The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-06-16

Blamed if that Teller didn't make good
line shot," said ST, glancing up Just above
his head to where twig had been clipped off
the persimmon tree behind which he was
standing. He put up his sights little too
fur, or he'd IA got me''
| ST took careful aim at where he supposed
the lurking marksman to be and fired
! There was waving Of the tops of the
bushes as if the men concealed there had
rushed out
Guess we both landed mighty close -
said Shorty triumphantly. "They seem to
have lost interest in this piece o. sidehill,
anyway"
He and ST made rush down the hill, and
gained the covert of the fence just in time to
see the rails splintered by bunch of shots
striking them.
Lay down, Yanks!" called out Shorty
| cheerily, dropping into the weeds. "Grab a
root!'
TO the right of them they could see the
rest of Co. @ going through similar perform
| ances.
ST and Shorty pushed the weeds aside,
crawled cautiously to the fence, and looked
| through There was road on the other side
| of the fence, and beyond it a grove of large
| beech trees extending to the bank of the
| river. Half concealed by the trunk of one
of these, stood tall, rather good-looking
Young man, with his gun raised and intently
peering into the bushes. He had seen the
tops stir, and knew that his enemies had
gained their cover. He seemed expecting
that they would climb the fence and lump
down into the road At little distance to
his right could be seen other men ON the
sharp lookout.
Sho,f hi 1o,,I -.
repress him.
drew his gun toward him. The hammer
caught on a trailing vine, and, forgetting
himself, he gave it am impatient Jerk 1t
went off, the bullet whistling past Shorty's
head and the powder burning his face
The rebel instantly fired in return, and cut
the leaves about four feet above Shorty.
Purity good shot that, Johnny" called
out Shorty as he reloaded his gun; "but too
low 1t went between my legs. You haint
no idee how tall ann
:" If L couldn't shoot no better'n YOU kin
on a sneak, " answered the rebel, his ranmer
ringing in his gun-barrel, ~ wouldn't ham
die firearms. Your bullet went a mile over
my head. Must've bin shootin' at an ANGEL
But You Yanks can't shoot nary bit--your re
too skeered"
" 1 made you hump out o. the bushes a
few minutes ago." replied Shorty, putting
on cap. who was skeered then? You
struck for tall timber like a cotton-tailed
rabbit"
p" I'll rabbit we, ye nigger-loyin' whelp.n
shouted the rebel. "Take that and he fired
as close as he could to the sound of Sbortv,s
voice.
Shorty had tried to anticipate his motion
and fire first, but the limbs bothered his aim
and his bullet went foot to the right of the
rebels head. 1t was close enough. however,
to make the rebel cover himself carefully
with the tree.
That was much better shot, Yank.n he
called out. But We orter do powerful
sight better'n that on a sneak. Ye'd never
XIII no deer, nor rebels nuther, with that kind
o shootm You Yanks are great on the
sneak, nut that's all the good it does ye we
can shoot Ter handful O. huckleberries ,"
'Sneaks! Can't shoot!' roared Shorty.
" kin outshoot you or any other man i'm Jeff
Davis's kingdom. I dare YOU to come ont
from behind your tree, and take shot with
me in the open, according to Hardee's tactics.
Your guns empty; SOS mine. NV chum
here'll see fair play; and you kin bring your
chum with you. Come out. YOU skulkin'
brindle pup, and shoot man fashion, if Won
daren
'Ye can't dare me, we nigger-stealin' blue
belly" shouted the rebel in return, coming out
from behind his tree. Shorty climbed over the
fence, and stood at the edge of the road, with
his gun at order arms. ST came out on
Shorty's left, and rebel appeared to the
right of the first. For minute all stood in
expectancy. Then Shorty spoke:
4" want nothin' but what's fair. Your
guns empty SOS mine. You probably know
Hafdee's tactics as well as dO.''
"I'm up in Hardee," said the rebel, with
a firm voice.
Well, them" continued Shorty, "Iet nv
chum here call off the orders for loadin' and
firing, and Well both go through em, and
shoot at the word"
$50 ahead-Pm agreed" said the rebel
briefly.
Shorty nodded to ST.
Garry arms" commanded ST.
Both brought their guns up to their right
sides.
Present arms"
Both cOurteously saluted.
DAD in pino tinar Iaod or1oro1 g.