The National tribune., 1900-11-15

but it's took root and is blossoming,
trimmed Shorty, as the battery sent salvt
It the transports and a gunbOat lying
long the wharf at Johnsonville. The gun
,oat replied with its battery.
Tell the engineer to put on all thu
team he has, pilot" said Shad Graham
% the man at the wheel. Isl, you haC
etter 90 down on the boiler deck, and SCI
hat those darkies stick to their furnaces
md put in everything thatll make steam.
The sound of the firing brought tn,
Colonel out on the hurricane deck to re
,ume his Napoleonic attitude on the ex
rene forward position.
Col. BOnesteel," said the Major, ap
reaching him formally, Il protest agains
proceeding any farther with this import
mt cargo. | insist tnat we turn arounC
nd retreat"
My Executive Officer has his orders,
aid the Colonel lofti!y, with wave Of
is hand toward Shad.
''Si," Shad called down, Jake says
here's some fat pine down in the hold
fave those darkies bring it up and feeC
{ under the boilers"
\ transport which had been fired into
p the river came flying downward
histling a shrill alarm.
Il shall Immediately prepare a writer
rotest against your course, which is alb
Olutely against my advice" shouted the
LABOR.
Maj. Crewet. retire to your room un
Ter arrest" commanded the Colonel. Il
will not have you demoralizing my mer
n this way. l shall prefer charge
,gainst you"
You shall not order me from the decb
lhen in action. | shall hold you person
ally responsible if you do answered
he Major, folding his arms and taking
lis position on the front of the deck.
Remain, then, till the end of the &c
ion," said the Colonel, Modified by the
ilajor's show of spirit. But if you say
mother discouraging word you must leave
he deck"
In the meanwhile the uproar back to
ward JohnsOnville had become terrific
Jther rebel batteries had galloped up close
o the bank and begun a furious Smelling
f the feet of transports and the immense
warehouses; on the opposite side. Several
If these were soon in flames, at which
he rebels cheered wildly and the boys
Jecame desperately excited. To merely
un away, without a chance to shoot back
vas not to anybody's taste, not even the
Majors.
"Shad," called 81, from the cross-trees
If the jack-staff, whittier he had climbed
20 get better view, ''see those rebels
INNING down to that point, just ahead
they want to give us a blisterer. See,
-hey're getting into pontoon boats to come
Jut and take us after the volley. Can't
we run up close to them and give them
L regular old 200th Injianner, just where
tn do the most goodY
Il guess So" answered Shad pilot,
how's the channel along there?"
Runs in close to the bank there an
Swered the helmsman, who had been act
ing of late in such manner as to win
everybOdy's confidence. Deep water S
about 20 rod from the bank. They know
that we've got to run in there. That's
the reason they're making for that place.
''All right, ST." Shad called down. Get
a good ready, and soak it to them just
before we swing out for the point"
Lieutenant" admonished the Colonel,
Il must again forbid you to address your
particularly, to allow them to address you
so Familiarity. 1t is grossly unmilitary and
must not be repeated"
'All right, Colonel; | forgot"
81 and Jake Dye quickly arranged their
plan of campaign. Their men had al
ready loaded, and were standing behind
the pile of pontoon stuff amidship. At the
signal they were to rush out onto the
guards, Sis squad forward, Jake's on the
after, and deliver their fire in the face of
the rebels. Shorty and Shad were to
give the signal by firing first at the two
men whom they should pick out as the
rebel leaders. They had double object
in this. By shooting down the leaders
they would make a furry among the reb-
els which would distract their aim, prob
ably save the Colonel, Major and pilot,
and give the boys below time to line up
on the guards and deliver their fire most
In the meanwhile Harry, Monty, Sandy
and Pete were carrying out a scheme of
which they had great hopes. They had
been examining the cannon with great
interest ever since it was brought aboard.
They found that it was still loaded, but
they did not know with what. Harry got
d charge of canister and friction primer
from Jake Dye.
Don't matter what's in it already"
he explained to the boys. IF it's canister
another dose of canister will only make it
more binding. If it's shot or shell, canis-
ter will go along with it just as WELL"
So they rammed the canister home with
a capstan bar, and Sandy Baker picked
around the vent until he was sure that he
had got down to the powder, and inserted