The National tribune., 1899-10-19

| Willis, stark in death, lying prone in the
| top of a young hickory, into which he had
crashed, when the fatal bullet found him
pressing courageously forward. Him
/ they carried pitifully forward, and added tC
the lengthening row of the regiments dead
which was being gathered up.
Then they went reluctantly back
shuddering with the certainty of what they
| should find, to bring in Jim Humphreys S
| body.
Harry Joslyn was so agitated by the
sight of Humphreys's mangled head and
| staring eyes that ST made him turn his back,
: place himself between the feet, one of which
he took in each hand, and go before in
carrying the body back: 81 stripped the
| blouse up so as to cover the head, and took
the shoulders between his hands, and so
another body was added to the row OF the
regimental dead.
ST himself was so sick at heart that he
had little inclination to continue the search
farther than to look over the wounded, as
they We're brought in, in hopes OF finding
some OF his squad there.
There are three of US yet missing" he
said. 'Mebbe they've got mixed up with
the kankakee boys on our left, and III come
in ali right after awhile. Mebbe they re
out with Shorty somewhere. I'll wait till
he comes in. Harry, expect me and
no tellin' how long We'll stay here. Jim d
rather we put him under than strangers
what don't know and care for him. It's
all we kin do for the poor felier; I'll git a
pick and you take a shovel. Well make
the grave right here, where the Colonel Lit
when he jumped over the works with the
flag. That'H tickle Jim, if he's lookin'
down from the clouds. Too bad, he couldn't
have lived long enough TO see us go over the
embankment, with the Colonel in the lead,
wavin' the flag"
The best thing" said Harry, forgetting
h:S i,,t tba of tha
fight, was to see the Orderly sock his
bayonet up to the shank in the rebel, and
you blow off that officers head =
Hush, Harry. Never speak o that"
81 admoniShed him.
"And see yor." continued Harry, stand
off all three of them rebels, who was tryin'
to bayonet you, until Corp1 Elliott came
raring down, swinging his gun like a fail.
Great Scott didn't he lay 'em out, though!
| saw it all, as [ was loading my gun in
nine times to shoot one of the rebels attack
ing you. I'd just got the cap on, when
Corpl Elliott loped in"
Orderly" said ST a little later, we've
got Jim Humphreys's grave dug. VIII
you take the things out of his pockets to
send to his folks? and then We'll bury him" !"
Better wait till the Captain comes back
and gives the orders" said the Orderly. 81
don't want to touch his pockets without the
Captains orders. Then, we ought to have
his blanket to bury him in. You go ahead
and dig Bob Willis's grave, and I'll take a
detail back and bring up the blankets and
things"
Shorty had pushed his unavailing
search for little Pete far past the point where
he remembered to have seen the boy, in the
midst of the fighting. He had torn his
hands, and worn out his strength in tearing
aside the brush to expose every possible
place that the dying boy or his dead body
might be concealed. He had reached the
further side of the obstruction, and sat
down on stump. in despair of heart and
exhaustion of body.
Those with him, more intent on getting
something to eat, had pushed on back to
where their haverSacks and canteenS and
blankets had been left
Presently Shorty heard a call across the
little valley:
Ell0iott% r '0''' WI ~ i'
well, what is it," Shorty called back,
crustily.
"Lit-tIe-P Pete-and- Sandy Ba-I
ker-is-o-ver-here, came back upon
the bright Spring air.
Shorty sprang up electrified, and tore
across the intervening space at the double
quick. He found Pete and Sandy Baker
standing Soberly on guard over the line of
the company's blankets and belongings.
Great .Iehosephat, you little brats, how
did you git here?" he exclaimed snatching
little Pete up and hugging him.
why Shouldn we be here. asked Pete,
as soon as he could get breath. Didn't the
Captain order us to stay here? Me and
Sandy follered you fellers until you jumped
inside the works, and the rebels was a
runnin'. We stood on top o. the bank and
shot at the rebels as fast as we could load
our guns. Wekept shootin' at 'em till they
got clean down to the road. Then we saw
the Captain lookin' over our way, and We
thought he was comm over there to skin us
alive for leaving the things, and we ducked |
down behind the bank and run back here |
as fast as W could fetch it. You amt
goin' to tell the Captain on us, and have us
tied up by the thumbs, are you, Corporal? |
1fverything's safe. Nothing's gone. You |
won't tell will you?
20, you worthless little scamp" said |
Shorty, with tears Of joy in his eyes. ''You
amt worth the powder thatd blow you up. |
| could pound you for the worry you've