The morning times., 1896-05-24
Young q
q @DefcndcrS' q
@- Charge.
BY MARY MARCH DWIGHT.
Copyright, 1860

'0o-oopl A whole holiday In the mid
die OF tne Week. tool always get mad
when Decoration Day comes on Saturday."
johnny Gainessbouted, waving his new cap
hign about his head. 1t was 4 O'Clock OF
balmy May afternoon. In consideration
of the morrow lessons had been somewh hat
scanted-especially in JohDnys class. All
the boys IN il belonged to the Young De-
fende-s, tEt volunteer corps of lads under
fifteen that was Bolton townships pride.
SLY. Johnny, what are we going TO
do-go.ue tagging after the big soldiers and
the rest out to that Old cemetery?'' Kit
Arson SAID discontentcdly.
johnny gave him a scornful look He
himself wGs not captain OF the Young De-
fende RS nevertheless at least balf that
organization paid him the most implicit
ouedicncr When it came to- 4 matter of
mischief he wascertainly first in the hearts
OIL hts countrymen. AS the balr dozen or
them came abreast his fathers orchard he
called aloud, Halt! 'Tentionl Over the
fence-eyery man of you! Now Lake you
orders for mOrningP'
Are we going to fight Johnny? You
know you've said all along we'd have a
battle-and some OF us played enemy
and play dead, and prisoners and all
that Rube FELTON, began, but Johnny
cut him short, saying, severely, "Y ou're a
nice rEc you ure! VINO dye think wants
to be eneu,y, and fight against the old
flag uI: Deccratioa- bay? mol I've got a
scheme worth five of that. Meet me here,
all you fel:ows at sunrise tomorrow"
or course they obeyed to the letter.
What boy could resist the combination of
by Johnny? The sun was just peeping over
the sky line, when the six lads clustered
about their leader at the orchards verge,
almost broke into huZZas as he said: II
tell you what it is now, we are a scouting
party, going upon raid in the enemy's
country"
In minute the whole crew ware out
on the turnpike and marching faster than
they had ever marched before 10 The
Red, White aud Blue played by Kit
Anson's je wsharp.
A military critic might even have called
the march Struggling run. After mile
OF IL, Capt. Gaines hung up his head, set
his heels together and called, '"Tention!
'Warei We are in the enemy's country.
Look alive menI Scatter by threes. We
must forage for our breakfast You, Kit
and Rube come along with me-"
Who ask anything better? Just you
look ut en- he said over his shoulder TO
the troop at his back. Somehow they had
failed to scatter, and at heart heir captain
was glad of ii. Just in front of them, in
little turfy hollow, three cows, mild eyed
with full tender udders, were industrously
grazing. The morning was still So young
they had not yet been brought to the pail
They only raised their heads, looked inquir-
ingly at the intruders and gave a gentle pro-
testing moo, as the lads came either side OF
them, and began a frantic struggle. each
to first fill his canteen with warm, rich
milk
Il call this a lark-yes, a lark right"
said Kit, who was a skilled mixer ris-
ing suddenly and putting his bottle to
his lips "0ofl Never tasted anything so
good" he went on. "Out OF my place
there, you. Petey, / must have another
pull at the good mooley cow
Petey had got Just one swallow OF the
contents when, with u rush and roar that
scattered them as leaves before a storm
wind, a big. vicious-looking bull, which
had been hidden by be shoulder of the
hill, charged down upon them to the
rescue of his herd. Somehow his advance
cut off the captain OF the raiders. His
men reached the fence with the loss nf
one gun, three haversacks. and Cantepn.
"Solders, fix bayonets Charge to the
rescuer'
"He's-he's bigger heap than we are"
came back Petey's treble. Johnny gave a
groan, then ducked out of sight in the
branches, motioning as he did s., 10 the rest
to hide themselves. He had seen lad
from the distant farmhouse Coming for
the COWS. Was it too much to hope that
his tormentor would let them go yardward
without him?
Evidently that was with Taurus a de-
batable question. He shifted viciously,
gave q keen below aud tore up more
earth, but ended by going after his haren:
at a lungiug trot. Before he had got fifty
yards away Johnny was down and scuttling
toward his mates at rate that did not
let him see new terror In his path.
Johnny! On, look outi The Widow
| Markleby's old ram,'' came to him i'll
| varying keys, as he tumbled across the
! grass Next minute something took him
| squarely between the shoulders and sent
! him to earth. 1t rolled him over and over,
till he had no more breath This time men
| and guns came TO his rescue-long though
| they may be and strong, no rams horns
! can wholly cover six resolute lads. In a
| jffy they had their captain over the
| boundary-and though his ramship leaped
| it and offered battle outside, he was soon
beaten off, and taught that he had better
| go peaceably to grass again.
III
Breakfast about the campfire was
screaming success-if Petey did lament
| that there is no salt for either eggs or
| chicken.
"If only we can stumble on some of
! those Belton Center boys and cut their
| combs for their growing, I shall call this
| grand Rube said as they at last got to
their feet.
Hush! Somebody is coming! Lord-yl
| Seventeen of the Center boys. We'd bet
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