The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-08-04

warm, and Shorty had taken of his blouse and
drawn il up inside of his belt, in the rear.
The noise of the dogs betokened the APP
proach of something more than usual visitors.
Through the clamOr the boys quick ears
could detect the clatter of an ominous num-
Der of hoofs The other BOYS heard it, too,
and were standing around, gun in hand,
waiting developments.
Hullo, thar, the house." came ina voice
that 81 and Shorty dimly reeognizedhaving
heard somewhere before
Hullo, yourself" answered Shorty.
q Who air yo?"
"Fm Capt Titles. " came back above the
noise of barking. Call OFF your dogs. I'm
all righdt. Is it all righdt up dere?'
Yes Lay down, Watch! Git out
Tigep Shorty started to answer, when he
was interrupted by the apparitiOn of Mrs.
Bolster blackberry flying out of the door, and
yelling at the top of her voice:
No, hit amt all right at all, Captain
The Yankees we got US. Thar's a right
smart passed. o. 'em here, with we'uns pris-
oners. Jump 'em, if yo' kin. If yo' can't,
skeet out an git enough t. down 'em an git
us out"
ST and Shorty recognized that the time for
words was passed They snatched up their
guns and fired in the direction of the hail.
The other boys did the same. There was a
patter of replying shots, aimed at the fire
around which they had been standing but
had moved away from.
Apparently, Capt. Titles thought the
Yankees were IN too great force for him tt
attack, for his horses could be heard moving
away. The boys followed them with shots
aimed at the sound. ST and Shorty ran down
forward little ways hoping 10 get better
sight. The rebels halted, apparently dis
mounted, got behind a fence and began firing
back at intervals.
ST and Shorty fired from the point they had
gained, and drew upon themselves quite a
storm of shots.
"Things look bad" said 81 to Shorty.
" They've halted there to hold us while they
send for reinforcements. We'd better 90
back to the boys, and get things In shape.
Mebbe we'd better send back to camp for
help"
well wait till we find out more about
EN-" said Shorty, as they moved back
They had to cross the road, upon the white
surface of which they stood out in bold con-
trast, and drew some shots which came I'M
comfortably close.
The other boys, after q severe struggle, had
caught Mrs. Bolster-Hackberry and put her
it was decided to hold their ground until day
light They could get into the cabin, and By
using it as ratification, stand off big crowd
of enemies. The rest of the BOYS were sent
inside to punch out loop-holes between the
logs, and make the place as defensible as
possible. ST and Shorty were to stay outside
and observe. =
1--WE got an idee how to fix that old
woman - said Shorty suddenly
Buck-and-gag her?" inquired ST.
"No; We'll go in there and chuck her
down that hole where she kept her whisky
and fasten the hasp in the staple"
'Good idee, If the hole will hold her"
It's got to hold her. We can't have her
round during the fight. I'd
rather have a whole company O. rebels on my
back
They did not waste any words with the old
but despite her yells and protests 81
took hold of one shoulder, Shorty the other,
and forced her down in the pit and closed the
puncheOn above her.
They went out again to reconnoiter The
enemy was quiet, apparently waiting. Only
one shot, fired in the direction OF the fire,
showed that they were still there.
Shorty suddenly bethought him of his
blouse, in the pocket Of which was the
precious letter. He felt for it. 1t was gone.
He was stunned.
60 / remember, now," he said to himself
g it was working out as l ran, and it slipped
down as climbed the fence"
He said aloud:
Isl, I've lost my blouse. I dropped il
Down there just before we crossed the road.
[ m goin' to get it. )"
''Blast the blouse, " said ST: "let it be till
IL.
blouse tonight. You'll ketch a bullet sure's
you're alive if you try to 90 acrOst that road
igin. They rake il"
"Td 90 down there if bat
er9 raked it. There's letter in the pocket
hat | must have"
ST instinctiyely felt for the letter in his
own pocket every WELL" he said; eff
ron feel as if you must 90 III go along"
No. you sha'nt. You stay here in COM
nand: it's your duty. You can't help if
you do 60 I'll 90 alone III tell you what
7ou might do, though. You might go over
here to the left and fire ON them, as if we
yuz feelin' around that way. That'n draw
ome o. their attention"
81 did as suggested.
Shorty crept back to the point they had
before occupied. The rebels saw him coming
,ver a little knoll and fired at him. He ran
or the fence He looked over at the road,
md thought he saw the blouse lying in the
Itch on the opposite side He sprang over
he fence and ran across the road. The
ebels had anticipated this and sent a volley
nto the road. One bullet struck a small
tone, which flew up and smote Shorty's
heck so sharply that he reeled. But he
vent on across, picked up the blouse, found
he dear letter, and deliberately stopped In
he road until he transferred it to the breast
f his shirt Then he sprang back over the
ence, and stopped there moment to rest.
lie could hear the rebel Captain talking to
lis men, and every moment the accents Of
he voice became more familiar.
'Don'd waste your Shots" he was saying.
Don'd wire undil you sees Something's to
hood adj. unit den wire TO hit. See how many
hods you hat alretty wired, mitout doing no
DOT You must dink dat ammunitiOn's as
,lenty as water in de Southern Gontederacy.
f Won hat as much drouble as l hat hat to
let cartridges you would Pc more careful of
EN-"
Capt. Titles was Rosenbaum, the Jew spy,
in a new role. Shorty's heart
capped. Instantly he thought of a way TO
ct Rosenbaum know whom he had run up
gainst.
Corporal ST Klegg," he called out in his
Dudest tones.
What is it, Shorty?" answered the
ST.
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