The Crime of the Trenches: or, Clif Faraday's Last Cartridge — page 17: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

In the embrace of an irregularity in the rocky surface lay a prostrate form. Its white, plaintive face looked up at Clif—the naval officer experienced a mar- velling thrill as he recognized the -F speaker. | It was the boy volunteer of the forlorn d) hope. } e® &*Vou'l?? breathed Chf, ‘‘and——-””. ‘Dying.’ d§ ‘*What is that! Clif dropped to the side of the prostrate af soldier boy. - He peered keenly only once to agree meutally to the brief, stenificamt an- €) nourncenient. ) A wound mear the heart, a second e) gaping, jagged—ain the throat—the glaz- --ang eyes, the fluttering Itps, the hope- lessly groping hand, told Clif the worst »! instantly. — One of those hands, reaching for his own, touched it—the contact was treim- ulous, clamuiny. “*My poor fellow!’ spoke Clif, rousing with an ardent soul of infinite pity. A twitch of pain crossed tlie colorless lips. ‘Then tlfey broke to a faint smile. r “T—J] never flinched !’? came tlie words, proudly, defiantly uttered. Even in the |; shadow of terrible suffering and death. I} “*Flinehed!?? repeated Chf *‘You are | a ee = Vv“ a hero! but——’”’ “*T tried to save you!’ ““Rronji——”? “That man.?? ‘Vou miea1——*” “The traitor, the scoundrel, tle assas- sin whocut your horse’s bridle, and 23 ““T understand !?? » “They told me I would faint at the 1) first bullet—aid 1??? ‘*Never!? 2 ‘They said I would turn and run.at the sight of blood—did I??? ‘Clif answered with a negative nod, choking up at the pitiful category. _ “And JI saved Faraday of the Uncas— hat’s glory enough, isn’t at!’ Faraday of the Uncas fairly swayed uuder an excesss of emotion he could not coutrol. The frank hero-worshiper winced with the pain that was fast crushing sense and being, but he made no outcry. ‘ey ‘~ ~— ; 5,4? xt 5 » at . . 4 > oAd £ 4 whe >. #% ¥ * . i TRUE BLUE. , OLD DAN DRINKS AGAIN. ‘ ¥ a ‘ o ‘ ~ , : * * . , ..* : df * “y « . ad .*\ ~~ a tT . ; ‘« . 7 ay » - ‘ . 4 : <} ce alee ba. 4 o * a ote te i . -_ - * + * “Per 27 37 “ >%. a. ote a es, #, * .. ‘‘That traitor disappeared,’’” went on the soldier boy weakly. ‘‘I followed. I couldn’t find him.’ ‘‘You came into this valley of death!’ began Clif. » ‘“Yes—after him, to warn you, if he was after you. He was—he is! Where is he now? He sprang upon me just here— his knife did this, and this, and—good- by, Faraday—Faraday of the Uucas! I never flinched!’ With the hero’s name on his hero lips, ~ the soldier boy sunk back—dead. liC f Faraday lingered by his side, tains- fixed. That brief, rapid colloquy had been tragic, inteuse, heroic. — This bright, mettled young being— ‘““with eyes like mother’s !’’—had repudi- ated grandly the scoffs of those whio little dreamed of the great soul enclosed in the sensitive, boyish form. It was awesome to see deAth come thus, so sudden, so unexpected—and then like a bitter sting the thought that here the murderous blade of the assassin had “wrought its kavoc, spurred Clif up like a nettle. “That man!’ he cried, and started towards the spot where he had seen the _~ figure vanish a moment or two before. Clif’s brain seeined on fire. Treachery at all times goaded him like a lash, but now added, the innocent blood of the~ val aut soldier boy seemed calling out for vengeance. Where was the villain, this setter of traps, this luring assassin! Grazed by the sharpshooter’s bullet, the miscreant had taken to cover—but Chf knew where. He would penetrate his covert instant- ly, and make it the urgent business of the moment, now! All other issues must wait till he had ferreted out this inliuman butcher, and had dragged him face to face witli the traitor’s noose. Clif ran lis eye along the thickly verdured face of the rocks, making out finally wliere, pressed aside, they showed the traces of just having been disturbed. The tan had crept up somewhere uuder that umbrageous veil of green. “Don?t try 1t!’? ~ < My A ‘ (ee ge eee me te dips oe we tee he HSS CER rT Se eg 2 * < a ae } at 4 * a ® « & my BAL '¥ a