The National tribune., 1898-01-06

distributing bareback to the hungry boys
warping his Judgment "The fellers right
back o. the wagon couldn't shoot to any ad-
vantage, and them TO the right and left ara
too fur of. Ifyou say so, it's Co."
- III the boys could only have one bareback
apiece" said 81, as his last hesitation van
ished, they'd feel ever so much better. and
be IN so much better shape for fight. Come
on, let's try it,
The rest overheard their plan, and began to
watch them with eager interest They made
a circle to the right, got into the cover OF the
brush OF the creek, and began making their
way slowly and carefully up to point oppo-
site the wagon. They reached this without
attracting notice, parted the bushes in 'front.'
OF them carefully, and took good survey Of
the wagon and the hill beyond.
lie wagon was great deal nearer the Hill
than had appeared to be the case from where
the regiment lay, and even where they stood
they were IN very easy range of the rebels On
the hlH. But the latter were utterly IN
suspicious of them. They were cronchjns
down around fires, with their guns stacked.
and the eannoneers of couple of guns were
NJ some distance from their pieces under a
oraSh shelter, before which fire smoldered
in the rain.
It's awful short range, y said 81. dubi-
ousiy; III they were lookin' they'd tear Us
ana the wagon all to pieces But our boys in
a-watchin' US, md I don't want 10 20 baek
without shy at it, Them fellers seem so
busy tryin' to keep warm that we NAV ret
there without their noticn' US"
never wanted harditack 50 mich IN NV
hie rs do this very minute" said Shorty.
:, don't want to live forever. anyway. LET'S
chance it."
They pulled off their overeoats carefully
tied up their shoes, shifted around so as to 10
completely behind the wagon. and then
started on rush through the mud.
or several hundred steps nothing hap
peheo' and they began to believe that they
would reach the wagon unnoticed. Then a
lew shots sang over their heads. followed q
minute later by storm Of bullets that struck
IN the mud and against the wagon. But
they reached the wagon, and sat down ex-
hausted on the tongue, siding up close to
the bed to protect them from the bullets.
81 recovered his breath first. caught hold
OF the front board and raised himself I'D. saw
the boxes Of coveted bareback. and was lust
putting his hand on one of them when q shell
struck the rear end and tore the canvas cover
OIL. 81 sank back again beside Shorty.
when another shell burst under the wagon.
and filled the air with pieces of wheels. bed,
cracker-boxes and bareback.
L don't want no bareback: / want To
find the bank o. that erick, " yelled Shorty,
starting back on the jump, with ST lust SIX
inches behind
The bullets spattered in the mud all around
them as they ran, but they reached the
creek bank without being struck. They
were IN such hurry that they did not stop
10 jump, but fell headlong into the water
hem bareback wuz spilled anvwav.n
said Shorty, as they fshed themselves out,
found their overcoats, and made their way
back to the regiment
Ihey received the congratulations of their
comrades on their escape, and someone fisbed
out all the consolation that the regiment
could offer-a couple of brierwood pipes
filled with fragrant kinnikinnick. They at
down, smoked these and tried to forget their
troubles
The cherries night drew on. No fires
were allowed, and the men huddIed together
On the wet ground, to get what comfort they
could from the warmth of each others bodies.
The temper of the rebels became nastier an
the day wore away, and under the cover Of
the darkness they pushed out here and there,
and opened worrying fires on the Union line.
Suddenly battery opened up on the 20Oth
mo- from bare knoll In front The rebels
bad evidently calculated the range dEring
daylight, and the shells struck around them
IN the most annoying way. They threw I'D
showers OF mud, scattered the groups. and
kept everybody nervous and alarmed. The
regiment stood this for some time. when an
idea occurred to ST and Shorty. They went
up to the Colonel and explained:
Colonel, we've studied the ground out
there purity carefully, and we know that the
knoll where that battery is is in close range
o. that crick where we went up this after
noon. Ii you'll let few of US 60 ont there
we kin stop them cannoneers mighty soon.u
Sure OF that ?" said the Colonel alertiy.
Dead sure"
Very well, then" said the Colonel
promptly I've been thinking of the same
thing. III take the whole regiment out.
Put yourselves at the head, and lead ths
way"
Tile regiment was only too eager for the
1t marched rapidly after ST and
Shorty up the creek bed, and in very few
minutes found itself on the flank of the
obnoxious battery, liich was still banging
away into the line which the 2GGth Ind. had
occupied. 1t was scarcely 200 yards away,
D94tA TIC HUI > Is DulICu WIN q UcfC6
Joy al the prospect of vengeance. With
orders the ColGncl lined I'D the
regiment carefully on the bank. and waited
until the battery should fire a2ain. to make
sure of the aim. Every man cooked his gun.
took good aim and waited for the order.
They could distinctly hear the orders of the
battery officers, directing the shelling. Three
cannon were fired at once, and rs their ferce
lights flashed out, the Colonel gave the order
10 fire. \ terrible simeon of dealt. from the
rifles Of the 20Uth Ind. struck down every
hing IN and around the battery
= That dogs cured O. sucEin' aigs," said
shorty, as the Colonel ordered the regiment
o ab0a. face and march back
The 2U0th Ind. heard 10 more from that
battery that night
ITO Be Continued