Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The Sunday Oregonian. (Portland, Ore.) 1881-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 21, 1904)
56 THE SUOT)AY. OltEGONIAN, PORTLAND, 'AUGUST 21, 1904. He Discusses Modern Warfare, the Philippines and the United States Army. A Chat With General Frederick ID. Grant CHICAGO, Aug. 16. (Special Corre spondence of The Sunday Oregonlan.) I met General Fred Grant this morning In the Army headquarters In the Pullman building. He Is In charge of thS troops here, and wears, as the regulations require, the uniform of his rank. As -we talked other uniformed officers entered from time to time for orders or to have the General pass upon the military busi ness which had been entrusted to them, and our conversation took place during the Intervals of this work. General Grant has his mind well In hand. He jumps from one thing to an other without friction, and, returning, takes up the first where he left off. I remember a former Interview I had with him under circumstances peculiarly try ing. It was when he was one of the New York Police Commissioners, and as such -was acting as Judge In the famous Sherry dinner scandal trial. At this din ner a fair but frail actress had been called In by some of the swells of the fast set and In light attire had danced amautch dance before them, to the hor ror of Christian New York. "While the testimony was being taken General Grant talked with me about his father, giving me graphic descriptions of his life at home and on the battlefield, and at the same time keeping the witnesses and crowd in check. He carried on the two lines of thought simultaneously; and his talk was a most excellent one. Fred Grant and His Father.. General Fred Grant grows . daily more like his father. He has the same stocky frame, the same plain, honest features and the same blunt manner. He Is just as unassuming as his father was, and he has much the same quiet common sense. He talks but little, but, once started, his words are full of meat, and his experiences have been such that he views the world in the broad. General Fred Grant is like his father In his fondness for military life. His lather was his hero, and it was at his own request that General Grant took him as a boy of 12 to the battlefield" and later on sent him to West Point. Little Fred was with his father during a great part of the war. He took part in five great battles, was twice shot and had many narrow escapes. He was on the flagship of Admiral Porter when the boats ran the batteries at Vicksburg, and he was wounded during the Vicksburg campaign. His wound was in the leg. It was only a flesh wound, but his leg is still paralyzed where the bullet struck. He told mo once how it felt when the ball cut him, saying that the first sensation was that of a great blow, following which was a pain liko a bee sting. He thought at first that ho was killed, and upon his showing his wound to one of the officers the officer told him to move his toes. This he did. "Whereupon the officer 6aid he was not badly hurt. Young Grant thereupon wrapped a cloth about his leg and remained In his saddle until the battle was over. Fred Grant In the Philippines. - After his graduation at "West Point General Grant was assigned to the Fourth Cavalry and rose to be its Lieutenant-Colonel. After. 10 years service he resigned and afterward became Min ister to Austria. He re-entered the Army at the beginning of the The Sunday Oregonian's Selected Fiction Copyright by McClure, Phillips Xs Co. PART L . THE ship was one mass Of incon gruities from stem to stern. To begin with, she wore the red, white and blue of Uncle Sam's Quartermaster's Department on her two big buff funnels and flew the British ensign. The greatest incongruity of the whole outfit was that of the ship's captain and his first mate. The captain was an ex Royal Navy officer of the frequent bluff, beefy, seagoing type, with a voice like a seallon and a hand like the fluke of a whale. The mate, on the other -hand, Impressed me as being the mongrel strain of two fine breeds. It was not easy to form an idea of what nationality he belonged to. One instinctively felt him to be a type without being able to say what. Some thought that he was an Egyptian, others a Mongol, a few sized him up as a "down East" Yankee. "Whatever he might be, he certainly possessed all of the earmarks of a gentleman both In appearance and behavior. I never knew of but one person tnat gauged him cor rectly for what he was," and that was myself. To one who had made tho study of anthropology that I had the man was absorbingly Interesting both mentally and physically. He stood about six feet in height and might have weighed 175 pounds. I saw him several times early In the morning taking a bath under the deck hose, and noticed that, when standings naturally, his arms hung well clear of his hips, reminding one of the figures of the men pictured In Egyptian hieroglyphics. His face was the most sinister that I have seen on any man, savage or civil Ized. The hair, straight, coarse and black, typically Indian, was brushed away from a brow broad and Intelligent enough, but carved straight across with out the slightest superciliary arch. Un derneath a pair of heavy brows there shone a pair of cold metallic eyes as fierce and unblinking as an eagle's. His nose was aquiline and keenly chiseled. and his mouth, thin-lipped and com pressed, was cut straight across his face like a gash. The man's actions were as striking as his appearance. He seemed incapable of slowness or deliberation. Once I saw him reach for a loose Toll of marlln stuff that was lying on the deck at the some time that one of the sailors stooped to pick it up. The rope was off tho deck. thrown into the bosun's chest near by and McKlm on his way aft before the sailor had straightened his back again. One could see at a glance that the transport captain hated tho sight of the mate, having, no doubt, the, usual Brit ish navy suspicion and dislike of any thing that acted Independently and of its own volition. The captain was for ever growling and faultfinding, and I often wondered just what effect it had upon the mate, for his face was as lmmo .bllo as a mask, and he would simply saluto and get to "work to remedy the matter. Tho clash which I plainly saw was imminent came at last, and In a most remarkable manner. The captain was just finishing his morning Inspection of tho ship, made in company with the quartermaster, cap tain-doctor and aids. As they came through the forward alleyway to reach the deck he noticed a small puddle of water formed by the condensation of the moisture on a waterplpe overhead. The mate was standing by the star board bltts at the foot of the compan- ionway leading to the deck above. "Mr. McKim!" growled the captain. The mate was at his sido in three quick steps. "Why don't you keep the water off the deck? What d'ye think this is a fishln' smack or a Sound coaster?" "You don't want tho pipe parceled, so it can't bo helped, sir," replied the mate. Ho said "can't" with the broad Maine accent. "The pipe's cold and the air's liot so the water's bound to condense!' "Eol very lnterestinT' sneered tho war with Spain, served in Potto Rico for a year and then went to the Philippines. I met him when he was leaving Porto Rico, and afterward visited him at Angeles, in Luzon. He there had a large military district under his charge, and we traveled over It together, visiting his several posts. Over mountain and valley, with a band of scouts In front of us to draw the fire from Filipinos in ambush, we rode, passing through many towns and villages, visiting camps in the wilds of the mountains and fording rivers. The ride was a hard one, for much of it was through the beds of streams so heavily wooded that we could, scarcely see the sky ror tno Drancnes overhead. At other times the grass was higher than our heads as we rode through it on our horses; I remember I had to hold my hands in front of my face to keep the grass blades from scratching it The trip almost wore me out, but Gen eral Fred Grant throve upon it and was fresher at the end than at the beginning. That was In 1899, when he was about 50 years of age. He Is now 55 and seems to be younger than ever. He succeeded well in the Philippines. He was engaged In several battles and In the guerilla war fare, which followed the active fighting. He was the first to bring his district to accept civil government. After I left hlni he was sent to Northern Luzon, then to Southern Luzon and later to Samar and Leyte, where he received the surrender of the last of the Insurgent forces. About a year ago he returned to the United States and took charge of the Depart ment of Texas. Since then he has been sent to Chicago. Philippines as Fred Grant See3 Them. I asked General Grant to give me his opinion or the future of the Philippines based upon his stay there. He replied: "I think the Islands a valuable pos session, and that they will eventually be an Important self-sustaining colony of the United States. They are of large extent and their soil is very rich. "So far the political conditions have been such that there has been but lit tle incentive to develop the island. Under the Spanish rule both church and state worked against rather than for the good of the common people. "Wages were low and the opportuni ties of the poor so few that there was but little Incentive to work and prac tically no hope of a poor man becom ing rich by his labor. This is' now changing. The projects under way to build railroads will result in cheap transportation and there will be a re arrangement of values all around.' "Will the people ever make good American citizens?" "I think they will, although it will be a long time before they will be able to govern themselves. If their govern ment was left to them as they now are, revolutions would be of frequent occurrence, and I doubt if the people would not soon be as badly off as they were in the days of the Spaniards. They need education, and this we are giving them. We are protecting their interests in every possible way, and I think they begin to realize it," The Riches of Luzon. "Do you think the islands are natur ally rich?" "Yes. Nearly all have excellent soil and there is much magnificent timber. Luzon has valleys which will raise sugar and rice, and these crops might be greatly increased by scientific cul- captain. "Well, mister mate, I want to tell ye that it will bo helped, by , or the deck '11 be gettln as rotten as tho crewf Get out the way!" He stepped across the puddle, and tho mate leaned back against the bulkhead to give him room to pass. Whether It was by accident or design 1 do not know, j although I suspect the latter, but the burly brute of a skipper, although the ship was steady and there was plenty of room, deliberately planted his great heavy-soled boot on the mate s Instep, at the same time brushing him roughly with his elbow. . I heard a low, soft gurgle the sound of a cat when stroked and saw the mate's hands flash up to the captain's waist, just above the belt It simply looked as though he had grasped him instinctively to take the weight from off his foot, but the next instant there -was a bellow of pain and fright that fairly shook the deck, and tho captain came lurching through tho door and reeled over against the rail. The high color had left his face, and It was drawn and tense. "My God!" he gasped; "my God!" I turned to him Instantly, and noticed that his shirt on both sides of his body was blood-soaked. I glanced for a mo ment toward the mate; AIb hands were hanging empty at his sides, and hl3 face was expressionless, but just for an in stant I caught the flat red gleam in both eyes. The captain was getting paler, and the perspiration stood out on his face In beads. I pulled up his shirt, and to my astonishment found not the cut that I expected, but a great semi-circular tear through skin and adi pose. The mate had torn the flesh apart with his hands!' No one seemed to know just what course to take In the matter. The ac tion was so grotesquely Inhuman that It didn't seem to fall under any definite jurisdiction so the captain-quartermaster decided to let the matter drop until we reached Manila and then ship a mate more canny In his actions. The next day I was leaning on the rail watching the little flying fish spattering out under the bows, when I was con scious of a light tread behind me. I looked over my shoulder and saw Mc Kim. "Good morning," I remarked casually. I was Intensely Interested in the man, but felt instinctively that, to betray it would be to fog the plate. "Good mornrlng, Dr. Boles," he an swered. He paused. a moment, then re marked suddenly1, "You saw me lose my temper with the captain yesterday?" "Yes," I sold; "you havo a strong grip, McKim. I've seen some queer wounds in my time, but never one made in that way." "What do you think they'll do about it?" ho asked. "I think you'll los your billet;" I an swered. "I don't care for that," said he. "All I wanted was to get out here. "What are you going to do?" I asked, carelessly. "Get a little vessel and trade around the Islands. Ican buy a 50-ton brig out here for five thousand." He regarded me silently for a few minutes. "Doctor," he said, I don't know why a man of your age, and an Englishman at that, should want to come out to this God forsaken place as an acting assistant sur goon In the army. There's no money in It and not much glory.' There was a bit of a sneer on his face as he said this. "Now, I've got a proposition to make. I want another man to go in with me on this trading scheme. There is no end of money In it. I've made two trips out here before, and know what I'm talking about. Do you know anything about a snip?" "A little," I said. "Whon will your time bo up?" he asked. "It's up now, as far as that's concerned. My contract was only made for a month." "Have you ever been in the East be fore?" ho asked. "Yes." I answered. "I once wont out to China as a medical missionary. Now I want to see the Filipinos. You ought to be interested in them yourself," I re marked', turning to him suddenly. "They're distant blood relations of yours." i "GROWS tivation. At present the farming is done In the rudest' way, some of the sugar mills being operated by water power or by water buffaloes. There is also much undeveloped country, and the mountains are said to contain vaT uable minerals. The islands have never been carefully prospecfed. As to the best forests, they have never been touched. The woods are of many His eyes narrowed. "What do you' mean?" "Haven't you got some Indian blood? North American, I mean;" "What makes you think so?" "Because I've studied racial peculiari ty and see many points of similarity." 'You are right, doctor. My grand mother was a Tuscarora woman." "And your grandfather?" "A Scotch Puritan," he answered, with a slight smile. "Queer combination, wasn't it? I was brought up among tho Indians until I was 12 years old, and then I was sent to my cousin's people In Maine." "And went to sea with the fishing fleet Summer on the banks and Winter on the farm," I added. "How do you know that?" "Partly because every one there's a fish erman, partly from the way you hold your hands." "Right again, doctor, but let me tell you more about my trading scheme." He explained the Idea with so much clearness and certainty that I began to get interested, and before he had finished I was about as enthusiastic as a man can be who has made a failure of everything he had tried from boyhood to his fortieth year. The outcome of it was that I de cided to go into it with him, he to bo master of tho vessel, with a three-quarter interest and I as mate, with a quarter. The proceeds would be shared on that ratio. When wo reached Manila McKim was Informed that his services were no longer required, as I had foreseen. I had rather more difficulty than I expected in getting mycontract annulled, and was, in fact, subjected to considerable criticism for leaving the service right upon arriving on the scene of action. But I had gotten past the age when sentiment counted for much, and I was sick and tired of taking orders from every one In sight, anyway; so I simply demanded that my contract be annulled, and In due time was success ful. McKim came in to see me almost every day. Most of his time was spent along the paslg and paddling around Inside the breakwater looking for a suitable vessel at a reasonable price. Until my contract was annulled I was occupied with my du ties in the First Reserve Hospital, where I had been temporarily assigned. One day I met him on the Escolta talking to a Spanish mestizo, who seemed greatly excited. "Good morning, doctor," he remarked in Spanish. "Senor Valdez," turning to the mestizo, "permit mo to Introduce my part ner, Dr. Boles. Senor Valdez," he con tinued to me, "owns a vessel that I think might answer our purpose were It not for tho sad fact that some of her frames and port of her keel ore badly burned as the result of a fire that broke out In her cargo a few months ago." Beforo we got through with him he was overjoyed to let us havo her at our own price, which was fair enough, and we made him throw In on extra anchor and 200 fathoms of three-Inch coir hawser. The following day McKim shipped a na tive crew, three Tagals. and two Vlsay ans. Hollo men, who afterward turned out to be brave, devoted servants. Our Idea was to run down among the southern Islands of tho archipelago and try to pick up a cargo of hemp and tobacco, espe cially the former, as the war had put the price 'way up. Many of tho ports were still closed, but natives can be Induced to run cargoes off at night and, besides, there were the pearls and copra to con sider. I was strongly in favor of a trip to Sydney or Melbourne after a load of trading junk, calico prints, condemned cutlery and stuff of that sort, knowing" how much the natives preferred these things to money. But McKim seemed to think there was more In getting our hands on all of the loose hemp around the Islands. A week later we had got our craft In pretty good seagoing shape. I had tho cabin aft slightly remodeled and raado very comfortable. Some Chlno carpenters had been strengthening the burned por tions, replacing some of the teak frames and fishing others in weak spots. One, aftornoon I was superintending the work, as McKim was ashore haggling with "Val dez about stores, . when I saw a banca DAILY MORE LIKE HIS FATHER" GENERAL FRED GRANT IN 1904 1 kinds, including some which will take a polish like mahogany. "One of the great values of the Isl ands," continued General Grant, "Is In their location. They lie right on the trade routes to Australia, China, Japan and India, and are thus a -good base for push ing our trade In the Far East. I see no reason why they should not grow more and more valuable as time goes on." "THE BACK TRACK" the biggest fattest Chinaman I ever saw. As he seemed to want to come aboard, I called to one of tho crew to drop the ladder for him. With amazing activity for a man of his size he came up over the sido and stood smiling at me placidly. It was easy to see that he was a person of some consequence, both from his brisket for only a wealthy Chinaman grows really fat, and from tho richness and care with which he was dressed. "Good afternoon," I remarked In Span ish. He answered fluently In the same tongue. "Is this Mr. McKlm?" he added. "No," said I; "he's ashore, but he'll be back soon. Come under the awning and sit down." At first he started to numn me about our plans, but I cut him short, gave him a cigar and went on about my work. In about an hour McKlm came aboard. "Who's that chap?" he asked. "Some Chinese compradore, I expect' said I. "Seems to be quite a swell In his way. Probably wants to sell us a few extra kegs of nails. Looks as If we might need 'em beforo we get back, too." I pushed a sprung piece of deck planking back Into place with my heel. McKlm walked aft A few minutes later he called to me. "Come here, will you, doctor. This gen tleman," said McKlm In Spanish, indi cating me, "is my partner, and whatever I do must bo; done with his consent Will you please state the proposition to him?" The big Chinaman looked at me with twinkling eyes; one would havo sworn that he was about to tell a funny story. "I have just been telling Mr. McKim," he said in very good Spanish, "that I wish to charter your vessel to carry a cargo for me from Hal Chin." "Where Is that?" I asked. "Ten miles up the Hal Chin River." "What Is the cargo?" said I, though I know what was coming. "Opium." "And where is It to be landed?" "Here; but I will attend to that my self. You will run no risk whatever." "And wo are to keep our mouths shut" , "That is, of course, understood; your own Interests would demand It" I looked at tho old scoundrel in ad miration. Ho was willing to trust European honesty to bring a valuable cargo across the China Sea, and was consistent enough to see that it would not do to try to persuado U3 to run it for him. But our being silent accesso ries of this act of smuggling did not seem to occur to him as crooked. In his Oriental code of ethics there could be no dishonesty where there was no risk of punishment. I looked at Mc Klm. His face was ns expressionless as the Chinaman's. Then I turned to the latter. "How largo a cargo?" I asked. "Altogether, including a few bales of silk, about what you could load Into a casco." "And tho compensation?" I "Two thousand pesos." J I shrugged my shoifldors disdain fully. "I have lived In China for many years," I said, "and I know the danger of loading a cargo of opium; also of getting it away from that part of the coast "'The place you speak of being shallow and dangerous and full of pi rates we risk losing' our brig and, as you know, our lives as well! I caught McKlm s eye. "What do you think of it?" he asked in English. ' "It's worth while," I answered, ''and he will give us ten thousand; let's do It" McKlms sinister faco almost beamed, ''Good," he said; "I thought you wouldn't be foolish about It You see we don't have anything to do with landing the stuff. And It isn't smug gling." "Yes It Is." said I, "and 1 don't give a hang if it Is. If I can make a dollar without breaking God's commandments I'll do It The devil for those mado by fool legislators!" I turned to the Chi naman. "Wo won't take a peseta less than ten thousand pesos," I said, "and if you try to beat us down we'll raise our nrlco." I here turned the conversation to the Russian-Japanese War, but this General Grant refused to discuss, saying that he was an officer of the United States Gov eminent, which held on absolutely neutral position, and it would, therefore, be im proper for him to criticize either army or to discuss the possibilities of Its success or failure. Said he: "We are friendly to both the Japanese The Chinaman still smiled and his eyes twinkled merrily. It is a bargain," he said; "do you want an agreement signed?" "Oh, no," said I, "it's not necessary, ,but we want tho money before we transfer tho cargo to your lighters." Very well, you shall have It Now, if you will come to my office tomorrow morning I will give you all the neces sary Information." "One moment," said McKlm. "How Is it that you dare Intrust such a valu able cargo to strangers and foreign ers?" The Chinaman smiled joyously and emitted a few happy little chuckles. "I cannot fro myself," he said; "It Is necessary to trust some one, and I have found that white men of the better class are honest Besides, there will be more cargoes to carry. Tho following day we went over to Manila and saw our patron. He ex plained in detail what was required of us, at the same time giving sugges tions as to the easiest way of accom plishing tho undertaking. It was easy to see that the thing had been done before, and not to his satisfaction. We were to clear In ballast for the open ports of tho southern Islands, ostensi bly after a general cargo of rice, to bacco, coffee, hemp, sugar, etc., and, once clear of the land, were to .make all haste across the China Sea, run. Into the estuary of the Hal Chin River and drop anchor. Then we were to charter a boatman to take a letter about 20 miles up the river to a place called Wal Fu, lying In the foothills of the Yan Chin Mountains. Tho following night a small Junk would come alongside from which wo would transfer our cargo. On our way back wo wero to call at Cebu, where a general cargo would be quickly put aboard. Then wo were to break out the hemp and bale it up around the opium and silk. If there were any questions about the time it took us to go from Manl7a to Cebu we were to answer that we had got aground and sprung a leak, so that it was necessary to beach her for re pairs. This story the appearance of our craft would amply justify. Our patron promised us that- there would be no risk to us, as he would give us an order duly made out to carry his cargo, of wljlch, of course, wo would not be expected to know any more than Its general appearance seemed to Justify, from Cebu to Ma nila. Once anchored in Manila Bay the whole work of discharging would be taken by him, and all It would be necessary for us to do would bo to show him tho manifest signed by his Chinese partner and receive our pay. The whole trip should not take over six Weeks. Three days later we sailed. Much to my surprise, the Purisslma proved to bo a fairly gdod traveler, and It was truly a marvel tho way the old coffin would get to windward. McKlm had made a few alterations In her rig and had given her a tremendous foro and aft mainsail, which made her some thing between a brlgantrne and a her maphrodite hrlg. It had a queer. look, but it helped her wonderfully In get ting Up Into tho wind. Our crew turned out very well., They all bunked forward, of course, and seemed to got on peacefully enough. McKlm had the starboard watch with the two Tagals. and I the port with the VIsayans. The old man cooked. An Incident had occurred on our way across thnt I must not forget On tho morning of the second day out McKlm came on deck to relieve me at eight bells, and beforo I went below to got my breakfast he dipped up a bucket of water from over tho side and threw off his clothes for a bath. I was watch ing him casually, for his quick, lithe motions always had a fascination for me, and I noticed around his neck a sort of r.osary, which, when I observed more closely, seemed to bea dlmlnutlvo Imitation of those peculiar ancient ro saries that have frequently been found In use In China, Tibet, North America and Old Mexico. I believe they have also been dug up with the relics un earthed from the ancient tumuli of tho mound builders. "Why do you wear that thing, Mc and Russians, and we have been so for i many years. We deprecate the war they are waging, but we do not feel that we have the right to Interfere with either nation nor to critlslse it." "But, General, can you not point out some of the peculiar features of their warfare. This is the first war of the 20th century, and it is being waged after 20th century methods; have not many new in ventions been brought into use and new ways of fighting developed?" "If what we see in the papers is true I might say yes to that," said General Grant. "But we have no reports as yet that can be absolutely relied upon, and none upon which one would dare to base an opinion. New and powerful explosives seem to have been discovered, the wire less telegraph ho3 been operated for the first time and other new things are, it Is said. In use. We shall get the facts as to such matters through the Information bureaus of the Army and Navy, but that will not be before the war is over. It will then be time enough to express an opin ion." United States Army In 1904. "What Is the present condition of the United States Army?" "It is steadily Improving. Our soldiers are better trained from year to year. They have better habits, there is less drunken ness and they have higher Ideaiss." "How about profanity, General Grant? It is said that the United States soldier Is the wickedest swearer on earth." "I don't believe that," said General Grant. "I know we have many soldiers who use profane language, but they are individual cases. There are many who do not swear at all. Profanity is, as you know, prohibited by the army regula tions."' At this point tho conversation turned to profanity among the officers, and I asked General Grant as to whether the stories that his father used profane language were true. He replied that they were not and that he had never heard his father use a profane word. Said he: "My father once told me that he had never uttered an oath in his life. I know that he did not use even the ordinary expletlves and that he was averse to slang. I once heard him say 'thunder and lightning,' and once or twice thunder,' but as he drew toward the latter part of his life he did not use even such expressions. He was a man of much natural refinement. He never told a vul gar story nor would he listen to one if he could help it." The American Soldiers of Today. "Then you think our soldiers are grow ing better?" "Yes. The character of our army always Improves when the army has something to do. Since the Spanish War we have had our hands full, and there has been plenty of active service. Army life is now busier than ever. The people have a higher re gard for the soldier than they have had during the latter years of peace, arid the soldiers feel it. .The profession of the common soldier Is more desirable and I think I may say we are making better soldiers from year to year." "Would you advise a young man to go Into the army?" "That would depend much on the man, upon his character, his condition and his ambitions," said General Grant. "If he Is anlxous to make a fortune the army Is no place for him. If he has natural busi - By Henry C 'Rowland Klm?" I asked. He flushed and then looked rather vexed. "It belonged to my grandmother," he answered shortly. "It is an amulet Here, boy, throw that water over me," he added, turning to one of the sailors. I saw that he was touchy about the thing-, so I mado no further comment, but went below. The little bay where we dropped an chor was a fine harbor, landlocked on all sides by high, bold, rounded nills, naked of vegetation and studded with great black granite boulders; a wild, desolate place and uninhabited except for a few fishermen's huts art the shore. Wo got hold of a couple of coolies who came out in a sailing sanpan, and after much haranguing, for their dialect was different from any that I had encoun tered in my missionary work, made them understand what we wanted, and that there would bo twice the amount of money paid them when they re turned. Our patron's agent was to send us back a scrap of paper bearing a character of which we held tho dupli cate to indicate that our message had been received. Tho following day the messengers re turned, so I got everything in readiness to receive our cargo. The silk was to go down in the foro peak under some extra sails and the opium under a false flooring beneath our cabin. I had seen enough of Chinese character not to trust it too far, so I got out my Colt's revolver and care fullyoIIed and loaded It, getting McKlm to do the same. Then I armed the sailors with heavy knives that I had secured before leaving Manila, and cautioned them again turning their backs on the crew of tho dhow. Thel night cam a down dark and murky, and blotted out tho shore lino except where Here and there the shoulder of some great overhanging hill loomed blackly against the somber sky. The water was dead and dismal. Not a rlpplo nor a flicker of phosphorescence came from the sea, though now and then I felt the puff of a chilly land breeze, smelling of mol3t earth and rotting seaweed. I was leaning on tho rail trying to cheer myself with a reflective pipe, for my spir its were low, and thinking of tho altered conditions between my first and second trips to China the first as a missionary, the second as a smuggler. Suddenly I caught the faint "chunk-a-chunk" that the great stern sculling oar of a freight sampan makes upon Its thole pin. I called McKim, who came up through the companlonway buckling on his gun. Wo listened together, and presently heard the soft "pat, pat" of naked feet as tho coolies who wore scul ling the craft threw the weight first on one foot and then on tho other. Our crew were gatherer together forward In a llttlo black huddled knot, and presently one' of them crawled stealthily aft. "What Is it?" I asked in a whisper. The man pointed hi3 skinny arm into the darkness. Following the direction there suddenly resolved itself from the gloom a great square opacity that stood out against tho denser darkness behind. It puzzled mo a first, and then I made It out to be the big black sail of the dhow, which had been hoisted to catch the fitful puffs of the, night breeze. Our anchor light was burning a dead yellow. I went .below, and, lighting a powerful lantern we had got-for the pur pose, hoisted It on a halliard that I had reeved through a little block lashed to the spring stay the day before. The light flared suddenly on the big sail of tho dhow, that was now close aboard. A patter of muffled orders in a guttural voice came from her decks. "Hollo," said I. "Stand by for a line." "E-ee yah aa " came a voice in answer. I sent a heaving line uncoiling snaklly through tho darkness. It fell athwart her decks and In a moment wo had her moored bow and stern. McKlm dropped our sea ladder and Immediately the Crew of the dhow, came swarming up. I couldn't see any use for more than the captain, 30 I shoved the rest of the mob back and hauled up the ladder. A light whip had been rigged from the main topsail yard arm, and I ordered our crew to man it. and In a moment the bales and boxes . came swinclne over tho side. No at- ness ability he can perhaps do better out side, but If he has a desire for the ser vice and Is anxious to improve himself in It, I think it offers many advantages. Tho common soldier 13 better paid, better fed and better clad than the ma jority of his same rank outside the army. He gets his lodging, food and raiment free, and has $13.50 a month out or wnicn he ho3 to pay only wash bills. If he Is a good man he can make a great deal more, outside of that. So you see his con dition Is by no means a bad one." "Has he any chance to become an Of ficer?" "Yes, Indeed. The army Is always advancing those of the privates who are worthy. There are regular examinations for promotion, and the young man who would rise can do so If he has It in him." "How many soldiers have we now In the army?" "About 59.00Q." "Is that enough?" I asked. "Wo. could use more: and when the for tifications now building are completed we shall require more." School Cadets and the Militia. "How about the military spirit among our young men; does It grow?" "Yes. It has become associated with the schools, both public and private. We are drilling school cadets by tho tens of thousands every year all over the country and are training them In' case we should need them In the wars of the future. The militia Is very strong everywhere. Indeed, we have now a vast amount of reserve material upon which we can call should it be needed. The American, trained or untrained, is, you know, always ready to enter the army If his country needs him. In thl3 respect the United States has a strong fighting machine. If all our men from 18 to 44, which should be considered the mllltla age, were In the army, we should, in round numbers, have IC.000,000 fighting men. Of these about 14.000.000 would bo white, and the re mainder colored. Military Education in Europe. "How about the military systems of Europe, where every boy Is required to spend so much of his life In the army? Would they be good for this country 1" "I do not think our people would con sent to that, and our geographical situa tion Is such that we do not need it. There are, however, advantages in the military systems of Europe. The armies there are great schools in which the young men are taught obedience to law and good citizen ship. They are taught sanitation and the laws of health, and by the exercises and drill forced upon them the nation in dividually and collectively Is Improved. These are some of tho compensations for ' the loss to the nation of the work of the young men for several years. I do not wish to say that the system ought to be adopted here." "Does the army have much trouble in securing recruits. General?" "No, there are always men who want to be soldiers. We treat our Boldiers better than almost any other nation, and we have little trouble in recruiting. When tho times are hard the applications In crease." "How about the desire to be officers?" "That seems to be born In a large pro portion of our American boy3. There are always ten applicants for every vacancy at West Point." (Copyright, 1904.) FRANK G. CARPENTER. empt was made 'to examine them, as we were simply to receive what was sent and receipt for the total number of pieces. The Chinaman who had come aboard carried a piece of paper in his hand which he signified that he wanted signed. McKlm carried It below. The Chinaman stood beside the hatch waiting for him to come up. I was busy tallying In the boles, the last of which was just coming aboard, but something. I don't know what. Impelled me to watch that China man out of the tall of my eye. And as I watched the bales with ono eye and tho man with the other I saw his hand sud denly slide down to his belt and caught the flash of the cargo light on naked steel. "Look out McKlm!" I shouted. A wild, eerie scream came in answer and a wave of dark, agile figures came pouring suddenly over the bow and stern. My gun was out In a flash, and I cut down on the man at the head of the companlonway, who, with another scream even wilder than the first, lurched head long Into the scuppers. The next moment McKlm was on deck, and together we leaped onto tho deckhouse. Up forward our sailors were fighting for their lives, and for a moment they stayed the rush from that direction, giving me time to reach under our dinghy, which we carried lashed bottom side up on the deckhouse, and to slip out the heavy teak tiller which was shoved under the after thwart It was well that I did so, far our revolvers were quickly emptied into the faces of the mob, and the next mo ment we were back to back fighting a blind and hopeless fight against over powering odds. McKim had got hbld of a long iron cap stan brake that he had torn from the hands of one of the assailants, and was lashing about him like a wildcat I had thrown my empty revolver into a man's face, and, gripping the tiller with both hands. wa3 getting In blow after blow as opportunity offered, parrying occasion al thrusts as best I could. For what seemed a long time we beat them back as fast as they leaped up at us, then sud denly something heavy struck me in the chest and over I went with a crash, and the next moment was almost suffocated In writhing, gripping forms, and remem ber with disgust the abominable stench of opium mingled with a nasty, fishy smell that was overpowering. My arms were wrenched back until I thought that my shoulder blades would go, and turn after turn of thin bark twine was whip ped around and cut deep Into my wrists. Although repeatedly struck and cuffed I did not lose consciousness, and the mo3t distinct Impression retained Is that of McKlm. the clothes torn away from the upper part of his body, a great, gaping gash over his eye from which the blood spattered over his demoniacal face, which was working grotesquely in the dim. flick ering light from the cargo lantern, and even at the tlmo -I was struck by the weird similarity of his face to those about him. So quick were his actions that they seemed unable to reach him with any weapon; then suddenly some great object flew up from tho crowd. There was tho scrunching noise of Iron on bono, arid the next moment he was gone. (Concluded next week.) O, Fain Would I. Anon. O. fain would I, before I 4le, Bequeath to the a legacy. That thou may'st say. when I am gone. None had my heart but thee alone! Had I as many hearts as hairs, Aa many lives aa lovers' fears. As many lives as years have hours, They all and only should be yours! Dearest, before you condescend - To entertain a bosom-friend. Be sure you know your servant well Before your liberty you sell: For love's a Are in young and old. Tls sometimes hot and sometimes cold. And now you know that, when they please. They can be sick of love's disease. Then wisely choose a friend that may Lnut for an age, and not a day. Who loves thee not for lip or eye. But for thy mutual sympathy! Let such a friend thy heart encase. For he will comfort thee In age. And klsa thy wrinkled, furrowed brow With as much Joy as I do now. 1
