The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-02-03
CHAPTER ky.

When Pollock arrived at the rendezvous he
found his party more than quadrupled Each
of the original volunteers knew where other
young men were LAWN out in the woods
20 escape the rebel conscription officers until
such time as they could make their way into
Kentucky TO join the Union army. These
had been hunted up and brought in, until
there were fully 100 men collected near the
foot of the gap The Elder was with them.
All that is left of that Alabama regi-
ment-between 200 and 300 men-are up
there. guarding the gap" he said to Pollock,
pointing out the fires in the distance. They
probably have the roads and paths all around
pieketed, but | think / can take you on
path that will avoid them ALL
had to sneak ont o. Tennessee when I
left the State afoIe, said Pollock angrily, for
the rage Of battle was still on him. Blamed
If ] want t agin, nor will j. How many do
yo' think air up thar"
As near as / can learn from the people
roundabout, between 200 and 300, replied
the Elder
Then we'uns air gwine plumb through
they uDs. said Pollock decisively This is
Dur own country. Hit belongs to us Them
Alabamy yarmints have no bizniss in hit in
terieTin' Win we uns gwine whar we please"
DO you think you can do il? 2" asked the
Elder thouglitfully. The proposition was
entirely to his liking; the only question was
as to its pTadicability. Yet he had the
greatest confidence in Pollocks leadership
I'm monty sure that we kim answered
Pollock. " At least, we kin make great biz
try at hit. Wen manage hit this away
Yo', Elder, take about half o the men an
stretch out line through the woods & the
right o. the road. Web III take the other
half an do the same on the left Ne an
the other boys ii ride straight down the road
tlli We uns run agin their picket-post Well
drive them IN, and run them back on TO the
mounting. The whole picket-line II begin
shoobn' an shown y0 whar they air.
Jump EN- an run 'em back on T. the road
an we'll push 'em through the gap afore
they uns know whar they're at Keep as
nigh me as yo' kin, an 1oler my motions. +"
The plan commended itself to the Elder:
he at once called out his share of the men
and lined them up in the woods He kept
near the road, where be could follow Pol
locks movements. The latter drew his re-
yoyer and rode slowly forward with no effort
at concealment The rest moved with the
cat-like stealth of skilled hunters advancing
on their game The silence was only broken
by an occasional swapping of twig beneath
some ones light foot The moments were
full of intense anxiety,
Halt. Who comes thar?'' suddenly
rang ont from the darkness and the middle
OF the road. Every heart leaped and every
thumb went instinctiycly 10 the hammer of
Of his weapon
Mho air you uns? 2" replied Pollock ia
get more certain idea Of the location OF the
challenger lie cooked his revolver and
raised it above his head
hunnel Dun's Aiabamy riiimeut-as
good Coniederates as ever lived, :" came hazel,
IN confident tones
Take that, yo' internal traitor, shouted
POLLOCK, hrlng at the sound a yell of Pain
informed him that his aim had been GOOD.
Followed by his three companions he rode
straight forward. The other members of Inc
picket fired hastily, only to belray themselves
TO the unerring reyolvers OF Pollock's G M
panions. The alarmed pickets to the right
and left began hiring revealing themselves TO
the rifiemen led by the Elder and Web Brain
ard
The drum began beating in the gap 10 call
the regiment out. The flying pickets were
yeillrg Yankees! Tories, Lincolnites Bush
wilackers at the top Of their voices II
was fatal yell for some of them. for their
pursuers were trained TO the firing at NIGHT at
'ho~ilng wolves, barking foxes and screaming
citamaun,s.
The Elder had run into the road. picked nm
the gun and cartridge-box Of one of The
wounded pickets, and MRS adding his skill
ful shots TO theirs
Pollock and his three comrades trotted
briskly up the road, regulating their pace so
as TO Keep considerably ahead of thosein the
WOODS, and yet not too far. BY The light of
the c'inpires they saw the Major OF the rec,i-
ment hastily rming his men upon level
:,laoe That formed the entrance 10 the zap
HE Captains were yelling for the men of their
companies 10 join them in the iine, and from
every direction men We're running to obey
their loud summons.
Pollock knew that his only hope OF success