The National tribune., 1900-08-16

"AAY TROUBLE YOU TO ToDDL
corpscs, If he should happen to see you
before you do him.
Wen look out for that" answered
Shorty. Hell furnish job for the Cor
oner; not u.s.
well, look out for yourselves; that's
ALL Remember that he's got one bullet
in his gun and two in his mouth"
Sergeant" said the Lieutenant, coming
up with Il squad of rebels under guard,
"here are some prisoners l want you to
take charge Of to Nashville. You've got
more room in your car than in any other,
and more ablebodied men. There are six
Of them. They're to be turned over to
the provost guard at Nashville"
81 did not relish the job, but there was
no help for it. He looked over the squad,
called their names from the list given
him by the Lieutenant, and ordered them
to get in one corner of the car, where
Harry Josiyn would stand the first trick
of guard over them.
Needn't be partickler bout guarding
we 'uns, Yank," said one Of them. I'VE
'uns amt gwine ter run away from all
this hyah good coffee, bread and meat
back ter Hungry Land. We 'uns like full
giZZards too we'll"
81 looked at them, and mentally con-
trasted their condition with that of him.
self and companions when captured. Each
had been given a haversack, a tin cup,
blanket and pair of shoes. Those who
had lost their hats had been furnished
caps by the Quartermaster, and their hav-
erSacks were full of rations. Altogether
they had been treated quite as well rs n
squad of our own recruits would have
been. 81 and Shorty spoke to them pleas
antly, and gave them orders in the same
tone and manner they would speak to
their own men.
II. IA r:4l
Yanks," said one. as he contentedly
munched at his hardtack and meat.
Them East Tennessee Yanks up thar
whar we 'uns wuz took wanted ter hang
us on sight. We 'uns belong ter Vaughn's
Brigade, that they 'uns hate like pizen.
We 'uns We had ter do a heap o rootin'
round amongst they 'uns, maxim 'em go
treason, an maxim 'em behave jinerully,
an they 'uns don't like we 'uns a bit bet
tern they 'uns do rattiesnakes."
II don't wonder. from what I've heard
o. the doings of Vaughn's Brigade" said
ST, with shudder.
"They 'uus wuz ali ready ter hang we
'uns," continued the rebel, ''fust on jinerul
principles, bekase we 'uns belonged ter
Vaughn, and next bekase we 'uns had jist
shot some O their layers-out, who wuz
dodging the conscription. All that saved
we 'uns wuz the coming along of an Ohio
cavalry battalion, who TUX we 'uns away
from they 'uns. The Ohio Major pacifed
'em by saying that we 'uns should be tried
at Chattynocgy, and they 'uns is all COM
ing down thar ter shoot We 'uns il we
should git cl'ar on the trial. So, yo' 'uns
folks is sendia' we 'uns down ter Nash
vile. Needn't bother bout gyardin' u.s.
We 'uns II stay with yo' 'uns, at least as
longs the grub holds out. I'm moutily
afeared that won't be long, though, fer 20
'uns can't have much more as good as
this you've give we 'uns."
Much more O. that" snorted Shorty
"Why, the Ohio, an the Cumberland, an
the Mississippis running bank full of grub
like that. If each one of us had two giz-
yards we'd have mOre'n enough all the
time to fill EN-"
'Then we 'uns kin never lick yo' 'uns,"
said the rebel resignedly. "Men that have
their fill o. this sort o grub never kin be
licked. I'm a-gwine ter quit tryin'."
As soon as the train started 81 and
Shorty busted themselves with getting
ready for turn at the old whistle bush
whacker. They put the squad under the
charge of Harry Joslyn, and picked out
two of the best muskets and cleaned and
loaded them carefully. The train crossed
the river, and while the engine was water
ing 81 and Shorty got the lay Of the
their campaign. The engine ran on to
the beginning Of the steep grade, when
the engineer gave the signal, slowed down,
stopped, the boys jumped off, and he ran
back little ways as if to get head for
ascending the grade.
Good luck to you," he shouted as he
came back again.
With the swift. noiseless step Of the
hunter they made their way through the
tangle of laurel cedar, brush and vines
that covered the long slope. AS much as
possible they avoided giving any motion
to the tops of the bushes. To their right
the engine was putting and laboring up
the stiff grade. The day was very hot,
and the exertiOn caused them to pant and
sweat 81 was in the lead as they came
to little deadening that crowned the
summit. He made a motion to Shorty to
stop, and slipped forward himself care
fully tc the shelter Of bulky, deaGened
white oak, the bark from which hung i'll
shreds 81 peered around carefully, and
saw, slipping through the deadening, with
his face full of grim intent and hope,
fat, middle aged, round-shouldered man,
with grizzled, ragged whiskers, and carry
ing in both hands very heavy, eight
square rifle. The pose of his gun, his at
titude and look were those of man who
has sighted bear or Il deer, and is slip
ping up to within range.
81 motioned to Shorty to move over a
little toward the right.
The man reached his point Of vantage,
-eSted his rifle on a projecting dead limb
gave Il sQuint through the sights. and felt
in his vest pocket TO see that the two
.ule cartridges that he had made were in
place.
81 covered him carefully with his
Springfield, and called out:
'Ahem!"
Keep quiet thar, jim" said the man.
without turning his head. "What're yo'
follerin' me fur? Don't poster me now.