The National tribune., 1900-08-09

are doing well. too. Now. 1 want to warn
you against getting restless. That may
give you a bad setback. Remember that
you are under my orders. lay them
pital grounds till I discharge you Keep
that in mind, for l have a way OF being
obeyed. | brought you up your rations
Of whisky. It's the best l have In my
stories. Some that l keep for extra occa-
sions. You won't find any Quinia or tine
ture Of iron in that"
What do you think o. thatT' Shorty
asked, as the Surgeon left. I'VE must
stay right in the hospital grounds, and
not leave 'em under any pretext."
Surgeons orders amt Colonel's orders
by long sight" answered 81, determined
ly. I'VE know our own constitutions bet
tern old Folsom does, and we need a lit
tie exercise to work off the fat we've took
on from his overlooking u.s."
What can he do anyway, il We dis
obey?" seconded Shorty. HE can't tie
us up or buck-andgag nor set us TO work
on the Notifications. That'd be a nice
way to treat patients in the hospital"
But little preparation was necessary for
the expedition. 81 knew where there were
three guns belonging to the men who were
detailed as nurses. Their cartridge-boxes,
well filled, We're with them. These would
do for him, Shorty and Harry. The main
difficulty was to slip away from the rest
of the boys unperceived, for Pete and
Sandy would be sure to want to go, little
able to travel as they were, while Monty
and Gid would be consumed with useless
regrets that they were unable to take
their share. ALI Russell had become so
interested in the hospital work that he
was bunking with the Steward, and there
fore out OF sight and connection.
Harry got the guns and boxes under
the pretext of employing his idle time in
clio mir hnrr nd thAvz
behind the cover of the brush where
Shorty had written his letter. Scott Meade
and the rest would bring up rations enough
to last until they got back. They were
to obtain the cOuntersign and be excused
from roll-call upon the plea that they
were going to negro "bush-meeting'
few miles out.
Tom Radbone. full of eagerness, came
up Immediately after supper. and later
the rest began arriving, by ones and twos,
so as not to attract too much attention.
81 took his place by the side of Tom Rad
bone, and, followed by Shorty and Harry,
started out through the darkness. He had
gone but little ways when he heard the
guard approaching at the double-quick. He
halted, but not quickly enough to escape
the attention of the Sergeant, who called
out:
Hold on, there. Who are you, and
where are you going?"
ITS only me, Steve" 81 replied, 'just
me and some Of the boys going outside
the lines a little ways to see niger meet
ing. We've got the countersign and
passes. We're all right. You needn't
mind u.s."
You amt all right. neither, 81 Klegg."
said the Sergeant, coming up. You're just
the ones I'm after. What're you and
of the hospital grounds? Didn't the Sur
geon give you strict orders to stay there2
Yes, he did. And the Colonel gave me
orders to keep lookout that you obeyed
the Surgeons orders, and jump you if you
didn't You three just march back with
me to the hospital, and old Folsom'n at.
tend to you. He'll be madder'n a hornet
Come on. The rest of you can 60.
haven't any business with you"
The Sergeant marched them up to the
Surgeons tent. To their dismay they saw
that Col McGillicuddy was inside The
Sergeant made his report of having caught
them in the act-not only outside of the
hospital grounds. but going outside the
camp with squad of other men, all strict
y against the Surgeons orders. The
Colonel looked SO grave that the Surgeons
sind heart was moved and he began to
for them.
Don't blame them too much, Colonel"
ne said. Il feel that 1 am a good deal
% blame. 1 gave them a little too much
hrown them off their balance. I've been
linking so for the last day, and have cut
'ff the iron. They'll be all right in the
,uture, I'm sure"
The Surgeon had the not uncommon
of doctors in attributing miracu-
GUS effects to his prescriptions.
We'll, I'll accept that as an explana-
ion," said the Colonel, glad of any el-
use for not disciplining them. "Fd just
,ome to the Surgeons to talk with him
bout you. He's much disturbed about
ome of your squad, but thinks that a
month at home would do more than any
hing else to bring you around all right.
The army will not probably do anything
or another month at least, unless the
ebels, compel us, which / think unlikely,
or they're as badly worn out as we are.
We received notice of lot of recruits
or us up at Indianapolis, and have con-
luded to send you up for them. I've no
iced that when members of regiment
% hack and bring on recruits they arrive
n mach better shape than when they are
ut down in a lump by the rrnvost Mar
hal. They begin to have regimental
ceiling as soon as they come binder CON-
rol of somebody belonging to the regi-
nent. and are tolerably well shaped up
y the time they get here So you can
u ready to start back tomorrow morn.
n:"
tTO be c0ntinucd.i