The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-12-22

gone upon. IT'S nayther fish. aesb fowl
nor yet good red hefrin' )" he was yer,
wont 10 say in disappearing former ex
cursIons on gunboat duty. There's nivve
any good comes OF a man goin' outs ide his
lone OF luty as me father used To say"
The desperatenesS of the adventure the
Queen OF the West set out on filled him
with alarm for the fate Of his comrades
that no enterprise in infantry duty could
have produced. He could see them start
at the head OF forIorn hope without a
tremor Of his firmly balanced nerves.
That would be legitimate risk such as
infantrymen should take at the word of
command without thought Of the result.
But To try To make a run of seven miles in
that flimSy craft seemed Ia him such I'M
soldieriy folly as could not but meet with
disastrous consequences.
He climbed tree where he could see
much that was Ia occur and swept the
field Of view with glass borrowed from the
Major, whom prostration from the effects
OF fever prevented from being among the
spectators.
In spite of his lack of enthusiasm for
the enterprise he could not restrain his
admiration as he saw the gallant little
boat steer straight for the batteries. not
swerylng hairsbreadth from her course
for all their grim threatening
Be me SOUL he said to group of Co.
that had gathered below him. that's
as foine as ennythin' Oh liver seen done
on the watber. It's most as grand ez
regiment marchin' up close column OF
divisions 1"
This was praise. To him. as to every
Iniantryman, d regiment moving up To
battle IN close column OF division is the
most impressive OF military sights. But
as the boat plowed on curling the turbjd
waters in front of her prov, each instant
bringing her nearer the fearful muZzles of
the guns, without shot from them
O'Neifs suspense became uncomfortable.
wv y In the name av ther horned gintle-
min whose bosom frinds they are, don t the
dommed ribilS foire' said he as he
raised the glass to wipe the drops from
his strained eyes. "Do they want ter git
our min where they kin list murther til i'm?
Why don't they foire now an give thin a
chance fur their lowest
He was so confident that the affair
would be a failure that he hoped il would
be brought to close with as little harm
as possible by shot at long range that
would disable the Queen and compel her
return.
Me God, there they go now" and he
guns belched forth. Just ez OF feared:
they've knocked the boat inter kindlin'
wood. Jist say the PAGES av her fly Ut
was the bales OIL cotton spinning into the
rner). DIN sure there's not "a soul av her
iiit on board aloive. Why did Oh lit Bron-
son an Karl CO.,
II don't believe it's as bad as that.
Lieutenant" said an officer. who was
also looking through a glass "She
seems to be going ahead all right, and |
sec men at work on the cotton bales,
so they is, so they is: but this is ONLY
the beginnin' Orion walls couldn't live
through SIGH a foire as thet, lit alone
thin pine boards
But she still seems To be going ahead
all right said the officer, as the wind
blew the smoke back on the bluffs
But what's that" he said with
She floats down the current stern fore
most. She's disabled"
"Oi hear the divils how'll said O'NeiI
in anguish, as the delighted re bells poured
out Of their works. as they thought the
boat was drifting ashore "Save us, how
Old loike ter give thin a yolIey mt a
hundred yards. But hold! What's tibet?
She's startin up agini She's rInnin' fur
the steamboat by the wharf The ribils
are all a-scamperin back ter their holes.
The big guns open agin, The Duane
shtroikesl Now they're both afirei The
Duane floats away, turns aroun' and
stharts down stTame. She s shtiIl afoirei
Oh kin see the min THROWN wather ON
her! Now he's gone out OF soight aroun'
the bend. Saints in glory! How thin
ribils is d worlkin thin guns THEY'LL not
lave splinter Of her. My God. Oill
niver say aither av thin b'ys agin.''
He wiped his eyes. There was NOR G
moisture ia them than looking through
the lenses had produced
We'll" said the officer, Il rather take