The National tribune., 1899-08-31

away into an occasional shot after the
rebels galloping back to the distant woods
on the ridge from which they had emerged.
81 must make some coffee. Wonder
where put my matches!
The whole command advanced, the
moment the rebels began to break under
the fire, across the fields and through the
woods to the crest where the 200th Ind.
had first tried to stop the swarming rebel
horsemen. From there they could see the
broad plain rapidly vacated by their enc
mics, hurrying away from the pursuing
shells.
"Here. Pete" continued Shorty, as he
broke off some splinters from the rails and
started little fire, take my canteen and
Sis and yours, and run down there and
find a spring, and fill 'em, before the others
make rush. Be spry about it, for there'n
be a rush there in a minute and you won't
have no chance"
The excited boy had to be spoken to a
second time before he would come back to
earth, much less comprehend the want of
water and food. Like the rest of his COM
panions, the terrific drama which had just
been enacted had wrought him to a de-
lirium, in which he could think of nothing
but a world full Of believing cannon, and a
nightmare of careering, plunging horses,
with savagely-yelling riders.
They could not realize that the battle
cloud had rolled away just as suddenly as
it had burst upon them, and they stood
there tightly grasping their reloaded guns,
and staring fiXedly into the distance for
the next horrid development.
81 think you'll find spring right over
there where you see that bunch o. young
willers, Pete" said ST, handing him his
canteen. Break for it, before anybody
else gets there and muddies the water"
But Pete still stood rigid and unhearing,
clutching his gun with desperate grip,
and glaring with bulging, unmoving eyes
across the plain.
Come, wake up, Pete" said Shorty,
giving him a sharp shake. "Do as 1 tell
you, and on the jump. The fights over"
'The fights over?" stammered the boy.
"Ain't they coming back agin?"
"Not on their butternutdyed lives they
amt" said Shorty scornfully. They've
got their dirty hides as full O. lickin' as
they kin hold for one day. They'll set
around for while, and rub their hurts, and
try to think out jest how it all happened"
Skip out, Pete" ST reminded the boy.
"Ihe rest o, you boys stack your guns and
foller Pete"
Hadn't we better take our guns along?'
suggested Monty, holding on to his with
grim fearfulness.
"No. Stack 'em; stack 'em, tell you,
said 81 impatiently. "And be quick about
it. They'll all git ahead O you. Don't
you see the rest stackin' arms"
The boy obeyed as if dazed, and started
to follow little Pete's lead toward the cluml
of willows.
do you s'pose the fights really oyer?'
whispered Pete to Alf Russell, who was
just behind him. Don't you think the
rebels just lei, go to get fresh hold?"
to me there was just millions of 'em, and we
only got away with little passel, in spite OF
all that shootin'. Why, when we come out
on the ridge the valley down there seemed
| fuller Of 'em than it was at first"
1--WE oughtn't to get too far away from our
right over there may be full O. rebels watch
ing to jump us when We get far enough
away"
q don't like the looks of that hill to the
left, said Gid MackaI, nervously. "An
awful lot O. them went behind it, and ]
didn't see any come out"
There, them bushes over there are
shaking they're coming out again." said
Harry Joslyn, turning to run back for his
gun.
mo, not there" neryously interjected
Humphreys, turning with him; "ain't
there something stirring down there by
| the crick?"
"No, no" said Sandy Baker, desperately.
"Come on! Come on! We've got to. We
| We're ordered to. Les make rush for it,
like the men in the Indian stories done
when they was sent for water"
They acted on the suggestion with such
vim that when Pete tripped at the edge of
the little run, and fell with splash into
the mud and water, the rest tumbled and
piled on top of him.
The men on the hill, who had noticed
it, set up yell of laughter, which scared
the boys worse than ever, for they thought
it meant the rebels were on them again.
Nov, what new cOnniptiOn's struck
them dumbed little colts?" said 81, irritably,
as he strobe down to them, pulled them out.
and set them on their feet, with n shaking
and some strong words.
rs the rebels coming again." gasped
Pete, rubbing the mud and water out Of
his eyes.
NO, you little fool" said 81. "The
rebels amt comm. They're goin' as fast
as their horses kin carry 'em. They've
got through comm for to-day. There
amt one OF 'em within cannon-shot, and