Transcriber's Note: Minor typographical errors have been corrected without note. Irregularities and inconsistencies in the text have been retained as printed. Words printed in italics are noted with underscores: _italics_. WOUNDS IN THE RAIN _War Stories_ BY STEPHEN CRANE _Author of_ "The Red Badge of Courage," "Active Service," "War is Kind," etc. New York Frederick A. Stokes Company _Publishers_ Copyright, 1899, by S. S. MCCLURE COMPANY. Copyright, 1899, by THE CURTIS PUBLISHING COMPANY. Copyright, 1899, by FRANK LESLIE PUBLISHING HOUSE (Incorporated). Copyright, 1900, by FREDERICK A. STOKES COMPANY. _All Rights Reserved._ TO Moreton Frewen THIS SMALL TOKEN OF THINGS WELL REMEMBERED BY HIS FRIEND STEPHEN CRANE. BREDE PLACE, SUSSEX, _April_, 1900. CONTENTS THE PRICE OF THE HARNESS 1 THE LONE CHARGE OF WILLIAM B. PERKINS 33 THE CLAN OF NO-NAME 42 GOD REST YE, MERRY GENTLEMEN 74 THE REVENGE OF THE ADOLPHUS 107 THE SERGEANT'S PRIVATE MADHOUSE 138 VIRTUE IN WAR 152 MARINES SIGNALLING UNDER FIRE AT GUANTANAMO 178 THIS MAJESTIC LIE 190 WAR MEMORIES 229 THE SECOND GENERATION 309 WOUNDS IN THE RAIN THE PRICE OF THE HARNESS I Twenty-five men were making a road out of a path up the hillside. The light batteries in the rear were impatient to advance, but first must be done all that digging and smoothing which gains no encrusted medals from war. The men worked like gardeners, and a road was growing from the old pack-animal trail. Trees arched from a field of guinea-grass which resembled young wild corn. The day was still and dry. The men working were dressed in the consistent blue of United States regulars. They looked indifferent, almost stolid, despite the heat and the labour. There was little talking. From time to time a Government pack-train, led by a sleek-sided tender bell-mare, came from one way or the other way, and the men stood aside as the strong, hard, black-and-tan animals crowded eagerly after their curious little feminine leader. A volunteer staff-officer appeared, and, sitting on his horse in the middle of the work, asked the sergeant in command some questions which were apparently not relevant to any military business. Men straggling along on various duties almost invariably spun some kind of a joke as they passed. A corporal and four men were guarding boxes of spare ammunition at the top of the hill, and one of the number often went to the foot of the hill swinging canteens.