Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1900-01-30

fry and listened. The neighing of horses.
the shouting of officers, the gathering of
swords and carbineS gradually died away
IN the distance, and all was still
The people kept in their houses. and
nothing was heard save now and then the
barking of a dog or the voice of some
crying child.
The hot air grew cool, and Poncho felt
very comfortable as he lay gazing in the
direction of the turnpike, over which the
Confederate troopers would probably
come.
He was filled with joy at the thought
that he was doing something for the man
whom he revered SO much, and he Won
dered if, in case he did his duty well, he
should see him.
Nine O'Clock. and still no signs of sci
dlerS on the turnpike.
Ten o'clock, the quiet continued I'M
broken
Eleven o'clock came, and all was calm.
Twelve o'clock, and now Poncho's keen
ears catch the distant sound of horses
feet
He listened A large company of sol
diers was certainly coming. He clutched
his hammer tighter in his hand. He
strained MS eyes far down the moonlit
rode, and made sure it was no corporal
guard approaching.
A few rapid scouts rode ahead. but in
the distance. Then i'll a little while Pom
cho saw glistening arms and long col
umn of men. The turnpike was alive
with troopers swarming into town.
I 1t was time to strike,
His heart beat wildly as he crept I'M
der the great bell and gathered himself
for the first blow
doomed from the high belfry filled the
air and echoed far away. 1t was Pom
cho's first stroke for "Massa Linkum. y
and now he was fairly enlisted for the
Union cause
Half-stunned, the boy waited till the
bell ceased vibrating, and listened for the
promised bugle note. But no buGle blew.
Another stroke, louder than before.
The soldiers in the street were startled.
They knew that these two horrible clancs
meant something.
Still there was no bucle call. and Pom
cho struck third time. All at once
came a sound of tumult in the streets
below Shouts, shots. the rattle Of ss-
berS and rapid galloping Of horses,
Il guess dey're come now, sure" said
Poncho to himself, "but l amt heered
no trumpet. Use gwine to pound dis we're
bell till | does" And he opened his
mouth wide. as the colonel had told him
to. and beat upon the bell with all his
force. Its clang was deafening. Tn
able to bear the noise he crawled from
under the bell and stood en- the outside OF
it.
+ He is now in SIGHT from the street
! The moonlight Illuminated the befry.
and the boys round head and dark fig
ure stood out in plain relief Pausing a
| little TO peep down on the uproar of bat
tie below, he exposed himself for a mo
ment at the tower window, and zip,
something struck the wooden casing near
him and splintered it and hit the bell
behind him with Il sharp ping"
I Guess dey're .a-shootin' at me down
dere." quoth Poncho. drawing back
But dey can't hit one Of Massa Link
um's soldiers. Dey's foolish ter tempt
it, And he went on pounding the bell
The bullets now whistled about him
like hail. Suddenly his hands received
shock which benumbed them. A bail
had struck the handle Of the hammer
and cut it in two.
Poncho stopped down and selling the
iron head in his lame fingers went on
pounding.