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

l Dun guns fdIHe uoWn dJ tnc SAME iiiSEtlli,
each man grasped his muzzle with his left
hand, and reached for his cartridge-box.
Shorty did not slight movement nor APP
parently did the rebel, and both stsid their
hands on the flap of their cartridge-boxes,
awaiting the next order.
| Handle cartridge
"Tear cartridge"
| Charge cartridge" repeated 81 slowly
and distinctly. The rebels second nodded
| approval of his knowledge of the drill, and
sung out,
Good soldiers, all Of you'ns"
DRAW rammer," continued 81.
Turn hammer"
Ram cartridge"
Shorty punctiliously executed the three
blows on the cartridge exacted by the regu-
lations and paused breath for the next
word. The rebel had sent his cartridge
home with one strong thrust but he saw his
opponents act and waited.
Return rammer," commanded ST. He
was getting little nervous, but Shorty de-
liberately withdrew mis- ramrod, turned it,
placed one end in the thimbles, deliberately
covered the head with his little finger, ex-
actly as the tactics prescribed, and sent it home
with q single movement. The rebel had a
little trouble in returning hammer, and Shorty
and ST waited.
Cast about"
"Prime!"
Both men capped at the same instant.
Ready"
Shorty cooked his piece, and glanced at
the rebel, whose gun was at his side.
''Aim!"
Both guns came up like fash.
Sis heart began humping at a terrible
rate. He was far more alarmed about Shorty
than he had ever been about himself Up to
this moment he had hoped that Shorty's
GOODNESS and deliberation would "rattle"
the rebel, and make him fire wildly But
the latter, as ST expressed it afterward
"seemed to he made of mighty good stuff, !"
and it looked as if both would be shot down
'Fire |" shouted ST, with perceptible
tremor in his voice
Both guns flashed at the same instant. ST
saw Shorty's cap fly off, and him stagger and
fall, while the rebel dropped his gun, and
clapped his hand to his side ST ran toward
Shorty, who instantly sprang up again, rub
bing his head from which came faint trickle
of blood.
" He aimed at my head, and jest scraped
my scalp" he said "Where ID I hit him :?
/ aimed at his heart, and had good bead. {"
answered ST, looking at the rebels "But
not badly, for he's still standin' up. Mebbe
you broke rib, thought
Couldn't if he's still up. I must file my
trigger. Gun pulls too hard. had dead
aim on his heart, but 1 seem to we pulled
too much to the right"
Say, I'll take turn with you," said ST,
picking up his gun, and motioning with his
left hand to the other rebel.
" All right" answered the other promptly.
" My gun amt loaded, though"
I'll wait for you" said ST, looking at the
cap on his gun. A loud cheer was heard
from far to the right, and Co. Q was seen
coming forward on a rush, with the rebels in
front running back to the river bank
Several were seen to be overtaken and forced
to surrender.
The two rebels in front of the boys gave
startled look at their comrades, then at the
boys, and turned to run ST raised his gun
to order them to halt.
No, said Shorty. "Let 'em go. 1t was
a fair bargain, and III stick to it. Skip out,
Johnnies, for every cent you're WORTH
The rebels did not wait for the conclusion of
the sentence, but followed their comrades
with alacrity.
The boys ran forward through the woods
to the edge of the bank, and saw their oppo-
nents climbing up the opposite bank and
getting behind the sheltering trees ST wait
ed till his particular one got good shelter be-
hind large sycamore, and then sent bull
let that cut closely above his head.
This was the signal for general and spite
full fusilade from both sides of the river and
all along the line. The rebels banged away
as if in red-hot wrath at being run across the
stream, and Co. Q retorted with such earnest
ness that another company was sent forward
to its assistance, but returned when the Irish
Lieutenant, who had gone forward to investi-
gate, reported:
''Faith, it's loike the divil shearing hog
all cry and no wool at all"
So it was. Both sides found complete
shelter behind the giant trunks of the trees,
and each fired at Insignificant portions of the
anatomy allowed to momentarily protrude
beyond the impenetrable boles.
After this had gone on for about half an hour
those across the river from ST and Shorty
called out:
'Say, Yanks, We can't shoot down beech
tree with Springfield musket, nohow We kin
hit. If we'uns haint KILN more o. you'ns
than you'ps is a-killin' o. we'uns, we'uns air
both wastin' powerful lot o. powder an
lead and good shootin'. What d. You'ns say
to Kings excuse for awhile ?"
Were agreed" said 81 promptly, step
ping from behind the tree, and leaving his
gun standing against it.
Hits CO." responded the rebels, coming
out disarmed. "We'uns won't shoot no more !
till ordered, an then'n give you'ns warnin'
fust"
''All right ; We'll give you warning before
we shoot" conceded ST.
Say, have you'ns got any Yankee coffee |
that you'll trade for good plug o. terbacker ?"
inquired the man whom 81 had regarded as |
MS particular antagonist.
eyes," answered 81. "We've got little |
w |