The National tribune., 1899-10-26
SHOUTED SHORTY.

| signal, and faint, bleeding man came
back and climbed into his place.
A shrapnel shell burst almost under the
left gun, and lifted it up in the air. When
the smoke opened little not a man could
be seen about the cannon. a yell OF exult-
alton floated over from the rebel line.
The Lieutenant unbuckled his saber,
dropped it to the ground, and ran forward
to the cannon. Two or three men rose
slowly from the ground, upon which they
had been Frustrated, and joined the Lieu
tenant in running the gun back to its
place, and reloading it.
"Hooray for the old batteryl Bully
boys! Made q right stuff shouted Shorty
nothin' agin the artillery agin. Men who
act like that when they're standin' right in
the middle O hell with the lid off are 49,
karat fine"
Captain" suggested ST, who was fidget-
ing under the excitement of a scene in which
for some OF us to go up there and help the
battery boys out? I could sponge and
RAM"
NO" answered the Captain; "help has
been sent for for them, and there it comes"
He pointed back over the hill to where two
tons on a dead run. 1t was a magnificent
sight. One battery was following the road,
and the other cutting across the open space
in a hot race to get ahead and be in action
first.
The Captains were galloping ahead to
alongside, seconding the whips Of the
drivers with strokes Of the fats Of their
sabers on the animals hanches. The six
horses to each gun were galloping like mad,
snatching the heavy piece over gullies,
bumps, logs, and rocks as if it were straw.
The gunners had abandoned their usual
calm pose with folded arms on the timber
chests, and were maintaining their seats
only by a desperate clutch on the sde-ironS.
The boys turned even from the storm in
front to watch the thrilling spectacle.
The two Captains We're fairly abreast as
crushing the brush, sending sticks and
stones flying from the heavy, flying wheels.
Both reached the crest at the same time,
and the teams, wheeling around at gallop,
flung the muzzles of the cannon toward the
enemy. Without waiting for them to stop
the nimble cannoneers sprang to ground,
unlimbered the guns, rolled them into posi-
ton, sent loads down their black throats
and before it was fairly realized that they
had reached the crest hurled storm Of
shells across the valley at the rebel batteries.
SOME % er own H0o1e %ene T6SyFS Sesa gn be
excited regiment. Sock it to 'em. How
do you like that, you il-begotten imps of
rebels?"
The rebel cannoneers seemed to lose heart
at once under the storm of fire that beat
upon them. The volume of their fire di-
minished at once, and then became fitful and
irregular. Twoof their limbers were blown
up in succession, with thunderous noise,
and this further discouraged them.
Obeying a common impulse, the 200th
Ind, regardless of the dropping shells, had
left its position, and pressed forward to-
ward the crest, where it could see what was
going on.
The Colonel permitted this, for he antic-
ipated that a charge on the rebel works
would follow the beating down of the artil-
rlery fire, and he wanted his regiment to be
where it would get good start in the race
to capture a rebel battery. He simply
cautioned the Captains to keep their men in
hand and ready. AS Capt. McGillicuddy
called Co. Q closer together, it occurred to
Shorty that in the interest he had taken in
Pete Skidmore for some time, and he began
casting his eyes around for that youth. He
was nowhere to be seen, and, of course no
one knew anything about him.
why, don't you get a rope. Shorty, and
tie the blamed kid to you, ana not be poster
ali the time" asked the Orderly-Sergeant
irritably, for he was deeply intent upon the
prospective charge, and did not want to be
bothered. Hes more worry than he's
worth"
Shut up!" roared Shorty. "N YOU
wasn't Orderly-Sergeant I'd punch your
head. won't have nobody sayin' that
about little Pete. He's the best boy that
ever lived. If could only git hold of him
I'd shake the plaguey life out O. him. Drat
him.
Shorty anxiously scanned the field in
every direction, but without his eyes being
gladdened by the sight of the boy.
The wounded being carried back from the
batteries impressed him sadly with the
thought that Pete might have been struck
by piece of shell.
Him and Sandy Baker are both gons,"
said the Orderly, looking over the company.
"Pll buck-and-gag both OF 'em when catch |
'em, to learn 'em to stay in ranks"
"1ndeed you won't" said Shorty, under
his breath.
The rebel fire had completely died down.
and our own ceased, to allow the guns to |
cool for a few minutes, in preparation for an
energetic reopening when the anticipated
charge should be ordered.
To be in readiness for this, the Colonel |
drew the regiment forward through the ]