The National tribune., 1899-10-05
to the rock was made easier for the rest Of

to the rock was made easier for the rest Of
81 and Shorty and the rest had worked
so hard under the eye of the Brigadier.
General, that when they saw their second
wagon safely up, they had to sit down and
rest.
Il take back all said about Brigadier-
Generals" said Shorty, as he famed HIM
self with his hat.
Me, too" echoed 81.
"Ain't he a daisy?"
Ought to have two stars instid of one
He'll git the other SOON"
They had only begun to recover their
breath and strength when a volley of oaths
from the Leading teamster, accompanied by
cracking of the whip upon the poor mules
hides, announced another stall. They
picked up their prizes and walked forward.
to find the fore-wheels of the wagon in two,
foot gully. Shorty swore. but 81 went to
work To repeat the previous tactics
And so the weary day went, 30 the utter
ruin OF tempers. spirits, clothes, and
strength of all concerned. The mems
hands We're raw and bloody. Every
muscle ached, and their minds were as sore
as their bodies
When, late in the afternoon, they were at
| last well-down on the other side of the gap,
| and reached a point where the wretched
roads became more tolerable and could rest
| awhile, every one threw himself down in
| sulien, solitary discomfort and anger
II this is soldering. / don't want no more
OF it, groaned Harry Joslyn, the first word
| OF dissatisfaction he had uttered since
| enlistment.
GidMackall fumbled around in his haver-
sack, but was too exhausted to attempt to
| build a fire and cook.
With despairing look in his large eyes,
ALI Russell sat and felt his languid pulse.
| Monty Scruggs tried to think of some
| appropriate selection on the horrors of war,
but he was too tired to remember.
Jim Humphreys. after terse wish that
| the whole Southern Confederacy was in the
middle pit of the internal regions, lay down
with his head on chunk, and said nothing.
Sandy Baker remarked for the thou
sandth time that the whole work was
aggravatingly wasteful. Some labor in
advance with picks and shovels would have
saved it all.
Little Pete Skidmore cried. when he
thought nobody was looking. Shorty, WHO
had tenderly bound up the boys hurt hand,
at the first stop, now bethought himself
about giving it another examination and
dressing, while 81 languidly watched regi-
ment going into line on hill some distance
to the right front.
A stoppage in the slowly-moving wagons
reused him.
| The Wagonmaster came back.
| We've struck the worst thing yit,' he
said. There's hill in front that slants
up like the roof of a house, and don't be-
lieve there's pound more pull in any mule
in the train. The only thing that kin see
is for to git out the rope, and have the men
pull the wagons up"
| 81 groaned, and Shorty swore.
Il don't believe there's a pound o pull in
the boys. either" said ST despairingly.
| 'I'm afraid there isn't either, Sergeant"
said the kindly voice of the Brigadier-
General. who had ridden up unobserved.
you men have been worked fearfully to-
day, and done nobly. Sergeant, go over to
there-which is the 1st Oshkosh-present
him my compliments, and say that desire
him to bring his regiment back here and
help the wagons up that hill. The 20Oth
Ind. will take his place.
The regiment rose with whoop!
CTo be continued.)