The National tribune., 1899-07-27

aud c!qng to saplings to avoid being carried
away into tie brush.
IN fall back and keep the boys together,s
SAID SHORTY. Is soon as an intermiSsion
allowed them to speak.
10 so, SAID 81. Look out for little
ahead.
Goodness. Sariint. you're not going t.
travel IN such storm as this" gasped Gid
Mackall.
Certainly" ST called back. Come ons
| We've got to reach that mill tonight, no
/ matter what happens. You'd might as
well be drowned marchin' as standin' still.
lam raInin' no worse further ahead than
| here. Forward
Close up. boys" said Shorty. taking
little Pete's gun and the youngsters hand.
mss only Spring shower. 'Taint
nothln' to what we had on the Tullyhomy
| Campaign. There the drops was as big as
pmklns. and come as thick as the grains on
. BE ear J o, corn. Close up. there; dodge tie
Hold on TO me tight Hold on to mels
ciamored little Pete III you don't I'll be
washed away and lost for sure"
Come along. Peter, my son." Shorty
assured him. Il haint never lost no chill
dren yit. and / haint goin' to begin with
yon."
The storm grew more violent every
| minute. limbs We're torn from the trees. and
leli with crash, and torrents rushed down
ron the mountain side. across the road.
81 strobe on resolutely, as if the disturbance
We're nothing more than Summer zephyr.
lie waded squarely through the raging
Streams: turi ing at times 10 help the next
boy to him, strobe over the fallen limbs. and
took the dashing downpour with stolid in
difference.
Close up, boys, Close upl" shouted
Shorty from time to time. Don't mind
niue sprinkle like this. tn lay the dust,
and make marchin' easier. Come along.
Peter. my son. I'm not goin' TO lose you.S
Night suddenly came, with pitehy dark-
ness, but 81 steadily forged onward. Then
the rain ceased as suddenly as it began. hut
the road was encountered with fallen timber
ana sWIrllng races of muddy water. They
seemed more uncomfortable even than when
the ram was falling. They were now near
ing the MILL and the sound of a fitful mus
kerry fire came to their ears.
They've sneaked up in the storm To
attack the mill" 81 called out to Shorty.
Close up and prepare for action"
"Goodness, gasped Gid Mackall much
OF whose vim had been soaked out of him
by the fearful downpour, and who was
oppressed by fatigue, hunger, and the
dense blackness of the night i'm the strange
woods You don't have to fight when
you re wetter'n a drownded rat and so tired
you're ready to drop, do you?"
That's what you do" said Shorty, wip-
ing OIL his musket. That's the way you'll
w wv ibpot " your ne
miserabler you feel the miserabler YOU want
to make the other fellers feel. Bows, turn
your guns upside down and let the water
run out. Then half-cock 'em. and blow
into 'em to clean the water out O. the tubes.
Then find dry rag somewhere about you,
and wipe off the nipples. We want every
gun to go Off when the order is given Don's
anybody load till ST gives the order"
The drenched but excited bows followed
his directions with nervous haste. Shorty
took one gun after another and examined
it, while 81 went forward little ways to
reconnoiter. The calm deliberation OF ths
partners steadied the nervous bows
Load" called back ST. from the vantage
ground OF a little knoll, upon which he was
standing, trying to see into the darkness
beyond. volley from out in front re-
sponded to tie sound of his voice, and
bullets knocked bark off the big chestnut
behind which he had shrewdly taken
refuge.
Jest as I expected, ST." Shorty called
back to him. 'EThe rebels have throwed
back squad to watch for u.s."
Yes" said ST. coollv. as he stepped back
to meet the boys. There amt hut 10 o.
them. though. l counted every flash and
located 'em. They're all in a bunch right
over there by dead tree to the left. Move
up there quickly, aim little to the left
AIM low. and fire iust as we reach the rise.
I'll fire first. and the rest of you foler. Try
to hit something. everyone of you"
(To be continued)