The National tribune., 1900-03-08

; SERG'T TIBBETTS.
creek. The sides of the excavation were
steep AMI the white, giaring walls seemed
to concentrate in the wide pit not only she
awful heat of the sun but the yerrnin and
the terrific stencil.
The banf of devoted Christian workers
among the prisoners. who. though sick
and in sore straits themselves. yet flied
Their days with laboriouS minstrations
to those who We're still worse off. were hard
at work among the wretched unfortunates.
Many were almost sinking under the
burning neat. yet they were carrying water
Tor the helpless men to drink. washing the
faces and hands of others. and cleansing
the hair and garments of still others from
the tOrturing vermln. Some We're singing
and praying beside those who were dying.
And among these ST and Shorty found
sohad Graham leading in the singing of
Jesus. Lover OF My Soul" in fine. we'll
trained tenor voice. He greeted them
with an almost imDerceptible movement
OF ms eyes. and by a turn of his hand
pointing with his thumb toward structure
on the east side of the excavation
The cut on that side was seven or eight
feet deep, and left a bank about 10 feet
wide intervening between it and the dead
line on that side of the stockade ST and
Shorty instantly saw its possibilities as
could be carried on without detection.
There was number of more or less
insufficient Shacks and shelters around
the excavation. They We're generally
blankets or pieces of shelter-tents stretched
on sticks. In some the inmates lay directly
on tine hot sand Others had dug down q
little ways, as if to find cooler bed than
the radiating surface. Some had even gone
50 far as to build walls around. of sun
dried bricks. rudely shaped by the hands.
These gave little more coolness. kept out
the drifting sand, and possibly some of the
peStiferouS yermin.
NO. Is" significant thumb had indi.
Gated shack that stood directly against the
east bank. and this 81 and Shorty examined
with furtive glanceS from time to time
warily keeping from showing any special
interest III it. 1t was clearly Of better
construction than any of the others several
fairly good blankets had been used i'll it,
and It was firmly upheld by stout sticks
thrust deeply into the ground. The side
OF the cut formed the rear wall, the two sides
had been built up a couple of feet with
sun-dried bricks. and the front was narrow
ed by the same means to door, Three
men lay inside on blanket, with their
leg drawn up as if by scurvy, but ST noticed
that the place looked better kept than was
usual i'll the tents OF men so afflicted.
Then his attention was diverted by the
cessation OF the praying over the diving
ann nearing SDtile one OF the
around him say:
'Our brother is gone He is at peace. at
last. with Jesus. Let us take his body up
to the gate"
Does anybody around here know this
mans name. com oany and regimeut?'
Shad Graham inquired. producing Il strip
of paper torn from a diary in his bosom.
and a stubby lead pencil while the others
folded the dead'S hands across his breast,
tied his great toes together. and tried to close
his eyes and mouth as the body st;ffened.
There was no answer. Graham re-
peated the question.
NO; nobody knows anything about
him" said one. Only that he belonged
to Sheridan's cavalry. He was taken
all by him self. when he was CARVING, dis
patches. and none of his regiment was with
him"
Feel in his pockets. and see if there's
anything to tell who is he was"
They did SO, and found nothing but "A
brier-wood pipe, bit of tobacco. and the
ambrotype of n pretty country girl.
Recommendations" wrote Gra-
ham ON the slip of paper they pinned upon
the breast.
mos 13. Ii and Is are in that tent
said Graham. without turning his head
as he passed 81. 60 up and speak TO them.
calling them by number. I'm going out
with this body. and IL he at your tent when
| come in"
he went on. and 81. StrOlling around.
and looking at the other tents. and their
inmates. finally came to the one he started
for. and looked in.
Hello, No. Is. II and 10" he said in a
low voice. How are you? Want any
thing?"
Three pair of not-at-all sick eyes turned
toward him. with SOM trouble in their
expression at the strange face and voice
I'm all right" said ST. Interpreting the
look. I'm a new one. just jined No. /
told me to ask You if you wanted any
thing!"
Il was in hopes You were the relief
We're nearly dead. laying here with our
legs drawed up. and the flies and maggots
chawing great chunks ont of US Ideclare,
| believe they've bit off and carried away
five pounds from me this morning, and
| haint any meat TO spare. Talk about
resting here. I'd rather dig all night
than lay here two hours. You amt the
relief? No? Well. them for goodness
sake. take that can there. and go up on the
hill to one of the wells and get US some
fresh water. You'll find a good well up
there by those two pines. If they grumble
about letting you have the water, tell 'em
it's for one of old Phil Kearny's boys"
81 took the tin, which was apparently
an old can for ground coffee. and threaded
his way through the ShacllS in the direction
of the pines Presently he came to a we'll
dug down % or 80 feet through the sand