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

noes, and whatever else would float and
| carry them. They yelled fiercely, and the
boys yelled back defiance. Every stick of
the Lorena's wood had gone into her fur
naces, and she had not steam enough left
to stem the current.
well, we can at least float as fast as
they cam" said Shad. Jake, get your
men up on the cabin deck, and sharpshoot
at those fellows in canoes and skiffs, to
, keep them from coming too close"
| 81 and Shorty attacked with axes the
gangways and other bits of solid timber
that &C I'D be readily spared, and got then
into shape to put in the furnaces.
The steam ran up, the Lorena gathered
| Roadway and started back upstream, to
the great terror of the rebels. Those in
| skiffs and canoes made frantic haste to
paddle out of the way into shallow water,
where she could not reach them. The
largest hatboat was reached and crushed
into, most Of the men jumping into the
water to save themselves while the boys
fired at those in the more distant boats.
Don't go any further up. Zeke,"
| warned Jim. "Thar's nest o them just
| ahead. Turn while yo' got steam, an
scoot over ter the t'other side o. that
| island They can't reach yO' thar"
Having finished up the heavier timbers
handy, 81 and the rest were engaged in
tearing off the side planking and showing
it under the boilers. But it was light and
VI HltiC DOMeI, ulSdDlt1GllE III
most as fast as they could push it in. Still,
| they continued to make Roadway, and
presently came around a point upon which
they saw cabin and small clearing. The
cabin was one of the usual log-pens, COW
| cred with split oak and chestnut clap
boards, held in place by poles and stones.
Near it was a smaller pen, used as corn
crib, meat-house and general depository
The clearing was surrounded by a rude
fence, made of logs, stumpS and limbs tax
en- from the Grift-wood
That's Smoot Jinkins's place." re-
marked Jim cambridge. THE Teller that's
after us so hot and heavy He hain't been
living in hit, though, sence he jined the
army
There's wood for u.s. said 81 and
Shorty in the same breath. Land the
boat, Shad."
Fortunately the water was deep enough
to let the Lorena come squarely up against
the bank. Jake Dye, with 10 men, ran
forward into the woods to cover the opera
ton from surprise and attack, while 81 and
the rest in an incredibly short time tore
down the house and outbuilding and car
ried the materials of which it was built,
the rude tables and stools which served as
furniture, and also the fence around the
garden patch clearing on to the boat. As
they We're clearing the spot of the last
chunk that would burn they heard the
voice of Smoot Jinkins from the next
island.
Fore God, Yanks. | alters knowed yo'
WIZ the all-iiredest thieves that ever lived,
but L never dreamed that yo'uns d done
steal a mans house an garden right afore
his own eyes. Don't fer marcy's sake,
take away the only home l got fer my ole
woman an chillen.'
We'll leave you the ground. You ought
to be mighty glad o that, you old buzzard
of a guerrilla. It's more'n you deserve"
Shorty Shouted hack nc thnv nj
aboard, and the Lorena, with Il full head
of steam, sped up the river.
WELL" remarked 81, looking gleefully
over the fine stock of fuel, 1--WE couldn't We |
done much better at a regular woodward. |
It's all good and dry, and choppng it I'D |
will make enough exercise to give us an |
appetite for our rations. But this is a
new trick in stealing, to carry off a mans |
house and barn, furniture and fences at |
one swipe. The wars a great thing. By
the time it ends l expect we'll know how
to just take a mans quarter-section right |
from under him, and put it inside our own |
fences. / won't let an old soldier settle |
within 10 miles of me. I'll have to chain |
my apple-trees down and rivet my well to |
the Chinese Wall"
You needn't look out for the other fell |
lers, 81. The other fellers'll have to look |
out for you, from the way you've devel- |
oped from the innocent Sunday-school |
scholar that | first knowed," remarked !
Shorty.
pilot, land on the north side, at the
first good stopping-place," said the scout,
land put me ashore"
why jim" said Shad in surprise,
come right along with us. We're going
to Chattanooga, and we'll get you there
eastern than any other way"
NO" answered the scout dreamily. 81
like moderate amount of excitement and
adventure as well as any other man. But
think I'll lead calmer life, and have
more time for meditation, to make my way
on foot through the rebels to the railroad,
and then chance the gueriilas on to Chat
tanooga. / like you fellers, but you are
rather tumultuous for steady company.
The. rebels up there on the Elk River
Shoals are thicker'n bees round a sugar
hogshead, and you'll never get this boat
through in the Almighty's world"
$50 long, Jim. The rebels will have to
do a better job of stopping than they've
put up yet to get away with u.s." said 81
as a goodby when the scout jumped
ashore.
A great shouting and yelling greeted
their ears us they came around the point
to Lambs Ferry. They saw the river full
Of men and horses. Some of the men were
wading and leading their horses. some were
holding on to their horses tails, and as the
animals swan through the deep water
some were sitting in their saddles as the
horsas swan across |