The National tribune., 1901-03-28

"Mostly," answered Bob. Though
there's great many going the other way,
trying to get to the sea. The cavalry,
the conscripters, and the reserves have
orders to watch the crossings Of the
creeks, and l think that every ford along
the Little Ogeechee is pretty well watched
today for them
We'll just skin down this side Of the
river, then," decided 81, ''and see if we
can't drive the watchers off, and pick up
some OF the boys. Where do you think
that cavalry has gomez"
II heard them say" answered Bob.
'that Joe Wheeler would have his head
on the railroad, in that direction. l think
they're going to join him.
THAT throws them away off to the
left" said 81. Il don't think we need
bother any more about them. Let's push
right along. We can probably lick any
thing we find along the banks of the
river"
Without any attempt at concealment,
therefore, they marched along the road
following the course of the river. Oc-
| casionally they would see small squads Of
reserves in the distance, who speedily pro-
| ceeded to put big stretch of Georgia
landscape between them and the Yankees.
They looked into all the fords, and Pete,
on Abednego, secured the country around,
in search of hiding places for escaped
prisoners. But he found none. He did
| find somo good horses concealed in these
likely hiding places, and by the middle of
the afternoon the whole squad was well
mounted. They made much better pro-
gress now, and toward sundown came to
the Georgia Central Railroad, running
from Macon to Millen, Augusta and Sa-
yannah. They heard the whistle Of a
train in the distance, coming from the di-
| rection of Macon, hastily piled some logs
and stones on the track, concealed their
| horses in the brush and trees, and lay
down among the sumach and cedars above
a deep cut to wait for it.
The train came on, the engineer caught
sight of the obstruction as he entered the
cut, whistled for brakes, reversed his le-
yer, and looked around, to encounter Sis
musket Ieveled at his head.
"Stop that train right there; don't you
move an inch, or off goes your roof" ;"
sternly commanded 81.
Shorty, with the rest of the boys, was
attending to the guards on the top of
the cars, while 81 was dealing with the
engineer.
"Stand right where you are; drop them
guns; don't you try to get down, if you
| don't want to land in hot birthstone"
| shouted Shorty, and the frightened re-
serves hastened to obey.
Il amt wanting to go any further:
said the engineer, very cheerfully. This
suits me well enough"
Hello, Mockbee," shouted Brainard
and Grimshaw, delightedly, at the sound
of his voice. Good boy. Come right
over here"
The engineer jumped from the train,
and ran up to join his old friends.
what does this mean? Come down,
men," shouted the Captain and Lieuten-
ants of the guard, rushing from the inside
of a car further to the rear, and drawing
their swords. Jump down on the other
side, men, ard FORM"
Excuse me, Captain, and you, too,
Lieutenant" said Shorty, with great show
of politeness, as he covered the Captain.
This amt your ante. l believe l have
the age. Pass the buck, please. In other
words, both of you toddle right up here,
and hand me them tosd-stickers. You
won't have no further Use for them"
whats your rank, sirP said the Cap
tain, swelling n little. I'm a commits
stoned officer, and don't surrender to no
Corporal"
I'm afraid you'll have to, all the same,
this time," said Shorty, sadly. My reg
ular commission hasn't arrived yet, but 1
carry one good enough for everyday use
right here" and he tapped his gun. so
toddle right up here, my laddie-bucks, and
hand over your swords, before m under
the painful necessity Of blowing your
heads off. Be in hurry. for I'm nervous
holding this gun out so long, and it's liable
to go off,"
The officers clambered up the bank and
handed over the swords.