The National tribune., 1900-06-28

Sis conscience WINGED little at this
which SO belied his hopes, but the situa
tion justified the deception.
Yes" chimed in Shorty, with NOR,
fluent mendacity. Let us go right on t.
the Union army. Well only be troubl,
be still more trouble to the Union army
Not one of us'll ever be fit for duty agin
| They wouldn't even have us in the In
valid Corps-the Diarrhoea Blues. If yor
We licked q whole army o. well Yankees
as you say, what do you care for little
handful O. broken-down cripples? We
can't possibly do you any harm. We don't
want to stay down here in this God-for
sakcn country. Turn US loose, and well
skip out for home as fast as we kin go. an
take our chances with the turkey-buz
yards. along with the Others"
"'Iwouldn't do at all-strickly agin Or
ders," replied the Lieutenant. "A Yank'.
a iank, an yo' can't make nothin else
Outen him. He's dangersome as longs
he's alive. The only good Yanks air them
that's dead and planted deep. 1 know
EN-. I've bin a-foutin' 'em fer three long
years now. Eve done got ter count fer
yo all ter the Kunnei, an bring write.
of-hand receipt fer yo' all. Tell yo'
what I've notion ter do. The coaht-
house is not fer from hyah, an hits right
on our way ter the rijimint. l reckin I'll
| take yo' all over thar, an hand yo' over
ter the Sheriff ter lock up in Jail till called
fer. He'll give me hand-write receipt
fer yo' all, ter show the Kunnel."
''Thars heap of cat-birds over thar in
the brush," remarked one of the cavalry
men, casually; land they squali queer'n
l ever heard 'em. Jest listen"
i! 81 and Shorty shivered, and dared not
| look at one another. They had been lis
which they knew came from Aunt Miner
va Ann and her friends, coming with a
supply of food. Apparently, Aunt Miner
va Ann had let others of her friends into
the secret. for one after another of them
was making the call, as they came
| could they do to prevent their benefac-
| tresses from walking right into danger?
81 raised his voice in angry eXpostula-
ton, that Minerva Ann might hear and
take warning.
You haint got no right to put us in
criminals. We don't put your men in Jail"
Il hears you, and rs acoming, wifi lots
OBJ truck fer ye," blthesomely responded
Aunt Minerva AIMS voice, from the
depths of the brush.
Hello" said the Lieutenant significant
ly. 'Niggers bin totin' grub ter yo' all. 1
suspected as much. Keep quiet, boys. Let
'em come on. The grub'll come handy ter
us, fer Pm powerful hungry, an ht'll be
chance ter Farm them niggers suthin'.''
But 81 was determined to warn the
negress, no matter the consequences to
himself. He shouted loudly:
Go back, Aunt Minervy Ann! Go
back! The rebels are herep'
The Lieutenant was so angry that he
laid his hand on his saber-hilt, as if to
draw it and strike 81. Then his better
nature asserted itself, and he said:
Good for yo, Yank. L like yer spunk.
like man that stands up fer his friends
But they didn't heah yo'. Hyah they
come"
Indeed, it was too late, for the broad
face and bright turban of Aunt Minerva
broke through the curtain of bushes, inn
mediately followed by those of five other
women. All of them had as much as they
could carry in their hands and on their
heads of such articles of food as the plan
tation quarters afforded.
Aunt Minerva Ann was so startled that
she sat violently down on the weeds, the
hickory basket tumbled from her head.
and the warm corn-dodgers rolled out from
among the cabbage leaves. The hungry
rebels made u grab for these, and also
quickly plundered the other women of the
eatables they had brought, and devoured
them to the last crumb. This gave 81 less
he had eaten his share, pull out his knife,
select straight hickory bush, cut it down
and proceed to trim it into a goad.
The negresses knew too we'll what it
meant, and started to run, but the Lien
tenant stsrnly ordered them to remain.
Say, you're not going to be such
brute as to whip. women, and for carry
ing food to starving men, at that?" said
81, Indignantly.
Mind yer own biziness, Yankee" an
swered the Lieutenant. "If yo' know
when yo're well off, the less yo' say the
You shan't do it. as long as I've a
drop o blood left in my body" shouted
81, jumping to his feet.
Count me in, too," echoed Shorty. "It's
too brutal and cowardly for a white man."
kivyer them thar two niger Worship
in fanks," said the Lieutenant, turning |
to his men. IF any one of 'em makes |
step, or raises his hand. blow his Abolition |
head often him.
The men leveled their carbines and ST |
and Shorty had to stand still while the
Lieutenant went from one to the other |
striking each three or four severe blows |
over her back and hips.
Aunt Minerva Ann received the worst |
because she was the