Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1899-06-08
Alden laid out two biscuits.

Alden laid out two biscuits. As
he was about TO hack . quarter from
the third, he happened to glance
over the creek at bis enemy. There
was no mistaking the expression in
his face. Starvation was STAN ped
on every feature.
When Craig caught Alden's eye,
he spat with elaborate care, whist
led q bar Of the .Bonny Blue Flag,
and pretended to yawn.
Alden hesitated. glanced at Con-
nor, then placed three whole bis
cniss in che corn-husk, added !
pinch Of coifse, and tossed the par
eel over to Craig.
That Craig longed to fling him.
self upon the food and devour il
| was plain to Alden. who was watch
ing his face. But he didn't; he
strolled leisurely down the bank,
picked mp the parcel, weighed it
critically before opening it, and e.
nallY sat down to examine the con.
tents. When he saw that the third
cracker was whole and that pinch
OF coffee had been added. he paused
in his examination and remained
motionless on the bank. head bent.
Presently he looked up and asked
Alden il he had made q mistake.
The young fellow shook his head
and drew long puff of smoke from
his pipe, watching it curl out Of his
nose with interest.
Then I'm obliged to yew, AL
den.' said Craig; Glow I'll eat a
snack to see it amt pizened.
lie filled his lean jaws with the
dry biscuit, then scooped up q tin
cup full Of water from the muddy
river and set the rest of the cracker
60 soak.
Good p queried Alden.
'Fair, drawled Craig. boiling an
unchewed segment and choking q
little.
'How's the twist p
.Fine,' said Alden; tastes like
stable-sweeping.
They smiled at each other across
the stream.
'Sa-a-y,' drawled Craig, with his
mouth full, when yew're out oi
twist, jest yew sing out sonny
| 'All right replied Alden. He
stretched back in the shadow of O
sycamore and watched Craig with
pleasant eyes.
Presently Connor had q bite and
jerked his line into the air.
Look yere,' said Craig, 'that
amt no way for to catch q red
horse. Yew want q cartridge on
foh sinker, sonny.
| Whats that p inquired Connor,
suspiciously.
'Put on o sinker.'
GO on, Connor,' said Alden.
Connor saw him smoking, and
shifted anxiously. Alden tossed
him the twist, telling him to fll
his pipe.
Presently Connor found q small
pebble and improvised a sinker.
He swung his line again into the
muddy current, with mechanical
sidelong glance to see what Craig
was doing, and settled down again
on his launches, smoking and
grunting.
Emmy news, Alden p queried
Craig after q silence.
| Nothing much; except that Rich.
mond has fsllen,' grinned Alden.
sQuit foolin',' urged the South.
erner; sain't there no news?'
No. Some of our men down al
Mud Pond got sick eating catfish.
They caught them in the pond. II
appears you Johnnys used the pond
as q cemetery, and our men goi
sick eating the fish,
THAT SOP drawled Craig; 'too
bad. Lots Of your men was in
Long Pond too, reckon
In the silence that followed twe
| rifeshots sounded faint and dull
from the distant forest.
Mother great Union victory,
drawled Craig. 'Extry! Extry
Richmond is took
Alden laughed and puffed at hii
pipe.
we licked the boots of of the
3Oth Texas last Monday he said.
sSho = drawled Craig; what did
ron 90 q lickin' their boots for
blsckin' p
ooh, shut upl' said Connor from
the bank; Il can't Iketch no fish il