The National tribune., 1899-05-11

read the morning papers which he had gotten
in Nashville, and Shorty, producing pack
of new cards, began a studious practice,
with reference to future operations in Chatta-
nooga
The train was slowing down for the bridge
near Lavergne, when there came a single
shot, followed by sputter of them, and loud
yells.
Exceedingly startled, ST and Shorty sprang
up, seized their guns, bounded to the door,
and looked ont. They could see nothing to
Justify the alarm. There was not o rebel,
mounted OF unmounted, in sight. In the
road below were two or three army teams
dragging their slow way along with their
drivers yelling and laughing at a negro,
whose mule was careering wildly across the
fenceless field. The negro had been ap-
parently jogging along, with collection OF
plunder he had picked up in an abandoned
camp strung upon his mule, when the latter
had become alarmed at the firing, and scat
tered his burden in every direction. The
rider was succeeding in holding on by cling
ing desperately to the mules neck.
81 set his gun down, and clambered up the
side OF the car.
"What's all that shootin' about 2" he de-
manded of Harry Joslyn.
Il didn't mean II, sir" Harry explained.
Il was just aiming my gun at things l see
along the road-juss trying the sights like.
turkey-bu buzzard lighted on a stump out
there, and guess must have forgot myself,
and cooked my gun, for it went of. Then
Gid, seeing me miss, tried to show he was a
better shot, and he banged away and missed,
too, and then the other boys, they had to try
their hands, and they belted away, one after
another, and they all missed. l guess we
didn't count as we oughter've done, on the
goin' forward o. the train, because we all
struck much nearer than we expected to that
Niger on a mule, and scared his mule nigh
out O. his skin. We really didn't intend no
harm"
where did you git carridges?" de-
manded ST.
"why, that box that All Russell got was
half full He tried to keep 'em all hisself,
and intended to shoot 'em off, ono by one, to
mako the rest of Us enviou5. ALI always
was a pig in school, and never would divide
his apples or doughnuts with the other boys.
But we see them almost rs quick as he did, an
Gid and me set down on him suddenly, as
he was lying on the roof, and took away all
his carridges, and give 'em around to the
rest O. the boys, one apiece"
"Are they all gone now?"
"Yes, sir; every one shot away" answered
Harry regretfully.
81 looked through several of the boxes,
and at some of the guns, to assure him
self of this. He gave those near him a
lecture on their offense, and then climbed
down into the car and resumed his paper,
while Shorty was soon immersed again in
the abstruse study of the relation OF the
barred designs OF the back of the cards
to the Numbers and suits of their faces.
They had passed La Vergne, and were ap-
preaching Stewards Creek, when another
startling rattle of musketry broke out, this
time from the forepart Of the train.
"Now, great Scott, what's up?" said 81
angrily, as he quickly surveyed the surround
ing country. He saw that they were not
attacked, and then clambered to the top of
the car, where he noticed little wreaths of
powder-smoke lingering around the squad in
which were Jim Humphreys, little Pete
Skidmore, and Yves. Brown.
"What're you young whelps shootin' for ?"
demanded ST. They were all so abashed at
his sternness that they could not find their
tongues for reply, until little Pete piped up:
IVY, we've bin talkin' to the train men,
and they said they wuz shot at wunst, about
a year ago, from that swamp back there, and
VIC Sos SoihC SotiNSCS mum ehOhr 0uu VIC
thought we saw something moving in there,
though Jim Humphreys said it wuz only
burned stumps that We took for mon, and
them other boys back there had bin shootin'
of their guns and tryin' 'em, and We
thought we could too -
"You little brats," said 81; didn't you
hear my orders about firm before we started?
If another boy shoots without my orders,
I'll tie him up by the thumbs Got any
more cartridges? Give me every one OF 'em-" "
The boys all protested that every cartridge
was gone, ST assured himself of this by ex-
animation, savagely scored the train men for
giving them ammunition, and threatened
trouble if any more was, and having relieved
his mind, returned 70 his paper in the
caboo5e-car.
Tho train ran on to switch, where there
WAS another carrying q regiment going home
on veteran furlough. 81 and Shorty knew
some of the men, and In the pleasure of meet