The Springdale news., 1889-06-21
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CHAPTER Ix.-CoSTIsuEp.

Max. "Cap'n, why can we make nref'
 "It's against orders"
 "What n thunder d they issue such or ders fur,"
 l" A fire would make us an excellent mark for the rebel gunners."
 "rd about as soon be shot as to be freez- in to death here" growled Max.
 Night set in bleak and cheerless. 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 showing and soon carpet of white was spread over the earth. The wretched men, shivering and crouching before the blast, scarce could move to shake off the flakes that were covering them like mantle of white.
 "Cap, don'tye hear some one comin't" old Arkansaw Tom asked
 Luke listened, and could hear the faint tread of footsteps coming over the frozen ground He immediately dispatched hls or derly to the Colonel, asking permission to capture the bold adventurers, who had eyi- denily come out to reconnoiter
 Without consulting any higher authority, Colonel Smart told him to ''go ahead. "
 "Tom, Max, Ned Bill" sad the Captain, calling over the names of those whom he knew could be trusted. Silent as shadows they rose to their feet, gllded to his side, and the five stole out upon the cleared space between them and the fort. It was now so dark that no object could be seen dozen paees 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
 l., dently Confederate officers, grouped to- gether engaged in conversation.
 Luke determined to cut them off and make captives of them, but, while moving in be tween them and the fort, the nnlucky 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 hfvals.
 "Come quick, we've no time to lose, if we want to take them,n whispered Captain Ma son, running at full >3eed, hoping to 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, distaneed his companions and was gaining on the hndmost man, who flew for life toward the fort
 Suddenly the pursued, without checking his speed, drew revolver and empbed halt dozen chambers in almost as many sec onds at Luke. Though tie bullets flew un- comfortably near the young officers head, he was unharmed, and with drawn sword did not halt for q single moment. The fuel- 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 uphfted sword.
 "Surrenderlo he cried, in voice hoarse with passion. The answer came from the ground in a voice firm and defiant;
 Never to Yankee. Strike if you will. n
 At sound of the voice Luke's arm fell powerless at his side, and he turned aw~y. All his hearts tenderest feelings had been reused by the sound of that voice.
 "They have escaped us he said to his companions whom he 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 rebel Lieutenant The ball 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 entire line of shiverhg, quaking, half-frozcn soldiers were reused by the cry:
 Here they comeo
 Yes, by jiminy, thar they come, bag and baggagefa said Arkansaw Tom, scizing hls gun and starting to his feet.
 Luke, who had been sitting at the root of a tree in d slight doze, was up in moment. A long line of grey coats could be seen coming over the euemy's works, forming | and advancing upon them The rebels had on their haversaeks, canteens, blankets and knapsaclis, as fl they were going on a march
 ..fhey've come ter stay, n brought grub n blankets sand 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. 1 First few dropping shots, like the batter of a rain shower, and then came storm of 1 fire and leaden hal. 1t was kept up Nearer and nearer the contending lines ap- 1 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 | ' 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 tiends incarnate were at work, shook the i very air The woods were filled with smoke, and trees thiczly peppered with 1 bullets.
 "We're out O ammunition, cartridges give out" yelled Max
 Hundreds of others were in the same con diton, and the men became so alarmed that a stampede was threatened.
 Captain Mason knew that not twenty paces under the hill there were tons of am- intuition. He told his orderly to go out and bring it, but he stood like one stupefed. Then he spoke to a duty sergeant, and while directing hiIn what to do bullet killed the poor fellow at his Captain s feet. Lieuten- ant Smith was already among the slain, and the Second Lieutenant wounded The Cap tain did not dare leave his command, for they were ready to fly at moments mo- tice, and ammunition could not be brought. At this moment the enemy charged with fixed bayonets, and McClernand's brigade l fell back in disorder.
 The fight began shortly after daylight, and | was now nearly noon
 i The rebels had not driven the Union troops far before General Grant arrived