The National tribune., 1901-04-11

above the heads of the boys, but they had
kept so well under cover that none had
been wounded. But the rebels were press
ing on SO strongly, under the Majors adju-
rations, that they had to run back from
one tree or rock to another, and presently
were near where the descent began to 90
under the cliff.
81 came rushing up, with Gid and Uncle
Ephraim. He took in the situation with
a quick glance, and then ran over to a
rock to the left, where he could get an en-
filade fire and make a distraction as if a
new force had appeared on the rebel
flank. Alf came up in time to catch sight
of him and run after.
They reached the rebels right flank, all
fired at once, and yelled at the top OF
their voices. For a moment the manuver
seemed effective. The firing died down,
! and the advance stopped, as the rebels
looked around to see what this new alarm
meant.
But the shrill-voiced little Major was
not to be bluffed.
SEQ ahead there" he shouted to his
men. "What are you stopping for? Go
aheadI Capt. Peters, throw your company
around, and smash those fellows. For
ward, battalion
81 now rushed back to the center to be
with Shorty, and meet the brunt of the at
tack. Shorty had shot twice in the direc-
| tlOH VI lue NOiCe VI tue "uU was
now on foot, and out of sight, but appar-
emily without effect, as the stentorian
commands continued, and the line pressed
| forward. The rebels had now found the
fanks of the line, and were pressing it in
ward and backward to the cliff.
It's n?a no use g; .stTa st9yjag out out here any any
| the cave as soon as possible"
He motioned to Sandy and Pete to run
back to the cave, and ran over to tell ALI,
Gid and Uncle Ephraim to do the same
| While he was gone, Shorty, who was re-
| loading, heard the voice of the little Ma
| jor quite near, and looking under the
brush saw him but a few rods away. He
made sudden dash forward to catch the
Major, and yank him in bodily, but tripped
on vine when within a couple yards of
him, and fell headlong, just in time, how
ever, to avoid several shots from the men
| Immediately around the Major, whom
| Shorty had not seen. 81 came back in
time to see the mishap of his partner, and
, before the rebels could collect their senses
dashed forward, with Tom Brainard at
his heels. They fired their guns into the
group of rebels, helped Shorty to his feet,
and ran back behind the big pine which
stood at the top of the descent to the
cliff. There 81, Shorty, Brainard and
Grimshaw waited till the rest had passed
on down. Then 81 and Shorty waited un-
til Brainard and Grimshaw went, and
| then followed them under the cliff
Shorty's dash had disconnected the Ma
jor for an instant, and this gave the boys
time to get under cover.
The Major came on presently, revolver
in hand, and peered cautiously around the
pine, to see where his enemy had gone.
Shorty improved the moment to put Il
bullet-hole through the Majors hat, and
then fell to cursing himself again for his
bad aiming.
There was long pause, while the Ma
jor reconnoitered the situation, and de.
cided upon his next plan.
Say, Yanks," he called down presently
Surrender. We've got you. You can't
get away"
hop-o' my thumb" 81 shouted back. ''If
you want us come and take u.s."
'.Yanks, if l have to come down there
after you l won't leave a man alive"
I'VE know you won't. But you won't
come down. We won't leave a man of you
alive, if you try, you jackass-lunged little
thimble-full Of treason" Shorty yelled
back.
The Major took another look around
and saw the inaccessibility of the cliff
from every point except the narrow path
by the pine.
Now, men, surrender, and save any
more trouble and bloodshed," he began,
argumentatiYely.
1--WE aint in business to save trouble
and bloodshed," 81 interrupted him. I'VE
enlisted for the purpose of making it and
for just such little runts of traitors as
you"
''Yanks, if you'll surrender I'll treat you
fair and square, as prisoners of war"
''Go to blazes, you homeopathic vial Of |
cussed secession" yelled Shorty. I'VE |
know how you treat prisoners of war. !
We've been to Andersonville."
Come on with your trouble and blood |
shed, you i'penny-bit edition of JEFF Da- |
Wis, and let's see who'll get sick of it |
first" shouted 81. I'VE come near lick |
ing your whole regiment, and we'll do it |
yet. We're from Injianny, and one In
jiannian can lick 10 Georsians any day /
in the week. Hooray for Injianny."
From the crashing of stones down into I
the creek they could tell that the rebels
were walking around on top OF the cliff. I
but this did not disturb them. There was
no way on the other side to get down.