Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1889-06-20
'CHAPTERIII.
A RErROGRApk NoyENENr.

For Q moment the blood seemed to forsake
Luke's 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 to
become panic-stricken. They seemed to
realize that their safety lay in getting be-
hind the fence as soon as possible, - it
AFFORDED them partial protection.
By the time Luke reached the fence the
firing ceased and the echoes Of the shots
died away. The raw recruit glanced down
tho fence row, which was dark with men
crouching, kneeling and lying behind II,
while their guns formed q serried phalanx Of
black muzzles. The moon shone In peaceful
splendor upon the scene, Illuminating it with
foods of silver light. No one could be seen
in the wood beyond, but it was from that
point that the attack was threatened.
When Luke found old Arkansaw Tom on
one side Of him, and Ned Cotton on the
other, he regained his seR-possession.
Where were the enemyi Not one was in
sight, nor had shot been fred in the last
three minutes. Luke asked Arkansaw
Tom where the rebels were, and was told
that they were not far away, and were I'D
vancing on them, for they had already
driven in the pickets. But 20 peaceful and
quiet was the scene that Luke was about
half inclined to believe there was some mis-.
take about it.
The crickets, which had been awed to
silence by those rude alarms, resumed their
chlrrups, and the whippoorwlll, on the dis
tant hill. renewed its song. A pig came
struggling down the path beyond the fence,
grunting and roofing about among the
leaves, wholly unconscious Of danger.
For several moments not q word was heard,
and naught save crickets. night birds, the
rustling of leaves and grunting Of the Pig
broke the silence. This waiting-this ex-
pecting a bloody struggle-was moro try
ing on the nerves than If q death struggle
was at hand. Luke's mind was busy recall
ing the past and trying to dip into the
future. Would this night end all on earth
below, and would the mystery Of his birth
be revealed only in eternltya
Some one whispered:
''They come"
The regular tramp Of feet could be heard
coming over the distant ridge, where the at
their lines.
..Stiddy, stiddy!" said Captain Smart, in
voice which was . little unsteady itself,
but which had within it the ring Of deter
mlnation that gave courage to the men.
Luke strained his eyes to catch . glimpse
Of the foe. The nearer approach Of the
marching columns Indicated that they
would soon be in sight, and, despite all his
determination, he found himself trembling.
The pig continued 70 root about among
tha 1eavaa af r,eaca Nth All tina wnpl6 and
giving vent to it, satisfaction In expressive
grunts.
Tho enemy 1t last came In sight among
the trees on the ridge, and despite tho IN
functions Of the officers the moro nervous
Of the recruits behind the fence row began
blAxing away at them. Luke at first do |
termined 70 obey the command Of his superb
orr, and wait till the foo wore near enough
70 mako . sure shot, but tho enemy bednG
recruits also, and - nervous - tho men
they Were attacking returned the 1re, and
when . bullet struck . rail % near rim =
to cover his face with dust and rotten wood. |
be could No logger restrain himself, ana
biased away with the others.
Tho pig gave utternnco to . 0queog q |
alarm and ran hither and thithef, INST ev-
erywhere with binding flashes and deatea-
ing reports, until Il at last raced down u
fence row 1t fun speed
Tho enemy made nocAaFge, butcentenaed
Themselves 70 Area few SHOES q lo0exanGA |
and than gradually fen baak.
WhetAee any Of them had besa kEle4 -
Wuun6sd the Unioa recruits oea4 ~ -
teEnina. though next 0nEnAg $3.50
haood caoDe 70 . tree w. dlesogogo9
0nOW. - onN ~ tnGha1 - ~ -
- - aasaoA0 80 r 49,