The weekly union record., 1864-06-18

might ask af,er our last biscuit, which bg that
time must have completely succumbed TO my
gastric Juices. So We sat il silence, and
finished the cold grog.
Il say said Maurice al length, In hungry"
so sm l." said |.
Il should like chop" said Whiiewash.
There was pause. and then Maurice con
tinued-'fhe major had leg Of mutton taken
into bis tent to night"
Nonsense !" calculated WhitewsSh and l.
simultaneously.
Fact" said our informant "some Of the
fellows of the 09,h nailed sheep. and had it
cut up in no time; and believe old Bruius
man stole it from them for the major. TIE
beggar knows bed have 10 cook it. and be able
to stick his teeth into some part or another.
leave alone The sop 10 the pan"
Whilewash gave sort of smack with his
lips, and something resembling sigh escaped
mine.
Il say said the Yankee, a, last, whats
foraginsE
"Taking care Of number one replied l.
Helping yourself" chined in Maurice
"'Tlsn't stealing, is II p said Whitewash
"Of course not" We echoed
"Oh, but, said |, "the msj jor is not an enemy"
"Ain't he, though" said Maurice hes
no friend of NINE"
The calls of nature must be satisfied" said
Whtewasb.
"A nd this is an enemys country" suggested
Maurice
so it is,' said I, land if l thought the
majors fellow had s,okn the mutton, why,
VT d have il, but"
'Oh, said Maurice, I'VE might be found out"
Not bit OF it, said Whitewash
We were all silent again for some time,
during which put few more sticks on the,
fire. SO that it gave out cheerful glow,
Frightening up the dirty canvas of the tent
Pity TO waste such good fire. sighed
Maurice. l feelingly asseuted 10 this.
Yes broke in our Yankee friend, "some
slices would frzzle well in front there"
Our heads, somehow. got closer together.
and the demon Famine must have given an
extra grip 10 our inner man, for Maurice began
tearing up letter into three pieces, which
pieces be then folded into strips. pipehghter
fashion but of different lengths Not a word
was spoken for We all seemed. conspirator like.
to divine each others thoughts until Maurice
held the ends of the strips out tor Us to draw
from saying. as be did so-"Shortest goes"
The Yankee and | both drew, aud to nv
disgust found that held the shortest piece.
Maurice the next, and he Yankee the longest.
well said |, gloomily, "how am to gel il?"
SILT the tent, and seize hold OF it," said the
Irishman.
"Ah, that's the way" said Whitewash.
Just so" said /, buttoning up, and putting
Oh my great coat.
Look alive, old boy" said Maurice, poking
the fire. IN watch for you, and whistle if
anything goes wrong" said our companion
and, with sigh of despair, issued out into
the cold, dark night
1t must have been about ten o'clock, and a
mizzling Scotch sort of mist was creeping
through the camp. | had not far to go, for
the majors tent was only about fifty yards off.
and over this space, thckly covered with tents,
threaded my way, with much the same sort
OF ieeilng as must pervade the bosom Of an
unhardened burglar; but the sensation of the
stomach rose up and trsmpled down all scruples.
crept cautiously up TO the tent. and, piercing
tiny hole in the canvas, peeped in. The
major was doz ng on his camp stool. and the
candle, burning Oh the table, displayed to nv
hungry gaze roughly hacked of. but very
fine, leg of mutton, hanging to the tent-pole,
and, of course, quite out of reach from hole
in the canvas. This was quite enough for me-
So carefully retraciDg my steps, | told my tale
to my comrades.
why didn't You slip in an take it, as be
was asleep?'
"Ah, 10 be sure" echoed the American.
with suarl why didn't you?'
had no reason 10 give, and sulkily told the
lrshman to try himself This did not seem to
suit his inclination. nevertheless be prepared TO
make the attempt. We followed him at
distance and as be neared the tent we could
see his dark body in relief against the canvas
He had evidently made hole, and was recon
noliering; and, after few minutes, he moved
slowly towards the entrance, and suddenly fell
down. We heard noise and an imprecatiop
and then turned and fed
We had scarcely got into the tent, when our
companion came hurrying in, muddy. and with
his nose bleeding. Il forgot those confouuded
tent ropes, he growled and here's pretty
deuce Of mess I'm in"
where's the mutton? ?" we both asked.
grinning at bis misfortune and I, for nv part.
rather rejoicing at his i'll success.
"ln the tent, where its likely to stav.n
growled Maurice; "for the.deuce OF slice will
you get this night. He's fastened in, and
sleeps like cat. with one eye open"
, "Ah, laid Whitewash. with a sneer, Il
expected | should have 10 fetch it."
Well. go ahead, and show your nation
! AMY, shlu /.
wait bit. and perhaps that eye will shut,
, and then we'll see'
We sat for about quarter of an hour and
then our companion quietly stole ont of the
tent, while we waited bis return in silence. Ten
minutes elapsed, and then we were startled by
the sharp crack of revolver. We sprang to
, our feet, and looked horror stricken in each
others faces; but there was no time for
, thOup hi n
! of drum, followed By Others, and bugle after
bngle sounded the a>semblee FEET were tramp
f ling in all directions, and we buried out. and
+ fell in with our company of which Whiewash
, was ensign. l looked in vain for him. and was
beginning to have dire forebodings' as 10 his
fate when | saw him slip into his place.
, Whispered inquiries passed along the ranks
as to what was wrong. and whether a night
!. attack had been made. but no one knew the
cause Of The alarm. No videttes had been
driven in, and 20 further alarm took place. so