The National tribune., 1901-10-24

up that hullabaloO again, to distract their
attention. Sandy, go back and bring Tom,
Abe. and the rest of the boys. Let each
| Of EN- pick out one of the lightest of
those poles and bring it along"
When Sandy returned with the boys,
| flushed for the new adventure, and eager
! for anything that would break the deadly
chill of lying on the wet bank, the rattle
| of firing and the murmur of shouts and
orders broke out again on the extreme
right of the regiment.
Pete came running back, breathless, as
they pushed the boats out.
Hear emp he said. THE Colonel's
poking 'em up with a long pole. just as
you wanted. More fun than Il barrel of
monkeys. | wanted to stay and help, and
then l wanted to be with you worse. so
run back"
Get in here, Pete, and lay down be-
hind the straw, and keep down and don't
say Il word" commanded Shorty, pulling
him in. We may get volley any min
ute. and / want you SAFE
But I'm going to stand up and pole
like Sandy and the rest" said Pete to
himself, 4 minute later. "Ee Shan't put
on no airs over me, about what he done in
this frolic more'n me-"
He picked up Il pole and Joined the
others in silently pushing the boats along
under the shadows of the banks.
The poles were pushed into the water
so carefully that they made no noise. and
the boats moved along so slowly that the
rebels behind their works, peering at the
dark bank, mistook the movement for the
customary illusions Of sight when staring
into growing darkness.
At last the boats stopped in front of
the clump of brush moved by the can
lister, behind which was the bridge Not
shot had been fired at them from the
other side, and Pete jumped ashore to run
to the Colonel, report their arrival. and
say that there was 10 longer need of con-
tlnuing the racket.
The clock in the stceple struck II as
one by one Co. . filed into the boats and
lay down behind the rice-straw, which had
been heaped on the farther sides. weighted
down by poles laid across, and reinforced
by heavy plank set on edge. 1t made
rampant with which they could hope to
encounter the fierce fire certain 10 greet
them as they neared the works.
Veterans as they were, the danger they
were Drawing sObered them todead silence.
They held up their tin cups and bayonet
scahbards as they lay down, that they
might not strike upon the boards and
alarm the enemy. The scraping of Il mus
ket against canteen or a. helt-plate
Jared upon their strained nerves and
brought low, sharp hiss of condemnation
upon the careless one.
With minds equally tense, the other
companies lay along the bank, their mus
kcts leveled on the opposite side, ready
to pour in terrible yolley the moment the
rebels should discover the advance.
The moon was now setting, and the
dark shadows lengthening out from the
shore. 1t was Sis plan to push the boats
out sidewiSe toward the rebel works, I'M
der the cover of these shadows, and get
as near the abatis as possible before being
discovered. After that Fate would have
TO rule the event, but Co. Q would do all
that brave men could.
He and the strong men in each boat set
their poles in the mud and began working
the clumsy, heayy-laden boats slowly for
ward.
1t was straining work forcing the cum
brous craft forward sidewise, and all the
more straining because of the necessity
for absolute silence. But the advance was
so gradual that sharper eyes than the
rebels had would not have detected the
change in the mass of blackness lying on
the face of the water. 1t was so noiseless
that the anxious men could hear their
hearts beating against the boards on
which they were lying.
All the noises behind the rebel works
had ceased, too. Were they all asleep.
or were they waiting with cooked muskets
and taut lanyards for the boats to come
where one tremendous volley of bullets
and canister would sweep all of them off
the face of the earth?
The clock in the steeple Changed out
II, and 81, wiping his hot face, cautiously
raised his head above the rampant to see
that the boat was almost across the water
and near the edge of the abatis
Somebody's got to say something con-
demned soon, Or" whispered Shorty,
but before he could finish the sentence |
tremendous explosion far over toward the |
city shook the earth. Another followed, |
almost instantly, and then there was |
succession of them, coming from all parts |
Of the long line. Lastly came one from
the fort behind the works upon which |
they were advancing.
A column of flame shot up in the air, |
with timbers and planks flying in its lurid |
glare.
Then great fires began to blaze ut differ
ent points.
The fort in front began to burn.
Great Scott-they're evacuating." said |
81, as the truth began to dawn upon him.
Everybody sprang up from behind his