The National tribune., 1886-05-13

fore they can load again."
He had forgotten the very important fact that
the carbines were breech-l oaders. Even as be
spoke they blazed out again, filling the air with
humming bullets More saddles were emphed,
and Gannaways men, hating in their rush,
began firing back with their shot-guns. Where
the carbinemen stood was in deep shadow, so
that they could not be seen, nor their numbers
known, while Gannaway S men were in the full
glare OF the burning fodder stack. Besides, the
ground over which be would have TO charge
was covered, after the shiftless manner OF Ken
] lucky farmyands, with harrows, bull-tongue
| plows, hay-raclls and other agricultural imple-
ments Gannaway ordered his men back out
of the light, in order to reform aud make new
| dispositions for the attack. As he was slowly
falling back he heard the gallop OF horses in
the lane that ran by his right flank. Then from
the banked darkness that hung over the road
came Grimsted's voice, clear and loud:
"Close up. All dismount. Let the horses
stand don't wait 10 hitch them. Forward TO
the fence there Rest your carbines on the
top rail and every one of you pick out your man.
/ Make sure Of him. Aim at his body. Steady,
now Don't man fire till j give the order.
Everybody got his man? Now-ready-.fre =
and may God have mercy on their stif-neeked.
rebelliOus s0ulsl"
A row Of blazes ran along the top of the
fence, and more riderless horses galloped madly
away from Gannaway's command, which
now fell back with precipitation TO the cover OF
the trees from which il had rushed with fear
ful yells a few minutes before. Though 1t
seemed an eternity from the time the attack
began until it was repulsed, was assured after
ward that the whole affair occupied less than
five minutes
Both parties now seemed to stop by mutual
consent aud wait for the coming of daylight
all except Atkins; he kept bis howitzer going.
The burning Of the fodder stack made him sure
that he was doing more than anybody else on
the ground TO win the fight, and such an OPP
portunity TO gain cheap military laurels was
not TO be neglected.
"My goodness! listen 10 that nasty little
jaclzass battery--bark! bark bark" said
Grimsted irTitably, as he and Barnard stood in
consultation. "A couple of you that are good
shots 60 over there little way and see If you
can't shut it up. declare j can't hear myself
think for its internal yelping."
I'm afraid il can't be reached with car
bine," said Barnard, surveying the distance
critically. "It's half mile 10 that knoll if
it's foot"
81 can reach him If 20 one else can" an
swered Grimsted impatiently. Jimmy Brown,
have sou the carbine was shooting with yes
terday2"
/" Yes, Captain" answered the boy.
"Le'me have it, Its in good order, isn't
ftp"
"Only fired it twice since / cleaned IT,"
'All right Now all of ye keep your eyes on
the fellow that's shooting that footy little can
non, and you'll see something drop before you
know it,"
Unclasping his sword-belt, that the weapon
might not be in his way, Grimsted handed it
to Jimmy Brown and began slipping along a
fence that ran in the direction Of the knoll on
which the howitzer was.
He acts for all the world as IL he was sneak
ing up on flock Of quails,' said Jimmy
/ Brown.
He did not need to take any precautions
! against being observed, for Atkins was too
/ thoroughly absorbed in his banging away 10
notice anything else Presently Grimsted
/ stopped and took good look at his mark.
He's still 500 yards away" said Barnard.
He can't hit a man at that distance"
81 don't know about that, Captain" answered
Jimmy Brown. Them Shapes carbines are
mighty wicked shooters. If a mans got the
nerve TO hold 'em they'll put the bullet into a
mark mile Off"
Grimsted turned the earbine over and gave
| il tap, TO make sure that IL primed that
he might not be foiled by one Of the
weaknesses of Sharpe's carbine. Then he
put the sight up TO the top Of the gage, and
1 took deliberate aim. Atkinss assistants had
! Just reloaded the hoWitzer, and Atkins was put
4 ting in the primer. He turned, shaded his eyes
with his hand, and scrutinized the farmyard
for a mark for his next shot. White smoke and
/ fire darted from the muzzle Of Grimsted's car
bine, and then rose In a tranquil wreath. At
kins sprang up into the air with yell that
came to the eager spectators almost simultane-
ously with the sharp report Of the carbiue, and
then fell fiat on his back.
81 guess j didn't kill him." said Grimsted,
when he came back because he fell backward.
They say that it's a sure sign when q man falls
toward that bis wound is mortal, but that IL be
] falls IN his hack fbargfc chance for him m
way, don't think he'll FIRE that gun again dur.
this dispute, and wei be allowed 70 settle il
without his putting his oar in all the time"
1t was now daylight cold, gray, cherries
daylight, for the sky was overcast, and heavy
rain was impending. The wind moaned through
the trees dark clouds scndded across the SIX v
and the farm animals chung to the shelters IN
which they had passed the night. If il had
depressed Ne TO think Of going out 10 fight on
the glorious Spring day upon which We started
from Possum SnOut, 10 was sevenfold more
melancholy TO think about beginning the worn
Of mutual destruction under murky, lowering
sky that weighed down upon the spirits like
lead.
But the lank, lean, weary, hungry mer
whom Gannaway led 70 miles for this fight
and the stubborn hearted bluecoats who Wer,
facing them, seemed utterly regardless Of thI
inappr0priatcness Of the weather, and onll
anxious 10 get at one another and settle thu
matter.
From where was could see that the Uniol
men had made up for their inferior number
by enscOncing themselves behind barricad'
Of shocks Of corn-blades, barrels Of salt, hogs
heads Of tobacco sacks OF wheat-anythinj
that promised TO be Of use in stopping bullet
The rebels had disD0unted and were posting
themselves behind stumps fence corners, logs
aud whatever else offered shelter.
Gannaway, disdaining shelter, walked from
one group 10 another, giving them instructions
The soldiers begged Grimsted 20 shoe. him
} for this would be much easier TO do than bring
ing Atkins down.
III do nothing Of the kind" refused Grim
, sted. /" Ill step out there and swap shots will
him, II he'll agree 10 IT, but wont shoot hin
when he is not shooting At me or my men,
Go out there" be said 10 two Of his men
loose them horses from the picket-r0pe, ant
set Ere TO that tObaocO-shed, so them rebels can
crawl up under the shelter Of IT,"
Hadn't we better fasten the horses some
where handy, so we can have 'em IL we have Z
2 retreat ?" suggested one Of the men.
5 No" was the grim response. Wen no
; need EN- 20 retreat on. There won't be no re
treating. Wen stay here and whip these fel
e lers. IL we don't whip EN- wen not have an
D need o. horses, or anything else but head
e boards"
$ There comes a flag O. truce called on
, some Of the men.
The kunnel was seen approaching with hi
. customary dignity Of port, and carrying wit
great s0lemnity Of mien a short stick 10 whic
was attached piece Of muslin that had ono
0 been white.
b Unless you We come to surrender yourselfan
your men," called out Grmsted, you'd bette
r carry that rag back faster than you brlngit. w