The National tribune., 1885-11-19

light of the line Horton heard and saw wha
| was going on, and believing that in some wa,
| his Captain had found out about and approved
of his carrying along the stores, he rode zeal
| Ously forward to assist in the exchange.
Dir. Allyn, I'll take your right caisson ant
| leave you this one. think your team is a lit
| tie the better though there are none of then
very bad. l am going to cross now and g
ahead with Perkins. 1 leave you in charge 0
| the battery. BY the way Mr.. Horton, thi
| isn't
THE EMPTY CAIssoN, Is IT?
"It's as full as sardine box, SIR" replied
Horton with smile, believing everything wa
understood and inwardly proud of having
| secret with his Captain. "One hundred an(
| twenty rounds, sir, and well packed"
And then the gallant six-horse team wa
wheeled from the line and, hauling after it the
| stock in trade of a Partisan cafe, followed Stan
| ley to the boat.
Capt Stanley meant they should go all the
| timc," soliloquized the selfsatisfied Horton
but he didn't exactly like to do it; now, if
| hadn't done it. he would have thought me foo
| forever after"
| Stanley found his guns embarking when he
reached the boat. The caisson joined them
| and the General readily granted him permis
sion to go along with his section.
"And | am going, too" said Graves, riding
to his side. THAT is, if you have so far recov.
cred your temper as to make it safe for man
to come near you and I'll tell you what we
are up to as we cross the bay"
The transit was speedily accomplished; the
gunboat Estrella covering the landing of the
party, and Graves had hardly time to tell his
story.
"We are on our way to Texas. 1t seems the
French are making such Roadway in Mexico
that our Government fear they may take no.
tion to enter Texas and help the rebels. Our
flag doesn't fly to-day over an inch of that
State, and it is important it should-and at
once; so we are to push through to make a
show there, with all possible speed. The force
we are likely to encounter will not be large
that is, the General don't think it will be
large; but he wants Perkins to beat them up
well and make them show all they have, if
possible. The rest of our command will come
to-day if there is transportation enough. am
going along with this advance for to-day, so as
to observe and report to the General what we
see. Have drink"
He unslung n curious wooden keg from his
shoulder and offered it to Stanley
"Not drink" sighed the Captain, as he
thought of his Burgundy. "Not drink! So
we are off fer Texas. And I suppose our bag
gage will be sent forward when we have occu-
pied the State; only about 240, 900 square miles,
my boy; only an empire; and when we have
1t fairly in our grasp we shall have our baggage;
On, yes! see.
BANG! WENT GUN
from the Estrella, directed at a party of the
enemy, who, mounted and watchful of the
approaching expedition, slowly retired beyond
the range OF hre, moving up the road which
ran parallel to the bay, and at the same instant
the transport reached the landing and the
party was speedily disembarked.
Cook likes to have something to say in this
matter" said Graves, as a second shot from the
gunboat doomed over the water. "But it is
waste of powder to fire after those scouts.
Come. Stanley, let's find Capt. Perkins and see
what he means to do"
Capt. Perkins was easily found at the head
of the little column now formed on the road
near the shore
L want to move with all possible speed" he
said to the officers as they approached; "but,"
he continued, turning to Graves, perhaps the
General wishes Capt. Stanley OF yourself to
have command, since he has sent you both
along"
My dear Perkins" interrupted Stanley, az
am only volunteer in the party. I wont even
take charge of the section of artillery Brooks
has charge of that; SO move with all the speed
you like; and, 1 can tell you, the artillery will
keep up with you"
"And as for me" said Graves az am only
looker-On to report to the General. You are in
full lcharge-Generalissimo and Commander-in-
Chief"
The brave but sensitive cavalryman smiled
good nataredly.
every well, gentlemen. This is my plan:
small advance of, say, Is men or so, merely to
make sure We don't stumble too suddenly on
the main body of the enemy-though the fact
is there is no main body within hundred miles
of US, and then the rest of us follow close on
them; and If there is chance now and then,
shot from our guns will stir them up and be
likely to bring out any force they may have
within hearing. l think we can push on to
Opeousas, or nearly there and return with the
report of clear field. understand the Es-
trella is to keep on our flank, but don't mean
to wait for her."
And Cook evidently doesn't mean to wait
for you; there he goes heading up towards the
Teche like railroad tran," said Graves, point
ing to the gunboat, which was now at a dis
tance from them, moving to the mouth of the
bayou and as he spoke the Estrella fired another
gun.
well, if she wants to play skirmisher for the
party let her do so; but it's no good. The enemy
hide themselves in the underground on the
side of the bayou and let her pass through and
go along without minding her heavy guns; but
my advance is now well ahead of u.s. and we will
move"
The whole party advanced at a brisk walk
the hOofs of the horses tramping and the wheels
of the gun carriages rumbling on the smooth
road that lay for so many miles between the
waters adjacent to the Gulf of Mexico and the
turbid stream of the Red River.
Concluded aeTt UeeE