The National tribune., 1898-08-11

your command. IOu know It's against the
ORDERS and you know it's your duty to pre-
vent it by keeping your men in camp. Pm
astOnished that you don't attend to youl
business better'
But" said Capt Moore indignant and
surprised at this onslaught, 50 know it is
not my men. My men are all in camp
And, besides," with an air of proud dignity,
my men don't steal No, sir, they are not
that kind. They're soldiers, not thieves!"
I" begs yer pardon, Captain, fur inter
ruptin' of ye," said O'Neil, coming up at
this moment and, wholly unaware OF what
was going on, extending fat goose in his
left hand, while lie saluted with his right.
-" Me cousin in Chicargo hev sint me down a
box O. perwishuns an it had this in it, which
| wud l0ike to prisint to yer, for yer own
atm"
The Captain could only look his speechless
amazement.
The thunder they don't steal,' said the
Brigadier-General. with perceptble shade
OF triumph in his tone. I" l shall expect a
report from you tomorrow that these men
have all been found out and severely
punished. There are five of them, according
to the wOman's story, and they killed %
geese. Let me hear tomorrow that they are
so sharply punished as to be an example to
| the rest"
g But who are you ?" the Captain managed
| to ask
Brig Gen Grant," was the reply as the
officer rode away
| O'Neil saw it all. Trofh an there's
no made O. troublin' yersilf about it, Cap
| tain. You know well enuf who it is, an
we're ready to take our punishment.
Meanwhoile, let's ate and injOy our case,
widOut a thot of what is to come afther.
There's no use spoiln' good mate wild
borryIn' trouble. Oil not let the rest of
the byes know word about it till tomorrow
mOrnln'. so that they can be happy till
then at laste :"
The Captain acceded to O'Nel's view.
At least it would put off the, evil day until
morning, and who knows what might happen
IN the meantime
The geese were distributed out to the COM
pany, the File reserving three for themselves.
They returned with these to the little hiilock
which they picked ont, in accordance with
their first order as place from which to
observe the rebel lines, aud while Karl went
in search of one of the company's camp
kettles, which had been carried over from
Fort Henry on led-horse, the rest plucked
and dressed the fowls and got good fire
started.
Bv this time it was quite dark. e.s
Presently Karl returned with the kettle
full of water, from which they took enough
to make a fine POT of coffee, and dropping
their geese into the rest, hung the keete
over the campfire by pole supported by two
forks stuck in the ground. .,4 ,r.trz
Soon. sweeter than incense to nOstrils that
were connected with sympathetic nerves To
HUNGRY siOmachs TuSe the del gnttul Odor OF
the simmeriug coffee and boiling iowls,
mingling with the p.easant perfume OF burn
ing oak wood. .c,.., 80.
:'Ah, this is what one might call the
romance of soldering" said Bronson.
at is certainly very pleasant" said
Walter 81 feel repaid for ali our trouble,
or wi as soon as devour about half OF one
of those geese Ny, how gopd they smell. :"
''Yis,' said O'Neil; IF there's one thing
which lOike better than another its billed
goose, and plinty of strong coffee to wash
him down wild"
Stock smelled and smiied-smiled hun
CRY, epicurean, anticiratOry smile that was
more eloquent than tax.
bullet sang and clattered through the
branches above their heads.
- Some o. thin keerle5s diyils OF the Sic
ond Ioway are a-SnOotin' at. hogs" said
O'Neil.
Another bullet came and struck much
nearer. 49,. - e-4,.,....,.s., 90 p
bad cess to 'em,'' said O'Neil; "they're
always banging away at somethin'. Their
officers doesn't seem to have NJ oidees Of
ordher in camp"
Then two bullets canfe over together, i'm
mediately followed BY. q thlid, and all three