The National tribune., 1900-12-20

got HIS CiOdh Oh over MS WOUNDED arm,
and went down the stairs and out on to
the wharf. where Gen. Sherman was ner.
vousiy pacing up and down. twitciiing a
riding-Switch and giving jerky orders to
members of his staff who had come I'D in
the meanwhile.
Hello. Bonesteel." he called out. as ths
Colonel came over the gaug-plank. Glad
TO see you. So you brought my pontoons
on yourself, did you? Glad YOU apDye-
ciated the Importance of my getting them.
Awfully afrnid they wouldn't reach me-"
Had terrible time getting here. Gem
eral. Ran through the whole Of
es, yes, broke in the General. inn
patiently. .'All having tough times now.
Usually do in war. Put it all in your re-
port. Got all the stuff there, have you?v
Every bit your requisition called for,
through at times. Men acted nobly,
Always do. Always do. Finest army
in the world; men can't be beat. Give
them full credit in your report"
i was myself severely wounded. and,-
Too bad. Sorry to hear it. But we
must expect to get hurt. No Surgeon
aboard, l suppose? Brown. gallop over
there to Surgeon Miller and tell him to
come here at once and examine Col Rome.
steels wound. Got the stuff all ready to
go aboard the cars, ColOnel?'
Inc Colonel looked inquiringly at Shad,
who formally reported:
All perfectly ready, Colonel. the mo.
ment we can get the cars
All ready, General, and / have pre-
pared n requisitiOn for the trnin. which I
nave asked for to be ready tomorrow
morning, without fail"
Tomorrow morning, Tomorrow morn.
ing! That stuff's got to leave here in an
hour. l am going myself and it's got to
go along"
Lieutenant go to my Office and get the
requlsltlon, carry it to the Superintend
ent and explain the necessity for imme-
date action"
No, Lieutenant" said Sherman. with
herEOuS Impotence. Hand that redui-
Sltion TO Bradley, there. Bradley. Won
tell Wright that train must he readv bo-
nina mne. in an hour. Roberts. 90 and
BRING teams enough here to haul that stuff
over IN Il single load. Rush, now. pick
up teams wherever you find them. Lien
tenant, when those wagons come load
them as you never loaded wagons before
ana get that stuff on the cars as if ON the
wings OF the wind. Don't you be a min
ute over an hour. at your peril Good
morning. Colonel. Take good care of tba,
arm of yours"
The Colonel was aghast and hurt al
the unceremonious manner in which bis
expedition" had been ended. and tbn
Whoie matter taken out of his hands. He
had grown to feel like conquering hero
making triumphant entrance Il, a ritv
ana here found himself reduced TO the
ranks of those who had simply done nm
obvious duty well, and contributed his ex-
pected mite toward the success of n preat
movement. He walked back TO his Cabin
IN bitterness of heart, at the vanity of I'm
man greatness. and for the moment even
ret Ike burning up the report upou which
he had expended so much labor.
Inc surgeon came and dressed his
Wounc. and after little hospitality and
chat the two lighted cigars and walked
forward, to see Shad, 81, Shorty and the
rest III fever of hurry to get the stuff
on the cars and started for the front. Shar-
man nervous eagerness had impaired
itself to them. They had no ambitions TO
De thWarted, no self-importance to be
wounded. They were simply glad thew
had done their work well so far. and Eager
10 DO more, and be with their comrades
VINO We're to share in great things. AS
the Colonel watched them he caught tbs
infection from them.
They're the finest men alive" he said.
lnaiiy. II honor enough merely to com.
them" "A
Indeed, yon are not" said the Surgeon.
decidedly: You are going to stay right
mere untll your arm gets much better. nm
less there is a good chance to send you
back home' =
Il was not aware that was under your
command, Doctor" said the Colonel, with
some asperity. ~ ~
We'll, you are, very much so. IT'S nv
DUTY to see that no wounded or sick men
go TO the front, except such as think en-
urely ut The army is stripped for battle,
and must have no membranes. | shall
not let you leave this place, except TO 20
to the rear"
",,Army's got in fine condition when
flliDags give orders to ColoneIs COM
handing independent expeditions" said
the Colonel, bitterly.
BE that as it may, have my orders.
and am going to obey them. Come. Won
have done enough for the present. Your
life is too valuable to the country TO be
needleSsly endangered. There are some
things that am absolute in, and this is
one. You shall not CO.
Before the hour was up the last stick
was IN the wagons, and the BOYS, learn-
ing that the Colonel could go no farther
with them, lined up on the wharf to give
him three cheers, before they rushed off
for the train. The Colonel bowed from
the deck, but could say nothing. He
watched them as they hurried for the
Tram, listened with sinking heart for the
cheers with. which they announced their
leaving, and sank into Il chair murmur-
ing:
y great opportunity of my life gone.
Ihere Is no telling what might not have
done at the head of those men,"
ITO be cOntinued.)