The National tribune., 1899-04-27

thing connected with the war. For two
years they had been fed on stories and incl
dents OF the mighty conflict then convulsing
the land. Every breath they had drawn
had some taste of battle in it. Wherever
they went or were they heard necessarily
of the storm-swept front '-of terrific
battles, perilous adventures, heroic achieve
ments, death, wounds and marvellous
escapes. The older boys were all at the
front, or going there, or coming back with
heroic marks of shot and she'll. The one
burning aspiration in every well-constructed
boys heart was to get big enough to crowd
past the recruiting officer, and 90 where he
could see with his own eyes the thunderous
drama There was concentrated all that
fills p healthy boys imagination and stirs
his blood-something greater than Indian
| fighting, or hunting lions and tigers. They
looked on 81 and Shorty with little short of
reverence. Here were two men who had
captured rebel flag in band-to-hand fight,
both of whom had been left for dead, and
both promoted for gailantry. What higher
pinnacle of greatness could any boy hope to
reach?
They began at once seriously initiating the
walk and manners of their heroes. The tall,
lank boys modelled themselves on Shorty,
and the short, chubby ones on 81. And there
at once rose contention between them as to
which was the greater hero.
81 heard" said Henry Joslyn, that
Corpril Elliott was the first to reach the
rebel flag, he havin' much the longest legs,
but jest as he grabbed it a big rebel knocked
him, and then they all piled on to him, and
about had him finished, when Serg't Klegg
reached there at charge bayOnets, aud he
bayoneted everybody in sight, until a sharp
shooter in tree shot him with an explosive
bullet that tore his breast all to pieces, but
he kept right on bayonetin' 'em till he drop
ped from loss O. blood. Then they fired
| cannon at the sharpshoOter, and blOwed him
to pieces, Just as you'd blow q chippee to
pieces with bullet from bear-gun."
"Twan't that way at all" said tall, lathy
Gid Mackall. ga whole lot of 'em made for
the flag together A charge O. grapeshot
come along and blowed the rest away, but
Serg't Klegg and Corpril Elliott KEEP right on.
Then Corpril Elliott he Lit into the crowd o.
rebels and laid swath right around him,
while Sergint Klegg grabbed the flag A
rebel Colonel shot him, but they couldn't
stop Corpril Elliott till they shot brass six
FOUNDER at him."
The boys stood on the banks Of the Ohio
River, and gazed eagerly at the other side.
| There was the enemy's country-there the
theatcr in which the great drama was being
enacted. Everything there had weird
fascination for them, as a part of, or accessory
| to, the stupendous play. twas like peeping
under the circus tent, when they were smaller,
and catching glimpses Of the flying horses
| feet
And the questions they asked. 81 had in
n manner repelled them by his curt treat
meut of Harry Joslyn, and his preoccupied
air, as he went back aId forth, getting his
orders and making preparations for starting.
But Shorty was in an affable mood, and by
pleasantly answering few of their inquiries
brought the whole fire of their questioning
upon him.
"Are any o. them men you see over there
guerrillas?" they asked.
"Mebbe," Shorty answered. Kentucky IS
full of 'em. Mebbe they're peaceabie citizens,
though"
How kin you tell the guerrillas from the
citizens?"
"By the way they shoot at you. The
peaceable citizens don't shoot-as least, in
day time, and ont in the open. They lay for
you with sole-leather pies, and chuek-a-luck
boards and 40-rod whisky, and aid and abet
the Southern Confedrisy that way. They
get away with moro Union soldiers than tine
] guerrillas do. But you can never tell