Captain Jinks, Hero by Ernest Howard Crosby (story read aloud txt) 📕

buffaloes. On the road they saw many two-wheeled carts drawn by single buffaloes, the man standing in the cart as he drove. At last they came to a halt on rising ground at the edge of a piece of woodland, and Colonel Burton, the adjutant-general, rode up beside the general’s carriage and dismounted, and the two began to study the map again. After a long discussion the procession moved on again and finally stopped at the crest of a ridge, where the general alighted and soon selected a place for his tent. An hour had passed before the tents and baggage arrived, but notwithstanding the delay the tents were pitched and supper ready by sundown, and Sam found himself actually in the field on the eve of a battle. The eve, however, was somewhat prolonged. Several days passed, and Sam was kept pretty busy in riding to the various brigade and regimental headquarters and finding out how things were progressing: what was the state of the trenches, and what news there was from the enemy. Scouting parties were sent out, but their reports were kept secret, and Sam was left in the dark. There was a native village about half a mile to the rear, and the inhabitants were all friendly. Sam stopped there occasionally for a drink of water, and became acquainted with the keeper of the café, who was particularly amicable and fond of conversation. Cleary was on the lookout for accommodations in the neighborhood, and Sam introduced him to this native, Señor Garcia, who provided him with a room. One evening Sam was sitting with Cleary in the café when Garcia, as was his custom, joined them, and they began to talk in the Castalian language.

“We are glad you people are coming to rule our islands,” said Garcia; “that is, those of us who know your history, because we know that you are a great people and love freedom.”

“I am pleased to hear it,” said Sam. “Cleary, I was sure that all the sensible natives would feel that way.”

“You believe in liberty, equality, fraternity?”

“Of course we do,” said Cleary.

“Yes,” said Sam, “if you understand those words properly. Now liberty doesn’t interfere with obedience. Our whole army here is built up on the idea of obedience. We’ve all got liberty, of course, but⁠—”

“Liberty to do what?” asked Garcia innocently.

“Why, liberty to⁠—well, to⁠—yes, liberty to do as we’re ordered,” said Sam.

“Ah! I see,” said Garcia. “And then you have equality.”

“Yes,” said Sam, “in a general way we have. But that doesn’t prevent people from differing in rank. Now there’s the general, he’s my superior, and I’m the superior of the lieutenants, and we’re all superior to the privates. We have regular schools at home to teach us not to misunderstand the kind of equality that we believe in. There’s one at East Point for the army. This gentleman and I were educated there. We weren’t allowed even to look at our superiors. There’s another institution like it for the navy. And then every man-of-war and every army garrison is a sort of college to spread these ideas about rank. A captain of a ship can’t even let his officers dine with him too often. It’s a fine system and it prevents us from making any mistakes about what equality means.”

“And then fraternity?” asked Garcia.

“Oh, that’s just the same,” said Cleary. “At East Point we got a blow in the jaw if we showed the wrong kind of fraternity to our betters.”

“It’s a wonderful system,” said Garcia. “But I have heard some of your people explain liberty, equality, fraternity a little differently.”

“They must have been civilians,” said Sam. “The army and navy represent all that is best in our country, and the people at large do not understand the army and navy. Luckily for you, the islands will be in charge of the army. There won’t be any mistake about the kind of liberty and equality we give you.”

“I am so grateful,” said Garcia, rolling up his eyes.

“Yes, Cleary,” said Sam. “The people at home don’t understand us. Did you see that there’s a bill in Congress to allow men in the ranks, mere noncommissioned officers, to apply for commissions? If they pass it, it will be the end of the army. Just think of a sergeant becoming one of us! Oh, I forgot, you aren’t an officer, but you must know how I feel!”

Cleary expressed his sympathy, and Sam bade him and his host good night. On his way back through a path in the jungle he thought he heard a light step behind him, but when he looked back he could see nothing. When he arrived at the headquarters’ tent he found all the higher officers of the army there, and Stroud whispered to him that they had heard that Gomaldo would take the offensive the next morning, and that consequently a general advance was ordered for daybreak in order that they might forestall him. The general was rather taken by surprise and his final plans were not ready, but it was arranged that at four o’clock each regiment should advance, and that orders containing further details would be sent to them by six o’clock at the latest. Burton remained in the general’s tent to perfect the orders, and Sam went to the tent which he occupied with Major Stroud to enjoy a few hours’ sleep.

“I’m afraid we’re not quite ready,” said Sam.

“No army ever is,” replied Stroud laconically.

“I wish the general were a little livelier and quicker,” said Sam, blushing at his own blasphemy.

“And thinner?” said Stroud, smiling, as he twisted his white mustache and smoothed his imperial. “Oh, he’ll do very well. He’s a good solid point to rally round and fall back on, and then we always know where to find him, for he can’t get away very far if he tries.”

At half-past three in the morning the officers of the staff were called by a native servant and began to make their preparations. They