Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-07-04
Copyrighted. 1881
CHAPTER M.-COSr1NuEp.

ders fur.''
"A fire would make US an excellent mark
for the rebel gunners."
aid about as soon be shot as to be freez-
in 10 death here" growled Max.
Night set in bleak and cherries. The
shrill north wind whistled through the de-
nuded branches of the trees, and the shiv-
ering soldiers bent their wretched bodies
nearer TO the earth. At midnight it was
snowin g and soon a carpet of white was
spread over the earth. The wretched men,
shivering and crouching before the blast,
scarce could move 10 shake OF the fakes
that were covering them like mantle of
( white
Gap, don't ye hear some one comin'l'
| old Arkansaw Tom asked.
Luke listened, and could hear the faint
tread of footsteps coming over the frozen
/ ground He Immediately dispatched his or
derly to the Colonel, asking permission to
capture the bold adventures, who had evil
! IDENTIFY come out to reconnoiter.
/ Without consulting any higher authority,
| Colonel Smart told him to go ahead"
tom, Max, Ned, Bill" SAID the Captain,
| calling over the names of those whom he
! knew could be trusted. Silent as shadows
they rose to their feet, glided to his side,
and the five stole out upon the cleared space
between them and the fort. 1t was now so
| dark that no object could be seen dozen
| PAGES away. The shrill north wind seemed
TO pierce them to the bone
! Suddenly they stopped. Whispers were
heard ahead. The snow was falling fast,
| and the scouts crept through it near
| enough to discover half dozen men, evil
! IDENTIFY Confederate officers, grouped to-
| gether engaged in conversation.
captives of them, but, while moving in be-
I tween them and the fort, the unlucky
| Max stumbled and fell, making as much
noise as if an OK had dropped from the
moon. Three of the rebels fired at them
and took to their heels.
Come quick, we've no time to lose, if we
want to take them" whispered Captain Ma
son, running at full >)eed, hoping 10 cut
| them off.
Max and Snow blazed away, but missed.
Cotton and Tom then fired their muskets,
! and man fell. The frozen ground was
rough and stumpy. Luke, being swift of
| foot, distanced his companions and was
gaining on the hindmost man, who flew for
life toward the fort.
Suddenly the pursued, without checking
his speed, drew revolver and empt:ed half
dozen chambers in almost as many sec
onds at Luke. Though tire bullets few I'M
comfortably near the young officer's head,
he was unharmed, and with drawn sword
did not halt for single moment. The fugi-
tive had partially turned his head when he
fired, and did not see the stump before him
until he had stumbled and fallen over it.
Before he could rise Luke was upon him
with uplifted sword.
''Surrenderr' he cried, in voice hoarse
with passion. The answer came from the
ground in a voice firm and defiant:
Never to a Yankee. Strike if you will"
At sound of the voice Luke's arm fell
powerless at his side. and he turned away.
All his hearts tenderest feelings had been
reused by the sound of that voice.
''They have escaped u.s." he said to his
companions whom be met coming toward
him. ''Get back to your ranks. for we are
too close now"
On their way back they picked up the
man that had fallen. who proved to be 4
rebel Lieutenant. The BAH had pierced his
heart, killing him instantly.
Luke said nothing about his adventure
with the Confederate who had emptied his |
revolver at him. The remainder of the night |
was quietly but miserably passed. At day |
break the en- tire line of shiverug. quaking, |
half-frczen soldiers were reused by the cry: |
Here they Gomez
Yes, by jimmy, thar they come, bag |
and baggage!'' said Arkansaw Tom, Selling |
his gun and starting to his feet.
Luke who had been sitting at the root of a |
tree in a slight dOze, was up in moment. |
A long line of grey coats could be seen |
coming over the enemy'S works, forming |
and advancing upon them The rebels had |
on their haversacks, canteens, blankets |
and knapsacks, as ii they were going on a |
march.
They've come ter stay, n brought grub |
n blankets" SAID old Tom.
The long roll sounded, calling every man
TO battle In three minutes the whole line
was formed. On with tremendous yells |
they came, and the work of death began.
First few dropping shots, like the patter
of rain shower, and then came storm of
fire and leaden hail. 1t was kept up.
Nearer and nearer the contending lines ap-
preached, and tiercer and tiercer grew the
conflict. Luke glanced along their line half
concealed with smoke, from which the
angry blazes constantly flashed. The blaze
from those guns never entirely died away,
but in titful running flames continued TO
dance along the line
Luke's men were falling on every side.
The ground was strewn with dead and
dying, and the awful work still went on.
Cheer after cheer, yell upon yell, as if
fends incarnate were at work, shook the
very air. The woods were filed with
smoke. and trees thickly peppered with
bullets.
''We're out o. ammunition, cartridges give
out yelled Max
Hundreds of others were in the same con-
dition, and the men became so alarmed that
a stampede was threatened.
Captain Mason knew that not twenty
PAGES under the hill there were tons of am
munition. He told his orderly to go out and
bring it, but he stood like one stupefed.
Then he spoke to duty sergeant, and while
him what TO do bullet killed the
poor fellow at his Captains feet. Lieuten-
ant Smith was already amorg the slain, and
the Second Lieutenant wounded. The Cap
tain did not dare leave his command, for
they were ready to fly at moments no
tice, and ammunition could not be brought.
At this moment the enemy charged with
fixed bayonets, and McClernand's brigade
fell back in disorder.
The fight began shortly after daylight, and
t was now nearly noon.
The rebels had not driven the Union
troops far before General Grant arrived
with reinforcements, and the WORKOUT, dis
soldiers took courage and wheeled
about TO once more face the enemy.
Luke. with about twenty of his company,
all whom he had been abe to hold together,
turned in with the resIstless tide of blue
coats
"We'n pay 'em back roared old Arkan-
saw Tom, who had all through the fight kept
q 10 side IF iS