The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-06-02
CHAPTER XI.


The next afternoon the atmosphere
about Headquarters was so surchafged
with excitement that 81 The rest OF The
camp sympathized with it, though trey
neither understood il nor lis cause. Not
a word had been spoken to the boys TO
give them a hint OF something unusual
being meditated, and YET everyone knew,
bv some process that he could not eX-
plain, that this was so. They seemed to
feel it as one feels the coming thunder
storm. Tie mere Judgment In the brain
of the commander Of the intention to
carry out some great or hazardous enter
prise, seems to communicate Itself oy
some subtle and occult process to the
intelligence of all under his command.
They don't kno,c that something Is going
to be done, but they feel very strongly
that it will be.
The four canvassed the probabilities
as TO what was imminent. bronson
hoped that they were ordered to the
assistance of the sorely-pressed UnIonlsts
of Missouri, who were holding their
own with difficulty against the over
whelming Secession array of Gov. Clalb
jackson Walter wished that 1t might
be to Washington, that he might see the
National Capital, and the wonderful
Eastern country, of which he had READ
SO much. Karl would not be astonlshed
if it meant an attack from the rebels IN
southern Illinois, while O'Neil " didn't
care what the devil it meant: anything
was better than staying here drilling
these ijiots 10 hours day"
4 little later Capt. Moore came to the
quarters. and causing the company to be
assembled, said:
"Boys. we leave here Immediately.
Where we go / don't know, but | hope,
as YOU all do, that il Is somewhere where
We can help the Union, and give the
Secessionists a lick straight from the
shoulder. | am glad TO say that Com
panv A is to take the lead. That's what
we all want. We came out to hoist up
the old flag, and am axious to begin the
work, as | expect we'll have good
chance to do before we're many hours
older. So get your things ready to start
right off,
Enthusiastic cheers followed this an
nouncement, and when the ranks broke
everybody went eagerly to work pack
ing their belongings together in porta-
BILE shape. Even Ebenezer Stock de-
veloped an interest in the performance.
and when the men reappeared on the
company parade-ground with their guns
in one hand and bundles in the other,
Stock came also, with, for him, unheard
of promptness. Around his open
mouth was yacuous grin, in his left
hand striped carpet-bag so large and
plump that it looked as if stuffed with
feather bed, and in his right he car
ried bis gun, with the bayonet fixed.
He marched proudly to the head Of the
company-the last place be should
have taken-as if he had become fired
with an ambition to lead his comrades
into action. Arriving there he set his
gaily-striped carpet-bag down, but still
kept his gun OF his shoulder-hunter
fashion. Directly the hand that held
the butt relaxed little, and the muz-
zle and bayonet fell on the heads OF
those behind him.
Here, you big fellow in front! what
are you at? Hold your gun up, or
come to an 'order with it, chorussed
the half-dozen in his immediate rear.
This called O'Neil's attention to
Stocks position, and his ready temper
fsred up:
"Now, by the ghost of Brian Boru,
what put it in your fool head to take
your place at the roight Of the com
pany? Amt you satisfied with all the
divilment you can do in throwing the
min on the lift out, that you must stick
yerself at the head, and ruin, the march
in of the whole company? Come out
of there Immediately, Oh say, and go to
your own place in the rare"
During the exordium Stocks gun
had again fallen down upon the heads
of those behind him. AS ONeil
reached forward as if to pull him out
Of the ranks, Stock turned around Sc
suddenly that the barrel of his piece
sent three men sprawling, and the point
of the bayonet nearly tore fourth
nose out by the roots.
Then he walked to the left Of th'
company with the injured air of ont
whose. fervent aspirations to serve hi
country had been ruthlessly smothered
After an immense amount of cheerin;
the boys were gotten on board the cars
and the train started of. 1t coquettet
awhile with the switches, and tergiver
stated on various ramifications Of track
but finally the engine headed due south
and began speeding away over the wild
prairies, that were dotted at intervals G
miles with lonely little white fran
houses or long rows Of trees set i
straight lines 10 form barrier to breal
the force of the wind.
AS the train rushes off into the gath
ering darkness, / will ask the reader t
look upon the map for the point that b
would imagine to be of the most strate
gle Importance in the West at the oper