The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-06-02
'You never knowed me to fail out, did

'You never knowed me to fail out did
you?"
Captain. never felt actiyer in my life,"
asserted Shorty; 'aad you know | always
kept up. / never played sore foot any day"
u don't belle either OF you r lit to 90, .
said Capt. hic,ilicUjly, =" but / won't deny
you. You may start, anyway. BY the time
we get TO the pickeis YOU can fall out if you
find you can't keep up"
1.-The rebel cavalry's jumped herd of
beef cattle out at pasture, run off the guard,
ard are trying to get away with them, y the
Orderly Sergeant hurriedly explained, as he
lined up Co. O. ''We're TO make short cut
across the country and try to cut them of.
Sir, the compauy's formed"
Attention, Co. O." shouted Capt Nc
Gillicuddy fright faee!-Forward, file
left,-March,'
The company went Off at terrific pace to
get its place with the regiment, which had
already started without it.
Though every step was n pang, 81 and
Shorty kept up unhinchingly. Each was
anxious to Guido the other, and to bear off
bravely before the company. The Captain
and Orderly Sergeant took an occasional look
at them until they passed the picket-ilne,
when other more pressing matters engaged
the officers attention.
The stampeded guards. mounted on mules
or condemned horses or running on foot,
came tearing back, each with a prodigious
tale of the numbers and ferocity OF the rebels
The regiment was pushed forward with all
the speed there was in it, going down-hiu
and over the level stretches at dOuble-quick.
81 felt his feet bleeding, and it seemed at
times that he could not go another step, but
then he would look back down the line and
catch a glimpse of Shorty keeping abreast of
his set of fours, and he would spur himself
to renewed effort. Shorty would long to
throw himself in fence-corner and rest for
a week, until, as they went over some rise,
he would catch sight of Sis sandy hair, well
i'm the lead, when he would drink In fresh
determination to keep up, If he died In the
attempt.
Presently they arrived at the top Of hill
from which they could see the rebel cavalry
rounding up and driving off the cattle, while
a portion OF the enemy's horsemen were en-
gagged in fight with small squad of
infantry ensconced behind high rail fence.
ST and Shorty absolutely forgot their lame
ness as Co. Q separated from the column, and
rushed to the assistance of the squad, while
the rest Of the regiment turned off to the
right to cut off the herd. But they were
ldiuC, dl tilC SttiHCf oHt liippco anu I'LL O'OA
a low fence which the rest of the company
easily leaped. They gathered themselves up,
sat on the ground for an instant and glared
at one another
Blamed old tangle-foot," said Shorty,
derisively.
You've got hoofs like a foundered hoss,"
retorted ST.
After this interchange of compliments
they staggered painfully to their feet and
picked up their guns, which had flown some
distance from their hands as they fell.
By this time Co. Q was a quarter of mile
away, and already beginning to fire on the
rebels, who showed signs of relinquishing the
attack
''Gol darn the luck 20 said ST, with Wa
bash emphasis, beginning to limp forward.
Wish the whole outfit was mile deep
in burnin' birthstone" wrathfully observed
Shorty.
A couple of lucky shots had emptied two
of the rebel saddles. The frightened horses
turned away from the fighting line. and gal
loped down the road to the right Of the boys.
The leading one suddenly halted in fence
corner about 30 yards away from ST, threw
up his head and began surveying the scene,
as if undecided what to do next. The other,
seeing his mate stop, began circling around.
Hope leaped up in Sis breast. He began
creeping toward the first horse, under the
covert of the sumach. Shorty saw his design
and the advantage it would give ST, and stand
ing still began swearing worse than ever.
ST crept up as cautiously as he had used to
in the old days when he was rabbit-hunting.
The horse thrust his head over the fence, and
began nibbling at a clump of tall rye growing
there. ST thrust his hand out and caught his
bride The horse made one frightened
plunge, but the hand on his bride held with
the grip of iron, and he settled down to mute
obedience.
ST set his gun down in the fence-corner
and climbed into the saddle.
Shorty made the Spring air yellow with
profanity until he saw ST ride away from his
gun toward the other horse. When the lat
ter saw his mate, with rider, coming toward
him he gave Whitney and dashed forward.
In an instant ST had hold of his bride and
was turning back His face was bright with
triumph Shorty stopped in the middle of a
soul-curdling oath and yelled delightfully."-:
Bully for old Wabash! You're my pard-
ner. after all, ST."
He fastened forward to the fence, grabbed
up Sis gun and handed it to him, and then
climbed into the other saddle.
The rebels were now falling back rapidly
before Co. Qs fire. A small party detached
itself and started down a side road.
81 and Shorty gave yell, and galloped to-
ward them. in full sight of Co. Q, who raised
cheer. The rebels spurred their horses, but
ST and Shorty gained on them.
"Come on, Shorty" ST yelled. 81 don't
believe they've got shot left. They haint
fired once since they started"
He was right Their cartridge-boxes had
been emptied.
At the bottom of the hill . creek
crossing the road made a deep, wide
auagmire The rebels were in too much
hurry to pick out whatever road there might
have been through it. Their leaders plunged
in, their horses sank nearly to the knees, and
the whole party punched up.
Surrender, You rebel galoOts," yelled ST,
refining up at little distance, and bringing
his gun to bear.
Surrender, you ofscourings of seces-
sion, added Shorty.
The rebels looked back, held mp their
hands, and said imploringly:
Don't shoot, Mister We'uns give up"
We'uns air taylOred."
''Come back up here, one by One," COM
manded 81, land go to our rear. Hold on
to your guns. Don't throw 'em away. We
amt afraid Of 'em."
One Inv one the rebels extricated their