The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1892-11-23

son, had arrived at Savannah, Grant ordered
them TO move up the east bank Of the river,
so as to be ferried over at either Crump's
or Pittsburg Landing, as the occasion might
require.
Since his return from the reconnaissance
recorded in our last chapter, Colonel Mason
had been in his camp and had seen nothing
Of the enemy. He was changed man, and
spent most Of his spare time alone in his
tent gloomily brooding over the last dan
gerous interview with the negro, Black
hawk. Two sentences uttered by that dark
man Of mystery seemed to ever ring in his
ears:
"RRl me, ndssd, aud dc secret oh yo' Dirt
dies" haunted him day and night
who is he, and what does he know Of
meF the puzzled officer asked himself.
"His words, i kin tell We mo- bout
yourself dan We knows, NASSAU ring still
in my ears. What is it he knows-oh!
what is it," His last interrogatory was ut
tered with sigh from the uttermost depths
of his troubled heart All! what a longing
possessed his soul. A longing to know the
history of that helpless babe found floating
in its cradle down the turbulent Missouri.
Picket firing and skrmishing at the front
became common thing. When soldier
was detailed for picket duty he went fully
expecting TO be fired upon before he re-
turned.
"Jist let 'em bang erway." said Bill Snow,
as he lay in his tent, listening to the Oc-
sional reports of muskets in the distant
woods. 'Ef they think I'm gwine ter git
skeercd at N ow-el they're badly mis-
taken"
avail, Bill, it mayn't be N Dwell by CIR
long shot," said Arkansaw Tom, who was
reclining on pile of straw.
Eyer don't think old Johnston or Price ar
comm to tackle us, d YET" asked Bill
"Mought be-"
"Let um come"
mot afore Buell. gifts here"
lick uml"
"Wall, we d hev our hands full, ye kin
bet Bill. I'm ergoin' ter bet that we burn
powder atore we've been here week
longer"
"Been burnin' powder every day fur a
week." said Ned, lazily shutting deck Of
we'll thumbed cards.
Eyes, n what does 7 all mount TOT"
growled Max. ''Nuthin'. Eff It want fur
them mullet heads who command tn army
we'd been in Corinth long ago."
"Ye'll git ter Corinth soon ernufi, Max"
Ned Cotton answered.
"We'd as we'll had this war over six
months ergo as ter be foolin' an dallyin'
! erlong. Now, didn't we go right inter Fort
Donelsonl"
"Yes, but old Sid Johnston warnt thar.
We're not ergoin ter hev walk over g we
did with Floyd N Piller. He'll do some o.
the wslkin' himself"
The conversation was cut short at this
moment by the appearance Of the Colonel
II am 6 ding to the front, Tom, and want
you four to accompany me" he said. tits
getting rather dangerous up there now"
"Yer bet We'll co." cried Tom, starting
TO his feet The four men at once buckled
IN their accoutrements and seized their
runs.
They were all that Luke deemed neces
,ary for the reconnaissance. They were all
! N foot, as a horseman would be too-con.
picuous mark for a sharpshooter. Colonel
Mason's regiment was out on the extreme
.ront, and they had not gone more than q
nile and half before they came upon the
|
icket limo.
Meeting some relieved pickcts coming in
he Colonel asked: -
"How Is it at The frontl'
"Becn quiet fur aoar,' ono OF the guards
said
'Haint seen a Johnny fur nour, but they
var a blazin' at us nearly ali night"
"Did they seem very stroag!'
"Wail, they made 1t mighty Lot, part o
The time "
"Of course you have no idea as to thei1
numbers"
mo, but 1 believe they're more N thu
Ginerals think"
With his slender guard the Colonel move,
on. Suddenly there came distant shot il
the woods. 1t was followed by three o.
four more in quick succession, and the,
saw the smoke issuing from u bunch O
bushes two or three hundred yards away.
Like experienced Indian scouts, creeping
from tree to tree, and bush to bush, taking
advantage Of every thing that would screen
them from view, Colonel Mason and hi
faithful guard made their way TO wher
i've Union soldiers were crouched behind
large oak tree, at the side Of asixth VIII
had been pierced by musket ball.
"Is he hard hitl" asked the Colonel, CON
ing upon the group.
"He's dyin'," one of his comrades al
swered
1t was needless to ask any further ques
tons about him. Those CLASSY eyes, tina
gaping mouth, the quick gasping for breat
and death rattle in his throat wer
evidence, that life was ebbing away. Wit
each painful gasp there came gush G
blood from the wound in his breast
"Joe, Joe, can't yer speak T. me!" said
comrade, bending over him. "Haint We
got no word t send home. Oh speak, Jot
jest one word. Tell me that We know me.
M%Rb, uJ