The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1899-02-02

keep under cover. or You'll git hit, !" sone Of
! them called out TO him, noticing him "a they ,
turned to load. The air Is so full o. bullets
You kin ketch your hat full if you only hold
ii up"
''All right, boys; I'll lay low. I've como
down here to help you, answered the Dea-
con.
Bully for you; we need it.
The Deacon took his position behind big
blaek walnut, while he reconnoilered the sit.
nation. and got his bearings on the CHIMP OF
willows. tie felt surer than ever Of his
man, for he actually saw a puff of smoke
! come from it, and saw that right behind the
puff stood a willow that had grown 10 the
proportions OF small tree, and had its bark
rubbed of by the chatting of driftweod against
it.
"He's right behind that peeled willer.n
the Deacon said, and takes rest agiu 10.
Three inches to the left o. that, and three
foot from the ground'll take him square in
| the breast, as Inc is probably kneeling down"
Before him ne noticed deep gully cut in
| the bank, by which he could get down to the
waters edge where there was a elump of paw.
paws projecting out toward the Willows n
he went down there il would make his shot
surer, but there was much danger that he
would be noticed and fired at on his way.
| I'm goin' down there, )" he said after
moments deiiheration. providence has
sent me on this job and intends shall do 10
right, which | kin By goin' down there
Proyidencell take care o me while I'm goin,.
Same time, Providence expects me to show
gumption, by not exposin' myself any more'n
possible"
Therefore he cut young, thick-branched
cedar and held it in front of him as he
cronched and made his way to the gully and
| down it.
| He had nearly reached the cover of the
| paw-paws, and was beginning TO congratu-
late himself that his cedar screen and thu
turmoil on the bank above had enabled him
to escape attention, when a bullet struck
stone to his left and threw ii against him
with such force IS to almost knock ali the
breath out of his body He fell to the
ground, but retained coolness enough to
understand that this was to his advantage,
and he crawled slowly forward until he was
safely behind the bushes
| That come from that hound Ia the
willers," said he to himself "He's a sharp
one. He got on to me some bow. and now
it's me and him fur IL. Anyhow, he didn't
kill a mule worth $50 with tina. bullet
But it'll take as much a5 six bits worth o.
porous plaster to take the swelin' out o. my
side where that rock welted me-"
He hitcbed forward cautiously a little
| farther, to where he could peer through tho
bushes. being exceedingly wary not to repeat
his opponents mistake. and set their tops in
motion. rock protruding through the
ground in front of him made an opening
through which he could see, and also
afforded rest for his musket He looked
sharply, and al length was rewarded by seeing
4 ha -l,ar HIS he - 81 -
barked willow, rested on bare limb, and
apparently aimed at the hill beyond. He
took q long breath to steady his nerves,
stretched out his legs To make himself more
at ease, pushed his niusket forward until he
got exactly the right poise, aimed about nine
| inches below the level OF his opponents gun
barrel, and little to the left drew his bead
down to hairs nicely in the hind-sight,
and pulled the trigger just as the rebel
sharpshooter did the same. Both muskeA
seemed to flash at the same moment The
rebel sprang up through the willows and fell
forward on his face
The Deacon picked up his gun and walked
back up the bank. The Union skirmishers
had seen the man fall and raised yell,
which they changed TO cheers as they saw
| the Deacon coming up the bank.
/ The Captain In command came up and saids
1 OH. COHSfatuidte YOU lBat Na3
splendidly done | was just getting on to
that fellow when you went down. / watched
You through my glass and saw you fetch
| him. You are entitled to all our thanks"
| No thanks to NE, sir. only done the
| dooty Providence marked out for NE. / hope
the man amt killed. Ii he Is, it's because
| Providence had liked the number of his
days. only wanted to stop his killin'
mules. and destroyin' Government property,
and let Us 60 on our journey in pe.Ice-"
Well, wish you'd stay here and help
Us with some more of those fellows over
| there. I'm sure their time has come, bat
my men don't seem to be quite good in
| carrying out the DEGREES of Providence al
You are"
'Thankee, SIR" said the Deacon "Bue
must 60 back and tend to my boys We've
got long ways to go yet to-day
He went back to the road and reported to
the Wagonmaster:
" Now you kin clear away them dead
mules and 60 ahead. You won't skeercely
be bothered any more for awhile at least"
To be conttnued.1