The National tribune., 1899-01-19
CHAPTER LIV.

The Sergeant conducted O'Neil through
the camp and stopped at a low, filthy
looking log cabin, which the latter recog-
nized as a guardhouse. The two reliefs
of guards not on duty were lying around
the fire, asleep, upon their blankets.
Others were playing game OF cards upon
folded blanket, that served, as it lay
upon the ground, as a table. Still others
Numbered down over the ashes and
dying embers, drawing lazily to each
other the current bits of camp gossip.
A leng-h -ired guard, with loaded mus
ket, and bayonet fixed, stood before the
door, ID detail led inside Il gang still
more unkempt, uncleanly and uninviting
than their comrades outsi e. These were
the offenders against military law, ana
their wrong doiag ran comprehensive
gamut from drunkenness and deSenIJn to
highway robDi1g. he officer OF the
guard, young Lieutenant, SAT on a
stump nearby, smoking a cob pipe and
reading 4 dimi Iutive. dirty, badly printed
newspaper.
This ficksburg paper says that old
Grants canal has been the biggest iaiiure
yet" said he, addressing the loungers.
"In the first place, the cursed fool dIdn' [
know any better than 10 have both ends
IN big eddies IN the river, SO That ile
couldn't get no currents through, even
after he got il done, and ii don get d bit
done the river rose so that IL swept away
all the levces and every thing, and set his
army to digging for their lives, TO keep
from drowning like so many rats"
Wish 10 God they he'd all bin
drownded j" said one rising from the fire
and subjecting his head and body to "A
vigorous narrowing with his finger-nails.
"HitS wat they All desarve; drowndln $
none too good fur the iow-iived gang o
niggeTthieves.
ONeil's strong right arm swung out as
If IL contained powerful spring that had
been suddenly released, AID caught the
speaker squarely in the face, and sent
him sprawling back into the embers.
The rebel sprang up with a conyulsiYe
leap and came down fall force on the
card playing group.
The ieTKi4g leap threw his cartridge
box into the iire, and the 40 rounds went
of like a volley, sending the bullets hiss
ing in every direction. The Lieutenant
jumped down from the stump and took
refuge behind 1T; the IOungeTs and sleep
ers, with the instinct Of old soldiers,
Ieaped over the log and lay down behind il
until they could comprehend what was
the matter.
Only O'Neil and the warrior he had
struck understood what had happened.
The extreme absurdity Of the thing
brought CLEAN Of merriment into the
Irishman's eyes, and he said coolly
aye say wat OF can do, ayvin whin Oh m
not foightin' me best. Have care how
ye rouse me-"
The rebel, smarting from a burn, and his
face covered with blood. snatched a gun
with a fixed bayonct from the stack and
started furiously towards O'Neil
"Is that yer game, me hearty" said
O'Aeil, as he also took gun from the
stack; Eyer not aware that yer foolin wild
the best bay0net iencer i'm the ould Sexth
lnfentry. Sail in, me frind, an lets say
VINO can han lie these ere prOds best"
The rebel came on SavageIy, but there
could be no evasion OF ONeil'S Skillfu
guard; one dextrous twist OF the arm and
the shanks Of the bayonets were locked
together. The next instant the rebels
gun was torn from his hands and hurled
10 the distance OF a rod.
After accomplishing this feat O'Nei
brought his own piece to a shoulder, ,
calmly regarded the man, saw that he
had no further idea OF appealing 10 tn,
Dayonet line OF argument and replaced
the gun and awaited Il further demons ira
tion from the rebel.
The stricken man walked away 10 tn,
creek TO battle his wounds, and his com
Tades gathered curiously around O'Neil
who's this you've bought Sergeant
said the officer Of the guard
its Yankee spy the river picket.
captured last night, am the Ginerel sen
Inn over here fur yer ter take keer NV til
he wants i'm"
Tho yc may not deficit it frum no,
ACCENT, said ONeii, whose vanity was
tickled by this presumed mis- taking hin