want you +to know that I have made all arrangements for you to be sent up to the +Boy and his Mother. They'll look out for you, comrade, for they know +that you are my little body-guard, and they will adopt you in their +home—for your own sake too, G. W.; there's the making of a man in you, +G. W., and you will not ever disappoint anybody, no matter what happens +to me. During the coming days here, keep within your limits, my boy. +Obey orders, and you will be a hero indeed, for I know how much you want +to go along to take care of me. By staying right here you are doing a +harder thing."</p> + +<p>G. W. was sobbing forlornly. The Colonel got up and paced the tent for a +silent moment or two.</p> + +<p>"You've been the best kind of a comrade, G. W.," he went on, as he came +back, while the listener drew his legs up and down under the coarse gray +blanket, in an agony of sorrow. "And you're not going to fail me now, +old fellow."</p> + +<p>"Yes, sah! No, sah!" The pillow half stifled the words.</p> + +<p>Presently poor G. W. sat up in bed again. "Colonel," he said, "you jes' +banish me out yo' mind! You do your work, an' be keerful to take keer ob +yo'self. I'se goin' ter do what yo want an' keep in dem limits—but if +yo' does <i>not</i> come back frum dat front, I doan' think I can face dem +two up Norf! I'd jes' feel dat I hadn't done been no body-guard—fo de +Lawd, Colonel Austin, doan't ask me ter face de Boy an' his Mother +'thout you! I ain't goin' ebber ter forget what you don teach me, an' +I'se nebber goin' ter shame yer while I lib, but I can't go 'thout you +to dem—de Lawd knows I can't."</p> + +<p>"Under those circumstances I'll be obliged to come back, G. W." +Something choked the soldier's voice. Then bending down he kissed the +boy's dusky brow, as often he had kissed the white one of his own little +son.</p> + +<p>"God bless you, comrade!" he whispered. "You've lightened many a burden +for us all since you came among us. I trust you and I may be spared to +meet again."</p> + +<p>Then G. W. saw the tall form of the best friend he had on earth pass out +of the tent, and fade away into the confusion and unreality of the +moonlit night.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="VII" id="VII"></a>VII.</h2> + +<h3>THE BATTLE ON THE HILL-TOP.</h3> + + +<p>A strange atmosphere hung over the camp, an air of expectant waiting. +The sick men tossed upon their beds bewailing their inability to be up +and doing, and calling feverishly for "news!" But no news came; nothing +to break the dismal monotony.</p> + +<p>Everybody utilized G. W. The cook taught him to cook, and the nurses +made him useful. The sick men smiled up at him as their only diversion. +It was well for the boy that his days were filled with labor, and that +he was too utterly weary at night to stay awake long. His dreams were +filled far oftener than his waking thoughts with visions of the Colonel. +His dreams were always happy ones—then the Colonel appeared well and +jolly as G. W. had first known him. The little fellow hailed bed-time as +the release from wretchedness.</p> + +<p>"Now, then!" he would say to himself, as his lids grew heavy, "now I'se +goin' ter see my Colonel Austin!" Sometimes he would laugh aloud in his +sleep, so very jolly was he, but there was no one to hear the sound in +the empty tent. Little G. W. had no folks now. His only good-night was +the bugle-call, "All lights out!"</p> + +<p>But in the trenches at the front a brave man always included G. W. in +his loving thoughts of home and dear ones; and up North the Mother and +the Boy ended their evening prayer, "God bless Daddy and G. W. Keep them +safe and bring them home to us very soon!"</p> + +<p>No one questioned G. W.'s goings and comings. If any thought was given, +it was that he was probably obeying orders which Colonel Austin had +left, and that he was proving himself a blessing where most boys would +have been an annoyance and burden.</p> + +<p>So one day when he sauntered away from the cluster of tents, no one +asked him where he was bound, or how soon he would be back. He passed +along walking very straight as became a uniformed soldier, whistling a +march-tune, now and then interrupting himself to introduce a clear +flute-like note.</p> + +<p>Something had happened to G. W. The day was oppressively hot, but his +languor and sadness had vanished. He felt strong and happy; everything +was beautiful, life was full of keen interest.</p> + +<p>"I 'low somethin' is goin' ter occur!" he said to himself; "I has +feelin's like my mammy used ter have. Sure's I'se a-walkin' here, the +front is off dere 'yond de hill! Dat's whar de Colonel always went, an' +dat's why he fix de top like a stun wall fur me. I 'clar I'se goin' up +ter jes' look. What's I worth if I doan't take some chances ter find out +news 'bout my Colonel Austin? Lawd! it seems like forty-seben years +since he done walk away like a dream!"</p> + +<p>Now, strange to say, before G. W. had started on this tramp, besides +donning his entire uniform, he had taken his gun, a small but perfect +one that some of the officers had given him as a reward for excellent +target-shooting; and also he had filled his canteen with water in true +soldier fashion.</p> + +<p>Under the blazing sun his hot coat and trousers became almost +unendurable, and except for his new feeling of strength and joyousness, +his precious gun would have become a burden.</p> + +<p>Suddenly he stood still, and his face became rapt and eager. He gazed up +to the tall trees under which he stood.</p> + +<p>"I'se clean forgot 'bout dat 'chance' ob mine fur ages; but, Lawd! jes' +s'pose it should come to-day!" he gasped. The remembrance that his mammy +had said that if he wanted to be a hero he would have the "chance" +filled him with a wild delight. For a moment he could not move, so great +was his glad feeling—then with a cheery whistle he plodded on straight +toward his hill-top. It was an unlikely spot for "chances." It was too +near camp for the foe to be there; but irresistibly G. W.'s feet carried +him forward.</p> + +<p>Overcome at length by the heat, G. W. reached the summit, only to sink +down at once in the tangle of bushes and pant and puff. But after a +while he revived; and then peering through the undergrowth he gazed down +upon the plain below that stretched beyond his limit.</p> + +<p>What had happened since last he had seen the spot? Was he dreaming, or +actually looking down upon something that was really taking place? G. W. +stood up and steadying himself against a tree continued to gaze and gaze +below.</p> + +<p>There was a big rude tent, with all sides open. Within was a long table +around which figures moved restlessly or stood strangely still. Wagons +were rolling up to this tent bringing burdens which turned poor little +G. W. ill as he realized what they were. They were men! Sick or wounded +men! Ready hands lifted the limp forms from the carts and laid them in +long rows upon the ground; then, over and over again, as the fear-filled +little watcher on the hill strained his eyes, he saw a man singled out +from the lines and borne to the table. G. W. grew chill under the +blazing sun as he looked, not comprehending what it meant.</p> + +<p>"I can't—think—what—dat—means!" he said aloud; "'pears like I am +habin' a dream standin' up out-doors wid my clo'es on. Lawd! +how—I—does—wish—I—knew—what—dat—dar—means!"</p> + +<p>The poor little fellow rubbed his head in a hopeless, forlorn way, while +his heart beat fast and chokingly. Suddenly it came to him; like a flash +the meaning became clear.</p> + +<p>There had been a battle! They were bringing in the dead and wounded from +the front to that fearsome spot below. Then G. W. shuddered as a new +thought broke upon his brain. Perhaps his Colonel was there! The sudden +idea took the form of a frenzy. He flung his arms up with a wild +gesture, and then, alone on the hill-top, there was a battle on for G. +W.—an exceedingly hard battle.</p> + +<p>"Obey!" cried Honor; "'tis the thing you are called to do! 'Tis the +thing you have promised!"</p> + +<p>"But the Colonel may lie in the long row," pleaded Love; "no one near +him to tend just him; no one to give him a drink or hold his head or his +hand; to follow him and stay by him. He is just one of a row!"</p> + +<p>G. W.'s sad little face turned gray.</p> + +<p>"You promised!" Honor admonished. "He trusted you, with no doubt of your +obedience!"</p> + +<p>"But they may have forgotten him. He may be lying out on the +battle-field—and no one could find him as surely as you!" Love sobbed +in his ears.</p> + +<p>With a pitiful moan, the little body-guard gave up his promise! A +disobedient, loving little black boy sped down from the hill-top, on the +forbidden side, sobbing and crying. He flung all but his love for the +Colonel to the hot winds. He might be shot, he might lose his way +endlessly, but he must go.</p> + +<p>With a bitter cry he flung off his coat and cap as he ran. The honor of +a soldier's uniform was no longer for him. He paused only to take the +precious up-North letter out of the pocket and crush it into his shirt +front.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="VIII" id="VIII"></a>VIII.</h2> + +<h3>THE COLONEL'S BODY-GUARD</h3> + + +<p>Tossing his canteen across his shoulder, and seizing his gun, G. W. tore +on down the hill straight toward the gruesome place below, and right +into it. No one noticed him. The surgeons were too busy to look up as he +ran around the table scanning the faces upon the boards. The men +carrying the helpless burdens, or ministering to their wants, had no +time to question why a little black boy should suddenly be in among +them.</p> + +<p>He made sure that he had looked into every face, and then, with a +feeling of relief, was about to turn away from the sad scene, when a +weak voice stopped him.</p> + +<p>"G. W.! Thank God! Come here!"</p> + +<p>G. W. turned; there upon a blanket under a tree waiting for his turn to +be taken to the table was the boy who but a few days before in camp had +told him that war was "mighty near." War had indeed drawn near in haste, +and poor young Corporal Jack had gone down before the enemy's fire.</p> + +<p>"The Colonel," gasped Corporal Jack, as G. W. came and bent over him; +"he was shot, too. We fell side by side. We crawled back, but when the +wagon came he made them take me; there was only room for one. He's a +mile back on the roadside. G. W., get help and go for him, and tell him +God bless him!"</p> + +<p>The weak voice ceased, for the men had come to carry him to the table. +He tried to wave cheerfully to G. W., but the effort caused him to +faint, and G. W. started away, trying to comprehend what he had heard.</p> + +<p>"My Colonel's a mile back on the roadside!" That was all little G. W. +had for a guide. But had his Colonel been a hundred miles back, it would +have made no difference to his body-guard. There was but one aim in G. +W.'s heart: to reach his Colonel, and save him for the Boy and the +Mother up North!</p> + +<p>On he ran, grasping his little gun in a rigid clutch. He forgot to +implore aid from those he met as he rushed. Over the rough trail he sped +like a deer. The fearful, ugly, swarming land-crabs scurried away from +before him. "Colonel!" he sobbed, "fore de Lawd, Colonel, where is you? +I'se a-comin', Colonel!—jes' you hold on!"</p> + +<p>A wagon bearing another pitiful load came by.</p> + +<p>"Is Colonel Austin in dar?" he cried.</p> + +<p>Some one knew him and called an answer: "No, G. W., your Colonel isn't +here!"</p> + +<p>On, on, again.</p> + +<p>What was that? A roar of cannon! G. W. shuddered, but gripped his gun +and kept on, making forward.</p> + +<p>Presently he began to meet more wounded men, singly, or in groups of two +or three, trying with what strength remained in them to reach the rear. +Occasionally a man knew the boy, and gave him a friendly smile; once one +asked him for a drink.</p> + +<p>"Don't youse take much of it, Captain," G. W. pleaded, holding the +canteen to the parched lips, "cose dis is fur my Colonel Austin."</p> + +<p>Be it to the man's eternal credit that, almost dying of thirst as he +was, he handed back all but a mouthful of the blessed water. "Thank you; +that will help me to the camp. Colonel Austin is to the right of the +road, a little further back, behind some bushes; he tried to come on +with me, but fell. I'll send you help, for he cannot walk. God bless +you, G. W."</p> + +<p>On through awful scenes the little black boy went. No one looked upon +him with surprise. The small, familiar figure was part of the camp-life +and war.</p> + +<p>Again the little rescuer dashed on. And oh, go quickly now, G. W.! Among +the tangled bushes is a slinking, leaf-covered figure running as rapidly +as you!</p> + +<p>Hurry, tired feet! Steady, little dusky hand! there is a deed for you to +do which will make your name blessed up North, if only you are in time!</p> + +<p>Ah, hist! A crackling among the bushes made G. W. pause.</p> + +<p>What was it? With a sudden impulse the boy crouched in the jungle and +listened. After a moment a form, covered with leaves, half crawled, half +ran, near where he was hidden.</p> + +<p>G. W. held his breath, and got his gun in position. He understood. He +had heard of the foes' trick of covering themselves with leaves to +escape attention, and he knew at once what he had to deal with. Never +was he calmer than he grew at that moment.</p> + +<p>But oh, look! the crawling form, in the open now, stopped, raised his +gun, and took deliberate aim at something beyond. G. W. was as quick; +and before there was time for the leafy form to draw the trigger, his +own small sure hand had flashed forth a bullet! With a cry the wretched +creature flung up his arms and fell back.</p> + +<p>G. W. stood up and wiped the perspiration from his cold, drawn face. His +eyes were blazing, but the strange new calmness still possessed him. He +pushed forward to find the object at which the Spaniard's gun had been +aimed.</p> + +<p>That it was "one of our boys" little G. W. of course knew; but he was +<i>not</i> prepared for the sight that presently rose before him.</p> + +<p>A bit beyond, leaning against a tree, bloodstained, dirt-begrimed, and +faint, sat his Colonel.</p> + +<p>At the first glimpse of him something like the ice of winter gave way in +G. W.'s breast. The blood began to flow through his veins; the past was +but a bad dream—he was once more a glad and loving little fellow.</p> + +<p>"Colonel!" he whispered, like one coming out of sleep. "Colonel, I'se +here!"</p> + +<p>But Colonel Austin took no heed of the tender voice.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="IX" id="IX"></a>IX.</h2> + +<h3>"I'SE GOT DE COLONEL!"</h3> + + +<p>G. W. stumbled onward and reached the tree, put his arm about the +officer, and carefully held the canteen to his lips. A gurgle, the water +was drained to the last drop; and then, oh, joy! the heavy eyes opened.</p> + +<p>It did not seem strange to Colonel Austin to see G. W.'s dusky face. It +was but part of the troubled dream that held his heated brain.</p> + +<p>"Hello, comrade!" he said. "Just tell them I couldn't see the little +Corporal die. There was only room for one. He was crying for his +mother, and he had been brave all day. The Boy and his Mother +will—understand—by and by."</p> + +<p>"Now you see heah, Colonel," said poor little G. W. "You jes' stop dat +kind ob talk. Your laigs ain't hurt—it's your chist, an' you'se got ter +git up an' come along!"</p> + +<p>G. W.'s voice was full of fright and determination combined.</p> + +<p>"No use, G. W.," groaned the Colonel. "I tried it, and fell. Help will +be sent back, but it will be too late, my boy."</p> + +<p>"You get up, sah!" persisted G. W. "You'se got ter make a move fur de +Boy an' his Mother! I'se goin' ter sabe yo' fur dem, sah, like I swar +to. Now stan' up, sah!"</p> + +<p>Colonel Austin staggered to his feet, leaning upon the little shoulder.</p> + +<p>The water had revived him, and G. W.'s words had recalled him to a +sacred duty.</p> + +<p>The wound in his breast began to bleed again, and the crimson drops fell +upon G. W. The man's weight, too, almost bowed the little boy down. But +he set his teeth and smiled grimly. The undertaking seemed nearly big +enough for a hero to tackle—and here he was just a disobedient, +dishonored little black boy!</p> + +<p>"You'se doin' fine!" G. W. said, whenever Colonel Austin's steps +flagged; "you'se done a mile <i>mos'</i>, Colonel; dere ain't but a step or +two furder. Lean heavy, Colonel,—yo' jes' ain't no heft at all!" And +all the while the keen eyes were searching the underbrush for another +leaf-clothed foe.</p> + +<p>Once they stopped so that G. W. might tear his shirt in strips and bind +it roughly over the bleeding wound. The blessed letter from up North +fell out upon the ground. G. W. clutched it and put it in his trousers +pocket; the sight of it gave him fresh strength.</p> + +<p>Stumbling and swaying, the two went on again. No help came along the +road. But dust-covered and near to death, the comrades at length reached +the field hospital.</p> + +<p>It was growing dark when they came into the open space. Lanterns were +hanging around the great rough table, and the restless figures were +still moving about. With rising hope little G. W. made a last rally. +"Come on, Colonel," he panted; "you jes' hang on to me. We'se all right +now. Only you jes' come faster, Colonel! You jes' <i>run</i> now, +Colonel,—dere ain't no call ter act so back'ard here,—you'se on de +road home!"</p> + +<p>The fainting man heard the brave soft voice, and he braced up and +struggled yet again.</p> + +<p>They were nearing the tent opening, the lanterns flashed, and the +moonlight fell full upon their faces. A soldier among the many who were +lying out under the stars saw them and cried out:</p> + +<p>"Look, boys! It's Colonel Austin and G. W."</p> + +<p>"Yes, sah!" the boy said simply. "I'se got de Colonel! here's de +Colonel!"</p> + +<p>"Three cheers for G. W!" cried a weak voice. "G. W.'s saved the +Colonel!"</p> + +<p>The crowd of sufferers took up the quivering cry, and all around the +tent spread the story of G. W.'s bravery.</p> + +<p>A surgeon glanced up—then with an exclamation rushed forward.</p> + +<p>"Austin!" he shouted. "Austin, let go of him, the boy is fainting! Here, +some one, lift G. W.! I've got the Colonel!"</p> + +<p>That was all. For little G. W. the lights went out. The voices melted +into silence. The Colonel was safe! All was right.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="X" id="X"></a>X.</h2> + +<h3>IN THE TENT HOSPITAL.</h3> + + +<p>There were long, troubled dreams for little G. W.—dreams that were +unlike those which used to come and cheer him in camp before he had +given up his hopes of being a hero. These were full of terror—a longing +for water, and visions of his dear Colonel wounded and dying.</p> + +<p>Sometimes a skulking figure, leaf-covered and terrible, stalked through +those pain-filled visions. Then he would shout for his gun. But always +when he cried aloud, a voice familiar but distant called upon him to be +calm and trust some one, whose name he had forgotten.</p> + +<p>At last there came a day when the dreams began to fade. Voices not so +distant reached him. Then he tasted water, for the first time, he +thought, in years!</p> + +<p>"Thank you!" he said to some one holding the glass to his lips, but did +not open his eyes. He was very tired.</p> + +<p>"G. W. is coming around all right," said a grave, quiet voice. "Plenty +of nourishment, nurse,—all that you can get for him. That boy mustn't +slip through our fingers." The boy heard, but he did not stir.</p> + +<p>A new voice broke in upon the strange calm. "Can't you speak to me, my +child?"</p> + +<p>The simple question sent a thrill through the faithful heart. G. W. +faintly unclosed his eyes. He must see who was speaking in that dear, +dear voice.</p> + +<p>"Colonel!" he whispered. "Oh! my Colonel!"</p> + +<p>Then G. W.'s eyes opened wide. On the pillow of the bed next his +own—for they were both lying in the tent hospital—he saw the face of +Colonel Austin. The one face in the world that G. W. longed to see, and +the one that he had dreamed and dreamed and dreamed was gone forever!</p> + +<p>Little G. W. opened his lips with a gasp and an effort to speak. But +memory rushed upon him. In that glance of recognition he remembered what +he had done.</p> + +<p>"I done broke my word, Colonel!" was what he said. Two slow tears rolled +down the dusky cheeks.</p> + +<p>"Yes, G. W."</p> + +<p>"An' I follered you, Colonel, like you tole me not to."</p> + +<p>"I know it—thank God!"</p> + +<p>If poor little G. W. had not been so weak he would have sprung up; he +tried to, but fell limply back.</p> + +<p>"G. W., my child," said the Colonel, moving a little nearer, "if you had +not disobeyed and come after me I would not have been here. You took +your orders from some one higher in command, G. W. We're going home +soon, going home together. Do you know what I am saying, G. W.? Just as +soon as we can travel we are going up North together to the Boy and his +Mother!"</p> + +<p>Things happened for dear little G. W. in snatches after that. +Pain-filled pauses and unconscious lapses and short, sudden, sharp +throbs of happiness, made up life.</p> + +<p>The Colonel gained his strength far sooner than G. W. He could have +travelled, but he would not leave his little comrade. "I'll stay by the +little chap until the end, or I'll take him home with me," he said to +the doctor who urged his departure. "I'll never desert him."</p> + +<p>The "end" did not come to G. W., however. All at once he began to mend. +White and weak, his eyes too large for his face, for fever had worn him +to a shadow, Colonel Austin sat beside his bed retelling the old +hero-stories, while G. W. smiled with closed eyes. Sometimes the boy +roused and asked a series of questions.</p> + +<p>"When is we goin' home, Colonel?"</p> + +<p>"On the next transport, comrade."</p> + +<p>"I s'pose we has ter live in jes a house when we goes home?" sighed the +boy.</p> + +<p>"Why, G. W., a house isn't a bad thing—do you think so?"</p> + +<p>"I likes tents mighty well, I does!" said G. W.</p> + +<p>"Well, old man, don't lose heart; you're not going to live in a house +right away."</p> + +<p>"I spect de uniform wasn't nebber found up on de hill-top, Colonel?"</p> + +<p>"No, my boy. There was no time to hunt up lost uniforms; it was all the +boys could do to hunt up lost men."</p> + +<p>"Colonel, what is I goin' ter do when dat transport comes in? No cloes, +no nothin'!"</p> + +<p>Colonel Austin laughed, and many a sick man's face relaxed at the sound.</p> + +<p>"The Colonel is laughing—G. W.'s better," murmured a weak voice, and +the good news travelled around the hospital tent.</p> + +<p>"The Boy and his Mother are having a new suit made for you, G. W.," the +Colonel said. "The Boy thought of it the first thing."</p> + +<p>When the transport came that was to carry the Colonel, G. W., and +several hundred others home, it had among its stores the new suit of +blue for the destitute little soldier. If anything, it was more splendid +than the first one, but it was wofully large for the poor little +body-guard. When he first appeared in it the men were about to laugh, +then grew suddenly silent as they saw the gray little dusky face, and +remembered <i>why</i> G. W. had so shrunk. But even G. W. smiled after a +moment.</p> + +<p>He stood up by his cot, and put his hands in the pockets and spread wide +the almost empty trouser-legs of the fine uniform.</p> + +<p>"I clar," said he, "if you'se all didn't see me a standin' on my feet, +yo nebber would say dere were legs 'tached to my body!"</p> + +<p>"Never mind, G. W.!" It was Corporal Jack who spoke. He, too, was going +home on the transport, and the knowledge had put a pound or so of flesh +on his bones. "Never you care, G. W.! Those shanks'll get you into God's +country; and your rightful legs will grow again up there. Lordy, G. W., +if you only knew what is a-waiting for you!"</p> + +<p>G. W. smiled inquiringly. Something was going to happen, as every one +seemed to know. It was evidently an army secret, and the gossip of all +the men, until G. W. drew near!</p> + +<p>Then, smiling silence.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="XI" id="XI"></a>XI.</h2> + +<h3>"IT'S ALL YOURS, G. W.!"</h3> + + +<p>The cool air was sweeping, like a breath of Paradise, over the face of +little G. W. They had brought him up on deck, for the transport was +nearing home. Colonel Austin stood by, anxious; he did not like the look +upon the thin, drawn countenance.</p> + +<p>"Take a brace, G. W.!" he said, while he laid his fingers upon the weak +pulse in the tiny wrist.</p> + +<p>Sea-sickness had reduced the child to a mere skeleton. It had been worse +than the fever. Not even the thought that "up North" was within sight +could arouse him now.</p> + +<p>"I see a long stretch of land, my boy," Colonel Austin went on, "and a +fine white light-house on the farthest point. G. W., I'll bet you don't +know what this light-house looks like!"</p> + +<p>"I bet I doesn't!" G. W. spoke in a whisper, his eyes shut.</p> + +<p>"In a few hours, G. W., we will swing into the bay." G. W. shuddered. +The idea of <i>swinging</i> into anything made him ill afresh. "And then they +will put you on a litter, old man, and I will walk beside you up to—up +to—are you listening, G. W.?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sah!" Then a quiver passed over G. W.'s face. "I thought," he +whispered, "I done thought I smelled land!"</p> + +<p>"And so you do, old fellow," said the Colonel, cheerily. "Here, let me +lift you up. Now, G. W., open your eyes! See the light-house shining +like a slim white finger? That's Montauk Point, comrade, stretching +along in the sea. They are going to land us here to rest a bit before we +go home. Are you understanding, my child?"</p> + +<p>G. W. lay staring at the scene with his great, round, soft eyes. The +smell of the land was in his nostrils and presently he smiled a +beautiful, satisfied smile, and Colonel Austin whispered, "Thank God!" +under breath.</p> + +<p>"Colonel," G. W. said, low, "you jes' fetch my clo'es! I'se goin' ter +land wid my soldier-clo'es all on. Dat smell done cure me for sure! +Dat's a mighty fine smell, Colonel, dat is!"</p> + +<p>Some hours later the transport cast anchor in the lovely bay. In the +early morning, when the sunlight danced upon the shining waves, never +was there a fairer sight to greet sick, home-longing eyes.</p> + +<p>At last it was G. W.'s turn to be carried up the gang-plank. Very gently +they placed him upon the litter, and his Colonel walked beside it and +held the small, weak hand. G. W. closed his eyes, for the excitement +made him tremble, and lately he had had trouble with growing tearful on +every possible occasion, and had had to squeeze his eyelids together +hard.</p> + +<p>They were carrying him along up somewhere—G. W. felt the upward motion. +And now they were walking on even ground. Presently the shouting he had +noticed before began again. It came nearer and words became distinct. +Comrade was greeting comrade. There were welcomes for his Colonel, a +welcome to Corporal Jack—his mother was there, some one said; she was +up in the general's tent.</p> + +<p>Suddenly a few words startled G. W. They seemed to him to ring out of +the confusion of greetings like an alarm:</p> + +<p>"Oh, look! there are Colonel Austin and his little hero!"</p> + +<p>It was a woman's voice.</p> + +<p>The heavy brown eyes of the little fellow in blue on the litter opened.</p> + +<p>The procession of sick men was passing between lines of sympathizing +people, but to G. W. they faded like visions. He turned his head and +fixed his solemn gaze upon the one face in all the world dear to him.</p> + +<p>"Colonel!" he gasped, "did yo' hear dem words—dem hero-words? Yo' +better tell dem dat it ain't so!"</p> + +<p>"Why, my child, they know all about it. You are as big a hero as ever +was brought home—didn't you know it?"</p> + +<p>"No, sah!" Again the lids closed—the battle with tears was renewed.</p> + +<p>The next stage of little G. W.'s journey was made in an army ambulance. +Over the hills and down the sandy valleys the big wagon went softly +until it stopped before the long hospital tent on the hill overlooking +the merry waves. Then G. W. was carried in and placed upon a bed, and a +woman with a wonderful face came and bent over him. She wore a blue gown +and a snowy cap and apron and kerchief. G. W. had never seen anybody in +the world in the least like her. She stood and smiled down at him, and +he smiled weakly up at her.</p> + +<p>"Well, my little hero," she laughed in the most cheerful manner, as if +it were quite a joke to see heroes carried about like babies, "it isn't +so very bad! I think I can get you on your feet in—let me see—well, +three days at the farthest."</p> + +<p>Three days! If she had said three years the boy would have felt +doubtful, for his legs were but waving strings.</p> + +<p>This smiling woman in blue and white fed him—about every two minutes, +he thought; as soon as he had swallowed one thing she went away for +another, and came back and fed him again; and he swallowed all the +things down, and began soon to laugh as merrily as she.</p> + +<p>Sure enough, upon the third day, and in the morning, too, she came +walking up to G. W.'s cot with Colonel Austin, and over her arm hung the +fine new uniform.</p> + +<p>"My boy," she laughed,—she always laughed,—and drew a screen about the +bed, "we're going to put your clothes on you, and if you lean upon both +Colonel Austin and me, I think you can manage to take a bit of a walk. +We have something very important to show you."</p> + +<p>How he got into his dear blue clothes, G. W. never knew; but at length, +and rather unsteadily, he was walking between the nurse and his Colonel +down the aisle of the tent.</p> + +<p>Weak cheers followed him from rows of cots. Thin hands waved him +salutes. On the whole, it was rather jolly and inspiring.</p> + +<p>By the time he reached the door G. W. was walking more steadily, and the +strong salt air put life into him at the first breath as he came outside +in the sunlight.</p> + +<p>"Just up this hill, now, G. W.,—can you make it?" asked the Colonel. +"Take breath, go slowly, lean heavily. The last time you and I took a +walk, comrade, I nearly bent you double. We're going to my tent."</p> + +<p>G. W. gazed about him. A city of snowy tents under a blue, blue sky. +Water everywhere round about, dancing in the sunlight and making a great +roar as if constantly saluting the brave soldier boys who had come home +to rest. Down a hillside a troop of cavalry came galloping. The horses +were to take a plunge in the ocean, and oh! how they loved the sport.</p> + +<p>G. W. shouted out weakly in pure delight.</p> + +<p>"Dat's fine! Dat's fine!" he gasped, waving his thin little brown hand +as horses and riders tore past.</p> + +<p>Then G. W. wearily asked, "Whar did you say yo' tent is, Colonel?"</p> + +<p>"Right there, my boy."</p> + +<p>G. W. looked.</p> + +<p>"What's dat little tent fur, by de side ob it?"</p> + +<p>"That's yours, G. W."</p> + +<p>The nurse tightened her grasp of the trembling arm.</p> + +<p>"Mine! dere's a flag a-flying on top, Colonel! An' dere's a little horse +a-pawin' in de front ob de tent-do', Colonel!"</p> + +<p>"All yours, G. W! Let's get on if you can, my boy!"</p> + +<p>At last the tents were reached. They entered G. W.'s. It was perfect. +Camp bed, soapbox table, flag-draped, a folding stool and all; and in +the corner stood the little gun—the precious gun that had done such +brave service for the Colonel.</p> + +<p>"Lie down now, G. W.," said the nurse; and the child promptly obeyed. He +could take in the great scene just as well from the bed, and there was +less danger of falling all in a heap if it got too overpowering.</p> + +<p>"My boy, there is some one waiting who wishes to see you," said Colonel +Austin, presently; "may I bring the person in?"</p> + +<p>Five minutes later two persons instead of one entered with G. W.'s +Colonel. One glance—and G. W. knew that he was in the presence of the +Boy and his Mother! He struggled to get upon his feet, but the nurse's +hand held him back; he merely gave a wan smile, and saluted gravely.</p> + +<p>"Oh, G. W.!" cried the Mother, holding her hands toward him from where +she stood, the tears raining down from her bright eyes. "Oh, G. W., you +brave child, I did not know you were so <i>very</i> small!"</p> + +<p>G. W. had never seen such a vision of loveliness as the lady was; but he +was afraid of her.</p> + +<p>"How can I help kissing you, you blessed child!" she went on, coming +close.</p> + +<p>Kissing him! G. W. glanced about wildly.</p> + +<p>The lady's eyes filled up with bright tears anew. "No, I will not kiss +you, G. W. Of course not. You see I do not know very well just what it +is safe to do with such small-sized heroes as you and Jack!"</p> + +<p>She turned to the Boy, who had stood motionless, looking on. "Jack," she +said, "it <i>is</i> our G. W., Daddy's body-guard."</p> + +<p>Jack came forward. There was a suggestion of lace and curls about him +perhaps, but his face gave G. W. a feeling of firm ground under his feet +at last.</p> + +<p>"Hello!" said Jack, and held out a plump white hand.</p> + +<p>"Hello!" G. W. replied, and laid his thin brown fingers slowly in the +other's grasp.</p> + +<p>The moment while Jack stood by the little soldier's bed was long enough +for the two boys to eye each other well.</p> + +<p>Jack spoke first. "You saved my father, G. W.,—you are a brick! +Whatever I've got, you can have half of it."</p> + +<p>"Did you see dat hoss by de do'?" said G. W., after a moment. "Dat hoss +is mine! You—can—take—de fust ride! An' dis is my tent, my Colonel +give it to me, an' dis an' all dat I'se got b'longs ter you half!"</p> + +<p>Then they smiled broadly into each other's faces, forgetting the +onlookers.</p> + +<p>"We're going to be just like brothers," whispered Jack Austin. That was +the thought that floated through the dusky little bodyguard's dreams +that night as he slept in the little tent beside the Colonel's.</p> + +<p>And the Mother's words to the Colonel mingled with Jack's: "The boys'll +have a good time!"</p> + +<p>And the tall light-house on the Point blazed out its message to the +sailors upon the sea, "All's well! All's well!" And to the brave +soldier-boys sleeping within its shadow it sent down soft rays of light +that breathed, "All's well! All's well!"</p> + +<p>On his cot poor weak little G. W., waking in the moonlight, smiled and +sighed with content, then smiled again.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="XII" id="XII"></a>XII.</h2> + +<h3>A HISTORY-EVENING AT OAKWOOD.</h3> + + +<p>"G. W., stand up in front of me, and answer!"</p> + +<p>G. W. took position and looked unflinchingly into the eyes of his +Colonel.</p> + +<p>The rapturous life at Montauk was a thing of the past—the little +body-guard never could think of it without his heart aching with +happiness.</p> + +<p>It was the most glorious experience a boy ever had. The Colonel wondered +how G. W. had escaped being utterly ruined, for people had lost their +heads over him, and even stern army men had shown a soft side toward the +dusky little fellow. However, G. W. was a real hero, and such you simply +cannot ruin.</p> + +<p>Now the scene was changed. The Colonel and G. W. were in the library of +the home "up North;" they wore citizen's clothes and looked well and +hearty.</p> + +<p>"G. W., do you remember what you once told me a hero was?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sah."</p> + +<p>"Well, you proved yourself one, on a certain occasion, and I reckon you +and I will never forget it."</p> + +<p>"No, sah!"</p> + +<p>"But, G. W., there are many kinds of heroes, as I have often told you. A +fellow that can be a hero under <i>all</i> circumstances is a chap worth +knowing."</p> + +<p>"Yes, sah!" All this sounded ominous, and G. W. pulled himself together.</p> + +<p>"Well, my boy, you've got to go into a conflict again, another sort of a +conflict, and I wish to heaven I could prepare you; but you'll have to +battle it out, according to what is in you, as you did before, on the +hill-top in Cuba. I'm going to send you to school, my boy, with Jack. +It's a military school and the head master knows all about you, and +<i>wants</i> you there. The others don't know."</p> + +<p>"Yes, sah!" The low voice had a tone that always unnerved the Colonel—a +tone of complete obedience, of complete understanding, and complete +resignation.</p> + +<p>"You see, G. W., I want to fit you for life," the Colonel went on. "I'm +going to give you your chance. It's going to be a hard pull. The odds +will be against you. It isn't just that it should be so, but it is so. +Your color, comrade, often will go against you, though your heart is the +pure heart of a brave, honest child."</p> + +<p>"Yes, sah."</p> + +<p>"Of course," the deep voice went on, "I could buy favor for you at the +school, by telling the story of your bravery—a sort of honor for you; +but, G. W., I want you to win your own position there, just as you +always have, so far. It will be a tussle, but I think you'd like to make +the try?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sah."</p> + +<p>"Because you'll have to tussle and try through life, you know, comrade."</p> + +<p>"Yes, sah!"</p> + +<p>The firm white hand took the little brown one in a warm hold. "And I +shan't bind you with any promises this time, G. W.," the Colonel said.</p> + +<p>A warm color stole over G. W.'s dusky cheeks. He looked up and spoke +unexpectedly to the Colonel. "Dere was two promises, Colonel. I kep' de +promise to de Boy and his Mother, sah. I kep' de promise to take care ob +you, sah."</p> + +<p>The poor little body-guard, so long sick and torn with shame over his +disobedience and tarnished honor, had thought the whole matter out to +the comfort of his soul. He looked up fearlessly into his Colonel's +eyes.</p> + +<p>"So you did, G. W.," said the officer, humbly, but with a lighted face. +"And God bless you, comrade!"</p> + +<p>The whole matter was clear to them both forever.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>A week later the two boys went with Colonel Austin to enter the famous +school where little G. W., as a private citizen of the Republic he had +served according to his strength, was to begin to hew out his fortunes, +with the odds, as his Colonel had said, against him.</p> + +<p>The head master greeted him cordially, and the other teachers followed +the example. At the very outset the pupils were divided among themselves +and withheld their verdict. The open comradeship of Colonel Austin's son +was the thing that counted in the matter for the time being.</p> + +<p>The outcome of this school-life—not for their own boy, but for G. +W.—was a grave matter with the Colonel and the Colonel's wife for those +first weeks.</p> + +<p>"No one can hold out against his merry sweetness," said Mrs. Austin +again and again.</p> + +<p>The question with the Colonel was whether the little fellow had the sort +of heroism to endure what he could not help.</p> + +<p>G. W. was undoubtedly "sweet," undoubtedly brave, but he was not "merry" +those first months of school life. The work of lessons was bitter-hard +for him, and the school routine most painful. Never in his life before +had he given a thought to his color. In the Tampa days, before he had +entered Colonel Austin's tent to "offer himself up on the altar of his +country," there had never been a question as to his "position;" he had +been just a "waif." His "army career" had placed him upon a pinacle +where his color had served but to add to his glory.</p> + +<p>Here, on the playground, except for Jack and three or four others, G. W. +was quietly ignored, and in a helpless way the little fellow felt it +keenly, despite the Colonel's warning.</p> + +<p>He tried to look ahead. He studied more and more diligently. He meant to +be all the kinds of hero that Colonel Austin desired.</p> + +<p>"Fo' de Lawd!" he said one day in his room, as he scanned his trim +figure in the gray school uniform before the glass. "Fo' de Lawd! I +can't understand it." (G. W. was beginning to put the "d's" and "g's" on +words now.) "I don't lie, and I ain't afraid of nothing—and I wouldn't +do a mean thing any sooner dan dey! It's jes' my skin, and my skin's +only a different color on the <i>outside</i>, de inside is jes'—is just de +same." Poor little G. W.</p> + +<p>"An' I'se getting 'long fine in my classes." (So he was, and at the cost +of terrific strain and study.) "An' I likes—I like the—boys first +rate—but nawthing in dis education's going to git de black off dis +skin!"</p> + +<p>There was one hour in the school-day that George Jones—he was "G. W." +only to Jack Austin, and that in private—enjoyed thoroughly.</p> + +<p>This was an evening hour when one of the younger professors took the +smaller pupils into a library and told them history stories; stories +dealing with valiant deeds. There was a flavor of camp life and +soldiering about many of the tales that George Jones understood far +better than the other boys. In the glow of his interest he generally +forgot to notice if any boy edged away from him when he chanced to +forget his "color" and drew too near; but Colonel Austin's son always +noticed it, and his loyal heart ached.</p> + +<p>"Oh! if I were only sure that Daddy would think this was a good time to +speak out!" Jack often muttered between his teeth. "I wish these fellows +knew how awfully white G. W. is inside!"</p> + +<p>But the Colonel had warned Jack against "speaking out" unless +indignities to little G. W. should become unendurable.</p> + +<p>During one of these story hours in the library, G. W. had remained in +the study-room to conquer a particularly knotty problem in addition, +while Jack, eager for the tale, which was to be an unusually splendid +one, ran on ahead. It happened that when G. W. reached the room he was +the last, and the others were clustered around Professor Catherwood.</p> + +<p>G. W. paused a moment to look for Jack, but among those dark and light +heads grouped close he could not distinguish him. Just then the story +plunged into the thick of interest, and G. W. took the nearest empty +chair. Unfortunately it was beside Tom Harding, a very quick-tempered +but warm-hearted boy, who had, perhaps, more than any other pupil, made +G. W.'s life at "Oakwood" a grim experience. He glanced around as G. W. +sat down. "Please take another seat!" he said.</p> + +<p>For a moment the silence vibrated. G. W. arose and stood rigid, with +downcast eyes. The master, too much disturbed to speak, was silent. But +Jack Austin arose.</p> + +<p>"Tom Harding!" he said with flashing eyes, "George Jones has a white +heart and he is the bravest boy in this room! If you knew"—</p> + +<p>At this point G. W. went to Jack's side. "Don't you tell dat, Jack!" he +said. "Don't yer! You know what de—the Colonel said. Don' yer displease +de Colonel!"</p> + +<p>But Jack's blood was up. There was something in his young voice that +quieted even G. W. He put his hand upon G. W.'s shoulder and kept it +there while he spoke.</p> + +<p>"George is my legally adopted brother, boys. He saved my father's life +down in Cuba." Then came the whole brave, pathetic story, broken here +and there by a shake in Jack's voice.</p> + +<p>"And when G. W."—Jack had forgotten the more dignified name—"made up +his mind on the hill-top to go down after my father, he plunged off +where Spaniards were hidden thick and bullets flying. He went alone, and +he was awful little. And he went on, and wounded soldiers met him and +told him my father was off helpless on the ground in some bushes, and he +got near there and he saw a Spaniard aiming his gun and G. W. aimed his +and shot true, and the soldier the Spaniard was going to shoot—was my +father! And G. W. got my own father back to the tent hospital all alone +and no one else on earth did it. My father says G. W. had a glorious, +glorious hero-strength. My father and my mother and myself are never, +never going to forget what G. W. did! And G. W. is going to have the +best life my father can help him get! Now isn't he brave and fine enough +to be respected? Is any one going to mind his brown color when his soul +is as white—as white as snow? What would you have of a boy?" Jack's +voice failed him. G. W., by his side, stood with his back to the boys, +even yet as rigid as a statue.</p> + +<p>For a second—stillness; then a stir in the group. Tom Harding came +forward, his fine young face quivering with emotion.</p> + +<p>"I beg your pardon, George," he said. "<i>I</i> will never make your life +hard again!"</p> + +<p>"Nor I! Nor I! Nor any of us!"</p> + +<p>It came like a shout.</p> + +<p>A smile beamed upon the face of little G. W. His simple, strong, sunny +nature responded to the honest outburst. He turned to the boys.</p> + +<p>"I'se sorry about my skin," he said slowly, "since you-all don't like de +color; but I like de—the color of yours, and I'se goin'—going ter +learn all that de Colonel wants me ter learn! I'se never going to +disappoint de Colonel!"</p> + +<p>Professor Catherwood raised his hand. "Three cheers for <i>our</i> hero!" +said he.</p> + +<p>"I think," he went on, when the hurrahing had died down, "that two hero +stories are almost too many for one evening; besides you've got a chance +to know a live hero. I am sure no boy of Oakwood will ever again fail to +recognize the real article in the hero line, when he sees it. +Good-night!"</p> + +<p>Since that evening G. W.'s only battles have been with his school-books. +And but for the manly help of his honest school-mates, the far-off +victory would seem even dimmer than it does to George Washington +McKinley Jones.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="THE_GOLDEN_HOUR_SERIES" id="THE_GOLDEN_HOUR_SERIES"></a>THE GOLDEN HOUR SERIES</h2> + +<p><i>A new series of books for young people, bound in extra cloth, with +illuminated designs, illustrations, and title-pages made especially for +each volume</i></p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">A LITTLE DUSKY HERO. By <span class="smcap">Harriet T. Comstock</span>.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">THE CAXTON CLUB. By <span class="smcap">Amos R. Wells</span>.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">THE CHILD AND THE TREE. By <span class="smcap">Bessie Kenyon Ulrich</span>.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">DAISIES AND DIGGLESES. By <span class="smcap">Evelyn Raymond</span>.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">HOW THE TWINS CAPTURED A HESSIAN. By <span class="smcap">James Otis</span>.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">THE I CAN SCHOOL. By <span class="smcap">Eva A. Madden</span>.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">MASTER FRISKY. By <span class="smcap">Clarence W. Hawkes</span>.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">MISS DE PEYSTER'S BOY. By <span class="smcap">Etheldred B. Barry</span>.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">MOLLY. By <span class="smcap">Barbara Yechton</span>.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">THE WONDER SHIP. By <span class="smcap">Sophie Swett</span>.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">WHISPERING TONGUES. By <span class="smcap">Homer Greene</span>.<br /></span> +</div></div> + + + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's A Little Dusky Hero, by Harriot T, Comstock + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A LITTLE DUSKY HERO *** + +***** This file should be named 31366-h.htm or 31366-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/1/3/6/31366/ + +Produced by David Edwards, Mary Meehan and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: A Little Dusky Hero + +Author: Harriot T, Comstock + +Release Date: February 23, 2010 [EBook #31366] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A LITTLE DUSKY HERO *** + + + + +Produced by David Edwards, Mary Meehan and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + + A LITTLE DUSKY HERO + + BY HARRIET T. COMSTOCK + + _AUTHOR OF "CEDRIC THE SAXON," "TOWER OR THRONE," ETC._ + + +NEW YORK +THOMAS Y. CROWELL & Co. +PUBLISHERS + +Copyright, 1902, +By Thomas Y. Crowell & Company. + + + THIS LITTLE BOOK + IS + LOVINGLY DEDICATED + TO + Philip and Albert + BY + THEIR MOTHER + + + + +[Illustration: COLONEL AUSTIN STAGGERED TO HIS FEET, LEANING UPON THE +LITTLE SHOULDER.] + + + + +CONTENTS + + +I. George Washington McKinley Jones + +II. The Box from up North + +III. The Little Gauntlet and Sword + +IV. Waiting in the Turret Chamber + +V. The Boy up North + +VI. "War, G. W.!" + +VII. The Battle on the Hill-Top + +VIII. The Colonel's Body-Guard + +IX. "I'se Got de Colonel!" + +X. In the Tent Hospital + +XI. "It's all yours, G. W.!" + +XII. A History-Evening at Oakwood + + + + +A LITTLE DUSKY HERO. + + + + +I. + +GEORGE WASHINGTON MCKINLEY JONES. + + +Scratch! scratch! scratch! went Colonel Austin's pen over the smooth +white sheets of paper, sheet after sheet. + +The dead heat of Tampa hung heavy within the tent; the buzz of the flies +was most distressing; but the reports must be got off, and after them +there were letters to be written to "the Boy and his Mother" up North, +telling them--especially the Boy--what a glorious thing it is to serve +one's country under _any_ circumstances. The present circumstances were +extremely trying, to be sure, but the firm brown hand glided back and +forth over the long pages in a determined manner that showed how Colonel +Austin believed in doing his duty. + +Scratch! scratch! scratch! + +Buzz! buzz! buzz! + +"Good-mornin', sah!" + +It was a soft little voice, and it droned away into the buzz of the +flies and the scratching of the pen so that the writer at the rough +table took no heed. + +"Good mornin', sah!" + +This time Colonel Austin turned. He was a firm believer in discipline, +and the unannounced arrival annoyed him. He swung around and gazed +sternly about six feet from the ground. There was nothing there! His +eyes dropped and finally rested upon the very smallest, dirtiest, +raggedest black boy he had ever seen. But the beautiful great eyes of +the forlorn mite looked trustingly up at the surprised officer, and +Colonel Austin noticed that the grimy cheeks were tear-stained though +the childish lips were smiling bravely. + +"Good mornin', sah!" again piped the soft voice. + +"Why, good morning to you!" the Colonel replied. He was always tender +with sick soldiers, women, and children, and the pathetic little figure +before him touched his sympathy. "Who are you, my small friend?" + +"George Washington McKinley Jones, sah." + +"Just so; and where are your folks?" + +"No folks any more, sah. Daddy he done got put in prison fur life, sah, +'cos he killed a frien' of his, an' my mammy she done died yesterday. I +jus' come from her buryin', sah." Two slow tears fell from the soft +brown eyes and rolled over the stained cheeks. + +Colonel Austin's throat grew dry, as it always did when he looked upon +suffering things bearing pain and trouble bravely. + +"And why do you come here, my child?" he asked kindly. + +"I likes de look ob your face, sah, an' I'se hungry--I'se starved, I +is--an' 'sides I want work!" + +The boy certainly was not over nine, and was undersized and +childish-looking even for that. + +"Work!" smiled the grave Colonel, "what in the world can you do?" + +"Why, sah, I'se de best shot you ebber saw; I reckon I'se what you call +a real crack shot; dat's what I am, sah!" + +The ring of pride in the piping voice reached the Colonel's heart. "Oh! +I see," he nodded. "You wish to be a soldier boy, is that it?" + +The grimy little applicant drew himself up to his extreme height, and +replied with magnificent scorn. "No, sah! I does _not_ wish to be a +sojer boy. I wish ter be one ob dem heroes, sah!" + +A joke was a rare thing in those dull, waiting days, and George +Washington McKinley Jones was delicious. The Colonel smoothed the smiles +from his mouth as best he could. But not a quiver of mirth ruffled the +dirt-stained countenance of the child. His severe stare sobered the +Colonel, and he asked in a gentle tone, "Do you know what a hero is, my +boy?" + +George Washington drew his ragged coat about him with a gesture of +patient pity, then answered with a slow, pained dignity. "Co'se I knows +what a hero is, sah. How could I know dat I wanted ter be one if I +didn't? A hero is a pusson, sah, what ain't afraid to tackle a job too +big fur other folks, an' goes right froo wid it or dies a-doin' it!" + +Something in the quiet words drove all desire to laugh for good and all +from the listening officer. "I have a character on my hands, evidently," +he thought; aloud he said, "George Washington McKinley Jones, I presume +you haven't any particular job in heroism in sight at present?" + +"No, sah. I jes' wants to go 'long wid de boys, an' watch out fur my +chance. Mammy done tole me heaps ob times dat if I jes' was wid sojers, +I was boun'ter be a hero some day, shore. She 'lowed she had visions." + +"You shall have your chance, comrade!" The Colonel got up and took the +thin little hand in his. "If you have told me the truth, my boy, I will +take you along with my regiment and give you a show." He called to an +officer who was passing the tent. "Martin!" + +The man stopped and touched his cap. + +"Martin, we have a young volunteer here. He's no common soldier, please +understand; he's enlisted as a hero. Feed him up, give him all that he +can hold, and let him report to me later." + +Lieutenant Martin's face never changed expression; he simply held out +his hand gravely to George Washington McKinley Jones, saluted his +superior officer, and led the volunteer out of the tent. + +While George Washington ate, solemnly and long, investigations were made +as to the truth of his story. Colonel Austin made them himself. He +wished to make sure, for his sympathy was deeply enlisted, and he did +not intend to be deceived. He found the little fellow had not departed +from the facts in the least particular. He belonged to nobody; but every +one who knew him had a kindly word for him. He was known as an honest, +good-natured little waif, with a reputation for hitting the bull's-eye +every time any one would lend him a gun at a rifle-match. + +Upon the evidence gathered the boy was taken into the army as the +"mascot of the Ninth," and before long he was the pet of the men in that +city of white tents, and became known as "G. W.," for who in that hot, +lazy place could waste time in calling him all of his various historical +national names? It was "G. W." here and "G. W." there. He danced for +them and sang for them, and was never weary, never ill-tempered. + +When once he had had enough to eat--and for many days the men thought +that he never could get enough--he became the healthiest and ruggedest +of boys, and beyond doubt one of the happiest that ever breathed. + + + + +II. + +THE BOX FROM UP NORTH. + + +One day a box came from the North. It was addressed to "George +Washington McKinley Jones, care of Colonel Austin;" but as G. W. was +incapable of reading he sharply questioned the messenger who delivered +it. + +"How you know dis 'blongs ter me?" asked he. + +"There's your name," said the messenger. + +"Whar?" + +The patient messenger traced the boy's illustrious name. + +"What's dar 'sides my name?" + +"Care of Colonel Austin." + +"Oh!" said G. W., understandingly, "dat means I'se got ter take care ob +it fur my Colonel! I reckon dey needn't took all de trouble to write dat +foolishness out! Co'se I'll take care of it." + +G. W. ran straight to Colonel Austin's tent. The officer was sitting +inside, and, as it happened, alone. + +"Hello, G. W., what have you there?" + +The boy held the big box out gravely. Colonel Austin read the address. +"It's for you, my boy," he said. "Open it and let us see what is inside. +Here, let us drop the tent-flap and keep the surprise to ourselves." + +When the Colonel said the package was for him all doubt fled from G. +W.'s heart. Others might step from truth's narrow way--but his Colonel? +Oh, never! The exciting thought that the box was really for himself made +the sturdy little form quiver. His hands shook, and the big brown eyes +stood open, as round as full moons. + +The heavy papers were off at last. Upon the box itself lay a square +white envelope, breathing forth a fragrance of violets, and stating as +plainly as could be, in delicate lettering, that the contents of the +envelope were also for G. W. + +"There's something for you in the letter--open that first," said the +Colonel. He was eyeing the scene with a strange look upon his face. +"Shall I read it for you, G. W.?" he added. + +"Yes, sah! I guess you'll have to, sah, sump-in' seems de matter wid my +eyes," said G. W. "You jes' read it, Colonel. Read it slow an' _exactly_ +what it done say, kase I doan't want any mistake, sah, 'bout dis sort ob +thing." + +"All right, old man,--just tell me if I go too fast." + +Then the Colonel began: + + "To George Washington McKinley Jones, + + _private in the Ninth Infantry_: + + "Dear Sir: The enclosed are for you. They were made in Uncle Sam's + workshop, just where all the brave boys have theirs made"-- + +"You reads too fast, Colonel!" gasped G. W., tiny drops of perspiration +standing out on his face. + +The Colonel began again at the beginning, and then went on, reading +slowly: + + "I am sure they will fit, because a little messenger brought me the + measurements. Accept them with our love, and wear them like the + hero you will certainly be some day. There is just one way you can + thank us; bring Colonel Austin home to us safe and sound, well and + strong. See that he obeys you where this is concerned. We wish him + to do his duty, but do not let anything happen to him. + + "God bless you, little soldier! That is the daily wish of + + "The Boy and his Mother." + +There was silence in the tent. + +Then said the Colonel, "Well, why don't you open the box, G. W.?" + +The boy was kneeling before the box, but his eyes were fastened upon a +photograph on the rude table. It was a photograph of "the Boy and his +Mother," G. W. felt certain; and he was realizing that these two, far +away in the unknown, had spoken to him. + +"Open it, G. W.," again the Colonel said. + +"You do it, sah! I clar I doan't dare!" + +The officer laughed, and cut the string. Within the box, neatly folded, +but in such a way as to hide none of their charms, lay trousers and +jacket of army blue resplendent with flashing buttons. + +Colonel Austin took the garments out, and held them up at arms' length. +They were small, but perfect. + +"Lawd!" gasped G. W.; "for de Lawd's sake!" + +A moment of breathless silence followed; then Colonel Austin said, "They +are yours, G. W., try them on! You are 'one of the boys' now for sure +and certain, buttons and all! See, there is a '9' on every button!" + +Slowly the surprise cleared away in G. W.'s brain. He gave a low +whistle, like the note of a bird, and struggled to his feet, for he was +still on his knees by the box. + +"Colonel," he whispered, "you ain't never tole me a lie--but dis here +'sperience done tries my mind! Turn away yo' head, sah." + +Colonel Austin turned away his head and waited. + +Behind his back arose a rustling, with mutters of impatience, as buttons +refused to comply with the nervous efforts of awkward and trembling +fingers. Then came a long breath of content, as things began to run +smoother, and presently a sigh of superhuman bliss; then a voice, new +and deep, gasped forth: + +"Look at me!" + +The Colonel turned. There, his face and hands in a tremble, but all +exultant, stood G. W. in the uniform of the Ninth. The coat was buttoned +crooked, the cap, which G. W. had discovered at the bottom of the box, +was hind part before--but what of that? In all the army of the great +Republic was no manlier soldier than the little fellow who now faced his +Colonel with a look of rapture on his round, dusky face. + +"Comrade, give us your hand!" There was a mistiness in the Colonel's +eyes, a queer chokiness in his voice. "You'll never disgrace the +uniform, my boy,--it isn't in you to do it!" + +G. W. saluted, and then gravely placed his hand in Colonel Austin's. + +"Dese clo'es," he said, "are jes' goin' to help make me a hero for sho! +An', Colonel, I'se goin' ter take care ob you jis' like de Boy an' his +Mother tole me. I is sho! Nothin' ain't goin' to happen 'long o' you +while George Washington McKinley Jones knows what hisself am about! I'se +goin' ter put dis letter in my breas'-pocket, an' it's goin' ter stay +right plumb ober my heart, till I take yer back to dem two all right! +Now, sah, let me show de boys. Lawd! I clar if my mammy"--the proud +smile quivered--"should see me, I jes' reckon de visions she'd have +would make her trimble!" + + + + +III. + +THE LITTLE GAUNTLET AND SWORD. + + +The sunlight beat down upon Tampa until every man in camp shed his coat +in despair, but not one button did G. W. unfasten! + +He strutted and sweltered, and complained not. He gave daily exhibitions +of his sharp-shooting--which, by the way, was an accomplishment truly +remarkable. For the first time in his life he was absolutely and +perfectly happy. + +While all "the boys" felt a personal interest in the child, it was a +well-understood fact that he belonged to Colonel Austin. To that officer +alone did G. W. report, and from him alone did he accept orders as to +his outgoings and incomings. + +As the long languid weeks dragged on, G. W. became the life of the camp. +His "break-downs," danced with wondrous grace and skill, set many a lazy +foot shuffling in sympathy. He sang songs to a banjo accompaniment which +made the listeners forget their pipes and cards, and set them to +thinking of home--and other things. He appeared to be singularly +innocent and child-like for such an uncared-for waif. He seemed to have +gathered only good nature and a love for the brave and noble from his +starved, cruel years. As Colonel Austin watched him from day to day he +became more interested in him, and began to wonder what he should do +with the odd little chap when the business with Spain was settled, and +life assumed its ordinary aspect once more. + +Perhaps the Colonel's hunger for the Boy up North made him glad of the +companionship; perhaps it was only his noble heart always yearning over +the needy. Be that as it may, the little black boy and the handsome +young Colonel became daily closer comrades. + +There was one regulation which Colonel Austin had insisted upon from the +first. G. W., who was to sleep upon a mattress in his tent, was to go to +bed early, as a child should. The men might bribe or coax him for a +dance or a song during the day; but the little soldier had his orders to +"turn in" at eight-thirty, and although G. W. often longed for an hour +more, he obeyed like the hero he meant some day to be. Love and a strong +sense of duty governed the heart beating faithfully under the hot, +trimly-buttoned uniform. He might wish to stay where the fun was, but he +never varied his obedience by an extra five minutes. + +When it was possible the Colonel took a few moments from duty or +pleasure at the twilight hour, and followed G. W. into the tent. When +the flap fell to after the pair, not a soldier but knew that the Colonel +was not to be disturbed except upon the most urgent business. When the +Colonel came out of the tent the look in his eyes made more than one man +remember it. + +Old General Wallace was once known to have taken off his hat as he came +face to face with G. W.'s Colonel at the tent door, after one of those +mysterious twilight talks. When the older man realized what he had done +he jammed his hat down over his eyes, and, with an impatient laugh, +said, "What in thunder is the matter with you, Austin? You look like a +Methodist camp-meeting!" + +G. W.'s Colonel saluted and passed on. + +One night when he went into the tent after G. W., he found the boy +divested of his splendid regimentals, kneeling in a very scant and +child-like costume before the table--which, by the way, was composed of +two soap-boxes covered with a flag--and scanning the faces of "the Boy +and his Mother." A strange yearning in G. W.'s eyes caused the officer +to speak very gently. + +"What is it, old fellow? Surely you are not envying the Boy up North? +You, a full-fledged soldier of Uncle Sam!" + +Envy! why G. W.'s heart just then was filled with pity for that boy +nearly as old as he, who was obliged to wear humiliating garments. +Actually there was lace on his collar. And the boy wore curls! not long +ones, but curls nevertheless. G. W. had by this time acquired tact +sufficient to forbid mention of these pitiful details, but he said +slowly, "I'se right sorry fur de Boy, Colonel, kase he's 'bliged to stay +away frum being wid you!" + +G. W. was too sincere to be laughed at, and the Boy's father replied +gently: + +"Well, you see, comrade, it is this way: the Boy is serving his country +as well as you. He'd like to be here first-rate,--a drum-call sets him +prancing like a war horse,--but there's the Mother, you know. It would +never do to leave her quite alone--he's taking my place by her side +until the country needs me no longer and I may go home. There are a good +many ways of serving, old man. + +"G. W., once I was walking through a gallery of an ancient castle, and I +noticed among the armor and weapons which lined the walls a little +gauntlet and sword. So very small were they that I questioned the guide, +and he told me this story: + + 'In the dark days of long ago, when a man's castle had to be + defended from his foes, and every one was on guard against an + attack, there was a knight who had four sons and one fair daughter. + Three of the sons were great stalwart fellows, but the fourth was a + crippled lad who lay upon his bed in the turret chamber week after + week, dreaming his dreams and looking out across the wide parks + over which he was never to ride to wage war against a cruel foe. + The pretty sister sat much with him and wove wondrous stories from + her busy brain to help while away the weary hours; and she got the + father to have the slender gauntlet and sword made, so that the + patient soldier upon the bed might the better believe himself like + the strong, brave heroes of her tales. + + 'Now it came to pass that a very wicked lord of an adjoining + country wished to marry the pretty sister, and take her to his + gloomy castle. To that the father and brothers said, "No!" They + vowed that they would fight to the end rather than that the wicked + lord should have his way. And soon they saw that they must indeed + fight if they would keep her, for rumor reached them that the lord + had raised a mighty company and was nearing their castle. Then + every man prepared himself for battle, and in the turret room the + small warrior lay upon his bed with the gauntlet upon his hand, and + the keen sword ready in case the foe should enter. Day by day the + fair sister, white and full of fear, knelt beside him, and tried to + be brave for his dear sake. + + 'At length the day of conflict came. The two in the high room saw + the banners of the wicked lord advancing, and the little brother + said valiantly, "I will defend you!" + + 'The struggle came on. Long and nobly did the knight and his men + strive to keep back the terrible lord, and many fell in court-yard + and hall. But at last the wicked lord and his followers triumphed, + and with shouts of victory strode to the turret-room. + + 'There knelt the maid, her golden head bowed beside her brother. + His left hand pressed her fair curls, but his right hand was ready + for its task. The lord bent to grasp the prize for which he had + fought, little heeding the crippled boy; but as his fingers were + about to close upon the girl's arm the keen slender sword was + raised in a hand made strong for the deed, and a desperate blow + fell upon the wrist of the lord, and his hand was nearly severed + from the arm. An awed silence followed the doughty deed. Then out + spoke the lord: "Let no man touch the pair. Of all warriors this + cripple is the greatest, because in his weakness he has dared all + things for love!"' + +"So you see, G. W., the poor young stay-at-home was a soldier, too!" +said the Colonel. "I have always loved to remember the story. And now I +often think of the Boy up North defending his mother from loneliness and +foreboding--he is doing his share, G. W." + +G. W.'s soft, big, brown eyes were fixed upon his Colonel's face. The +great hero-tales of legend and history were new to his empty childhood, +and this one thrilled him to his heart's core. + +"Dat's a mighty fine story!" he mused. "When you was telling me dat +story, Colonel, it done seem as if nothing was mean in all de world; it +seems like every one was brave!" + +"Never reckon out any honest service, old man," the Colonel went on; +"very little things count in this world, and oftentimes the weakest do +the greatest deeds. That little hero of long ago stretches forth a hand +to every child who tries to do his part!" + +A gleam of admiration flashed into G. W.'s eyes. "Well, I 'low dat de +Boy up North is a bigger soldier dan I 'magined. I knowed from de fust I +done got to take care ob _you_, Colonel, but now I jis' feel like I 'd +be glad to do something fur de Boy hisself!" + +Colonel Austin seemed to understand. "Well," said he, "you and he are +both taking care of me. You are helping him and he is helping you, and +maybe some day you may tell each other all about it." + +There was surely one thing the Colonel's two "boys" had in common: they +both had the same devouring passion for hero-stories. + +During almost every spring evening of that year, by a bedside in a cool +Northern home, a pretty young mother had sat and told to an eager little +lad thrilling tales of bravery and courage. Always she began with the +one the Colonel had told to G. W.--the story of the crippled boy in the +old castle turret. There was something in that legend that stirred Jack +Austin in a wonderful manner. + +It had been hard for Jack to be separated from his father from the +first; but now, whenever he heard from his father's letters about G. W., +and realized that among war's perils there could be a place for a small +boy, his heart simply ached with longing. G. W., a boy little older than +himself, was there beside Daddy! But at this point Jack always recalled +the story of the gauntlet and the small sword, and stifled back the +tears and looked lovingly at his pretty mother. No matter how he envied +G. W., he would stay, patient, in his "turret chamber." His place was +beside his mother until Daddy came marching home. How many times his +father had sent him that message! Jack dreamed almost every night of his +father coming home, keeping step to the cheerful drum; so he had marched +away, and so he would return, with G. W. at his side! + +Near his bed, at night, always lay Jack's own splendid suit of +make-believe soldier clothes. It was hard sometimes for him to think +that they were make-believe clothes, while the suit of blue his mother +had sent to G. W. were real, true ones, and worn by the dusky little +soldier who lived in his dear father's tent. There often seemed to him +an unendurable difference between G. W. and himself. + +Poor little Jack! he was braver than he realized when he turned away +from this feeling and smiled up into his mother's face. + +But Jack's mother knew all about this feeling. + +"And so you see, dear," the stories for Jack always ended, "that though +you are but mother's obedient little boy now, your chance in the great +world's work will come!" + +And in the tent, beneath the glorious sunsets of Tampa, at about the +same time "Daddy" would be sitting and smoking beside a small mattress +bed, urging the same line of conduct upon another boy "hero" with a +heart under the brown skin as pure and innocent as the one throbbing +beneath the snowy night-gown so far away. + +"Your chance will come, G. W.!" + +And both boys generally fell asleep with the resolve that they would do +the things and bear the things of the present, and "wait" without a +murmur, because heroes had done the same since the world began. + + + + +IV. + +WAITING IN THE TURRET CHAMBER. + + +It was never clear to G. W. why the "boys" were always anxious to be +"going." For him the lazy, fun-loving life was never tedious or +unpleasant. From all that he could gather by endless questioning, war +was not half so agreeable, although he granted it must certainly be more +exciting. + +"When will the order come for us to move?" That was the daily question +in camp. + +At last it came! They were to sail at once. Of course the President of +the United States, whose illustrious name G. W. bore himself, meant all +the thousands who were encamped in Tampa; but to G. W. the order meant +that _he_ and "de Colonel" were to "pull up stakes" and sail away to +that strange, mysterious Cuba, and face war! + +The little dusky fellow in blue suddenly felt that his hands were pretty +full. + +He it was who packed all the Colonel's belongings, giving special care +to the photograph. He polished up the guns and swords, and even his own +buttons. He meant at least to command the respect of the foe. He often +grew hot and tired, during those days, but never made a complaint. And +when the hurried camp preparations were completed, it was G. W. and "de +Colonel" who marched down the long pier to the waiting transports. To G. +W.'s mind, it was for them the cheers rang out, and for them did the +band play the inspiring music that set his feet dancing. Oh, it was the +proudest moment of G. W.'s life so far. His buttons almost burst over +his swelling chest. He was marching straight into the glorious future. +He was going to be a hero without further delay. He saw "visions," like +his mammy. Somewhere, off in the misty distance, his "chance" was +waiting for him; he felt as certain of it as he was that under his +beloved uniform he was surely melting. + +The days in the crowded transport put little G. W.'s endurance to the +test. But during the wretched hours one glance at the Colonel's face +gave him courage to suffer and be--still! + +His Colonel saw it all. + +"Bear up, old chap! Heroes grin--and conquer things," said the officer, +while his heart ached for the silent child; and in the end, through +sea-sickness and a longing for old easy days, G. W. did grin and +"conquer things." + +Then they came to Cuba! Under the dark palms and cacti, once more the +white tents were pitched; and facing the fact of approaching battles, +the men made ready, but still lightened the heavy hours by song and +joke, and boisterously welcomed the old comradeship of G. W. + +G. W. revived when once his feet touched solid land. "I doan't like de +water," he explained; "it's shaky an' onsartain an'--an'--wet! Dere's +too much ob it too, an' when it gets wobbly, whar are yo?" + +So the boy cheerfully took up again his dancing and singing. War grew +again to seem to him a matter of some other day. The regiment seemed +merely to have shifted its pleasure-ground. To be sure, there were fewer +hours alone with the Colonel, for he was very busy, but G. W. followed +him about at a distance whenever and wherever he could. If love could +shield the young officer from harm, surely never was he safer. + +But presently G. W. began to form new and more personal ideas of war; +his imagination, fed by the stories he had heard, sprang to life. +Perhaps war wasn't anything they would know about beforehand. That might +be the reason for the look of anxiety he had noticed upon the face of +his Colonel. Possibly war was like a great cloud hurled along by the +hurricane--G. W. knew how _that_ looked. They might all be sitting by +the camp-fire some night, when suddenly war would descend upon them and +find them unprepared. With that thought G. W.'s face took on an +expression of anxiety. He clung closer to his Colonel; he did not intend +that war should find his Colonel unattended by body-guard. + +Colonel Austin often took heed of the faithful little shadow, and began +to fear anew for the time when he might be obliged to "go to the front" +and leave the boy behind. + +"G. W., you must never go beyond that point alone," he said one day, +naming a hill a half mile or so distant. "These are not play-days, +comrade; I want to feel that you are safe. I cannot afford to worry +about you now. Obedience first, old man, you know, and then you are on +the way to being a hero." + +"Yes, sah!" The small black hand gave the salute gravely. G. W. never by +any possible chance forgot his military training. "But, Colonel, you +goes furder dan de hill right often." + +"That's true, G. W., but my duty calls _me_ beyond; _your_ duty bids you +stay this side of the hill--that's the difference, G. W." + +"Yes, sah! but how is I goin' ter take care ob you, wid you trapesing +off de Lawd knows whar?" + +Colonel Austin smiled. "You must try to be willing to trust me out of +your sight, my boy," he said, "just as I have to trust you when you stay +behind." + +"But, Colonel, jes' 'spose war should attack you, wid me fur off? How +does yo' 'spec I 'se goin' ter report to de Boy an' his Mother?" + +Colonel Austin saw trouble ahead unless he got G. W. into shape. + +"Look here, old fellow," he replied, taking the young body-guard between +his knees. "War isn't going to catch us napping. We'll know at what +minute to point our guns at the enemy. We shall know and we shall obey +our orders. And you'll know, and _you_ must obey _your_ orders, comrade. +You must stay in your turret chamber, like the brave boy of old. You +mustn't follow me past that point. If you do, G. W.,"--Colonel Austin +had never threatened the boy before,--"unless you promise me, G. W., +I'll tie the flaps of the tent upon you every time I leave it." + +The childish lips quivered in an un-soldier-like way. "I'll promise, +Colonel!" + +"All right, then, and give us your hand. Comrade, you've taken a load +from my mind." + +The days following grew to be hard days for the boy, so long petted by +the regiment. Food was scarce, and when there was plenty it was often of +a kind that he turned from. The evenings in the tent were very long and +lonely before he fell asleep. No stories now. His Colonel's absences +grew more frequent and more prolonged. G. W.'s only solace was to gaze +at the picture of the Boy and his Mother. + +The half-mile hill became more and more every day a dread landmark. From +that hated point of view he had to watch the Colonel's tall figure +disappear only too often, while he stayed behind to return ingloriously +to the tent. Where was the "chance" that was going to make him a hero if +he must always stay behind in the place of safety? Did the Colonel think +heroes were made on hill-tops a half mile from camp? G. W. grew +sarcastic. He kept his buttons bright and his uniform brushed and trim; +not because he loved it as when he expected to soon wear it as a hero, +but because the Colonel kept himself in order--his faithful G. W. could +at least follow him in that. + +But at last came a thing that roused him from this mood. Fever broke out +in camp, and G. W. developed into a nurse of no mean order. He carried +water and bathed aching heads. Hot hands clung to him, forgetting how +very small and weak he was. "Sing to us, G. W.," often those weary, +suffering fellows said, "and don't give us the jig-tunes, old man, but +something soft." + +With his brown, childish face upraised G. W. would sing the old +camp-meeting songs that his mother used to sing in the days of long ago +before he had dreamed of being a hero. + +Was it the religious thought in the quaint words, or the tender quality +of the airs, or was it G. W.'s pathetic voice that had the power to +quiet the delirium and make it possible for the tired sick men to rest? +How can one tell? But as the boy sang stillness settled down over the +rough hospital, and many a "God bless you, G. W.!" came from thankful +lips. + +Colonel Austin watched the little comforter bustling to and fro, and +with a grim smile he thought that the hero-side of G. W. was developing +fast. + +The boy had grown thin, and an anxious, worn look made the small dusky +face very touching; but weariness, disappointment, and bodily discomfort +never dragged a complaint from the firm lips. + + + + +V. + +THE BOY UP NORTH. + + +Just before the Colonel and G. W. had been ordered by President McKinley +to "move on," Colonel Austin had had the dear dusky little attendant +photographed, dazzling uniform and all and had sent it to little Jack +who was playing his harder part away up in the Northern home. Underneath +he had written, "My Body-Guard." + +After Mrs. Austin had gazed long and searchingly at the radiant little +soldier, she had surprised her son by suddenly bursting into tears. + +"Why, Mamma-dear!" cried Jack, "don't you like his looks?" + +"Oh! I do indeed, Jack; I like his looks so well that it almost breaks +my heart--poor little fellow!" + +"Poor little fellow?" Jack fell to pondering. He examined every detail +of the fascinating photograph--the suit of "real" soldier clothes, the +straight, proud wearer with that look of exultation upon his round face. +Why "poor little fellow"? Jacky would have given anything in the +world--except his mother--to have been in his place. + +"Mamma-dear," he sighed at last, "I'd rather be G. W. than President of +the United States!" + +Mrs. Austin laughed and wiped away her tears. + +"That's because you are Daddy's boy," she replied; "but poor G. W. has a +hard way to travel through life, and your mother was wondering just +where he will fit in when heroes are not required." + +"Heroes are always required," Jack answered sagely, "and I bet G. W. +will be brave anywhere. He's got brave eyes." + +"I believe you are right, Jack," said his mother. "Put his photograph +upon your table, and try to be the same kind of boy you think he is. He +certainly is a dear little chap!" + +So upon the table in Jack's room G. W.'s photograph was placed; and +often and often when he was quite alone Colonel Austin's son visited +with his father's small dusky body-guard until, on Jack's side at least, +the two became intimate friends. + +Then into the Northern home came Daddy's letters telling of the approach +of battle and the change of scene. Nothing of G. W.'s doings was ever +omitted by the Colonel; he knew Jack's hunger for hero-news. + +The little mother was less gay during those early days of summer; a +shadow rested upon her sweet face, and she clung to Jack with a sort of +passion. Jack was full of comfort and cheer when he was with her, but he +had his hours of unhappiness too, and then he used to go into his room +and stay with G. W. + +One day Mrs. Austin went to drive with a friend, and Jack took that +opportunity for a private drill, with G. W. to look on. Up in his bright +sunlit room he put on his soldier suit and marched to and fro with +swelling chest and mighty stride. + +Oh! if he were only to be with his father in the battles to come! He +might keep danger away if he were with him. No one would hurt a little +boy--he would go, in every battle, in front of his father! + +At last he went to the table and kneeling down scanned the likeness of +G. W.--the boy who was filling his place, Daddy's body-guard! He grew +very unhappy as he looked at the small colored boy. + +"I'm a toy boy," he faltered, "and G. W. is a live soldier!" Then he +thought of Daddy's last letter, in which he had written of the hill +which marked G. W.'s boundary. + +"I bet that makes you turn hot and cold, G. W.," he mused. "Oh, I know +just how you feel!" The blue eyes searched deep into the pictured ones +of brown. "Oh! G. W., I wish you knew how to manage Daddy as Mamma-dear +and I do! Daddy'll let you do what's necessary always, if you just know +how, but he's awful particular about being obeyed. I wish you could make +him change his mind about that hill. Of course they won't fight a battle +_there_; if there was any danger of that Daddy'd set your limit at camp! +But, G. W., if you should go ahead and do a brave thing, like saving a +life, he'd forgive you; he'd punish you, I guess, but he'd forgive +you--Mamma-dear and I'd make him, anyway. If _I_ were in your place, in +the very clothes of the Ninth, I'd dare a good sound punishing to be by +Daddy's side. I'd just ask him what he called me a body-guard for." + +The tears blinded Jack's eyes, and through their gleam G. W.'s face +seemed to grow rigid with disapproval. + +"I know," half sobbed Jack, wiping his tears upon the sleeve of his blue +"make-believe" coat; "Daddy's trained you to think you _must_ obey; but, +oh, I wish that particular old hill wasn't in Cuba! + +"I'm going to tell you something, G. W.," Jack went on. "Once, the +summer before Daddy went away, I had a 'sperience with him. I was a year +littler than I am now. He told me not on any account to go down to the +river without him. I wanted to, for Daddy had taught me how to swim and +I wanted to float about and practise. Every day I went near, to look at +the water, and every night Daddy would say, 'Now remember, Jack, for no +reason go to the river without me.' But I went nearer and nearer, until +one day I could see the other boys in, and then--I pulled off my clothes +and in I went, too! I hadn't been in long when Don Grover--he's my best +friend, but a year littler--got out further than any one else, and +suddenly he put his arms right up in the air and screamed that he was +a-drowning. We were all scared, and the other boys swam to the shore to +get help. I couldn't think of anything but Don, and I swam right out to +him, and he didn't grab hold of me or anything, but let me kind of tow +him in; and course it was awful far and we were nearly dead, and I kept +thinking how I had disobeyed Daddy, and seeing Mamma-dear's mournful +eyes. But Don and I didn't talk, only just swam. When we got to the +shore we crawled out and lay down and went to sleep, but when the boys +came back with some men I waked up and told them to take Don home and I +could go alone. G. W., I was terribly fearful to go, for you know how +particular Daddy is about obeying and waiting in your own place of duty. + +"I ached, and my knees just fluttered. When I got there Daddy and +Mamma-dear were sitting on the piazza, and the minute I looked at Daddy +I was sure he knew I had disobeyed. 'Where have you been, Jack?' he +said, solemn. I said, 'Swimming.' He got up, and Mamma-dear began to +cry, but Daddy took me in the study and he--he whipped me, G. W., like +anything, for disobedience. I wouldn't cry, because I _had_ been +disobedient. + +"That evening Don's father came over and told Daddy how I tugged Don in, +and I saw Daddy's eyes looking like two big steady stars, and the +whipping was just nothing, and Mamma-dear cried the same as if Don and I +were drowned dead. And, G. W., what do you think Daddy did? When Don's +father finished, Daddy came and said, 'You deserved the thrashing, Jack, +for not obeying, you know; but let me shake hands with you because you +are a brave fellow,' and I almost choked. I said, 'Don't mention it!' +but I shook his hand like anything. Oh, G. W., if only I could make you +know just how to be a true body-guard to Daddy! If you should go over +that hill he'd punish you for disobeying, sure, but if some time you +just _had_ to do it for a brave reason, he'd shake your hand, G. W." + +The boy in the photograph seemed to be listening to Jack, and trying to +understand him, and to be thinking about it, as if he knew that Jack's +very heart was in what he said. + +Presently a slow smile lit up the features of the make-believe boy in +blue. "G. W.," he whispered, "I'm not going to worry any more about +Daddy! You'll do the right thing by him, I'll bet! When you come home, +G. W., you shall have half of everything I own. We're going to be +brothers!" + +Little Jack Austin ran down to meet his mother when she returned, with a +cheery smile, because he had in his heart a sure trust that G. W. would +save the day, no matter what the danger that threatened Daddy! + + + + +VI. + +"WAR, G. W.!" + + +G. W.'s wanderings from camp became less and less frequent. He thought +no longer of going anywhere but to the hill-top; and that detested limit +became more hated as oftener and oftener the Colonel passed beyond the +faithful little guardian's gaze. + +"I'd jes' like to know whar de Colonel goes _all_ de time!" sighed G. W. + +Colonel Austin was not unmindful of the boy, but evidently he was deep +in business and anxiety. An occasional pat upon the little woolly head, +or a word of cheer, was all the devoted comrade received; yet, with only +that to feed upon, the childish devotion continually grew. + +He took to talking aloud to the Boy and his Mother, in the long silent +hours of evening. They became as alive and intimate to him as he, all +unknown to himself, had become to Jack. He made solemn promises +regarding the Colonel which, had Jack heard, would have set to rest any +doubt as to G. W.'s capabilities of "managing the Colonel." + +"Doan you-uns be frettin'," he whispered one night when his own heart +was like lead in his body; "you kin jes' keep on a-smilin' an' +a-smilin'--I 'low I can take care ob de Colonel. Dat hill gets de best +ob me, jes' fur de minute, but you min' I'm a-thinkin' 'bout dat ar +hill! I'se goin' git de bes' ob dat der hill, yit!" + +One hot day when G. W. had smothered as usual his loathing for his +limit, and followed at a respectful distance the tall, well-beloved +figure of his Colonel, he had a hard fit of sighing. "I reckon if de +Colonel knew 'bout how I is feelin' dis minute," he said, wiping the +perspiration from his face, "he'd jes' holler back 'howdy' ter me." But +the Colonel not knowing of the faithful little henchman's nearness, sent +back no word of loving cheer--did not once turn. + +The two were plodding along the road called the Santiago Road at the +time, and the long strides of the officer presently put him beyond G. +W.'s vision. + +Suddenly G. W. sighed aloud. "He's gone!" There was a break in the soft +voice. "I clar ter goodness, he's always gone! I'm bressed if I doan't +wish de war would come an' be done wid! Dese days done w'ar me to +frazzles!" + +A low, deep, rumbling sound made G. W. start. By instinct, he crouched +under some nearby bushes. + +"What's dat?" he muttered, his eyes growing round and full of inquiry. +"Dat ain't thunder!" The ominous, threatening sounds were drawing +nearer, approaching over the road along which he had come, and along +which he must return to camp. + +"Lawd!" gasped G. W.; "jes' 'spose dat is war a-comin' an' a-ketchin' me +alone by myself; good Lawd!" The small face became terror-stricken. He +clutched his hands in the pockets of his trousers. + +The rumble grew louder. Suddenly the sun flashed upon a strange object +being drawn up the rough trail. + +"Cannoneers, forward!" came a full loud cry that echoed and re-echoed in +G. W.'s brain. Then the boy perceived, as far as his gaze could travel, +soldiers and cannon filling the familiar road. He forgot his terror, and +thrilled and palpitated as he gazed from his leaf-covered hiding-spot. + +Then a new thought made him reel backward. Was the entire American army +marching away from camp, leaving him behind who was bound to return +there? + +The Colonel had left no orders for him; and the hill stood, as ever, +between him and any following of the soldiers. Then came a thought that +relieved him--there would be the sick in camp; surely they could not +join this rushing company and he would remain with them until the +Colonel remembered him. + +Back toward camp he sped, keeping within the tangle of bushes and out of +sight of the oncoming men; pushing and tumbling, he made his way as fast +as his uniformed legs would carry him. + +When he reached camp, panting and heated, he found a scene of great +excitement; and as far as he could judge, the men, both sick and well, +were all there! The Ninth, at least, had not gone over the hill-top! + +"What's goin' ter happen?" G. W. gasped. + +A boyish soldier who was writing a letter home looked up and answered, + +"War, G. W.! that's what's going to happen, and mighty quick, too." + +"And is us all goin' to de war?" G. W. sat down beside the soldier; +indeed, his legs could hold him up no longer. + +"There are no orders yet, but I reckon we'll get our chance. Two more +transports are in, and a lot of guns." + +"I saw dem," said G. W., thrilling again. "Miles ob dem an' millions of +men! Lawd, Corporal!" Then, after a pause, and very softly, he said, +"Say, Corporal Jack, if--if my Colonel don't send orders back fur me to +come ter him, an' if youse all get orders ter go on, will yer jes' fur +my sake try ter find de Colonel an' tell him a message? Jes' tell him +not ter fret 'bout me, cos I'se goin' ter remember de hill!" G. W. had +never humiliated himself by allowing any one to suppose he cared to go +beyond the hill-top. "An' jes' tell him I'll take care ob de picture!" + +There were tears rolling down G. W.'s upturned face. Corporal Jack laid +down his pen and pad. "Well!" he cried, "you're a brick, G. W. But the +Colonel is not going to forget you, G. W. Brace up and hold on. And just +give us your hand, comrade!" + +The two clasped hands gravely; then Corporal Jack went on with his +letter, and G. W. passed into Colonel Austin's tent, to have all things +ready in case there came an order to march. + +Late that night, as G. W. lay upon his camp-bed (for he had been +promoted from the humble mattress) in the dismantled tent, Colonel +Austin entered. He was very weary, very pale. The boy upon the bed +watched him silently. The moonlight was streaming in the opening, and +the tall figure was distinctly outlined as the Colonel paused within the +doorway and glanced about the bare, disordered place. All at once he +seemed to understand; a smile flitted across his worn face. He went over +to the soapbox table, shorn of its gorgeous cover, the photograph alone +adorning it. He took the picture, looked long and tenderly at the two +faces, then slipping the card out of the frame he put it in his breast +pocket. + +A moment later he came over to G. W.'s bed. The boy looked up +trustingly. + +"I'se awake, Colonel." + +"Good for you, comrade. I want to have a little talk with you." + +A thin brown little hand slipped itself into the large firm one, and G. +W. sat up. + +"G. W.," said the Colonel, "I'm going to the front. You know what that +means?" + +"I 'low I does, Colonel. When does we start? I'se been a-workin' ter get +ready." + +"But, comrade, _you_ are not to go!" The poor little body-guard had +feared this. In his misery he looked up into the Colonel's face and +gulped helplessly. + +"Don't take it that way, my child," said the Colonel, smoothing the +little woolly head burrowing back in the pillow; "it would be impossible +for me to take a little fellow like you along. There's just a chance, +you know, G. W., that I may not get back. I've thought lately that I did +wrong to bring you from Tampa; but you had nothing there, and we have +had each other here, comrade, and _that_ ought to count for something." + +A tightening of the little hand replied. + +"If I shouldn't come back, my child," the Colonel continued, "I want you +to know that I have made all arrangements for you to be sent up to the +Boy and his Mother. They'll look out for you, comrade, for they know +that you are my little body-guard, and they will adopt you in their +home--for your own sake too, G. W.; there's the making of a man in you, +G. W., and you will not ever disappoint anybody, no matter what happens +to me. During the coming days here, keep within your limits, my boy. +Obey orders, and you will be a hero indeed, for I know how much you want +to go along to take care of me. By staying right here you are doing a +harder thing." + +G. W. was sobbing forlornly. The Colonel got up and paced the tent for a +silent moment or two. + +"You've been the best kind of a comrade, G. W.," he went on, as he came +back, while the listener drew his legs up and down under the coarse gray +blanket, in an agony of sorrow. "And you're not going to fail me now, +old fellow." + +"Yes, sah! No, sah!" The pillow half stifled the words. + +Presently poor G. W. sat up in bed again. "Colonel," he said, "you jes' +banish me out yo' mind! You do your work, an' be keerful to take keer ob +yo'self. I'se goin' ter do what yo want an' keep in dem limits--but if +yo' does _not_ come back frum dat front, I doan' think I can face dem +two up Norf! I'd jes' feel dat I hadn't done been no body-guard--fo de +Lawd, Colonel Austin, doan't ask me ter face de Boy an' his Mother +'thout you! I ain't goin' ebber ter forget what you don teach me, an' +I'se nebber goin' ter shame yer while I lib, but I can't go 'thout you +to dem--de Lawd knows I can't." + +"Under those circumstances I'll be obliged to come back, G. W." +Something choked the soldier's voice. Then bending down he kissed the +boy's dusky brow, as often he had kissed the white one of his own little +son. + +"God bless you, comrade!" he whispered. "You've lightened many a burden +for us all since you came among us. I trust you and I may be spared to +meet again." + +Then G. W. saw the tall form of the best friend he had on earth pass out +of the tent, and fade away into the confusion and unreality of the +moonlit night. + + + + +VII. + +THE BATTLE ON THE HILL-TOP. + + +A strange atmosphere hung over the camp, an air of expectant waiting. +The sick men tossed upon their beds bewailing their inability to be up +and doing, and calling feverishly for "news!" But no news came; nothing +to break the dismal monotony. + +Everybody utilized G. W. The cook taught him to cook, and the nurses +made him useful. The sick men smiled up at him as their only diversion. +It was well for the boy that his days were filled with labor, and that +he was too utterly weary at night to stay awake long. His dreams were +filled far oftener than his waking thoughts with visions of the Colonel. +His dreams were always happy ones--then the Colonel appeared well and +jolly as G. W. had first known him. The little fellow hailed bed-time as +the release from wretchedness. + +"Now, then!" he would say to himself, as his lids grew heavy, "now I'se +goin' ter see my Colonel Austin!" Sometimes he would laugh aloud in his +sleep, so very jolly was he, but there was no one to hear the sound in +the empty tent. Little G. W. had no folks now. His only good-night was +the bugle-call, "All lights out!" + +But in the trenches at the front a brave man always included G. W. in +his loving thoughts of home and dear ones; and up North the Mother and +the Boy ended their evening prayer, "God bless Daddy and G. W. Keep them +safe and bring them home to us very soon!" + +No one questioned G. W.'s goings and comings. If any thought was given, +it was that he was probably obeying orders which Colonel Austin had +left, and that he was proving himself a blessing where most boys would +have been an annoyance and burden. + +So one day when he sauntered away from the cluster of tents, no one +asked him where he was bound, or how soon he would be back. He passed +along walking very straight as became a uniformed soldier, whistling a +march-tune, now and then interrupting himself to introduce a clear +flute-like note. + +Something had happened to G. W. The day was oppressively hot, but his +languor and sadness had vanished. He felt strong and happy; everything +was beautiful, life was full of keen interest. + +"I 'low somethin' is goin' ter occur!" he said to himself; "I has +feelin's like my mammy used ter have. Sure's I'se a-walkin' here, the +front is off dere 'yond de hill! Dat's whar de Colonel always went, an' +dat's why he fix de top like a stun wall fur me. I 'clar I'se goin' up +ter jes' look. What's I worth if I doan't take some chances ter find out +news 'bout my Colonel Austin? Lawd! it seems like forty-seben years +since he done walk away like a dream!" + +Now, strange to say, before G. W. had started on this tramp, besides +donning his entire uniform, he had taken his gun, a small but perfect +one that some of the officers had given him as a reward for excellent +target-shooting; and also he had filled his canteen with water in true +soldier fashion. + +Under the blazing sun his hot coat and trousers became almost +unendurable, and except for his new feeling of strength and joyousness, +his precious gun would have become a burden. + +Suddenly he stood still, and his face became rapt and eager. He gazed up +to the tall trees under which he stood. + +"I'se clean forgot 'bout dat 'chance' ob mine fur ages; but, Lawd! jes' +s'pose it should come to-day!" he gasped. The remembrance that his mammy +had said that if he wanted to be a hero he would have the "chance" +filled him with a wild delight. For a moment he could not move, so great +was his glad feeling--then with a cheery whistle he plodded on straight +toward his hill-top. It was an unlikely spot for "chances." It was too +near camp for the foe to be there; but irresistibly G. W.'s feet carried +him forward. + +Overcome at length by the heat, G. W. reached the summit, only to sink +down at once in the tangle of bushes and pant and puff. But after a +while he revived; and then peering through the undergrowth he gazed down +upon the plain below that stretched beyond his limit. + +What had happened since last he had seen the spot? Was he dreaming, or +actually looking down upon something that was really taking place? G. W. +stood up and steadying himself against a tree continued to gaze and gaze +below. + +There was a big rude tent, with all sides open. Within was a long table +around which figures moved restlessly or stood strangely still. Wagons +were rolling up to this tent bringing burdens which turned poor little +G. W. ill as he realized what they were. They were men! Sick or wounded +men! Ready hands lifted the limp forms from the carts and laid them in +long rows upon the ground; then, over and over again, as the fear-filled +little watcher on the hill strained his eyes, he saw a man singled out +from the lines and borne to the table. G. W. grew chill under the +blazing sun as he looked, not comprehending what it meant. + +"I can't--think--what--dat--means!" he said aloud; "'pears like I am +habin' a dream standin' up out-doors wid my clo'es on. Lawd! +how--I--does--wish--I--knew--what--dat--dar--means!" + +The poor little fellow rubbed his head in a hopeless, forlorn way, while +his heart beat fast and chokingly. Suddenly it came to him; like a flash +the meaning became clear. + +There had been a battle! They were bringing in the dead and wounded from +the front to that fearsome spot below. Then G. W. shuddered as a new +thought broke upon his brain. Perhaps his Colonel was there! The sudden +idea took the form of a frenzy. He flung his arms up with a wild +gesture, and then, alone on the hill-top, there was a battle on for G. +W.--an exceedingly hard battle. + +"Obey!" cried Honor; "'tis the thing you are called to do! 'Tis the +thing you have promised!" + +"But the Colonel may lie in the long row," pleaded Love; "no one near +him to tend just him; no one to give him a drink or hold his head or his +hand; to follow him and stay by him. He is just one of a row!" + +G. W.'s sad little face turned gray. + +"You promised!" Honor admonished. "He trusted you, with no doubt of your +obedience!" + +"But they may have forgotten him. He may be lying out on the +battle-field--and no one could find him as surely as you!" Love sobbed +in his ears. + +With a pitiful moan, the little body-guard gave up his promise! A +disobedient, loving little black boy sped down from the hill-top, on the +forbidden side, sobbing and crying. He flung all but his love for the +Colonel to the hot winds. He might be shot, he might lose his way +endlessly, but he must go. + +With a bitter cry he flung off his coat and cap as he ran. The honor of +a soldier's uniform was no longer for him. He paused only to take the +precious up-North letter out of the pocket and crush it into his shirt +front. + + + + +VIII. + +THE COLONEL'S BODY-GUARD + + +Tossing his canteen across his shoulder, and seizing his gun, G. W. tore +on down the hill straight toward the gruesome place below, and right +into it. No one noticed him. The surgeons were too busy to look up as he +ran around the table scanning the faces upon the boards. The men +carrying the helpless burdens, or ministering to their wants, had no +time to question why a little black boy should suddenly be in among +them. + +He made sure that he had looked into every face, and then, with a +feeling of relief, was about to turn away from the sad scene, when a +weak voice stopped him. + +"G. W.! Thank God! Come here!" + +G. W. turned; there upon a blanket under a tree waiting for his turn to +be taken to the table was the boy who but a few days before in camp had +told him that war was "mighty near." War had indeed drawn near in haste, +and poor young Corporal Jack had gone down before the enemy's fire. + +"The Colonel," gasped Corporal Jack, as G. W. came and bent over him; +"he was shot, too. We fell side by side. We crawled back, but when the +wagon came he made them take me; there was only room for one. He's a +mile back on the roadside. G. W., get help and go for him, and tell him +God bless him!" + +The weak voice ceased, for the men had come to carry him to the table. +He tried to wave cheerfully to G. W., but the effort caused him to +faint, and G. W. started away, trying to comprehend what he had heard. + +"My Colonel's a mile back on the roadside!" That was all little G. W. +had for a guide. But had his Colonel been a hundred miles back, it would +have made no difference to his body-guard. There was but one aim in G. +W.'s heart: to reach his Colonel, and save him for the Boy and the +Mother up North! + +On he ran, grasping his little gun in a rigid clutch. He forgot to +implore aid from those he met as he rushed. Over the rough trail he sped +like a deer. The fearful, ugly, swarming land-crabs scurried away from +before him. "Colonel!" he sobbed, "fore de Lawd, Colonel, where is you? +I'se a-comin', Colonel!--jes' you hold on!" + +A wagon bearing another pitiful load came by. + +"Is Colonel Austin in dar?" he cried. + +Some one knew him and called an answer: "No, G. W., your Colonel isn't +here!" + +On, on, again. + +What was that? A roar of cannon! G. W. shuddered, but gripped his gun +and kept on, making forward. + +Presently he began to meet more wounded men, singly, or in groups of two +or three, trying with what strength remained in them to reach the rear. +Occasionally a man knew the boy, and gave him a friendly smile; once one +asked him for a drink. + +"Don't youse take much of it, Captain," G. W. pleaded, holding the +canteen to the parched lips, "cose dis is fur my Colonel Austin." + +Be it to the man's eternal credit that, almost dying of thirst as he +was, he handed back all but a mouthful of the blessed water. "Thank you; +that will help me to the camp. Colonel Austin is to the right of the +road, a little further back, behind some bushes; he tried to come on +with me, but fell. I'll send you help, for he cannot walk. God bless +you, G. W." + +On through awful scenes the little black boy went. No one looked upon +him with surprise. The small, familiar figure was part of the camp-life +and war. + +Again the little rescuer dashed on. And oh, go quickly now, G. W.! Among +the tangled bushes is a slinking, leaf-covered figure running as rapidly +as you! + +Hurry, tired feet! Steady, little dusky hand! there is a deed for you to +do which will make your name blessed up North, if only you are in time! + +Ah, hist! A crackling among the bushes made G. W. pause. + +What was it? With a sudden impulse the boy crouched in the jungle and +listened. After a moment a form, covered with leaves, half crawled, half +ran, near where he was hidden. + +G. W. held his breath, and got his gun in position. He understood. He +had heard of the foes' trick of covering themselves with leaves to +escape attention, and he knew at once what he had to deal with. Never +was he calmer than he grew at that moment. + +But oh, look! the crawling form, in the open now, stopped, raised his +gun, and took deliberate aim at something beyond. G. W. was as quick; +and before there was time for the leafy form to draw the trigger, his +own small sure hand had flashed forth a bullet! With a cry the wretched +creature flung up his arms and fell back. + +G. W. stood up and wiped the perspiration from his cold, drawn face. His +eyes were blazing, but the strange new calmness still possessed him. He +pushed forward to find the object at which the Spaniard's gun had been +aimed. + +That it was "one of our boys" little G. W. of course knew; but he was +_not_ prepared for the sight that presently rose before him. + +A bit beyond, leaning against a tree, bloodstained, dirt-begrimed, and +faint, sat his Colonel. + +At the first glimpse of him something like the ice of winter gave way in +G. W.'s breast. The blood began to flow through his veins; the past was +but a bad dream--he was once more a glad and loving little fellow. + +"Colonel!" he whispered, like one coming out of sleep. "Colonel, I'se +here!" + +But Colonel Austin took no heed of the tender voice. + + + + +IX. + +"I'SE GOT DE COLONEL!" + + +G. W. stumbled onward and reached the tree, put his arm about the +officer, and carefully held the canteen to his lips. A gurgle, the water +was drained to the last drop; and then, oh, joy! the heavy eyes opened. + +It did not seem strange to Colonel Austin to see G. W.'s dusky face. It +was but part of the troubled dream that held his heated brain. + +"Hello, comrade!" he said. "Just tell them I couldn't see the little +Corporal die. There was only room for one. He was crying for his +mother, and he had been brave all day. The Boy and his Mother +will--understand--by and by." + +"Now you see heah, Colonel," said poor little G. W. "You jes' stop dat +kind ob talk. Your laigs ain't hurt--it's your chist, an' you'se got ter +git up an' come along!" + +G. W.'s voice was full of fright and determination combined. + +"No use, G. W.," groaned the Colonel. "I tried it, and fell. Help will +be sent back, but it will be too late, my boy." + +"You get up, sah!" persisted G. W. "You'se got ter make a move fur de +Boy an' his Mother! I'se goin' ter sabe yo' fur dem, sah, like I swar +to. Now stan' up, sah!" + +Colonel Austin staggered to his feet, leaning upon the little shoulder. + +The water had revived him, and G. W.'s words had recalled him to a +sacred duty. + +The wound in his breast began to bleed again, and the crimson drops fell +upon G. W. The man's weight, too, almost bowed the little boy down. But +he set his teeth and smiled grimly. The undertaking seemed nearly big +enough for a hero to tackle--and here he was just a disobedient, +dishonored little black boy! + +"You'se doin' fine!" G. W. said, whenever Colonel Austin's steps +flagged; "you'se done a mile _mos'_, Colonel; dere ain't but a step or +two furder. Lean heavy, Colonel,--yo' jes' ain't no heft at all!" And +all the while the keen eyes were searching the underbrush for another +leaf-clothed foe. + +Once they stopped so that G. W. might tear his shirt in strips and bind +it roughly over the bleeding wound. The blessed letter from up North +fell out upon the ground. G. W. clutched it and put it in his trousers +pocket; the sight of it gave him fresh strength. + +Stumbling and swaying, the two went on again. No help came along the +road. But dust-covered and near to death, the comrades at length reached +the field hospital. + +It was growing dark when they came into the open space. Lanterns were +hanging around the great rough table, and the restless figures were +still moving about. With rising hope little G. W. made a last rally. +"Come on, Colonel," he panted; "you jes' hang on to me. We'se all right +now. Only you jes' come faster, Colonel! You jes' _run_ now, +Colonel,--dere ain't no call ter act so back'ard here,--you'se on de +road home!" + +The fainting man heard the brave soft voice, and he braced up and +struggled yet again. + +They were nearing the tent opening, the lanterns flashed, and the +moonlight fell full upon their faces. A soldier among the many who were +lying out under the stars saw them and cried out: + +"Look, boys! It's Colonel Austin and G. W." + +"Yes, sah!" the boy said simply. "I'se got de Colonel! here's de +Colonel!" + +"Three cheers for G. W!" cried a weak voice. "G. W.'s saved the +Colonel!" + +The crowd of sufferers took up the quivering cry, and all around the +tent spread the story of G. W.'s bravery. + +A surgeon glanced up--then with an exclamation rushed forward. + +"Austin!" he shouted. "Austin, let go of him, the boy is fainting! Here, +some one, lift G. W.! I've got the Colonel!" + +That was all. For little G. W. the lights went out. The voices melted +into silence. The Colonel was safe! All was right. + + + + +X. + +IN THE TENT HOSPITAL. + + +There were long, troubled dreams for little G. W.--dreams that were +unlike those which used to come and cheer him in camp before he had +given up his hopes of being a hero. These were full of terror--a longing +for water, and visions of his dear Colonel wounded and dying. + +Sometimes a skulking figure, leaf-covered and terrible, stalked through +those pain-filled visions. Then he would shout for his gun. But always +when he cried aloud, a voice familiar but distant called upon him to be +calm and trust some one, whose name he had forgotten. + +At last there came a day when the dreams began to fade. Voices not so +distant reached him. Then he tasted water, for the first time, he +thought, in years! + +"Thank you!" he said to some one holding the glass to his lips, but did +not open his eyes. He was very tired. + +"G. W. is coming around all right," said a grave, quiet voice. "Plenty +of nourishment, nurse,--all that you can get for him. That boy mustn't +slip through our fingers." The boy heard, but he did not stir. + +A new voice broke in upon the strange calm. "Can't you speak to me, my +child?" + +The simple question sent a thrill through the faithful heart. G. W. +faintly unclosed his eyes. He must see who was speaking in that dear, +dear voice. + +"Colonel!" he whispered. "Oh! my Colonel!" + +Then G. W.'s eyes opened wide. On the pillow of the bed next his +own--for they were both lying in the tent hospital--he saw the face of +Colonel Austin. The one face in the world that G. W. longed to see, and +the one that he had dreamed and dreamed and dreamed was gone forever! + +Little G. W. opened his lips with a gasp and an effort to speak. But +memory rushed upon him. In that glance of recognition he remembered what +he had done. + +"I done broke my word, Colonel!" was what he said. Two slow tears rolled +down the dusky cheeks. + +"Yes, G. W." + +"An' I follered you, Colonel, like you tole me not to." + +"I know it--thank God!" + +If poor little G. W. had not been so weak he would have sprung up; he +tried to, but fell limply back. + +"G. W., my child," said the Colonel, moving a little nearer, "if you had +not disobeyed and come after me I would not have been here. You took +your orders from some one higher in command, G. W. We're going home +soon, going home together. Do you know what I am saying, G. W.? Just as +soon as we can travel we are going up North together to the Boy and his +Mother!" + +Things happened for dear little G. W. in snatches after that. +Pain-filled pauses and unconscious lapses and short, sudden, sharp +throbs of happiness, made up life. + +The Colonel gained his strength far sooner than G. W. He could have +travelled, but he would not leave his little comrade. "I'll stay by the +little chap until the end, or I'll take him home with me," he said to +the doctor who urged his departure. "I'll never desert him." + +The "end" did not come to G. W., however. All at once he began to mend. +White and weak, his eyes too large for his face, for fever had worn him +to a shadow, Colonel Austin sat beside his bed retelling the old +hero-stories, while G. W. smiled with closed eyes. Sometimes the boy +roused and asked a series of questions. + +"When is we goin' home, Colonel?" + +"On the next transport, comrade." + +"I s'pose we has ter live in jes a house when we goes home?" sighed the +boy. + +"Why, G. W., a house isn't a bad thing--do you think so?" + +"I likes tents mighty well, I does!" said G. W. + +"Well, old man, don't lose heart; you're not going to live in a house +right away." + +"I spect de uniform wasn't nebber found up on de hill-top, Colonel?" + +"No, my boy. There was no time to hunt up lost uniforms; it was all the +boys could do to hunt up lost men." + +"Colonel, what is I goin' ter do when dat transport comes in? No cloes, +no nothin'!" + +Colonel Austin laughed, and many a sick man's face relaxed at the sound. + +"The Colonel is laughing--G. W.'s better," murmured a weak voice, and +the good news travelled around the hospital tent. + +"The Boy and his Mother are having a new suit made for you, G. W.," the +Colonel said. "The Boy thought of it the first thing." + +When the transport came that was to carry the Colonel, G. W., and +several hundred others home, it had among its stores the new suit of +blue for the destitute little soldier. If anything, it was more splendid +than the first one, but it was wofully large for the poor little +body-guard. When he first appeared in it the men were about to laugh, +then grew suddenly silent as they saw the gray little dusky face, and +remembered _why_ G. W. had so shrunk. But even G. W. smiled after a +moment. + +He stood up by his cot, and put his hands in the pockets and spread wide +the almost empty trouser-legs of the fine uniform. + +"I clar," said he, "if you'se all didn't see me a standin' on my feet, +yo nebber would say dere were legs 'tached to my body!" + +"Never mind, G. W.!" It was Corporal Jack who spoke. He, too, was going +home on the transport, and the knowledge had put a pound or so of flesh +on his bones. "Never you care, G. W.! Those shanks'll get you into God's +country; and your rightful legs will grow again up there. Lordy, G. W., +if you only knew what is a-waiting for you!" + +G. W. smiled inquiringly. Something was going to happen, as every one +seemed to know. It was evidently an army secret, and the gossip of all +the men, until G. W. drew near! + +Then, smiling silence. + + + + +XI. + +"IT'S ALL YOURS, G. W.!" + + +The cool air was sweeping, like a breath of Paradise, over the face of +little G. W. They had brought him up on deck, for the transport was +nearing home. Colonel Austin stood by, anxious; he did not like the look +upon the thin, drawn countenance. + +"Take a brace, G. W.!" he said, while he laid his fingers upon the weak +pulse in the tiny wrist. + +Sea-sickness had reduced the child to a mere skeleton. It had been worse +than the fever. Not even the thought that "up North" was within sight +could arouse him now. + +"I see a long stretch of land, my boy," Colonel Austin went on, "and a +fine white light-house on the farthest point. G. W., I'll bet you don't +know what this light-house looks like!" + +"I bet I doesn't!" G. W. spoke in a whisper, his eyes shut. + +"In a few hours, G. W., we will swing into the bay." G. W. shuddered. +The idea of _swinging_ into anything made him ill afresh. "And then they +will put you on a litter, old man, and I will walk beside you up to--up +to--are you listening, G. W.?" + +"Yes, sah!" Then a quiver passed over G. W.'s face. "I thought," he +whispered, "I done thought I smelled land!" + +"And so you do, old fellow," said the Colonel, cheerily. "Here, let me +lift you up. Now, G. W., open your eyes! See the light-house shining +like a slim white finger? That's Montauk Point, comrade, stretching +along in the sea. They are going to land us here to rest a bit before we +go home. Are you understanding, my child?" + +G. W. lay staring at the scene with his great, round, soft eyes. The +smell of the land was in his nostrils and presently he smiled a +beautiful, satisfied smile, and Colonel Austin whispered, "Thank God!" +under breath. + +"Colonel," G. W. said, low, "you jes' fetch my clo'es! I'se goin' ter +land wid my soldier-clo'es all on. Dat smell done cure me for sure! +Dat's a mighty fine smell, Colonel, dat is!" + +Some hours later the transport cast anchor in the lovely bay. In the +early morning, when the sunlight danced upon the shining waves, never +was there a fairer sight to greet sick, home-longing eyes. + +At last it was G. W.'s turn to be carried up the gang-plank. Very gently +they placed him upon the litter, and his Colonel walked beside it and +held the small, weak hand. G. W. closed his eyes, for the excitement +made him tremble, and lately he had had trouble with growing tearful on +every possible occasion, and had had to squeeze his eyelids together +hard. + +They were carrying him along up somewhere--G. W. felt the upward motion. +And now they were walking on even ground. Presently the shouting he had +noticed before began again. It came nearer and words became distinct. +Comrade was greeting comrade. There were welcomes for his Colonel, a +welcome to Corporal Jack--his mother was there, some one said; she was +up in the general's tent. + +Suddenly a few words startled G. W. They seemed to him to ring out of +the confusion of greetings like an alarm: + +"Oh, look! there are Colonel Austin and his little hero!" + +It was a woman's voice. + +The heavy brown eyes of the little fellow in blue on the litter opened. + +The procession of sick men was passing between lines of sympathizing +people, but to G. W. they faded like visions. He turned his head and +fixed his solemn gaze upon the one face in all the world dear to him. + +"Colonel!" he gasped, "did yo' hear dem words--dem hero-words? Yo' +better tell dem dat it ain't so!" + +"Why, my child, they know all about it. You are as big a hero as ever +was brought home--didn't you know it?" + +"No, sah!" Again the lids closed--the battle with tears was renewed. + +The next stage of little G. W.'s journey was made in an army ambulance. +Over the hills and down the sandy valleys the big wagon went softly +until it stopped before the long hospital tent on the hill overlooking +the merry waves. Then G. W. was carried in and placed upon a bed, and a +woman with a wonderful face came and bent over him. She wore a blue gown +and a snowy cap and apron and kerchief. G. W. had never seen anybody in +the world in the least like her. She stood and smiled down at him, and +he smiled weakly up at her. + +"Well, my little hero," she laughed in the most cheerful manner, as if +it were quite a joke to see heroes carried about like babies, "it isn't +so very bad! I think I can get you on your feet in--let me see--well, +three days at the farthest." + +Three days! If she had said three years the boy would have felt +doubtful, for his legs were but waving strings. + +This smiling woman in blue and white fed him--about every two minutes, +he thought; as soon as he had swallowed one thing she went away for +another, and came back and fed him again; and he swallowed all the +things down, and began soon to laugh as merrily as she. + +Sure enough, upon the third day, and in the morning, too, she came +walking up to G. W.'s cot with Colonel Austin, and over her arm hung the +fine new uniform. + +"My boy," she laughed,--she always laughed,--and drew a screen about the +bed, "we're going to put your clothes on you, and if you lean upon both +Colonel Austin and me, I think you can manage to take a bit of a walk. +We have something very important to show you." + +How he got into his dear blue clothes, G. W. never knew; but at length, +and rather unsteadily, he was walking between the nurse and his Colonel +down the aisle of the tent. + +Weak cheers followed him from rows of cots. Thin hands waved him +salutes. On the whole, it was rather jolly and inspiring. + +By the time he reached the door G. W. was walking more steadily, and the +strong salt air put life into him at the first breath as he came outside +in the sunlight. + +"Just up this hill, now, G. W.,--can you make it?" asked the Colonel. +"Take breath, go slowly, lean heavily. The last time you and I took a +walk, comrade, I nearly bent you double. We're going to my tent." + +G. W. gazed about him. A city of snowy tents under a blue, blue sky. +Water everywhere round about, dancing in the sunlight and making a great +roar as if constantly saluting the brave soldier boys who had come home +to rest. Down a hillside a troop of cavalry came galloping. The horses +were to take a plunge in the ocean, and oh! how they loved the sport. + +G. W. shouted out weakly in pure delight. + +"Dat's fine! Dat's fine!" he gasped, waving his thin little brown hand +as horses and riders tore past. + +Then G. W. wearily asked, "Whar did you say yo' tent is, Colonel?" + +"Right there, my boy." + +G. W. looked. + +"What's dat little tent fur, by de side ob it?" + +"That's yours, G. W." + +The nurse tightened her grasp of the trembling arm. + +"Mine! dere's a flag a-flying on top, Colonel! An' dere's a little horse +a-pawin' in de front ob de tent-do', Colonel!" + +"All yours, G. W! Let's get on if you can, my boy!" + +At last the tents were reached. They entered G. W.'s. It was perfect. +Camp bed, soapbox table, flag-draped, a folding stool and all; and in +the corner stood the little gun--the precious gun that had done such +brave service for the Colonel. + +"Lie down now, G. W.," said the nurse; and the child promptly obeyed. He +could take in the great scene just as well from the bed, and there was +less danger of falling all in a heap if it got too overpowering. + +"My boy, there is some one waiting who wishes to see you," said Colonel +Austin, presently; "may I bring the person in?" + +Five minutes later two persons instead of one entered with G. W.'s +Colonel. One glance--and G. W. knew that he was in the presence of the +Boy and his Mother! He struggled to get upon his feet, but the nurse's +hand held him back; he merely gave a wan smile, and saluted gravely. + +"Oh, G. W.!" cried the Mother, holding her hands toward him from where +she stood, the tears raining down from her bright eyes. "Oh, G. W., you +brave child, I did not know you were so _very_ small!" + +G. W. had never seen such a vision of loveliness as the lady was; but he +was afraid of her. + +"How can I help kissing you, you blessed child!" she went on, coming +close. + +Kissing him! G. W. glanced about wildly. + +The lady's eyes filled up with bright tears anew. "No, I will not kiss +you, G. W. Of course not. You see I do not know very well just what it +is safe to do with such small-sized heroes as you and Jack!" + +She turned to the Boy, who had stood motionless, looking on. "Jack," she +said, "it _is_ our G. W., Daddy's body-guard." + +Jack came forward. There was a suggestion of lace and curls about him +perhaps, but his face gave G. W. a feeling of firm ground under his feet +at last. + +"Hello!" said Jack, and held out a plump white hand. + +"Hello!" G. W. replied, and laid his thin brown fingers slowly in the +other's grasp. + +The moment while Jack stood by the little soldier's bed was long enough +for the two boys to eye each other well. + +Jack spoke first. "You saved my father, G. W.,--you are a brick! +Whatever I've got, you can have half of it." + +"Did you see dat hoss by de do'?" said G. W., after a moment. "Dat hoss +is mine! You--can--take--de fust ride! An' dis is my tent, my Colonel +give it to me, an' dis an' all dat I'se got b'longs ter you half!" + +Then they smiled broadly into each other's faces, forgetting the +onlookers. + +"We're going to be just like brothers," whispered Jack Austin. That was +the thought that floated through the dusky little bodyguard's dreams +that night as he slept in the little tent beside the Colonel's. + +And the Mother's words to the Colonel mingled with Jack's: "The boys'll +have a good time!" + +And the tall light-house on the Point blazed out its message to the +sailors upon the sea, "All's well! All's well!" And to the brave +soldier-boys sleeping within its shadow it sent down soft rays of light +that breathed, "All's well! All's well!" + +On his cot poor weak little G. W., waking in the moonlight, smiled and +sighed with content, then smiled again. + + + + +XII. + +A HISTORY-EVENING AT OAKWOOD. + + +"G. W., stand up in front of me, and answer!" + +G. W. took position and looked unflinchingly into the eyes of his +Colonel. + +The rapturous life at Montauk was a thing of the past--the little +body-guard never could think of it without his heart aching with +happiness. + +It was the most glorious experience a boy ever had. The Colonel wondered +how G. W. had escaped being utterly ruined, for people had lost their +heads over him, and even stern army men had shown a soft side toward the +dusky little fellow. However, G. W. was a real hero, and such you simply +cannot ruin. + +Now the scene was changed. The Colonel and G. W. were in the library of +the home "up North;" they wore citizen's clothes and looked well and +hearty. + +"G. W., do you remember what you once told me a hero was?" + +"Yes, sah." + +"Well, you proved yourself one, on a certain occasion, and I reckon you +and I will never forget it." + +"No, sah!" + +"But, G. W., there are many kinds of heroes, as I have often told you. A +fellow that can be a hero under _all_ circumstances is a chap worth +knowing." + +"Yes, sah!" All this sounded ominous, and G. W. pulled himself together. + +"Well, my boy, you've got to go into a conflict again, another sort of a +conflict, and I wish to heaven I could prepare you; but you'll have to +battle it out, according to what is in you, as you did before, on the +hill-top in Cuba. I'm going to send you to school, my boy, with Jack. +It's a military school and the head master knows all about you, and +_wants_ you there. The others don't know." + +"Yes, sah!" The low voice had a tone that always unnerved the Colonel--a +tone of complete obedience, of complete understanding, and complete +resignation. + +"You see, G. W., I want to fit you for life," the Colonel went on. "I'm +going to give you your chance. It's going to be a hard pull. The odds +will be against you. It isn't just that it should be so, but it is so. +Your color, comrade, often will go against you, though your heart is the +pure heart of a brave, honest child." + +"Yes, sah." + +"Of course," the deep voice went on, "I could buy favor for you at the +school, by telling the story of your bravery--a sort of honor for you; +but, G. W., I want you to win your own position there, just as you +always have, so far. It will be a tussle, but I think you'd like to make +the try?" + +"Yes, sah." + +"Because you'll have to tussle and try through life, you know, comrade." + +"Yes, sah!" + +The firm white hand took the little brown one in a warm hold. "And I +shan't bind you with any promises this time, G. W.," the Colonel said. + +A warm color stole over G. W.'s dusky cheeks. He looked up and spoke +unexpectedly to the Colonel. "Dere was two promises, Colonel. I kep' de +promise to de Boy and his Mother, sah. I kep' de promise to take care ob +you, sah." + +The poor little body-guard, so long sick and torn with shame over his +disobedience and tarnished honor, had thought the whole matter out to +the comfort of his soul. He looked up fearlessly into his Colonel's +eyes. + +"So you did, G. W.," said the officer, humbly, but with a lighted face. +"And God bless you, comrade!" + +The whole matter was clear to them both forever. + + * * * * * + +A week later the two boys went with Colonel Austin to enter the famous +school where little G. W., as a private citizen of the Republic he had +served according to his strength, was to begin to hew out his fortunes, +with the odds, as his Colonel had said, against him. + +The head master greeted him cordially, and the other teachers followed +the example. At the very outset the pupils were divided among themselves +and withheld their verdict. The open comradeship of Colonel Austin's son +was the thing that counted in the matter for the time being. + +The outcome of this school-life--not for their own boy, but for G. +W.--was a grave matter with the Colonel and the Colonel's wife for those +first weeks. + +"No one can hold out against his merry sweetness," said Mrs. Austin +again and again. + +The question with the Colonel was whether the little fellow had the sort +of heroism to endure what he could not help. + +G. W. was undoubtedly "sweet," undoubtedly brave, but he was not "merry" +those first months of school life. The work of lessons was bitter-hard +for him, and the school routine most painful. Never in his life before +had he given a thought to his color. In the Tampa days, before he had +entered Colonel Austin's tent to "offer himself up on the altar of his +country," there had never been a question as to his "position;" he had +been just a "waif." His "army career" had placed him upon a pinacle +where his color had served but to add to his glory. + +Here, on the playground, except for Jack and three or four others, G. W. +was quietly ignored, and in a helpless way the little fellow felt it +keenly, despite the Colonel's warning. + +He tried to look ahead. He studied more and more diligently. He meant to +be all the kinds of hero that Colonel Austin desired. + +"Fo' de Lawd!" he said one day in his room, as he scanned his trim +figure in the gray school uniform before the glass. "Fo' de Lawd! I +can't understand it." (G. W. was beginning to put the "d's" and "g's" on +words now.) "I don't lie, and I ain't afraid of nothing--and I wouldn't +do a mean thing any sooner dan dey! It's jes' my skin, and my skin's +only a different color on the _outside_, de inside is jes'--is just de +same." Poor little G. W. + +"An' I'se getting 'long fine in my classes." (So he was, and at the cost +of terrific strain and study.) "An' I likes--I like the--boys first +rate--but nawthing in dis education's going to git de black off dis +skin!" + +There was one hour in the school-day that George Jones--he was "G. W." +only to Jack Austin, and that in private--enjoyed thoroughly. + +This was an evening hour when one of the younger professors took the +smaller pupils into a library and told them history stories; stories +dealing with valiant deeds. There was a flavor of camp life and +soldiering about many of the tales that George Jones understood far +better than the other boys. In the glow of his interest he generally +forgot to notice if any boy edged away from him when he chanced to +forget his "color" and drew too near; but Colonel Austin's son always +noticed it, and his loyal heart ached. + +"Oh! if I were only sure that Daddy would think this was a good time to +speak out!" Jack often muttered between his teeth. "I wish these fellows +knew how awfully white G. W. is inside!" + +But the Colonel had warned Jack against "speaking out" unless +indignities to little G. W. should become unendurable. + +During one of these story hours in the library, G. W. had remained in +the study-room to conquer a particularly knotty problem in addition, +while Jack, eager for the tale, which was to be an unusually splendid +one, ran on ahead. It happened that when G. W. reached the room he was +the last, and the others were clustered around Professor Catherwood. + +G. W. paused a moment to look for Jack, but among those dark and light +heads grouped close he could not distinguish him. Just then the story +plunged into the thick of interest, and G. W. took the nearest empty +chair. Unfortunately it was beside Tom Harding, a very quick-tempered +but warm-hearted boy, who had, perhaps, more than any other pupil, made +G. W.'s life at "Oakwood" a grim experience. He glanced around as G. W. +sat down. "Please take another seat!" he said. + +For a moment the silence vibrated. G. W. arose and stood rigid, with +downcast eyes. The master, too much disturbed to speak, was silent. But +Jack Austin arose. + +"Tom Harding!" he said with flashing eyes, "George Jones has a white +heart and he is the bravest boy in this room! If you knew"-- + +At this point G. W. went to Jack's side. "Don't you tell dat, Jack!" he +said. "Don't yer! You know what de--the Colonel said. Don' yer displease +de Colonel!" + +But Jack's blood was up. There was something in his young voice that +quieted even G. W. He put his hand upon G. W.'s shoulder and kept it +there while he spoke. + +"George is my legally adopted brother, boys. He saved my father's life +down in Cuba." Then came the whole brave, pathetic story, broken here +and there by a shake in Jack's voice. + +"And when G. W."--Jack had forgotten the more dignified name--"made up +his mind on the hill-top to go down after my father, he plunged off +where Spaniards were hidden thick and bullets flying. He went alone, and +he was awful little. And he went on, and wounded soldiers met him and +told him my father was off helpless on the ground in some bushes, and he +got near there and he saw a Spaniard aiming his gun and G. W. aimed his +and shot true, and the soldier the Spaniard was going to shoot--was my +father! And G. W. got my own father back to the tent hospital all alone +and no one else on earth did it. My father says G. W. had a glorious, +glorious hero-strength. My father and my mother and myself are never, +never going to forget what G. W. did! And G. W. is going to have the +best life my father can help him get! Now isn't he brave and fine enough +to be respected? Is any one going to mind his brown color when his soul +is as white--as white as snow? What would you have of a boy?" Jack's +voice failed him. G. W., by his side, stood with his back to the boys, +even yet as rigid as a statue. + +For a second--stillness; then a stir in the group. Tom Harding came +forward, his fine young face quivering with emotion. + +"I beg your pardon, George," he said. "_I_ will never make your life +hard again!" + +"Nor I! Nor I! Nor any of us!" + +It came like a shout. + +A smile beamed upon the face of little G. W. His simple, strong, sunny +nature responded to the honest outburst. He turned to the boys. + +"I'se sorry about my skin," he said slowly, "since you-all don't like de +color; but I like de--the color of yours, and I'se goin'--going ter +learn all that de Colonel wants me ter learn! I'se never going to +disappoint de Colonel!" + +Professor Catherwood raised his hand. "Three cheers for _our_ hero!" +said he. + +"I think," he went on, when the hurrahing had died down, "that two hero +stories are almost too many for one evening; besides you've got a chance +to know a live hero. I am sure no boy of Oakwood will ever again fail to +recognize the real article in the hero line, when he sees it. +Good-night!" + +Since that evening G. W.'s only battles have been with his school-books. +And but for the manly help of his honest school-mates, the far-off +victory would seem even dimmer than it does to George Washington +McKinley Jones. + + + + +THE GOLDEN HOUR SERIES + +_A new series of books for young people, bound in extra cloth, with +illuminated designs, illustrations, and title-pages made especially for +each volume_ + + A LITTLE DUSKY HERO. By Harriet T. Comstock. + + THE CAXTON CLUB. By Amos R. Wells. + + THE CHILD AND THE TREE. By Bessie Kenyon Ulrich. + + DAISIES AND DIGGLESES. By Evelyn Raymond. + + HOW THE TWINS CAPTURED A HESSIAN. By James Otis. + + THE I CAN SCHOOL. By Eva A. Madden. + + MASTER FRISKY. By Clarence W. Hawkes. + + MISS DE PEYSTER'S BOY. By Etheldred B. Barry. + + MOLLY. By Barbara Yechton. + + THE WONDER SHIP. By Sophie Swett. + + WHISPERING TONGUES. By Homer Greene. + + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's A Little Dusky Hero, by Harriot T, Comstock + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A LITTLE DUSKY HERO *** + +***** This file should be named 31366.txt or 31366.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/1/3/6/31366/ + +Produced by David Edwards, Mary Meehan and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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