The National tribune., 1899-03-23

Walter was overwhelmed with sadness at
the fate OF Bronson and Karl. whom he
WAS certain were killed. He could see
that Stock was convulSed with rage that
he had never before given them the
slightest reason for believing he could be
capable Of. Bitter groans and impreca-
tions of by jimniny" and by grtef, Ill
make the rebels pay dearly for that per
formance before The sun sets agln" es-
capped him.
They made their way to a tree richly
festooned with Spanish moss, that stood
on the edge OF the hill, and but short
distance from the rebel lines. Walter
pulled off his belt and Eaversack,
throwing himself upon the ground in a fit
of anguish over the fate OF his comrades.
Stock had other ideas than of giving way
to his grief. He began by washing out
his gun with water from his canteen. He
then swabbed it with unusual care, re-
moving every speck Of dirt from the out
side He talked TO the gun as II 1t were
some fair loved woman.
1--WE a feelin' thct it's the las work I'll
iver ask ye ter do fur me. my beauty, ne
said, IAN ! wants yer ter do 1t IN yer pest
style"
Walter slept, and when he awoke it was
the middle OF the forenoon. Stock was
not visible, but as Walter started to look
for him his voice fioated down from the
branches Of a tree, saying:
hev' somethn' ter tell We directly" Look
ing upward for some time, he at last made
out his comrade sitting in the branches,
and so cunningly vailed by the heavy
Spanish moss he had arranged around
him that his presence could not be sus-
nected until he chose TO reveal 1T hlmself.
His rifle was lying across the branches
ready for instant use, and he was care
| fully studying the interior Of the rebel
lines through the field-glass.
"I've bin a-lyin' aroun' all mornin'
.ryin' ter drop some feller thetd be some
| sort wv a set-off fur Dave Bronson" he
said, without lowering his glass. But
hain't seed nobody Wv thet sort ylt. !
| could've fetched sivrul Captains an Lieu
/ tenants an sich like small trash, but it'd
take bout a rigimint Nv EN- to be
quivelant ter Bronson, an SO ! hain't
teched emmy yit. want bigger game an
| I'll hev il yit."
few minutes later:
"Ther's a feller tina; acts as if he air n
Ginirril. He's canterin' aroun on a
fancy hoss, with a staff q follerin' him.
think he'll come up ter the breastworks
an inspect EN-"
| Another pause.
"Yis. he's a-comin' up. He's got often
his boss an hitched i'm. His staf1's got
often their'n. They're walkin' up quiet
like. lie is a Ginirril. He hez long, wife
hair, an see the gold stars on is collar.
| lie . n MtIOI oIiiI'Ii. iIo IpohiH oil
pintin' at the crater, an some other
ofiicer-a Captains explainin' things
| ter i'm. Now he comes ter the front agif;
the Captains tTyin' ter keep i'm back
an the men look up ter see wether he'll
hack out. This makes i'm mad. He
waves away the Captain with his hand
an walks straight to the parapet. Now
he steps up an looks over"
Walter saw Stock lay down the glass
and take his rifle. The sights were raised
to the proper elevation: he rested the
muzzle on limb in front and took de-
liberate aim. Walters heart stopped its
suspense that seemed hours passed, and
the rifle rang out. Stock laid the gun
aside and took up the glass.
The Union soldiers In the trenches near
the rebels heard a confused cry inside:
1.-The General! the General! Look out
for the General; he's been shot"
And Stock announced from his leafy
| ambuscade;
81 fetched i'm. They're maxim a big
lpow-wow over i'm, everyone a runnin'
back ard an for'ard actin craZy-like.
officers are loollin' with their glasses ter
see where the shot kim from. They're a.
pintin' at all the trees. but they suspect
this one the mos, an they're directin'
the sharpshooteTs ter fire at il,
"They are firing at II" said Walter, rs
several shots ratified against the limbs.
''Do como down. Stock. You'll get hit up
there"
''Not yi.. / won't como down, 1 hain't
through yit, by considerable. That
Ginirril II do fur payin' 'em up fur Dave
'enl fur Karl afore quit"