The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1901-10-10

The two took careful aim and fired.
Sis eyes had been fixed on the bank of
earth which ran straight out from their
front toward the rebels, and formed the
boundary of the field He did not regard
hopefully any attempt to get through the
mud and water of the field, and was
studying the banks possibilities for u rush
| along it with his squad.
Say, Shorty" said he, giving his part
ner nudge. that banks the only chance.
They know that. Do you notice how
they're centering all their FIRE on it. See
the bullets knocking up the dirt out there?
And cutting the twigS off the brush, Very
few are coming across the water, or
striking in it. They're expecting us to
come that way"
That's So" answered Shorty, ''and
| them big guns are firing right along it,
too. There's no use trying a rush, at
least now. They'd NOW us down. I'm go
ing to try how deep the water is out in
front. Pass the word along to cover me
while / take pole and sound it"
81 jumped and ran along the line to the
Captain, to tell him what Shorty in
tended.
IAN right" said the Captain. Its
daring thing to do but somebody ought to
do it at once, before an order comes for
| us to advance into the field. I'll cover
Shorty with the whole company, and ask
Capt. Brooks to do the same with his
| company"
The two companies began a severe and
rapid fire, while Shorty cut down a long
cane, and, walking out into the water, de-
iiberately prodded around for the bottom.
It's no use," he said, when he came
back. 1.-THE waters nearly three feet
deep everywhere, and probably gets deeper
| toward the center, and it's as cold as ice.
The mud ia nearly n foot deem
go back to the Colonel, Sergeant"
said the Captain, land report to him what
we've found"
The fog had now risen until the whole
breadth OF the field could be seen, and the
| bank beyond, thickly lined with riflemen
sheltered behind it.
The Colonel looked sorely perplexed.
It'll never do to order the men into
that field" he said. They'll sink into
| the soft mud until the water comes up
| nearly to their shoulders, and they can
hardly walk while those fellows over there
will shoot them down at their leisure.
This is worse than the Atlanta abatis.
Those banks are so narrow that they can
rake them, and besides have a oross-fre.
The Oshkoshes and Kankakees seem to
have just as difficult proposition before
them, and are not going ahead any faster
than we. Wen simply have to keep up a
vigorous sharpshootihg until we can de-
eide on something"
81 was turning to go back to his squad,
when his eye fell upon a big sycamore
which had been felled for some use on the
plantation. Like most old trees of that
species, it was hollow, and this was the
reason it had been selected for telling.
The lower part of the trunk had been
sawed into lengths of six or eight feet,
probably for well-curbs, walls for springs,
ash hoppers, grain-bins, or other uses to
which these gums" were put in the
South. An idea struck him as he looked
at it, and he turned and studied the width
of the bank. He walked over to the trunk
and examined the sections. There was
from six to 10 inches of good, solid wood
around the great hole which had rotted
out of the interior, and the diameter of
the trunk was about four feet. 1t was
so round that the section would roll easily,
which he assured himself by giving it
shove.
What are you going to do, Sergeantr
inquired the Adjutant, noticing the inter
est he took in the matter 'Going into
the lumber business? Think of cutting
them up into wagon wheels"
"I've an idee," said 81, quietly, select
Ing an eight-foot length, and rolling it
little.
Let him alone, Adjutant," said the
Colonel, with his eyes Frightening. Il
think I see what he's up to, and is a
good idea. Go ahead, Sergeant"
Shorty" said 81, going to the edge of
the bank and calling down, you and Abe
and Tom come up here"
As soon as they could be made to hear,
they ran up to him. They took the gum
and hastily cut some brush, and filed in
the gum with chucks and sticks, held in
place by the brush.
II think it's bullet-proof now, boys"
said the Colonel approyingly. LET me
make one suggestion: Get some props to
put behind it. so that it'll stay if they fire