Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1885-06-20


waving the little scent stars and stripes
overhead, there in the midst of the dal k
and gathering circle of soldiers under the
oaks.
The general turned, stopped and caught
the child in his arms.
keep your pretty little flag and wave
it when and where you like. You don't
know the difference, and wish l didn't
know the difference. Here, Zeb, take
care of the kid. We can't do less; and
may be it will bring us luck. What do
you cay, boys?
THE INFANT OF THE REGIMENT.
The wild shout that shook the leaves
of the oaks overhead startled the advo-
cate for discipline, and, turning to Zeb as
he strobe away in the night for another
part of the camp, he shouted, Silence
and Zeb, discipline, discipline! Damn
it, discipline or death, say!' and he
was gone.
They gathered about the wide-eyed,
rosy faced orphan with its little flag and
red apple, and many black and white
and not over clean hand reached out to
toy with and stroke the hair of gold that
hung heavy as corn silks in the summer
time over the lads shoulders II found
it in fence corner" said Zeb, "all shiv-
erin and its daddy and nanny shot
down by bullets when we stormed the
place."
eyes, and dar war rabbit right aside
OBJ him." said black face back in the
dark over another n ans shoulder.
"An' golly, we kotched and eat de rab-
Bit" chuckled another black man.
"Wall, we'll keep the kid, keep him
till the COWS cone home" And with a
grunt of universal approval from all as
they gradually melted away, old Zeb
hoisted the little one high on his collos-
sal shoulders, and turned suddenly to
look and to listen, for there was shout
down the hill and sudden sharp volley
of shots above, beyond the hay stacks.
It began to look as if the little squad of
raiders had got into blight. Shouts of
the enemy down the hill; shouts of the
enemy up tho hill beyond the hay stacks.
Which way should the surprised and
panic stricken soldiers fly? The collos-
sal old Virginia sergeant, with the child
on his massive shoulders, was the only
officer in charge. The blacks were hid
ing behind trees, behind each other, un-
der saddles, blankets, anywhere. The
shouts of the advancing enemy came
loud and clear from below and very near.
The camp fire, the song of the soldiers
had done the mischief. This little squad
of ragged, panic stricken night raiders
was doomed. The leaves began to fall
like autumn timber over old Zeb, the
tall, angular old sergeant.
ABATTLE AND BABY ON HAND.
What plight for soldier! A battle
on hand and babe in his arms. The
old sergeant came near throwing it away
with the heap of negroes hiding under
the saddles. Where was Stewart? The
sergeant put his hand to his ear and
listened as best he could between the
sharp volleys from below that were ruin.
ing the prospects Of next years acorn
crop in the trees overhead. He could
hear the clatter of iron hoofs on the
high ridge to the west. The moon was
setting large and round and low. Over
the bare crest of this hill and against
the moon he could see the confederate
cavalry pouring in impetuous flight.
Stewart, the cautious and wary leader,
had escaped.
"Come, men! We must follow our
general on foot-any way to get out of
this. Come! Up by the hay stacks and
on over the ridge"
hill to pass the hay stacks. The child,
as if it was afraid it might fall, wound
it's little left arm affectionately about the
great gray shock of hair. And that litele
act saved it; that accidental show o
affection won the old fellows heart en-
tirely. Why, he would not have pitched
it aside with the terrified negroes for
gold.
Up the hill he led swiftly, the men
following in groups, knots, singly, armed,
unarmeC, limping, leaning, erect in all
manners of ways, only 90 as to escape
the ferocieus federals charging up the
hill from below. They could see the
points of shining bayonets entering their
camp by the light of the burning
fence rails as they fed ont of it, and the
black color had nearly all faded from the
flying confederates a. they neared the
hay stack.
Here the gray headed old sergeant,
with the child on his shoulder, paused
for q moment right under the hay stacks
to get his bearings. The moon had fall.
len down behind the crest of the hill. 1t
was nearly dark now. The federal bayo-
nets were only few feet in the rear.
The ragged and demoralised confeder-
ates huddled close and helpless up and
after the tall and grizzled old giant, who
stood there looking out which way to
lead them, with the child on his shoulder,
it's little left arm hngging the great
shaggy gray head, its right one holding
the flag.
The tall, gray soldier threw up his
great heavy hand to his brow, and look
ed out under his broad palm to try and
see which way to lead.
DEATH IN FRONT AND REAR.