no The Rough Riders 



bandage, but informed him that he would have to be 

 sent back to the States when an ambulance came 

 along. 



The ambulance did not come until the next 

 day, which was the day before we marched to San 

 Juan. It arrived after nightfall, and as soon as 

 Bell heard it coming, he crawled out of the hos- 

 pital tent into the jungle, where he lay all night; 

 and the ambulance went off without him. The men 

 shielded him just as school-boys would shield a 

 companion, carrying his gun, belt, and bedding; 

 while Bell kept out of sight until the column start- 

 ed, and then staggered along behind it. I found 

 him the morning of the San Juan fight. He told 

 me that he wanted to die fighting, if die he must, 

 and I hadn't the heart to send him back. He did 

 splendid service that day, and afterward in the 

 trenches, and though the rupture opened twice 

 again, and on each occasion he was within a hair's 

 breadth of death, he escaped, and came back with 

 us to the United States. 



The army was camped along the valley, ahead of 

 and behind us, our outposts being established on 

 either side. From the generals to the privates all 

 were eager to march against Santiago. At day- 

 break, when the tall palms began to show dimly 

 through the rising mist, the scream of the cavalry 

 trumpets tore the tropic dawn; and in the evening, 



