The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1898-06-16

utHln en-. Didn't know but We
wished We was back home hoen' corn
about this time. Now I'll explain things
TO you bit clearer. Thar's rebel
picket about opposite to us, and not
over musket shot away. Thar are
two men, same as us, and it's our biz
ness to kill them and their bizness to
Kill us. Jest SO long as we stay hid
here they can't see us, but it's our duty
to crawl down and git shot. They
may be crawlin' up on us at this very
mint. Ye see, the idea is to kill. One
man don count fur much, but if we
kill enough We'll bimeby have hun
dred. Pooh! What's the matter?'
Jason White had sunk down at the
foot Of the tree, and was looking
al oard him in apprehension.
"!f they had a line on ye they'd shoot
ye sittin' down as soon as stand'n' up"
said the veteran. 1--WE knowed men
tc be killed even when they was lyin'
down. Now if you're ready, We'll jest
work down On the left flank and see
if we cant catch them Johnnies nap
PIN"
do you mean that you are goin' to
creep around and shoot a man in cold
blood?' demanded the recruit, as he
rose up with his klees trembling.
what the hell ails you!" growled
Taylor, as a scowl darkened his face.
''Cold blocd!" Who talks about cold
blood down here at the front? We're
down here to kill or be killed, amt we :?
I amt goin' to let no feller kill me if
| can PUNK him first. If we don't go
arter them they'll come arter us, and
So what We goin' to do about it? l
kinder sized ye ur at fust as hevin'
some grit, but l guess was wrong. |
guess you'd better stayed at home
and played with dol! baby!"
You're a i;ar!" shouted Jason
White.
"Oh. Eh! Ha! ha! ha' Got yer
mad up at last, eh? We'll, keep it
a-bilin' and come along with me. Dowh
On yer hands ant: knees, and ye want
to be as sly as fox"
In his momentary anger the recruit
I1tt uSlCI ~ ~ tNilS tSsA
required of him; but as he wormed
himself through the bushes at the
heels of the veteran fear crept back
into his heart, and he was almost on the
point of rising and running away.
When they had gone about 300 feet.
making their way as carefully as In
dians on hot trail, Taylor paused and
whispered:
"lou wait here ard lemme go on
alone and locate 'em. Jest keep calm
me liar and git as mad as ye
can"
lie was gone ten minutes. During
tha; interval Jason White had to hang
on to the bushes to prevent himself
from running away. When the veteran
returned there was a smile or his face,
and he reached out and patted the re-
cru;t on the back and said:
"Luck is with ye, my boy. The two
Johnnies are settin' down and smokin'
and piayin' cards. and we can creep up
wi, hin SO feet Of 'em. You can't miss
hittin' a man in the back at that dis
tance.'
Il shoot a man in the back" gasped
White.
''Fur sure. What in the DEVILS
name are ye kickin' about! Why, l
ortcr charge yc ten-dollar bill fur
huntin' up yer game! Jest think of It
yell write home tonight that ye've
killed your first Johnnie. Come along,
and don't be blamed fool!"
The recruit followed him through the
bushes and over the dead logs and
limbs until he made halt beside a
dead tree. At distance of not over
ten rods the confederate pickets were
seated on the ground, with pipes in
their mouths and cards in their hands.
There had been iiring on the front that
day, and they had been lulled into a
feeling of security.
"Rest your gun across the log there
and take dead aim at his back!"
the veteran as he pulled the
fresh fish" forward.
NO, never!" gasped Jason White, as
he hung back.
What! Dye mean you won't plunk
a Johnny Reb arter all the trouble I've
took to set up a mark fur YEP"
II can't do it,"
''Durn ye fur BOBBY and a coward. .
You amt got sand 'nutf to fight fly!
Say, young felier, lemme tell ye sun
thin When I go back to the COM
pany and report what white-livered,
chickenhearted rag-baby ye ar, what
are the boys goin' to say and do? Thar
amt man as will even look at We
agin, and tie captain will ask that ye be
drummed out as disgrace to the serv-
ice. That's what you'll git, and nobody
will pity YOU"
II think I'll shoot him." whispered
the recruit, after struggle with him
self. 'Will anybody call it murder it
do?"
"Murder-bosh! Can't ye understand
that Uncle Sam il nayin' We SIG n