The National tribune., 1899-08-10

yer Captain, and tell the fix you're in, anu
20 sind out some rat!ons."
But even if he does send them al once.
they can't git here till evenin', and ] hate
powerfully to let him and the rest know that
we didn't have sense enough to take care c.
our victuals after we'd drawed en- said
ST.
'If it was only one, or even two days. I'd
let the bows starve it ont, as good lesson t.
EN-" said Shorty. But three seems like
cruelty To dumb beasts"
"But whatIl they say about US in camp?'
groaned 81. They'll have the grand
laugh on me and you, and every one O the
boys. I'd ruther go on quarter rations for
month than stand the riggin' they'll give
us, and have Capt. McGilicuddy give me
one look when he asks the question about
now we come TO lose all our ratioHs so soon:
He'll think me a purity Sarjint to send oui
into the country in charge o men, and yol
fine Corpril."
Say" said Shorty, his face illuminate
with bright idea 1--WE might report the
rations lost in action Thatd fix it fine
We had two good fights, and come oui
ahead Thatll tickle the Captain so that
re wont be partckler what we report"
"Hurroow echoed Hennessey; that's the
| ticket"
But we didn't lose 'ern in action, and u
;ay sod be lie," answered ST, whose con.
science had none of the easy elasticity ol
lis partners. I've could report 'em burnt
ip by lightnin', but we won't. They was
| lost by sheer, dumbed carelessness. that me
and you and the boys should've knowed
letter than to've allowed. That's all there
IS of it, and that's what Pm goin' to report
f | have to-"
Great Jehosephat," exploded Shorty
'you kin certainly he the stubbornest mule
over nothin', 81 Klegg, that ever seen
We've done fightin' enough t. excuse sich a
ti,s4fy
''Nothin' kin justify lie," persisted the
rhdurate Si.
Holy smoke! bigger men than YOU
lots bigger-have squared up their ac.
counts that way. Didn't all the Captains
N the rijimint. and the Quartermaster and
Chaplain ard the Colonel. git clean bills o
health after the battle o Stone River. by
! ~nportin' everything that they couldn't find
lost in action?"
"Yis," added Hennessey. "and didn't my
Captain. after Chickamaugy, git us all new
uniforms and complate kits, by reportin
iyerything lost in action? Smart man
ny Captain, Oh tell yez."
We'll. don't think any the more o. them
| for it. We spilled our rations before the
! fghtin' begun, they'd bin spilled if there'd
hin no fightin'. and haint goin' to send nc
other word, if I've got to send any word"
.Who the diyils j g9in' .t to carry this word
in Hemnessey.. "Are you goin' to put words
| into my mouth, Misther klegg? Oi'H tell
your Captain just fwhat Oh PLACE about you
and your foight and your rations Oi
want no more worlds wild ye. Attintion,
min! shoulder; ARMS! Roight face!
| Forward. foile left!-M-a-r-r-c-hw
"I s'pose amt responsible for any O. the
| fairy tales with which that wild Mick'll fill
no the Captain" said ST. sef-consoingly
as Hennessey and his squad marched away
III quick time Hell put rich, red
| County Colnaught color OH everything
| that S happened out here. and the Captain'lI
| believe as much as suits him. AnyhQW
! He1lesSeyU not say anything to our dis
! a Iva and probably the Captain'll
end out some rations by fast mule eX-
press
yes" accorded Shorty; swell git some
ratioIs from camp by this evenin'. Can
will look ont for that Meanwhile, I'll
take ont two o. three o the boys on a scout
into the country. to see if we can't pick up
something 10 eat.
"Humph," said ST, skeptically, "you'll
| find mighty poor pickin', after them Ohio
boys S bin out here three days. What
they haint taken has been rooted in the
ground
.'Yes; they're awful foragers and thieves, +"
aSsented Shorty. "All Ohio boys is. I'm
glad I'm from lnjianny. Still, I've gem
orally bin able TO find something. even after
the Ohio boys had bin there"
well, ] think we'd better first go back
and see about them rebels that We wounded
: last night They may he sulferin' aw-
I fully, aud we oughtn't to think about some
thing TO eat, before doin' what we kin for
them"
That's So" assented Shorty. I'D a
gone back last night, but we was all so
dead tired "
well, I'll take two o the boys and go
back You stay here with the rest, and
hold the mill. I'll git Back as soon's kin,