The National tribune., 1897-11-25

comfort. Unless we can dry out little we'll
be soaked into such mush before morning
that we can't keep our shape, and they IL
have to lade us up with dippers."
Its strictly against orders"
'You mean it was against orders several
hours ago | can't see nOthin' on that hill
over there. I've been watchin' for half an
hour. There's nothin' moving. Mebbe the
orders has been changed, and you haint heard
about it, persisted 81. "Nlebbe the Orderly
that was bringing 'em S got stuck in the
mud Mebbe the rains soaked 'em SOS they
can't be read. If anybody's got any dry
matches Pm goin' to chance it.
Word was passed along the rail, and at
length one of the boys was found to have
some matches in a tin box, which was proof
against the rain.
| ST got out his knife and whitfield down a
corner of the rail until he came to the dry
part, and got off some shavings Splinters
were contributed by the others, and after
| several failures a small flame was started.
Here, what in the world are you men
doing there?" came in the stentorian tones
| of the Colonel whom it startled ST to dis
cover was sitting short distance behind him.
| Pat that light out this instant"
| Even before the command could be obeyed,
| four great flashes burned out like lightning
in the murky darkness on the hilltop. Four
cannon rOared and four shells screeched to-
| ward 81 and his companions who instinctively
| toppled over back ward into the mud. One
| of the shells struck in the mud q few Yards
in front, burst with deaiening report, and
| sent over them a deluge of very wet Tennes-
see real estate.
1.-The battery's out there yit ST." said
| Shorty, as they gathered themselves up and
carefully stamped out every spark of the
| fire.
"It's 'tendin' strictly to business" re-
marked Yves Williams.
Its ammunition don't seem to be a mite
wet" added Jim Hutchinson.
There, you see, now" said the Colonel
sternly. 9TH tie up by the thumbs the next
man that dareS scratch match"
You just can if l do, muttered ST, scrap
! ing off some of the superintendent mud, and
resuming his seat on the rail. This dogs
| cured of sucking eggs"
lie set the butt of his gun down in front
| of him. clasped his hands around the barrel
| leaned his head on them. and went to sleep
| He was SO tired that he could have slept
anywhere and in any position. He was
dimly conscious during the night that the
| rain ceased and that it turned bitter cold
| He was not going to wake up for trifles like
| that, though. When 81 went to sleep he de
voted himself entirely to that and nothing
else. 1t was one thing that he never allowed
! any interference with.
| But with the first gray streaks of dawn IN
the east some uneasy, meddlesome spirit in
the 2OCth Ind. happened to be awake, and he
awakened the Adjutant, who cuffed and
shook the headquarters drummer until he
awakened and beat the reveille This reused
the weary Orderly -Sergeants, who started
upon the task OF getting up the bone wraclSed
| aching muscled Men. In 10 minutes there
was enough discomfort and bitter grumblir q
in the 2O0th Ind. to have furnished forth !,
new political party.
The awakening process finally reached
those of Co. Q who had roasted on Sis rail
all night.
81 vigorously insisted on being let alone
that he hadn't been asleep five minutes, and
that anyhow it was not his turn to 90 on
guard But the Orderly-Sergeant of Co. Q
was a persistent fellow, and would not be
| denied.
When 81 finally tried to rise he found that
In addition to the protests of his stiff legs that
he was pinned firmly down. Feeling aronAd