The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1900-11-29
to feast off this boat. How's the water
thprc petpT'

10 ledSl On lIlS Don't. HOW the water
| there, Pete?' @
No deeper" answered Pete
THAT'S Tennessee all over" grumbled
| 81. Always too dumbed much water OF
| too little Never saw such n country
! Come, boys, choose your partners for an.
| other walk-aroniid. We must get this boat
out of here before any more rebels show
| up
They're showing up Eastern we're get
| ting out" Shorty remarked grimly, as 9th
er shots came from the little islands, to
the right and rear, and not only Harry
and Monty, but others of the smaller boys,
| became pretty busy in replying to them.
Jim cambridge stopped eating and stud
| led attentively the island from which the
| first shot had come, and others were fol-
lowing as fast as the man there could re-
| load. bod burn his wuthless hide, eff
that hain't old Hoss Bullock up thar.
reckoncd that hit war somebody what
knowed the Shoals monty well, ter work
| around that-a-way. Durn his picter, |
done tole him I'd kill him if he ever come
| back into this country arter he hickoried
me down thar in the camps kase |
| wouldn't work. | done tolc him then he'd
better never let me lay eyes on him agln.
Now he's done come right back inter the
| country, jist ter sass me, an show that he
don't keer nothin fer me. Seemed ter me
| knOwed the man when fust cOtch sight
a
like a shoemake top. | wuz sartin. Hits
him or me fur hit, now"
He walked down stairs to Harry, and
said:
sonny, le' me have your gun. kin
fetch that feller Yo' 20 back to yo' pole.
Here, take my gum" said 81. Il won't
need it while I'm busy here"
No; want this boys. I've bin watch
in hit, an know jist how hit carries
Let him have your gun, Harry" said
81.
Jim took up Harry's well-caredfor rifle,
and looked it over approvingly, and out
toward his enemy.
Hits an owdashious long shot, he
muttcred. "Howsumever, don't want ter
fetch him fer awhile yit; anyway, | want
him ter know who's arter him. I'll give
him one now ter inform him that hit amt
Il boy that's a-shootin'."
He fired, and the man with n beard the
color of Il sumach-tuft seemed so aston
ished by the close aim that he stepped out
from behind his tree, placed his hand over
his eyes, and took good look ut the men
on the boat.
Il thought that'd 'stonish him." chuck
led Jim, reloading his gun. That's bet
ter shootin' than he's bin doin', an he's
naturally Gurus ter know who's dom hit.
He'll find ont when we git up furder."
Meanwhile the firing was becoming
much heavier from the right and rear, and
from his position on the hurricane deck
Shad Graham could see the rebels swarm
ing up, wading through the shallower
channels, olambering over the rocks, dodg-
ing around the masses of driftwood, and
getting where their shots were beginning
to take effect. Z Two of the men at the
capstan dropped with bullets through
their shoulders.
"Lieutenant," said the Colonel, speak
ing for the first time, and with his nose in
the air, as if. the enemy gave off dis
agreeable effiuyia, ARE not those people
getting objectionably nearT'
They are, indeed, sir" answered Shad,
saluting I'VE must try to get rid of
He called down:
.'Jake-I mean Serg't Dye, form your
men on the starboard guards and load. Go
ahead with your work, Si-that is. Serg't
lilegg. I'll land ana push them scoundrels
back" q 1ti,
81 looked up rebellously. They're my
men," he started to say. ITS my bust
ness TO lead them when they go into a
fight"
But Shad had not waited for reply. He
whipped quickly down the stairs to where
Are you all loadedF' he called out.
"All right. Don't anybody fire till | give
the order Overheard, everybody"
He set the example by jumping off into
the water and wading ashore, followed in
stantly by the 60 forming Jake Dyes
company. Harry, Monty, Alf, Gid, Sandy
and Pete gazed for moment in wonder
ment that 81 and Shorty were not lead
ing the movement, and then yielding to
their impulse jumped into the water and
followed the others, while ST and Shorty
and the others struggled on with the cap
stan.
Shad pushed forward before his men
through the cedars to the other side of the