The National tribune., 1897-12-16

mule and 60 to the head Of your team, take
the leaders by the Brides and stay there.
If you amt standin' there holding your
mules when we come back I'll break your
worthless neck"
The bugle sounded Rally on the Right
Flank, " and 81 and Shorty joined the Others
in numbering rush over the miry fields
toward the right Their soaked clothes hung
about them like lead They had not spoon
full OF breath left when they got to where,
half-a-mlle away, Co. A had taken position
in the briers behind rail fence, and had
opened long-ranged fire on the cavalry,
which was manuvering as if trying to dis
cover a way to take the company in flank.
Another fence ran at right angles away to the
right of Co. AS position. The cavalry
started for that.
Capt Dawson" shouted the Colonel.
take your company back to that fence as
quick as you can, run along back of it, and
try to keep those fellows on the other side. "
Away the painting company rushed for the
fence. The field was overgrown with those
pests of the Southern plowman, called
locally DEVILS shoe-strings, which stretch
from furrowridge to furrow-ridge, and are
snares to any careless walker The excited
Indianians were constantly tripped on these
and fell headlong in the mud. Down 81 and
Shorty went several times, to the great
damage of their tempers. But in spite oil
all-rain, mud, lack of breath and devils
shoe-strings, the company got to the fence IN
advance of the cavalry, and opened a scatter
ing fire as each man could get his damp gun
to go off 81 and Shorty ran back little to
a hillock from which they could get long
distance shots on where the cavalry would
probably try to tear down the fence.
. It's all of 900 yards, 81, said Shorty, as
he leaned against young oak, got his
breath back in long gulps, and studied the
ground. We kin make it, though, with our
Springields, if they'll give US time to cool
down and git our breaths. declare, | want
whole Township of fresh air every second.
That last time | fell knocked enough breath
out O me to fill balloon"
There, they're sendin' out a squad now
to 90 for the fence" said ST, putting his
sight up to 600 yards. ''Ill line on that
little persimmon tree and shoot as they pass
it, I'll take the fellow on the claybank
horse, who seems to be an officer. You take
the next one on the spotted bay"
Better shoot at the boss, " said shorty,
fixing his sight. 81 Bigger mark; and if YOU
git the boss you git the man.
The squad made rush for the fence, but
as the leader crossed the line ST had drawn
ON the persimmon tree through his sights, his
musket cracked and the horse reared and fell
over in the mud Shorty broke the shoulder
of the next horse, and the rider had to jump
off,
Bully shots, boys. Do it again." shouted
the Captain of Co. Q, burrying some men
farther to the right, to concentrate fire upon
the exposed point.
ST and Shorty hastily reloaded, and fired
again at the rebels, who had pressed on to-
ward the fence, in spite of the fall of their
leader But not having at the moment an
object in line to sight on, ST and Shorty did
not succeed in bringing anybody down. But
as they looked to see the effect, they also saw
a cannon flash from hill away off behind
the cavalry, and the same instant Its rlfied
shot took the top off the young oak about'slx
feet above Sis head
Shorty was the first to recover his wits and
tongue.
''Dog-goned if somebody else hain't been
DRAWN a bead on trees" he said, looking