The National tribune., 1899-05-18

see something. Kin they shoot through tn
sides O. the tender, and let all the water out
and stop the engine?"
Guess not"
Haven't they any real big guns tha
will?"
"Mebbe."
"Kin we plug up the holes, anyway, then
and start agin?"
Probably"
"Hain't the engineer got an iron shielc
that he kin git behind, SO they can't shoe
him?"
Can't he turn the steam onto 'em, ant
scald 'em if they try to git at him?"
'What'll happen if they shoot the head
light out?"
"Why wouldn't it be good idee to put
| lot O. us on the cow-ketcher, with fixed
| bayonets, and then let the engineer crack OF
a full head o steam, and run US right into
emp"
"Great Scott, Pete, you must stop askin'
| questions" said 81 desperately. "Don't you
see Pm busy?"
Pete was silent for another minute.
Then he could hold in no longer:
Sergeant, jest one question more, and
| then Pll keep quiet"
''Well, what is it?"
eff the rebels shoot the bell. won't it
| make noise that they kin hear clear back
at Nashville? 2"
The engine suddenly stopped, and gave
two long whistles. Above the screech they
heard shots from Shorty, and the two boys
with him.
Here they are, boys" said 81, springing
out, and running up the bank. 'sAll out,
boys. Come up here and form"
As he reached the top of the bank a yell
and a yolley came from the other side of the
creek"
Shorty joined him at once, bringing the
two boys on the engine with him.
We've bin running through this deep
cut" he explained, "and Jest come out
onto the approach to the bridge, when we see
4 little fire away ahead, and the headlight
showed some men Tunnin' down on to the
bank on the other side o. the crict. We see
in moment what was up. They've jest got
to the road and started fire on the bridge
that's about mile ahead. Their game was
to burn that bridge, and when this train
stopped, burn this one behind US, ketch US,
whip US, and take the train. We shot at the
men we see on the bank, but probably didn't
do 'em no harm. They're all pilin' down
now to the other bank, to whip US out and
git the train. You'd better deploy the boys
along the top o. the bank here, and open on
'em. We can't save that bridge, but we kin
this, and the train, by keepin' 'em on the
other side o the crick. I'll take charge o. the
pint here with two or three boys, and drive
off any O. them that tries to set fire to the
bridge, and you kin look out for the rest o. the
line. It's gOin' to be long taw work, for you
see the crick's purity wide, but our guns III
carry further'n theirs, and if we keep the
boys well in hand, think we kin stand 'em
off without much trouble"
"Sure, said 81 confidently. You watch
the other side o the bridge, and I'll look out
for the rest"
The eager boys had already begun firing,
entering into the spirit of the thing with the
zest of game of town-ball. Shorty took Gid
Mackall and Harry Joslyn down to the cover
of some large stones, behind which they could
lie and command the approach to the other
end of the bridge with their rifles. 81 took
the other boys and placed them behind rocks
and stumps along the crest, and instructed
them to fire with as good aim as possible at
the flashes from the other side. In minute
or two he had fine skirmish-line in opera
ton, with the boys firing as deliberately and
accurately as veterans. The engineer had
backed the train under the cover of the cut,
and presently lie and the conductor came up
with guns and joined the firing-line.
g say, Shorty" said ST, coming down to
where that worthy was stationed, "what d.
you think O. the boys now? They take to
this like duck to water. They think it's
more fun than squirrel-huntin'. Listen"
They heard Monty Scruggs's baritone call:
'Say, Alf, did you see me salt that feller
that's bin yellin' and cUssin' at me over
there? He's cUSsin' now for something else
think got him right where he lived.'
81 wasn't paying any attention to you,"
Alf's fine tenor replied, as his rammer rang
in his barrel. :" I've got business O. my own
to tend to. There's a fcller over there that's
firing buckshot at me that I've got to settle,
and here goes"
1.-The 20Oth Injianny Volunteers couldn't
put up purifier sllirmish than this" muir
INJURED 81, in accents of pride, rs he raised
his gun and fired at 4 series of flashes on the
farther bank.
81 say, tell that engineer to uncouple his
engine, and bring it back ~ here, where the
hesdlight'll cover the other side," said
Shorty eth make the other side as light
as day, and we kin see every move, while
we'll be in the dark"
GOOD idee," said 81, fastening to find the
engineer.
He was none too soon. As the engine
rolled up, flooding its advance with light,
it brought storm Of bullets from the other
side, but revealed three men creeping toward
the other end of the bridge. Two were
pine knots, and the third, walking
behind, had stick of blazing pine, which
he was trying to shield from observation
with his hat.
Take the front man, Harry. Take the
second one, Gid. I'll take the man with the
light" commanded Shorty.
The three rifles cracked in quick success !
sion, and the three men dropped.
"Bully boys calculated shorty, as he re-
loaded you'll do. The 200th Irjianny's
proud o. you"
81 hit my man in the leg" said Harry,
flushing with delight, as he bit Off another
cartridge Jerusalem, wish they'd send |
another one down"
81 drawed on my mans bundle O. wood"
'aid Gid, "and then dropped little, SOS to