The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1901-08-08
81 K IsLI;;ls!. Al, AND .,S|,H !0IR|

Il want to 60 and see how my part
ner is getting along" said Sandy, TO whom
the memory was not pleasing. "Wherell
l find him? They've carried him to your
hospital"
I'm all right, boys" said Pete. com
ing up the steps and dancing gleefully
along the deck. Surgeon says / amt
hurt a mite. There's no poison in them
ink-snakes, and he wet sponge In harts-
horn and washed ali the black off of me.
look about the ship. l want to see all
over her. Goodness, amt everything won
derfulT'
Pete Immediately became the center of
larger group than any one else. AL
sailors love a fresh, unspoiled boy, and
especially one who has had just come
through such marvellous experiences.
They crowded around him, asked nim
questions, answered his, showed him the
things about the ship, and explained their
uses, gave him little personal trinkets,
and paid him such tlattering attentions
as to excite the burning jealousy OF n
youngSter of about his own age who had
up to this time been the baby of the ship.
lie INDUCED in various filings and innuen-
does in Pete's hearing, and, finding these
unnoticed, finally placed him squarely be-
fore Pete and announced:
Il think you're great big baby to git
so fiummixed over a footy little cutie
hsh not bigger'n you're hat, and fummix
everybody else about it. I've bin stung
by stingaree as long as q handspike and
didn't git over it for months, and | didn't
blubber bit about it. All the crew
know that. You army boys hain't no
sand"
Look here; you mustn't talk that way
to him, nor about army boys" said Sandy,
doubling up his fists. Il won't stand it."
See here. Take one o your size, won't
your said another, little larger ships
boy, no less jealous, thrusting himself be-
fore Sandy. KNOCK that skewer often
my shoulder, if you dare"
Leave this Teller to me, Sandy" said
Pete, doubling his fists. You call me
baby again, and III punch your nose,
durn you"
You're nothin' but big baby" reit-
Grated the boy, and Pete promptly made
good his threat with a singing blow,
while Sandy as promptly knocked the
wooden skewer off the other boys Shout
der. There was instantly the liveliest
kind Of Il mix-up, with the sailors form
ing ring, and encouraging both sides.
The Captain came walking out of his
cabin with 81 and Shorty. Mr.. Viii
inarth, he said severely to the Officer of
the deck, what does this disorder mean,
sir?'
The Officer of the Deck sprang for
ward and scattered the ring, while 81 and
Shorty pulled Pete and Sandy away from
their clutch on their antagonists
Pete, you little scamp, will | have to
break your neck to keep you out OF mis-
chief! said Shorty, givin. him Wig
orouS shake, and as 81 crushed Sandy
down INTO quleScence the two ships boys
were cuifed and sent below to wash up.
Order is restored, sir" grayely report
ed the officer of the Deck, saluting the
Captain.
Probably you are right in your deter
mlnatiOn to return ashore at once, So rs
to report to the General" said the Cap
tain, continuing his conversation with. s.,
as II the interruption were a mer,. Incl
dent of routine. Il had thought that LOS
slbly you had got those fellows over there
so stirred up that they would be on the
lookout for you, and that you had better
wait until tomorrow afternoon for them
to cool down little"
Cur experience has been, Captain"
said 81, that the best way to catch 'em
mapping Is when they're tired out looking
Tor you. We've always outwinded 'em
and beat EN- that way. Anyway, the
Generals waiting for US, and the ColOnerS
expecting us. We'd go back tonight if
we knowed the whole rebel crew was out
there watching for us. You don't know
how anxious Gen. Howard and the
through. We started out to beat the cav
airy, and were going to do it,
All right; go ahead, them said the
Captain. But we'll have to play 4 little
strategy on those fellows. They're prob
ably watching US like hawks. They can't
see us, but they know pretty well where
we are, and they're looking FOR every
sign. I'll send out some boats us II we
were going to set you ashore down there
near the fort. They'll show up pretty
clearly, and the patrol and whatever may
be sent from the fort will gather there to
beat off the boats. I'll put you in the
lanch and send you off on long circuit
to port, which will bring you ashore u
couple of miles farther down the beach,
where they wont be looking for YOU
''All right; that won't be far from
where we left our horses" said 81. i
don't believe the patrols found Them.
Why can't we go back i'll our own boas:"
Never do in the world said the Cap
tain, deciSiveiy. They can hear you row
ing that boat a mile, the Lieutenant re-
ports
'What'd tell you, 81, about your fat
boat education? said Shorty, with a grin.
Il III going to put some coal-heavers
and landSmen in that boat continued the
Captain, and send it out with the 9th
ers, to help fool the rebels into thinking
its coming back. The Ianch, which was
built for this kind of work, will run FIVE
miles while they're rowing one, and make
no more noise than a porpoise. That's
her business
He called the Executive Officer to him
to give the necessary instructions, and
then went to his cabin to write the letter
81 was to deliver to Gen. Howard.
For Tub OBJ God, Sarjint Kiegg, we
hain't a-gwine on dat black water agin
tonight, mOng dem COLLINS, an hoojee-
hoo-jee debils, is weY' groaned Uncle
Ephraim in abject despair
Yes; we've got to go, Uncle Ephraim.
We must carry the good news to the
Colonel, that we've found the fleet. Don't
be scared. You've lived through it once
You will again. You'll see Aunt Minerva
Ann tomorrow afternoon and have Won
derful story to tell her. Brace up, now
1t won't take us as long to go as it did
to come"
80, dear Jerusalem" groaned the ne
gro. IF my heabbenly home lay acrost
dat water, I'd nebber go dar as long as
libbed. l want t see Merry Ann
monty bad, but l wouldn't go a rod ober
dat water for a 1O-acre feP OBJ Merry
AIMS. 'Nervy AIMS a monty fine woman,
but she haint SO 6ne in a year as one oh
dem things is awful in minute Jes'
tink oh DER great green eyes an DER
arms like hangmans ropes. o, good
Lord, do sabe me-
Brace up, Uncle" said Shorty, giving
him u slap on the back. Think of the
stories you'll have to tell Aunt Minerva
Ann"
"Yes; an she'll say hits shame for