The National tribune., 1899-08-03

The long. tiresome tramp, the violent
rainstorin. which had soaked them to theil
skins. AMI apparently found its way tC
their hearts; the muddy, slippery road
with torrents rushing across it, the splash,
ing. searching riyulets from the boUghs
overhead, were all deeply depressing.
The boys huddied together, as ii 10 gain
courage by closer contact.
Gracious, | never supposed they'd pull
off fight at night, when everybody was
tired to death and soaked 10 cruel" said
ALI Russell in a shivery whisper.
They fought at Hoheniinden at night
and on the snow" answered Monty
and. then, they didn't have these awful
woods. I'd feel much better if we was out
il a clearing somewhere"
"Come into line TO the left, there" COM
manded ST, in a low tone: "Depioy, one
pace apart. Shorty, take the left out there
carefully, and don't shoot till do
"Keap near me, Pete, and you won't git
lost" said Shorty, as he stepped of into the
brush.
Must shoot the same time you do, or
wait TIL you shoot? asked Pete, who seemed
less depressed by his surroundings than the
others, and mainly eager to get chance to
shoot.
"Don't watch me-" cautioned Shorty.
"Wabch the fel!ers you are shootin' at, and
try 10 hit 'em. Fire just as soon as you
want to after you hear tie others"
"I'll bet III hit rebel ii anybody does,
said Pete with hopeful animation.
They tTamped forward few steps over
the spongy ground, and through the drip
ping bushes.
The musketry fire continued fitfully
around the mill in the distance.
They came TO the summit OF the little
rise.
watchful ST, in a penetrating voice.
They've loaded agin, and are about to
Shoot"
He and Shorty were down on their faces
as he spoke. The others obeyed moro
slowly and clumsily. The rebel voley cut
the limbs and bushes over their heads, and
whiStled vicioUISly through the damp air
and the darkness.
AS little Pete dropped to the ground, his
nervous finger touched the trigger and his
gun went off up i'll the air. The others
took this as cue, and banged away as
rapidly as they could get their muskets off.
Only ST and Shorty, indropping, had kept
the lay of the ground in view, and without
rising they deliberately aimed their pieces
whittier the voliey had come and fired. A
suppressed yell OF pain came from the other
side.
I'VE salted one of EN- anyway" chucBled
Shorty, as he raised on his knee TO reload
his gun.
Gosh all Chrismrs." said ST, using his
most formidable SWear-word, for lie was
very angry. What was you bratS Shootin'
at? Squirrels or angels? A rebel'd had
TO be so cubits high, like old Haman, for one
o you tove hit him. Lots o good o. your
packin' around guns and cartridges, if
you're gOin' to waste your ammynition on
the malaria in the clouds. Load agin, now.
carefully, and when you shoot aGin be sure
10 fetch something. III take my ramrod 10
the next boy that ketch shOotin' higher'n
u mans head. This amt no Fourth-o-
July business. our Jobs to kill them
over there, and | want you
10 tend strictly 10 that"
The threat OF a real Doyish ttrashing.
and the cool, matter-of-fact way that Stand
Shorty conducted themselves precisely
as if chopping trees or moving a field
steldied the boys wonderfully.
They're about ready 10 shoot lgin." 81
spoke down the line, in Il penetrating
whisper. Everybody hug the ground, and
watch the flashes. Each feller git a good
line on the fash straight in front Of him.
and let the hound have a chunk O lead lust
below his belt. If you're all real good, and |
shoot Just right. III take you on a rush
what's left IKE flock O quail. Lay low. |
There it comes agin: Lay low"
An irregular volley burnt out In the |
blackness beyond. The bullets sang
around much closer than before, and sev- !
eral Of them struck near 81, one landing in I
the leaves and moss directly in front of him, |
and throwing q wet sprinkle in his face.
Like the parrot, | was taikin' too much
and too loud" thought ST. "rhey wuz
all reachin' for me, and one felier made
mighty good line shot Les see if 1 can't
better him."
He drew down in his sights as carefully
as he could in the darkness, and pulled the
trigger As the smoke thinned ont n little
le thought he saw something beyond
which indicated a man staggering and
'alling.
This time the boys seemed to be firing
There was commotion in the
woods beyond, and the sound Of groans on
he damp air
Raise upi" shouted 81. forward
Forward! Jump 'sm. Jump 'sm before
hey kin load aginr J