The National tribune., 1901-10-24

RIDR OF THE
these together in the middle, so that they
would not push apart under the men 5
feet.
Very good, Sergeant" said the Colonel
inspecting it. Excellent, in fact. I'd
20 right ahead and extend it at this place,
| believe, so as to make room for u pla-
toon or company front to pass over, If
you can"
Good idee, Colonel, except that you
must recOllect that their cannon rake this
place. You can see that by the way the
canister has moved off the brush
lie suddenly pitched forward into the
water as he spoke. The visit of the
Colonel had thrown him off his guard,
and he had unthinkingiy raised the pole
in his hands above the cover of the
bushes, and Il watching sharpshoOter, tax
ing it for a man, had put bullet into it.
You see, Colonel, they're recovering
from the effects of the Smelling over
there said ST coolly, as he scrambled
back onto the bank, out of the water.
We've got to be more careful. or else
DO more shelling."
Both, probably" answered the Colonel,
much rejoiced to find that 81 was I'M
harmed. IN send back to have those
guns open again. No use of being eco
nomical with ammunition now, since we
have reached the fleet III go over to
the right of the line, and order them to
make thrashing i'll the water, and talk
ing and shooting, as if they were laying
the bridge there. This will distract their
attention from YOU"
In Il few minutes 4 rified gun on the
bluff behind blared out, as if angry at be
ing walked up again, after the hard work
of the day \ shell hOwled maledictions
across the dreary expanse of mud and
water, and tore Il head-log off of the rebel
works.
One after another the other guns fol
lowed suit, and the torment of the rebels
was renewed.
\ turmoil arose on the extreme right
Of the regiment. i company fired 4 vol
ley, followed by Il continual popping of
shots There was splashing in the water,
mingled with low shouts Of
shove her right along;
Take hold, there, boys
Lift. now, every one of you whelps.
Get her end up on the bank, etc, etc.
This was responded to by an order
from the rebel Colonel to man the works
and open fire. Then an artillery officer
commanders:
Action. Load Ready! Aim! Fire."
and storm of canister swept the banks,
hurting no one, since every head was kept
carefully behind the dixie, except back
Oh the left where ST and Shorty were lay
ing down poles as fast as they could be
brought. 81 had his own squad over on
his side, slowly working the brush out
as screen.
The rebel guns drew the fire of the rifles
on the bank, and while the row lasted 81
and Shorty got down gangway wide
enough for u company front across the
canal.
They were very tired and wet, but they
crawled over the bridge, and carefully ex-
amined it, to see that they had left no
hole to trip up some unlucky one, and
break the rush across, when the time
should come.
Horse high, bull-strong, pig-tight,
muttered 81, satisfiedly, repeating the old
Indiana fence formula.
The clock in the steeple struck 10.
They lay down on the bridge to rest, for
it was the only dry spot in the neighbOr-
hood.
We're all right now for the canal"
said 81. But how are we going to get
across the field, I'd like to know? We
can't work any of our other plans there,
as | can see"
I'm going to let the Colonel do the
thinking for that" said Shorty, weariedly,
as he stretched himself out. He showed
some management about this bridge.
Let's encourage him. He's run with US
business. I'm tired of running the regi-
Inent. Let him have a chance. It's his
business to get us over there"
Pete came back, running along the foot
Of the bank, in order to make more
speed than by crawling along the top.
Say" he whispered to 81, me and Sandy
couldn't find no gates at all, though we
went long ways down there. But we
found down there three fatboats loaded
with rice straw, that Sandy thinks mebbe
we can use to get acrost the field. He's
stayed there to watch 'em, and sent me
to tell YOU"
Let's go back and look at 'em, Shorty"
said 81.
They found the batteaux good-sized
ones, with about a ton of straw on each.
They lay in little bay within probably
100 yards Of the rebel line, whittier they
mad been probably brought with view to
using their loads for the garrison.
81 and Shorty looked at them with a
view to making an assault from there, but
the farther ditch looked too broad and
deep.
Better take 'em up in front of the