Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1901-09-09

w nat . the Hldllcl
"Why, look at mel" said the other
sergeant. Here am. lying in pud
die of icewater."
"Why don't you get out of it. them"
Get out of it? These old we'll
boards won't stop a ball. and I have
to stay fiat on the ground behind this
curb. l don't want to get shot This
is where you tipped over that bucket
of water. l wish / had that villain!"
A shot from the thicket answered
him as he shook his fist beyond the
corner of the well. Sergeant Bob
leaned against the tree and laughed;
then he stopped laughing and won.
dered how long the unseen marksman
would keep them there, and if their
absence from camp would be noticed
at noon mess.
Every movement, it seemed, brought
a shot from the bushes. Once in
while the man in the thicket turned
his attention to the clothes on the
fence AMI shot holes in them, while
the owners howled at him from their
cover.
"Well, I guess I can stf nd it as long
as he can." commented Bob.
"Yes; you're not exposed to the
wintry blasts as | ami" complained
the other sergeant
"Wintry blasts! Why, man, the
suns burning patches on me till
look like tiled floor!"
well, you aren't lying in small
lake of well-water that is way below
: Do nf ic vbn I
turn over the other part freezes, and
crash towel is small slothing, and I'm
dirtier than when | came up here.
/ Wouldn't like to get crack at that
fellow!"
Say" begun Sergeant Bob after
another half-hour, cant you get one
| of the rifles? The little snap of his
gun can't be heard at camp, but il
you could fire one of ours, the bang
would bring the guard up in hurry"
81 can't reach them from here.
Every time I stick my hand out that
reprobate shoots at me. Wait min
ute! Is your rifle loaded?"
"No; but the box is hanging on it
with the belt, and there's 20 rounds
in it."
The other sergeant looked round
and found a stick. Then he reached
over and poked the stick through a
crack in the boards, saving it back
and forth until he got it against one
of the rifles. The gun came rattling
to the ground, AMI he pulled it behind
the curb. This brought out more shots
from the man in the bushes.
as that my rifie?" asked Bob.
Mime and the best one in the com.
pany, too"
well, you'll get your shoulder
kicked off. You've got no clothes for
padding"
This rifle don't kick. No rifle does
if you hold it right, and I'll make a
pad of this towel OF course you fell
lows who shut both eyes when you fire
and hold the butt two inches from
your shoulder get kicked. and no
wonder"
"Shut both eyes? Who got the
sharpshooter's bar, I'd like to know?
But go ahead! Blaze away into the
hill, Noise is all we want"
Bang. went the rifle, and crack
from the bushes answered it. Half
a dozen times the sergeant shot. as
fast as he could load and fire.
That will do l reckon" he said,
rubbing his shoulder. They'll think
there is battle" and the two
chuckled as they waited for reinforce
ments and relief.
Hi, there, you men! What are you
doing here?" 1t was the fat lieuten-
ant, coming from behind the old log
house.
Get back, lieutenant" both boys
cried. You'll get shot!"
There's a villain six feet tall up in
the bushes there, with Winchester
| He's kept us here an hour" explained
Sergeant Bob.
Hey" and the lieutenant lodged
behind the log hut. From back of him
the grinning faces Of half dozen of the
guard looked out.
"We'll get your man for you. We
reconuoitered, saw from where the
shots came, and sent squad up over
the hill. They'll come down on his
rear. SSiut what l want to know is
! what you two are doing outside of the
4 lines?"
Taking a bath, sir"
| Taking bath, eh? Well, might
/ overlook you coming out for such
commendable purpose, especially since
/ you've been penned up already; but
/ you've made me run up this hill in the
sun, and you ought to be court-mar-
tailed. Hello! The other squad has
| your man"
There was a commotion in the bush
/ es; then the corporal and the rest of
/ the squad appeared. The corporal
held in his hand a dingy little Flobert
| rife. Two of the men led a small,
| shock-headed dirty-faced boy.
The lieutenant shouted with laugh
ter. There's your six-footer and his
Winchester Kept you here an hour!
! Oh MY" and the rest of the guard
snckered audibiy. Sergeant Bob and
] the other sergeant looked at each