The National tribune., 1900-12-20

| cruits. who looked as if they ought to he
married men, to come forward and do this,
| but the moment they saw his glance
turned toward them they bolted for hid
| den parts of the boat
| well 81, it's you and l for it," said
Shad. desperately. Take hold of her feet
while lift her shoulders, and well lay
| her on"
| ST summoned all his determination, took
hold of her worn calfskin shoes, as if he
was expecting an electric shock, and Shad
| lifted her shoulders with equal glngerly
| timidity. They placed her on the blanket,
| in which they and Jake and Shorty car
red her up the bank. and laid her on a
| thick drift of leaves under the shelter OF
beech tree, and put a liberal supply Of
rations beside her. They ran back to the
boat, which was steering off with the cur
! rent. but saw over their shoulders that
| the alarming commissions at once dlsap-
| peared, the woman stood up and began ex-
amining the rations and the blankets.
sAll this row over a worthless cur
| that's not fit to even make into soap
| grease" murmured Shad, wcarily, as the
| Lorena was driven ahead faster, to make
up for lost time.
| Eli, You Yankee scamps, gi' me back
nv dogs. Yo'uns mustn't steal my dogs.
yo' villains" came in an angry woman's
shrill scream from the bank. stop that
thar boat, an 81 me back my dogs, yo'
onhung rascals.'
| Looking back 81 saw the woman and
her daughters running along the bank to-
ward the point ahead, shaking their fists,
and yelling at the top Of their voices.
What on earth's happened now!' in
| quired 81.
sounds of whackng blows, and yelps and
bowls assembled from the direction of the
kitchen.
Them blasted dogs" explained Shorty,
| coming up, noticed that everybody was
drawed out o the kitchen by that woman S
conniptions, and they rushed in there and
| began filling themselves. Nobody thought
o them when we WIZ putting the old
woman ashore, and they wuz left behind.
| They've already ct about as much as d
| fill a mule-wagOn."
.'Stop that thar boat l tell 20, an give
me back my dogs. You've got my rabbit
dogs. Whatll we do fer meat?" screamed
the woman on shore. Stop the boat ter
wunst if yo' know what's good fer yo-
uns.'
Lets go down and chuck the beasts
overheard" said 81. They can swim like
beavers. If they can't, let 'em drown,
and a good radiance it'll be"
| But the dogs seemed to have scented
| danger as quickly as food they had be-
taken themselves to dark lurking places,
| and not one could be found.
| Jake, | suppose an old woman with
the high-strikes is one of the comforts of
a home you promised US" Shorty re-
marked sardonically.
| 1t had become quite dark by the time
| they came under the giant shadow of
Lookout Mountain, but they were in high
hopes of getting to Chattanooga that
night. But they struck the terrific Suck, y
where the waters of the Tennessee rush
| through the narrow gateway cut in the
granite, and after struggling wearisomely
| with the maelStrom for little while Shad
said, resignedly:
| ''It's no use. We're too tired. 1t Amt
| in us to work as we did when the rebels
| were all around us. Flesh and blood have
had all they could stand. Wen lay by
tonight and take a start at daylight.
| Thatll bring us in quite as soon rs they re
ready for u.s."
The first good nights rest they had had
| for many days gave them fresh energy
| TO battle with the swirling waters, and
| when the boats engines, and all the as
sistance they could give with poles, were
bafiled, they jumped ashore, and with u
will worked the great windlass which had
been prepared for such emergencies. The
| Lorena was dragged by main strength
through the resistless rush of water.
| By the time the bright November sun
was fairly above the high wall of Mis-
sionary Ridge their long trip was over,
and Monty and Harry, standing waiting.
fore and aft. with the great cable loops
| over their shoulders, gladly executed the
order:
..Take those lines ashore and make
| fast"
They were at the lower wharf of Chat
| tanooga.
Shad went to the Colonel's room to
awaken him, inform him of the end of
fine Journey, and receive instructions as
| to securing train to take the pontOons
i on to Atlanta.
A crowd of idlers, citizens, white and
! black, employees of the Quartermaster
and Commissary, Transfers, soldiers, etc,
gathered around, curious as to the bat
tered and distressed looking steamboat,