The National tribune., 1899-01-19


goin' to stop this business il Pve got to kill
/ every thievin' varmint in the Army o. the
/ Cumberland. Don't you dare move till
come out, or III put bullet through you.
/ Do you hear ?'
. don't believe I've got any more time to
waste on that bellerin' bull-calf' said the
/ Deacan to himself. He gathered up the
1 lines, turned the horses head toward the
road, and gave him n lick with a switch, and
he dashed off, followed by a couple of shots
from Mr. Crimmins, to give color and con-
hrnatlon to the story that worthy related
later IN the day of n particularly audacious
attempt on the part of sneak thieves TO get
away with his mnles and corn, and which
was frustrated by his vigilance and daring.
| As the horse slowed down 10 walk again
n Sergeant of the Guard at the head of a
squad stepped out and took him by the
/ relns
Here, who are you, and where are you
going so early in the morning." he III
| quired.
MY names Josiah Klegg, SIR" said the
Deacon, prudently ignoring titles I'm
| from Injianny, and am down here 'tendin'
to my son. who belongs to Co. q, 200th
| Injianny Volunteers, and who was shot at
Chickamaugy. 1 borryed this boss and
wagon from man out in the country to
bring in some vittles for him and his pardner.
and some boughS for 'em to sleep on and I'm
takin' em back to him"
Well, that story may be true, and it
mayn't. Probably it amt. Men don't get
up before daybreak to take back borrowed
horses. You're up TO some devilment;
probably taking information or contraband
ont to the rebels !. haven't time now to in
I'LL mi y1niav ruard until /
have. AS for the horse, we've got use for
him. McCook's cavalry needs about a
thousand such as he. We're out lookin' for
horses now. Unhitch him, boys"
The Deacon started TO make an earnest
protest but ut that moment the rebels on
Lookout Mountain made their usual day
light salute to the camp. The size of the
squad had attracted their attention, and a
she'll shreked over and struck quite near.
This was too much for the nervous horse.
He made a convulsiye leap, which scattered
the guards around him and almost threw
the Deacon out OF the seat. When the latter
recovered himself, and got the horse under
control again the guards were far away, and
he was at the approach to the pontoon
bridge.
''I'l be plagued unused the Deacon as
the horse moved over the bridge at Il slow
walk, and gave him time TO think, . the
army's terrible place. | had no sort %
trouble when | was doin' something that
mebbe / oughtn't TO have done, but the
minute / start ont to do Il right thing meet
no eni o difficulties. Bnt these are the
obstacles that satan always puts in the way
OF the righteous. I'm gOIn 10 git this boss
back 20 his owner, or know the reason why.
Git mp, there"
He snon came to piece of the road which
was in full view of tic rebels on Lockout
Mountain. They had been preparing the
day before to stop all travel by that route,
and the Dcacon's was tie first vehicle that had
appeared since they had got their guns
planted They waited until lie was fairly
oat into the open. and sent shell which
struck panel OF fence off TO the left, burst
with crash, and sent rails, chunks. stones
and pieces OF brush flying through the ar.
The horse became frantic and tore up the
hill at such a rate the blackboard and
harness speedily went to pieces, and the
Deacon was flung In the ditch, while the
horse gaIloped wildly over the hill.
The Union artillerymen on MOccasin Point
had evidently anticipated just such an at
tempt on the part of the rebels. Instantly a
score of guns which had been placed TO cover
that spot Numbered ont. and their shells
could be seen striking and tearing up the
ground all around where the shot came from.
Other rebel guns came to the assistance of
the first one; the Union batteries within
reach started in to help their side. and in q
minute the whole country was shaking with
the uproar.
'Well. Pm dumbed, (" muttered the Dea-
con. crawling ont of the ditch, shaking him.
self together again. cleaning of the mud, and
irving to comprehend what was happening.
g Did anybody ever see sich q commotion
kicked up over ore four-year-old boss, and
not particularly good boss at that? It'd
take mighty smart man to git rs much rs
500 for him mp in Posey County. Nobody
but Methodist Elder could do it. Tve sold
q better boss than that for $50, and got all he
was worth"
He stood for a few minutes and looked at
the grand display until the Union batteries,
impudent rehel, ceased firing, and then he
looked around.
"Well that bncfboard's done for. can't
take it back. It's only good for kindlin'
wood now. Bnt l may ketch the boss and
take him back.
He went up on top of the hill, and saw the
hurst Sttii''liS thetSi 81 I4CS- ''pPoiCHttS pou
dering over what hal happened. AID wonder
ing whether he should ran farther or remain
where he was.
The horse gave him glad Whitney OF
recognition as il cOngratulating him on escap-
ing from the crash of matter
Yes, you BEAST snogted the Deacon;
- I'm safe, but no thanks to you. You done
your best to lick my brains out. Twice your
condemned heels jest graZed my eyebrows.
All the thanks | cit for tryin' to save you
from being starved to death there in Chat
tanoOgy, and git you back home. But you
90 back home all the same"
He led the horse to rock, mounted him,
and started up the road He reached the
point where the road TO the house turned off.
and was debating whether he should 90 far
Their or turn the horse loose there, when he
saw q company of cavalry coming up the
main road from the other direction-tlat
toward Bridgeport. Though they wore blue
overcoats, he had learned enough about armS
life TO not trust this implicitly, so he prudent
ly rode into the woods to watch them until
he could make sure. The company came up
to where the roads parted, and he overheard
a man who rode by the Captain at the head,
and who wore u senli-soldier costume and
seemed to be a scout or guide, tell the Cap
tain:
Their camps right over there on that
ridge (pointing to the crest on which the Dea-
con had seen the smoke). They're probably
on the lookout for US, and we'll have TO be
yarv carafuI IL we oet peor anoupb tn INN N