The National tribune., 1900-05-24

boys writhing on the ground, with the
others standing around with white faces,
| and their hands placed apprehenSively
on their own stomachs.
What in the worlds the matter? Don't
you know better than yell this way, even il
you were dying? sternly demanded ST.
But l am dying" groaned Pete. q
shan't live five minutes longer"
And he yelled again, in mortal agony.
Tell me what i'll the worlds the matter?
| 81 demanded again, as Shorty took Pete
! in his arms, and tries! 10 quiet him.
Hes got collie from eating that green
corn on an empty stomdch," answered
All Russell, "and we're all afraid we're all
going to have it too"
Nonsense" said ST stcrnly. you're
not goin' TO have it, and yol mustn't have
| it. We've got no time for sich fooliShness
now. Were got to make. long march
| yit I'll tie the first one of you up by the
| thumbs, and leave you here, that says
collie again. We've got other bizniss to
attend to-"
| Sis imperious manner scared them into
| thinking Of something else than their
stomachs, and the gripping symptoms
aDated. But Pete and Sandy were too far
| gone to be frightened into ca!mness. Pete
! protested that he had been poisoned, likely
| bitten by one Of those snakes back there
! when he was not looking, and that all
| that he wanted was for them to stay with
iillll III III ilt tltls anu JuIN DltA
| Sandy was in much the same frame Of
mind, but not so demonstratiye nor so
| tenacious of the snake-bite theory.
II began to RAIN again, hard, while 81
was rubbing Sandy's stomach, and Shorty
Pete 5, to relieve. their pain.
Say, I've got something that II cure
! EN-" said Alf Russell, suddenly, produc-
| ing a bulb from his pocket, with an air of
! triumph. Just happened to think Of it..
Back there piece | saw an Indian turnip
and dug it up, and brung it along, thinking
| it might come in handy. You know it's
an awful good medicine. There, Pete,
| take a big bite, and chew it up fine and
swallow the juice, and it'll cure You. There,
| Sandy, you take the rest. That'll fetch
you around all right"
The two boys did as directed. Pete
suddenly emitted Q yell of greater anguish
out of his mouth as he shouted:
80, my mouths all on firei It's burning
up, Alf Russell, dod durn your hide, you re
always proJecking on us with some mean
and nasty things for medicine. I'm Just
going to knock your trifiing head off for
this trick"
Sandy blew the pieces out of his mouth,
and jumped to join his partner in executing
| vengeance on Alf Russell.
ST and Shorty separated them, and by
the time the excitement was over the pains
had abated so that the march could be re-
SuinSn, tHOuSIl OStIlly slliu IGtS WtEeSIlll
suffering and very weak.
They descended into the road, and went
northward along it. Ette and Sandy
| made a brave effort to keep up, and thei.
pain touched 81 and Shorty deeply.
Il don't care what happens to me-" said
Shorty finally. I'm goin' in to the first
| house we come TO, and see II | can't git
something to help that poor boy. I'd
rather be recaptrred than feel guilty O.
| Inurderin' him"
20, l think it'll pass off directly. Collie
generally does, said 81. '.Pve had it lots O.
times, and don't remember to've ever died
| of it. Les push on, and help them along
as best we kim"
IL tell you what, I'm goin' to do it all the
same" said Shorty, so firmly that his
partner knew that it was no use opposing
his determination. 81 can't stand it to see
that boy suffer-, no matter what comes to
me. The rest of you kin go on"
They presently saw at little distance
from the right-hand side of the road lights
in fairly-good heWed log house.
A woman was vigorously singing in a
high but faded soprano,
When can read my title clear
To mansions in the skies,
I'll free my heart from every fear,
And wipe my weeping eyes.
Another-a contralto voice-was oc-
caSlOnally joining IN.
They're Methodists up there" said ST,
recognizing the hymn.
Hide there in the brush, while go up"
said Shorty. You kin watch what be-
comes o me-"
The dogs stormed out at him.
Hello, the house." he called from the
fence.
Hello" came back in a strong but not
unpleasing contralto voice. who air yo'
and what do yo'uns want? IL you're
sol jers, go right long about yer bizniss
We'uns haint got nothin' ter eat, more'n
weuns need ourselves. We'uns air only
a couple o. lone wimmen, but the Jmeruls
give strict orders that we air not ter be dis
turbed. and if we air, we've only ter blow
the horn ter git the guards ter come ter our
Hes all right" whispered the anxious
Si to the boys. There's only women
there"
1--WE air soIjers on our way ter our riji-
mint" said Shorty, initiating the Southern
pronunciation, land Guns don't mean
no harm, especially ter ladies, Miss. We
'uns is foutin' fur tie ladies, and alters
willin' ter fOut fur EN-, whenever they may
need hit. We'uns's Jawgyians and gen
tlemen, Miss"
well. Pm monty glad ter heah hit,
replied the voice. more pleasantly. What
do yofuns want?"
'We done got couple o boys out hyah |
that air powerful sick with the cramps"
Thar! thar! thatll do" said the voice
with asperity "We'uns've done heared !
all that story afo'; we'uns haint got a |