september - october - Fort Sill

THE FIELD ARTILLERY JOURNAL
"Hey, Jonsey, come here. Bring your drum." The bugler led the
two to a corner hidden by stacks of equipment, where after a short
explanation the drummer loosened the drum and with a final pat the
Supply Sergeant put Chum inside and the drum was tightened up.
Chum was perfectly quiet. He was in the hands of his friends, if they
chose to put him in this queer resting place he would not object. When
the lighter came up to the pier and they marched on he still held his
peace, although three men held their breaths as the drum passed the
sharp-nosed lieutenant. Not a sound came from the dog, and the
officer merely nodded as he checked the men aboard.
This was the last barge off and the Colonel and the Brigade
Commander were on it. They stood up in the bow watching the men
filing on.
"Well, Colonel," said the Brigadier, "now that they are all off the soil
of France I feel that the war is over. By the way, my aide tells me that
your little black dog was sent ashore. They're very strict on this ship."
"What, Chum? Oh, I wish I'd known. I might have been able to do
something. He was the pet of the regiment. I wonder who has him."
Then spying the Supply Sergeant he called, "Sergeant, what happened
to Chum?"
The Sergeant came forward and saluted. "A Navy officer made me
take him off," he said, trying to look dejected.
"To whom did you give him?"
"I gave him to a soldier who will take good care of him," answered
the Sergeant truthfully.
"I wish I'd known. They might have let me bring him on board." He
turned to the Brigadier and the Supply Sergeant, tactfully slipped away,
lest he divulge his secret too soon.
As the barge neared the ship the Brigade Commander made a
suggestion to the Colonel. "They tell me that as soon as this last load is
on, our ship is going out. I think it would be a good thing to have your
band play us out of the harbor. Send them up on the upper deck as soon
as they get on board, and they can start playing at once."
The Colonel agreed—he was proud of his band—and gave the
necessary orders, greatly to the consternation of the three
conspirators who had planned to quietly withdraw Chum from his
hiding place. To no avail, for under the watchful eye of the leader
the band was formed and marched direct to the upper deck. The
troops turned out on the lower decks as the musicians tuned up and a
circle of officers formed around the music. With a clanking the
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