The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1889-07-24
CHAPTER III.


For moment the blood seemed 30 forsalse
Lukes veins, and left him trembling with
dread. Awakened by shouts, the crack OF
firearms and all the appalling sounds OF
carnage, confuses the veteran, and the Won
der Is that It did not produce panic among
these raw recruits.
Perhaps they were too much stupefied 70
become panic-stricken. They seemed 70
realize that their safety lay In getting be-
hind the fence as soon as possible. rs u
afforded them partial protection.
By the time Luke reached tho fenca tho
firing ceased and tho echoes OF the shots
died away The raw recruit glanced down
the fence row, which was dark with men
crouching, lneellng and lying behind IT.
while their guns formed serried phalanx OF
black muzzies. The moon shone In peaceful
splendor upon tho scene, illuminating II with
floods Of silver light. No one could be seen
in tho wood beyond, but II was from That
point that the attack was threatened.
When Luke found old ArlSansaw Tom on
| one side Of him, and Ned Cotton on the
other, no regaincd his self-possession.
| Where we're the enemyl Not one was III
sight, nor had shot been fired In the last
| three minutes, Luke asked Arkansaw
| Tom where the rebels were, and was told
| that they were not far away, and were adr
vancing on them, for they had already
driven in the pickets. But so peaceful and
quiet was the scene that Luke was about
half inclined TO believe there WAC some mis-:
take about II.
The crickets, which had been awed TO
silence by those rude alarms, resumed thar
| sl.a mill m a.
tant hill. renewed its song. A pig camo
struggling down the path beyond the fence,
grunting and roofing about among the
leaves, wholly unconscious OF danger.
For several moments not word was heard,
and naught save crickets, night birds, thc
rustling Of leaves and grunting Of the pig
broke the silence. This walting-this a.
pecting bloody struggle-was moro trt
ing on the nerves than II death struggle
was at hand. Lulre's mind was busy rec4ii
ing the past and trying TO dip into ~
future. Would this night end all on eertf
below, and would the mystery Of his bira
be revealed only in eternityi
Some one whispered;
"They comew
The regular tramp OF feet could be heari
coming over the distant ridge, where the at
tacldng party had evidently halted TO dres'
their lines
"stiddy, stiddyp said Captain Smart, i
a voice which was little unsteady itself
but which had within IL the ring OF deter
mination that gave courage 70 the men.
Luke strained his eyes to catch glimps'
Of the foe. The nearer approach OF IN
marching columns indicated that the
would soon be In sight, and, despite all hi
determination, he found himself trembling
The pig continued 70 root about anon
the leaves, at peace with oil the world, an
giving vent 10 It's satisfaction In expressiv
grunts.
Tho enemy at last came In sight anon
the trees on the ridge, and despite the II
functions Of the ofiicers the more neryou
OF the recruits behind the fence row beRa
blazing away at them. Luke at first a
termined 10 obey the command OF his super
ors, and wait till the foe were near enong
10 make q sure shot, but the enemy boin
, recruits also, and as nervous as the me
they were attacking, returned the hre, an
when bullet struck rail 80 near him 2
5 10 cover his face with dust and rotten wood
, he could no longer restrain himself, an
: blazed away with the others.
, The pig gave utterance TO squea
!, , alarm and ran hither and thither, met o
! ! erywhere with blirding flashes and deofel
q ing reports, until IL at last raced down "a
fence row at full speed. !
!, The enemy made nocharge, butcontentt
!, themselves 70 FIRE few shots at long rang
: and then gradually fell back.
Il Whether any Of them had been killed
I wounded the Union recruits could not q
(. terralne, though next morning puddle
blood close 10 tree was discovered. jb
Snow, tho only man touched on the Uni'
s!dc, lad asught fesh wound 10 bis arm