Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1896-04-08
CHAPTER II.
ON THE CONFEDERATE SIDE.


Three men sat in gully that had
once been hillside ditch. Their uni
forms were various, the results Of acci-
dent and capture. One Of them wore q
very fine blue overcoat which was in
queer contrast to his ragged pantaloons.
This was Lieutenant Clopton, who had
charge Of the picket line. Another had
on the uniform of an artilleryman, and
his left arm was in a sling. He had
come out OF the hospital to do duty as
guide. This was Private John Fam.
brough. The third had on no uniform
at all, but was dressed in plain citizens
clothes, much the worse for wear. This
was Jack Fitzpatrick, scout and sharp
shooter-Happy Jack, as he was called
How long since the gully had been a
ditch it would be impossible to say, but
it must have been good many years,
for the pines had grown into stout trees,
and here and there a blackjack loomed
up vigorously.
"Don't git too permiscus around
here" said Happy Jack as the others
were moving about. "This amt no fam
cy spot" He eased himself upward on
his elbow and made swift but care
full survey Of the woodland vista that
led to the Federal lines. Then he shook
down the breech of his rifle and slipped
long cartridge into its place. "You
see that big poplar over yonder3 Well,
under that tree there'sa man, leastways
be ought to be there, because he's always
hangin around in front of me-"
"Why don't you nail him?" asked
Fambrough.
"Bosh! Why don't he nail me? It's
because he can't do it. Well, that's the
reason I don't nail him. You know
what happened yesterday, don't you?
You saw that elegant lookin chap that
came out to take my place, didn't your
Did you see him when he went backf"
Lieutenant Clopton replied with q
little grimace, but Fambrough said new
or word. He only looked at Kilpat-
rick with inquiring eyes,
"Why, he was the incest lookin man
in the army-hair combed, clothes
brushed and rings on his fingers. He
was all the way from New leans, with
silver mounted rifle and globe sight !"
"a which," asked Fambrough.
"a globe sight. Set down on yourself
a little further, sonny" said Happy
Jack. "Your heads too high l says to
him. says I, Friend, you are goin where
you'll have to strip that dolls step
ladder off n your gun and come down to
business, says I. I says, says I, You
may have to face a redheaded, flannel
mouthed Irishman, and you don't want
to look at him through all that machin-
cry says l."
"What did be say?" Fambrough ash
ed.
"He said, I'LL git him. Now, how
did he git him? Why, he come down
here, damned aloose time or two, and
then hung his head over the edge OF
the gully there, with ball right spang
betwixt his eyes. went behind the
picket line to get wink Of sleep, but I
hadn't more'n curled up in the broom
sage before I heard that chap a-bangin
away. Then come the reply, like this"
Happy Jack snapped his fngers-"and
then I went to sleep waitin for the re-
finder.
Fitzpatrick paused and looked stead
ily in the direction Of the poplar.
"Well, dog my cats Yonder's chap
standin right out in front Of me. 1t
amt the Mickey neither. I'll see what
he's up to-" He raised his rifle with a
light swinging movement, chirruped to
it as though it were a horse or little
child, and in another moment the dead
" business of war would have been re-
sumed, but Fambrough laid his hand
ON the sharpshooter' arm.
"Wait," he said. "That may be my
old man wandering around out there.
Don't be too quick on trigger. amt
got but one old man. "
"Shucksl" exclaimed Fitzpatrick pet
tishly. "You reckon I don't know your
old man? He's big in the body an wab-
bly, in his legs. You've spilled mighty
purity shot. / believe in my soul that
chap was colonel, an he might a been
a general Now that's funny"
"What's funny?" asked Fambrougb.
"Why, that chap. He'll never know
YOU saved him, an if he how'd it he
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