The National tribune., 1900-04-26
whats yo' name, sah?'
aI,,, Iocioh Klapr cah ~ CD |

whats yo' name, sah~
"Pm Sarjint Josiah Klegg, sab, O. Co
"I know Lieut.. Pringle, and most O
his men. I know yo' Gunnel-Cunnel
Tom WhateIy O Twiggs. Mons'tous
fine man. l setin the.L Legislature with him.
But I don't recall yo' name."
We've only lately bin transferred to
him. +sa said o, s. quietly ths ogE gaf company s
Seems to me I've done heared O Kleggs
up in Cherokee County"
Eyes, Pm from thar" My people made
their home thar" said ST, remembering
that the 20Oth Ind. had camped day in
Cherokee County, in flank movement
on Sher1nan's extreme right. "Is the
Lieutenant fur ahead?"
81 should think a couple Of miles by this
time. Well, [ must DO Jogging on too"
My nose tells Inc you've done bin havin'
q supper O bacon an collards. Pm power
ful hungry an want ter git home, an
git some, too. Good night, gentlemen.
Gf my Regards ter Cunnel Tom Whately.
Say Cap'n John Somers O 'Tucsowhatchee
sent EN-"
Cid" said 81, as the Captain clattered
off, you've brung that pot along. Pm
afeared it'll give us away, first thing we
'Piease let me keep it," pleaded Gid.
~ . hCeb'J' L hAiO"J bAV ~ Al SOA4S- S-iA 'Ois
"Wen, ST, you're developin' finely az an
easy, of-hand liar" chuckled Shorty.
"Now, Shorty, you know | told thatrebel
the truth, every time"
"Well, this is no time for Sunday-school
lessons as to truth and veracity. Well talk
the matter up at length after wereach Sher-
man. Hello, there comes somebody up
the road at a trot.''
They listened for a few minutes, and
then Shorty called out:
Halt. Who comes thar?"
Hits me, Alb Wilson, o Cap'n Stiggins's
company. Is Sarjint Josiah Klegg, O
Lieut.. PringIe's company, thar?"
ST and the rest started at the calling
out of his name in the midst of the wilds
of Georgia and a dark night. But 81
answered:
"Yes. Pm hyah. What's wanted?"
"Cap'n John Somers done tole me I'd
find yo' a little piece ahead. A couple O.
swampers,. Gabe Boneset an Hez Grub
wood, that got away from yo'uns, donerun
inter we'uns down thar by the ford, an
we gethered 'em in. The Lootenant had
em tied, an put on a spar hoss, an sent
me ford ter cotch ,Lootenant Pringle, an
'em along. Hyah they'uns is. Yo'1l
have ter ontie they 'unss feet in under the
horses belly, fer the Lootenant warn't
takin' no chances with they'uns, an
could Mt spar nary man ter send along
with they Hurry up, fer I've got
ter skeet back. They need me-"
Shorty, perturbed as to whether Gabe
and Hez recognized the voices and what
they would do, nevertheless walked back to
the led horse on which the two were seated
united their feet and helped them down,
with words proper for the rebel to hear.
He led them forward to the squad. while
the man clattered back ito his COM
mand.
Here's devil of a pickle" said Shorty,
as he led the two men up to ST.
Mister" said Gabe Boneset, "we've
always bin yo' friends; ontis our hands, an
set us free. Well show yo' the way aorost
the Ocmulgee."
Il don't know about that" said ST,
obviously, trying to think just what was
best to do.
a know what we'll do" said Shorty,
pulling out his knife, and selecting paw
paw to cut down. Were goin' to foller Bob
Pringle's gang right acrost the river,
give us away"
He cut two pieces for gags, and with
strips Of paw-paw bark, bound them in
the mems mouths so that they could not
speak. ST gave the word to go ahead, he
going considerably in advance, with his
senses alert for the guards at the ford OF the
river.
Sooner than he had expected came the
challenge.
"Friends, Sariint Klegg. O. Lootenant
Pringle's company" he answered.
"Lootenant Pringle's men?" said another
voice, at little distance from the chal-
lenger, which ST correctly interpreted to
be that of The Sergeant in command of the
post, who had been awakened by the chal-
lenge, and was not particularly pleased
at being disturbed Why Lootenant
Pringles men all went by an hour ago"
"As fur ahead as that?" said ST, with
troubled accents. Lord, Wen have to
scoot to ketch up with him afo' he gifts t.
the railroad. He done sent us back tod
Cap'n John Somers's t. git some men that
Cap'n Stiggins had, an expected us to
jine him afo he got t the ford"'
The easy, confident way in which ST
spoke of names and places seemed to quiet
any suspicious that the Sergeant might
have had. He really did not want TO get
up and investigate.
who's yo' Cunnel?" he asked.
"Cunnel John Whately o. Twiggs," ST
answered, "and mons'ous fine man.
Useter be in the Legislature. How's the
ford? Easy T. cross"
"Ford's all right" answered the Ser
Geant as he lay back. Easy ter git
through, if yo' be keerful ter keep above a
rock in the middle. Bear ter the left, above
hit. Thar's a deep hole below. Look out
fer hit. Yo'uns III have ter go on the jump
if ye ketch Pringle afo' he gifts ter the road.
Good night"
On the other side of the Ocmulgee every
body breathed much freer, and Shorty
thought it nothing but right that Hez and
Gabe should have chance to do the same.