The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1900-12-06

"lt's the rebel cavalry crossing said
-. Let's bulge right on through 'em.
They can't do nothing. They've got
enough else to tend to, now. without shoot
ing. Don't shoot at the feIlers in the
water. boys. That's agin the game laws.
Shoot at them on the bank"
The pilot whistled a shrill blast of rage
and threatening. and ringing for the en-
giheer TO give her all the steam he had.
dashed through the narrow open space of
the Ferry. The boys on the boat banged
away rapidly at the rebels on either shore
and the latter replied with vastly more
noise than damage.
Looking back the boys could see the rcb-
els and their horses struggling with the
great waves thrown up by the Lorena's
wheel in the narrow river
Black night was now coming on. with
every promise of heavy rain. The boys
grew apprehensiye. Would they not have
to stop How could the pilot see to run?
Wen go right ahead" said the pilot to
Shad. I'D rather run in the night than
in the day. Less danger. Go down and
put ont all the lights. and hang blankets
up in front of the furnaces, so the fires
won't show, and We'll take the main chan
mel and run right by them. whatever
they've got. I've been afraid they've bat
teries somewhere to rake the main chan
mel, hut well chance that better in the
dark than in the light. Besides. we've Jim
cambridge, who's got eats eyes, and can
see better at night than in the daytime"
SmOOt Jinkin'S bedStead, tables stools
clapbOards, logs and poles were really
much better fuel than the LOrena was used
TO having. They were all of good timber
and well seasoned. They burned merrily
under the boilers, and made lively steam
that sent her forward at good gait.
But it was weary going all the same
The rain came down in Sheets and the
darkness was like ink. But the pilot, with
Jim cambridge at his side in the little
glass eyrie, pushed stOlidly forward into
the impenetrable darkness, holding the
wheel with Il grip of iron at one instant,
and whirling it around with nervous en-
ergy at another, to meet or avoid some
thing which the unframed eyes below them
could see as little as things that were in
the next County.
But in spite of Jim's cat-like eyes and
Zeke's skill, the boat would strike bars,
the spars would have to be rugged in the
darkness and the binding rain. and the
boys tramp labOriously around the cap
stan, until the Lorena was dragged into
deeper water.
pitch in, boys" ST would say, as cheer
lily as he could. ''Only FIVE miles more to
deep water, and we want to get out of this
tangle, and past a rebel battery at the
head of the Shoals before daylight. One
more pull together may make it. This
may be the last time"
But there were a great many last
times" and the five miles stretched out as
never before in Sis memory of weary
marching.
The neyer-discouraged Shorty took oc-
casiOn from time to time to remind Jake
Dye of his promise of a pleasant, easy trip
with all the comforts of home.
They were stimulated constantly by see
ing the smoldering campfires of the rebels
along the south bank, which warned them
of what they might expect if daylight
fOUui them that upiphhOThOOd
Finally, just as dawn appeared, and it
seemed that they must all drop from ex-
haustiOn, the pilot cheered them with the
announcement that they had at length
passed che last island at the head of the
Elk River Shoals. and were in clear, deep
water All they had to fear now was a
battery, which the rebels had established
on the south bank.
I'm in hopes,'' said the pilot, who
looked as weary and hollow-eyed as the
rest, that that awful rains drowned 'em
out, and we can get past before they're
awake"
A shot from a picket on the bank quick
ly dispeled this hope, and through the
watery mist they could see the rebels gath
ering around a red bank in which their
guns were emplaced. They spashed around
in the mud and water filing the excaya-
ton for the guns, and seemed to have Diff
Guilty in getting a piece loaded. The Lo-
tired with the long nights severe strain.
When the gun was fired shell whistled
across a hundred yards in front of the Lo-
rena.
''Too high, as well as not a good line
shot," said Shad. They'll have to do lots
better than that, and mighty quick, too, or
we'll be out of range. Make 'em poke up
the fires there, 81. Throw in some o that
pitch pine"
At the sound of the cannon a low, black
gunboat shot out from the mouth of a
creek to the right, where she had been
lying concealed, and made directly for
them.
Rebel or Yank?" asked Shad nervous
". seeing that she hoisted no flag. IF
rebel, we're goners. If Yank, were all
right. Shake out the flag there. and show
them who we are. If we have to go down
we'll go with our colOrs flying"
The flag, surcharged with water, was
hanging against the staff like a rope.
Shorty ran to the halyards, worked them
up and down, shook some of the water
out and showed the blue field with stars,
and some of the stripes. A cheer went up
from the gunboat, and at the same instant
her heavy 32-pOunders doomed out, and
their shells threw up a cloud of mud and
water in the rebel battery.
'She was just laying for that battery"
yelled 81, in chorus with the cheers that
rose from all the wearied boys.
CTo be continued)