The National tribune., 1898-07-07

the lipe-of-battle behind him, but that is
not possible
Looking down the line he sees Karl with
compressed lips, and eyes fixed on the woods
in front OF him, holding his gun in nervous
readiness to fire at the instant of command
Bronson, cool, determined, and alert; O'Neil
standing as stifliy erect as if on parade, with
little fingers at the seams of his pantaloons
and eyes cast - races before him, all ac-
cording to the letter of the tactics; Stock
loungin. awkwardly, as usual, open-mouthed
and grinning vacantiy.
Walter turns his eyes again to the front
and gazes with an anxiety becoming more
feyerlsh every moment. icr the sign of the
enemy he feels sure Is skulking there. The
woods are dense ard full Of fallen timber and
underbrush that preye;t his see ing far He
discovers something moving on the surface of
distant logic shuddcrs then he sees that it
is oaly a squirrel. Next comesa rustic Of some
thing dashing towards him, and in an instant a
painting rabbit appears, running as il for life
II stops suddenly as it perceives Walter. and
then turning dashes off at right angles 10 its
first course. Walter concludes that it has been
stirred up by the stealthy advance Of tie
enemy.
A few cat-birds scream shril'y from TIE leaf
less branches and Il half-Gozen melancholy
buZzards Ierch UrOn tie skcleton-like limbs
of a tall tree 10 his left and look solemnly
down at tie array. Walter wonders if they
have any prcscience Of the banquet men are
about 10 prepare for them.
Then the intensity OF his scrutiny of the
thiags around him seem to react and turn
his vision inward. All that he ha, ever read
heard, or thought about combats, wounds
dangers, suffering, death, the grave and the
terrible things that await ore in the future
dash through bis brain like the sweep of a
prairie fire. and the thought flat he is upon
the brink OF all these terrors makes him sick
with apprehension. For an instant he feels
as If he cannot stand tit is more than his
nature can endure he will run, let the con-
sequences be what they may. Then comes
the thought Of the contempt of O'Neil's face;
of the panied lock III Bronsons eyes, should
he do this Of the unmanIiness of being the
first to fly; OF the impossIbility of ever going
back to Chicago ard looking his old friends
IN the face. and he sets his teeth and resolves
to stand, though death be certain.
He longs with unutterable intensity for
something TO be done TO end the suspense
that is racking him. Anything would be
better than this terrible waiting-the fire
would know his fate.
1t is less then 10 minutes since the line
was formed, but it seems from the strain
npon him ard the activity of his mind to
have been long hours ago.
AT last someone in the rear shouts:
Advance the skirmish-line 4" and each
Captain commands: g Forward, skirmishers
Guide right F."
The whole line begins moving slowly for
ward, and as 1t does 50 a loud rear comes up
from the river on the left
Tie gunboats have opened on Column
bus, F" says Bronson, i'll a tone that shows
that he, too, welcomes anything that comes
as a relief from the dreadful suspense.
Walter loses interest for an instant in his
immediate front, and turns his eyes toward
/ Columbus. Then he is recalled by Bronson
saying suddenly:
"Ah, there they are!"
Almost simultaneously heavy bullet
sings and cuts through the branches 90 feet
above the earth
| Away Off in the shadowy distance Walter
sees dim figures moving from tree to tree
Rising smoke then hides them as they all fire
at the advancing line.
Walter is astonished at the change of feel
ing that comes over him. All the sickening
dread has vanished and given place to earn
est confidence, because the reality seems SO
insignificant beside the terrible apprehen-
! sion. He feels almost light-hearted again
as he follows the example of the rest and fires
his musket at the pufls OF smoke in front of
him.
The puffs recede slowly, and are with
equal slOwness followed by the skirmish-
line. Soon the latter comes to where the