The National tribune., 1899-12-14

change that got's some life in it to wind
up this pleasant moonlight night. Go
over to the Captain, ST, and ask him to let
us try it"
Look hyah, Mister" said Peters, jeal-
ously," done found that thar place, and've
got the fust right ter hit. Hits fur me
an Brice thar. If yo'uns all go stompin'
over thar, like bunch o steers, yo'uns III
spile everything. Let me and Brice go,
an arter we'uns air through our work,
yo'uns kin do what yo' please. But keep
quiet. Don't go cavortin' around, an
drawin' they'u uns s attention ter the place"
"All right. you and your partner shall
go first" said ST, who had come back.
"The Captain says that is we think there
is a chance we kin try it. When we git
ready, he'll have fire opened up at the
other end O. the line, to draw their atten-
ton. But l don't know as that's neces-
sary. If they're as tired and sleepy as
the boys on this side, they won't be keepin'
sharp lookout anywhere, and that chance
and they must be mighty sleepy. after the
racket we've bin givin' 'em all day"
Dead stiffness reigned along the lines,
only broken by the sound Of the water
rushing through the gully, and occasion
al shots far away to the right and left by
doing men, fallen asleep under over
powering fatigue, which yet could not
The moon, large as a cart-wheel, and
| glorious in her fullneSS, flooded the damp
earth with her silvery light, and seemed to
| breathe love, and peace and gentleness,
| utterly at variance with the tumult and
| strife of the day.
81 remembered that the moon shone just
| that way over the wet fields at home, one
night after welcome rain which put new
| life into the corn and wheat, and he walked
home with Annabel down the lane which
| led from his fathers house TO her fathers.
Puddles of water lay along the ground, as
now and he felt the first fiuShingS of his
young love and care for her, as he guided
| her steps past them, and helped her over the
worst places. And there had been some
| thing thrilling in the sweetly responsive
way in which she yielded to and accepted
his guidance and help. 1t was the definite
| beginning of the feeling that they belonged
| to one another, and would travel thus down
| that infinite lane which leads to eternity.
| He put his hand in his bosom and touched
Annabel'S picture. as he had grown into
the habit OF doing, when face-to-face with
! imminent crises. His last thought would
| be of her before the whirlwind of action
which would end God alone knew how.
Something of the same thoughts posses
sed Shorty. For a few minutes he took
his eyes off the line in front, sat upright
behind his bushy SCREEN closed them, put
| his hand on the precious packet which
contained his souvenirs of Maria, and
abandoned himself to thoughts of her, now
| sleeping III maidenly beauty and innocence
| in that dear old farmhouse in the Valley of
the Wabash. Dominant over every other
was the burning question asked himself
hundred thousand times, How much and
| in what way does she care for me-" and the
overcoming answer, 1T don't make no
difference. I'd give more for her least
liking than the most any other girl could
give me"
Irn
Basil Peters crawling up and whispering:
"Thar'S four on we'uns a-gwine ahead.
Fust Brice, then me, then Wills Brooks, then
Eph Young" sa
THAT puts me and Shorty too fur be-
first. but / give way to you and Brice.
won't to no more"
But, Mister" pleaded Basil Peters,
I'VE four've each got a man we'uns air
achin' ter git. We'uns mayn't be likely ter
git 'em in the jinerul ruction. Let we'uns
go fllst and git 'em sho' and hard, and then
yo'uns kin have all the rest. Youns kin
pile in the whole army then, if you keer
ter"
well, go ahead" yielded ST.
Here, Pete,"' said Shorty, waking that
youth from his uneasy slumber in the
mud, "you and Sandy stay back and take
care of the blankets and haversacks. Harry,
wake up Monty, Alf and Gid there, and
crawl along behind me and ST. Don't
make no more noise than cat Sandy,
slip down to the Orderly Sergeant, and tell
him we're startin'."
Il want to go, too" begged Pete.
NO" said Shorty authoritatively. "You
stay behind. Somebody must stay be-
hind, and as this is mans work it'd better
be you"
you always make me stay behind,
almost whimpered Pete.
The brushwood and stuff which had
been washed out Of the gulch formed a big
clump against the Union line, and behind
this the four Tennesseeans and ST and
Shorty gathered. Lying flat on the ground
in their rear, were Harry, Alf, Gid and
Monty, and others of Co. Q, as they awak- |
ened, crawled along to places in the rear,
ready for an instant rush.
ST carefully surveyed the gulch. as far
as he could, without attracting the notice of |
the rebels. 1t was a yard or more wide, !
and probably three feet deep, with rough, |
jagged banks, that would be good pro- |
lection to those crawling up, from the fire !