The National tribune., 1899-10-12
JCANr RUN OVER Me- IF You ARE SERGEANT"

time to adjust his army TO the unexpected
movement through Snake Creek Gap, and
save the stores he had daccumulated behind
the heavy Notifications around Dalton.
Though they had felt themselves com
pletely worn out sby the work with the
train, the prospect ofia fight put new life
into the 200th Ind, hnd they leaned on
their guns and listened to the cracking of
musketry and booming of artillery far
away to their left, to their right, and ap
parcntly in their rear. Sometimes the
sounds would come so near that the wave
of battle would seem to be surely rolling
down on them. Then they would clutch
their guns more firmly, and their hands
iustinctively seek their cartridge-bOxes
Then the firing would as inexplicably die
down and stop, when they would again
sink on the ground with fatigue.
So the late afternoon wore on. 1t grew
very quiet all around. Even the dull
booming of the cannon far up the valley
where Howard and Schoficld were advaic.
ing on the heavy works Immediately in
front Of Dalton, died down into sullen
fitfulness.
The silence of the woods and the mount
aims as night drew on became more op-
feverish movements, and the strained
expectancy of the day had been.
The whip-poor-wills began to fill the
evening air with their mournful calls
which accentuated and intensified the
weird loneliness of the scene, where but a
little while before there had been no thought
but of deadly hatred and bitter strife.
81 never heard the whip poor-wills whip
so gloomily," remarked the sentimental
Alf Russell. after the regiment had stacked
arms, and the men were resting, exhausted
and out Of temper, on the ground. Seems
to me it sounds altogether different from
the way they do at homo; got something
savage in it.
Probably they're yelling their salts.
faction over the number of men they've
seen killed and wounded to day." ventured
Monty Scruggs. Does 'em good to see
men shooting at one another instead OF
birds"
"Dumbcd little brutes," grumbled Shorty
nursing his hurt foot "if they'd bin wrast-
lin all day with mule train they'd be toe
tired to go ycllin' around like that.
always did hate a whip-poor-will. any way
They hain't got sense enough to do any,
thing but yell, jest like a passel O. rebe
cavalry"
"Great Scott! / wisht knowed whether
we're goin' TO stay here to night" said 81
handling his blanket roll with look Of
anticipation.
NO" said the Orderly, coming down
from the right of the regiment. "We're
to move forward about mile, and eStab-
lish line for the rest of the brigade to form
on. We're to go quietly, without noise OF
commands, and then bivouac without
fires. Get your guns and fall in quietly"
AS ill-tcmpered as tired, the boys reused
I'D from the ground, and began taking
their guns from the stacks. Harry Jos
lyn snatchcd his out first, and the stack
falling over, the bayonet points struck Gid
Mackall's face. The angry Gid responded
with blow landed on the side of Harry's
head. In an instant the two clinched
and the others, who We're in no better hu
NOR, began striking at one another in blind
temper. ST and Shorty snatched the two
principals apart with a good deal of vio
fence and much show of their own tempers
"You long legged sand hill crane" sait
81, shaking Gid. Will you always b'
kickin' up q rumpus? I'll break you
| neck if you don't act better"
"You sensclcss little bantam" saiC
Shorty, with his grip on Harry's throat
will you always be- raising a ruction
Will l have to wiring your neck to Learn
you to behave?" I: u
"Let him alone, Shorty" said m ST ir
ritably. HE amt to blame. This gang
ling fiy-up the crick started it." And h
gave Gid another shake.
"You let him alone, ST." said Shorty
Grossly. Il know better. This whelI
started it, as he always does. Pll throw
him down and tramp on him"
"You won't do nqtlIin' o the kind, Shorty
Don't you contradict me. Let him go,
| tell you" Z L
"You take your. hands off that boy, o.
| I'll make you, 81 Klegg," said Shorty
hotly. 81 won't soc you impoSin' on some
body's that's smallern YOU"
| The spectacle of the two partners quar-
reling startled them all They stoppe,
and looked aghast.
"Here, what's all this disorder here?
said the Orderly, coming up. impetuously
and as cross as any one. why don't yol
| get into line AS ordered? Sergeant klcgg
you're always making trouble for me-"
q amt doin' nothing o the kind. What.
the sense o. your sayin' sich a thing?" S
retorted. "You know it aiu't true"
Isl Klegg, be careful how you call MT
a liar" answered the Orderly. Zip
what in the world does all this mean?
said Capt. McGillicuddy angrily, as h
stepped back to them. What are yol
wasting time squabbling before the mel
for? Fall into your places at once, an,
don't let me hear another word from an!
of you. Don't you see the regiment il
moving?"
well finish this later" the Orderl,
whispered to 81, as he went to his place OF
the right.