The National tribune., 1900-06-21
Two Days and Nights More in the Home o.
the Haunts.

| ih2DSNh-
Two Days and Nights More in the Home OF
| the Haunts.
When 81 and Shorty reused the boys to
remove to the vicinity of the ruined cabin,
it was found that their condition was far
worse than they had feared. The food
had frightened them up the night before,
but now they were all in state of more
or less total collapse, as well as each suf-
fering from individual ailments.
Gid Mackall, who had suddenly shot up
to the hight of a tail man, with only a
boys stamina and strength, was IN the
worst shape of all. He lay, incapable of
motion, in the beating hot sun, his eyes
closed, his mouth wide open, and his hands
and limbs relaxed into utter limpness. The
corners of his mouth fell into an express
sion of pitiable gonencss. Apparently 81
might as well have shaken and scolded
and tried to infuse animation into one of
the rotten limbs of the trees which cum
| bered the ground.
ALI. RusseIl's fair, girlish skin had been
so whipped by the brush, torn by briers,
poisoned by noXious plants and stung by
insects that his face, neck and hands were
pulled up out Of all human semblance,
and he was so sore that he only replied
| with groan to Sis directions to rise and
move farther up hill.
Scarcely less distigured, Monty Scruggs
had also raging fever.
| Harry Joslyn's dark skin had been
proof against the ivy and poison oak, and
his 1.-THE form had carried him through
the brush with less damage than befell
his bulkier and more numbering cOmpan-
| ions.
A thorn had run into Sandy Bakers
| leg, and Pete was crying over very pain
| ful stOne-bruise on his foot. Shorty found
sharp thorn, with which ne pricked
Pete's stone-bruise, giving him some re-
lief u
carried him up the hill, and set him down
in the shade of the chimney, whittier
Sandy Baker hobbled and was joined later
| by Harry JoSlyn and Alf Russell. ST
and Shorty carried Gid Mackall and
Monty Scruggs up, and laid them under
the shade of a spreading walnut, break
ing punches of cedar boughs to place un-
der their heads for pillows.
| THAT gent" remarked Shorty, pointing
over his shoulder with his thumb at the
| skeleton, when he had meat on him must
| We had to drink water occasionally. And
| had to have it to wash out his gun, if for
| ncthin' else. So there must We bin
spring somewhere around here. I'm goin'
| to hunt it. If we kin git plenty O. water
| and take good wash all around, it'll
| revive us. We must have water anyway,
| for Monty Scruggs has bin moanin' for
| it."
He took a survey Of the fall Of the
SIOuuu dut Tie uiEeflltH ODe NOuiu Dt
| likely to go from the door for water, and
| broke his way through the peach thicket
| in the direction Of the little hollow, where
| he was rewarded by finding a good spring
about the size of tub, walled up to the
hight of two or three feet with rough
stones and having a plentiful supply OF
| clear, cool water
Our friend up there" soliloquized
Shorty, as he broke down the brush to
better get at the spring and drove away
| Il colony of kissing, wriggling snakes,
| who's bin layin' out in tie weather
bleachin' for the last coon's age, probably
had his faults. He carried his family
| rows too far, and wasn't lively enough in
his skiIInish tactics, but he knowed the
value of a good spring and took some
pains to fix it up. He must we bin an un-
| usual kind of a Georsnhn to build that
rock wall. The most of 'em are too lazy
to even put in a sycamore gum"
lie took n good wash in the stream be-
low the spring, not forgetting his tired
and inHamed feet. He felt immeasurably
better for the removal of the CRIME of
their days and nights Of hurried travel,
and his next thought was to give the rest
the benefit of similar relief. He went
back and carried Pete to the spring, where
he undressed and gave him thorough
washing and also washed his clothes.
.'Taint as good a job by a jugful as
your mother would We DONE" he re-
marked, hanging the garments up on the
brush to dry, but it beats nothin' all hol-
lcr."
Deed ii does,' Pete murmured CRATE
fully, as he hunted shade in which to
lie down. where there were no stubs or
briers to lacerate his tender naked skin.
Il h'aint half so tired now, and my feet
don't hurt scarcely ut all. You beat moth
er washing. You h'aint no rings on your
fingers"
| around Pctes stone-bruise which greatly
eased his aching little foot and made
Sandy Baker Harry JOslyn and Alf. Rus
sell arise, 20 to the spring and wash them
selves and their clothes. Aif. Russell's
medical turn took the shape OF breaking
off the limbs of young white oak and
using the bark for poultices for their hurts
and they all found great relief from the
bitter astringency.
Shorty looked around for something in
which to carry up water with which to
wash Gid Mackall and Monty Scruggs.
Among the decayed household utensils he
found q rusty iron pot whose thick sides
had not yet been eaten through, though
the bail was long since gone. He i'm
proyised a bail out of hickory withe,
and patiently carried up enough water to
give good washing to Gid's and Monty's
faces, hands and feet. Both were great
ly revived, began to show. signs of ami
hidliDE, piOluStiy VI lue WEI
come cool water out of the rusty pot
In the meanwhile 81 had gone down
to the big road to watch for Uncle Eph-
rain and Aunt Minerva Ann. 1t was
nearly noon, and yet the negroes had not
appeared, nor could ST find any sign that
they had been there. But he felt conf
dent that they would come, and taking a
seat which commanded view of the road
as far as the spring, he patiently waited
their appearance.
An elderly man came up the road from
the right, stopped at the grateful sight
| Of the cool water in the sycamore gum,
| dismounted, knelt down, and took a long
drink of the crystal draft, watered his
| horse pulled off his hat, wiped his steam
ing forehead, and brushed q bothering fly
| from his horse. The sound of slow.
| weakly-moving hoofs came from the other
direction. The man looked up, and pres
emily saw coming around the turn FIVE or
six rebel soldiers, riding thin, sorely -jaded
horses. All had bloody bandages about
some part OF their persons, and they sat
their horses Imply.
Good day, gentlemen" said the first
| why, what's the match, boys? Yo' all
seem to We been having pretty rough
| usage"
Reckon weuns done have, Jedge," re-
| piled the leader, dejectedly. "The Yam
kee cavalry done struck weuns up Mt the
| crOssin' of the UlcOfauhachee, bout 10