The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1888-08-10


maks his way to the line, where he
heard the rattle ofthegunsf Through
q hole in his tent 40 Sd 3 the dash Of
the shells &c sney passed cvtr the lines
and fell into the city. Theirs was a
constant roar OF artillery, ~ Shopsh
a battle was beginning Now and
then, far away on the 41ght, the roll
of musketry started in d desultory
manner and increased, as it came
nearer, until the whole army seemed
to be firing. Billy listened to
ia the dlreStion OF his own com.
TSand, and saneied he knew the
i rn,s the u that he served. So
thin we're lines that Billy knew afierce
assault by the energy must drive the
army back from the breastworks. and
he would be captured. He envied the
men that were dropping in the trench
es OF among skirmishers, and he
thought ever OF himself, dead on the
morrow before the guns of his friends.
In his anguish he strove to shut out
all the sounds that awoke in him such
fierce l~onRings.
The guard was coming near. In the
moonlight his shadow fell upon the
canvas. As he passed the flaps OF the
tent he raised them, and said, pretty
sharp firing in the front, partner, an
the sSfays is d~appin' pretty lively
about we-uns here"
Billy lifted his head, uncovered his
ears. and listened in a spiritless man
v,nn## aaTktn - III @ALa# q - 80 49,. - An
said, and lay down cnce more upon
his blanket.
Again the guard was coming near the
tent, and stray bullets we're dropping
so close that one fell by Billy's head.
He sat up, anxious as TO what might
happen. Again the shadow of the
guard fell upon the tent. Suddenly
there was an exclamation, and the
shadow stood still. Then it slid rapid.
~ downward aud disappeared. Out
side was the sound of q body falling
heavily upon the ground. Billy leap
cd to his feet, looked out upon the
night, and saw the gard lying still at
tha door OF the tent. He went out
slowly, and stopped over the pros
trate man. He lifted one hand, felt
the wrist, and found no pulse Then
he spoke. Are you hurti" No an
swer came. Looking on the ground
Billy saw a streamof blood ooging slow
ly down the gray and battered jacket.
Loosening the few buttons that were
left, and pulling out the sticks that
served as buttons, he opened the Jack
ct, and there through the one thin
shirt of the dead soldier, was a bullet.
hole just over the heart.
mo usefoolin' with the dead man."
said Billy, and began to ~unfasten the
soldiers accoutrements. These he put
on quickly, and then took up the
dead man s gun. In the dark he was as
good as any man, and he determined
to die rather than be captured again.
He knew well the direction of his COM
mand. SC he started to 20 there. On
the way met several soldiers and
officers, to whose questions as to
where he was going he answered. ITO
the 'front.' That counterslgn let him
pass unmolested. His brain felt on
fire, and he walked as onein a dream.
The heavy thing drew him on, just as
the music OF the hounds On Newiound
river drew hisa when he was a boy.
Onward he went, until no was almost
among his own men.
Then. for the FIRST time since he left
the tent, be thought Of what a
daring deed he was about to
do. He was Is deserter, and
more than that, how could he explain
in y satisfactory way the death OF the
guard whose gun he bore? Would his
comrades let him serve In his old place,
or would tney arrest him? The doubt
alarmed him. On the skirmish line
the firing was very heavy, and he
knew that thers the work might b0
full of excitement. He longed for the
rush OF q charge and for q hand-to-
hand fight. No one among the imam
try was likely3to know him, and there
men fought 10 d free and independent
manner. Avoiding his own command,
he went cautiously across the breast
works, and soon was beyondt the main
lire. among the skirmishers. They
werafalling back slowly before an adj
vance OF the enemy. Billy pressed on
to the front, and ID the moonlight his
tail figure vas seen plainly in sdyanco
OF the gray line. The soldiers near
him saw that be was a new man,
but they cared little for that, for
they hoped this might be the first
of q reinforcing column. Steadily
Billy moved on toward the enemys
line, crying as he went, Come on,
boys; let's give 'em q tussle." The
men that had been ~retreating hesitate
ed when they saw this strange figure
with waving Eat ia hand beckoning
them to follow. Some one caught the
spirit OF the moment, and echoed
Billy's cry. The whole line started
forward again. Ever in advance the
strange figure vent crying now with
the old call that every huntsman
knows. Some have called ii d yell,
and have thought that Il was begot
ten Of rebellion; but whoever has fcl-
the hounds on Newfound river
knows the origin Of that historic cryll
Would this man never stopg There
before him, just beyond the ditch, a
heavy column Of the enemy was ad.
vancinA Telling IT'D way in the night.
Now. instead of finding nothing to
check its movement, il was met
BY a countercharge With q fierce.
ness that came from desperation.