The National tribune., 1899-11-30

made stubborn resistance. until his lack
of breath weakened him.
Instead of running. as directed, the other
| boys circled around 81 and punched the
body of his antagonist with the muzzles of
their gun-barrels. whenever they could get
chance. IL was all so swift and silent
that the men on the other side of the water
mad no idea of what was gong on.
Hold on, BaZ. don't kill me. gasped the
Captain, "Nough! I'll let You go"
hound said 81 fiercely, still clinging to
ms throat. Cit up and come along with
me. But don't you squeak word, or I'll
| blow your head off,"
He helped the ran rise, and then walked
him off to the right into the woods.
Hold on, Yank: you've made "A mistake
said the man whom Shorty leaped upon.
They went to the ground together but as he
made no struggle. Shorty released his
clutch little and the man whispered:
Let me up, Yank. I'm with you. Pm
your friend. I'm Baz Peters, and thar's
Brice Wolf, and five or six others. Le me
| up quick. and we'uns II help yo'uns."
Something convinced Shorty that the
man was telling the truth. He let him up.
and instantly there was a group around
him, who began knocking down those who
| We're crossing.
Come, skin out! Skin out" said in n
loud whisper the man whom Shorty had
attacked. Go right that away. Bring
Lie along, Brice and Hank"
They all rushed into the woods In the
direction 81 had taken, and IIst as the first
glimmer of day was breaking, Shorty. who
had gone on little in advance, to reassure
81, came up to him standing under a tree
| with his prisoner.
We're ali i.S-S 81, said Shorty. "and We
| brung some East Tennesseans with u.s."
Right over hathaway is the Yankees,
said Baz Peters, who had a mountaineer's
instinct for courses. But thar's no use of
| takin' these carkisses along-indicating
| the Captain and First Lieutenant who was
| also prisoner. Wash Stembell. and Lie
Willoughby, yore evil course is run. You've
hung and prosecuted all the Union people
you ever will. Yo'uns ID better make your
peace with your Maker, right now. for we
| halnt no time to waste, for we'uns air
gwine to Kill you and git shet o. yo'uns for
good and ALL"
Indeed you're not" said ST. stepping
between them. Them mems prisoners,
and YOU mustn't fetch 'em."
| Why not" asked the TennesSeean with
surprise. They We bin KILN Union men
ever since the war began, and now their
times come. Let's settle 'em now and have
| INT over Wild, and then we won't I've pestered
no more with they'uns. We know they've
| killed our own kin"
We'll, that's matter that must be dis
cussed after we git to camp" said 81 firmly.
You shan do no murderin' here. For
| NdIu Hidicli. Let , git lIlSlue our lifleS Us
quick as possible
When full daylight came. ST found that
he had. beside his own squad and the two
prisoners, 10 East Tennesseeans, who had
taken the opportunity to get away.
How in the world did you come to be
there, and how d you know we wuz Yanks?
81 asked Basil Peters, as they walked along.
| We'll, YOU see, we wuz out To git away,
and Wash Stembell somehow got onto
we'uns's plan. But he went by we'uns in
the rain. and then we'uns fell in with him.
without him KNOWN hit. When he come
onto yo'uns. he thought yo'uns wuz we'uns,
and we'uns didn't know who yo'uns wuZ,
and couldn't make out for quite awhile,
until that flash o Hghtnin' showed yo'uns
blue cloze, and even then we'ns wasn't
quite sho', until sneaked up and pulled a
chunk o Yankee bread outen yo'uns's
haversack. Then got the boys together
towards the front. ready for whatever mout
happen. | wuz jest gittin ready to speak
TO yo'uns when yo'uns jumped Wash
Stembell."
Il think understand" said ST.
CTo be continued.)