The National tribune., 1901-07-04

''No row at all, Lieutenant" said the
Chief Wagonmaster, giving him a furtivs
kick to enjoin silence. "Me and this gent
here was having a little sparring match
for the Brigade Belt, and we was enjoy
ing ourselves, being very well matched,
and'-
"Twan't nothing of the kind groaned
the man whom Pete had tripped, and who
was only regaining the breath which had
been knocked out of him. THAT little
scamp there d bin stealing forage. You
see, he's loaded down with it now. And
we
Take that boy away and buck-and-gag
him." commanded the Lieutenant, sternly.
Then turning to the Chief Wagonmaster,
he said with an interested tone:
You are pretty well-matched, Shuck, for
fact. You seem at last to've run up
against some one who could hold you level
something I've been wanting for a long
time. I'd like to see the mill. But you
ought to have mere sense than to stir up
such row after taps. Put it off till we
halt tomorrow afternoon, and send me o
bid. Don't forget. | want to see it, sure.
Sergeant, buck-and-gag those two fellows
who have been jumping that little boy.
The rest of you get to your tents, quick
as scat, and keep quiet. BE glad you get
off so lucky"
Its an engagement, sure, for to-mor-
TOW d1teEHOOu, Is II, OnuCk anAlOuSly
inquired Shorty, as they turned to go their
respective ways.
Yes; just as soon as. we've halted and
fed the mules" answered the Chief
Wagonmaster, cordially. Come down to
the wagons, and we'll find a place where
We won't be disturbed. Bring your friends.
Say, Lieutenant" he called after the OIL
Ger. "Fd let that boy off l think this
S his first offense, and he didn't get much,
after ALL"
''Shuck, you're gentleman" said
Shorty, putting out his hand. I'm glad
to meet you, and I'll be glad to see you
tomorrow"
''All right, my boy" responded the Chief
Wagonmaster, shaking hands. II think
I've got on to the way you handle your
left, and I'm going to wake you up. Any
how, it'll be satisfaction to find out just
who's the best man in the brigade"
Only stealing forage" whispered the
Sergeant to the man who was to do the
bucking; don't be hard on that boy. But
give it to them NANCY mule-skinners.
The result was that while the unlucky
teamsters were tied till the strings cut into
their wrists, and rigidly gagged, Pete was
at but little more inconvenience than that
of having to sit for some time in one posi-
ton. In an hour, however, all were re-
leased
Then the teamsters wanted to take their
spite out by cutting Pete. but the Sergeant
sent them to their quarters with a couple
of cuffs of their own to think about.
You big hulks," he said, you shan't
impose on boy when I'm around. Now,
you little rascal, get back to your quarters,
and let the forage pile alone after this"
The most serious punishment to Pete
was that he had got Shorty into a fight
with the Chief Wagonmaster, who was
the bully of the brigade, and unlimited
confidence as Pete had in his protector, he
feared that he would not be match for
the brawny, loud-voiced tyrant who ruled
the trains and the corrals, the big-limbed,
turbulent teamsters, by sheer force of
muscle. Pete had seen him quiet so many
drunken, riotOuS teamsters with a single
blow Of his big fists, that he felt dread
of him. He got so worked up over the
matter that he walked up Sandy and pro-
posed that they get their guns and as
sassinate the Chief Wagonmaster, but
Sandy, after mature reflection, decided
that it would be better to take their guns
to the place of meeting, and only use them
in the emergency of the Wagonmaster get
ting much the better of Shorty, as to
which he had some doubt.
The news of the proposed fight spread
rapidly through the brigade, on the march
next day, and everybody was keenly
anxious for the march to end and camp
be made. The 200th Ind. were of course,
confident that Shorty would simply wipe
up the earth with any other man in the
brigade, unless it were 81 Klegg. While
he LIST Oshkosh, to which the big lumber
woods foreman, Shuck Dilworth belonged,
lad never seen him whipped and did not
believe that he could be.
The Corps finally halted at point in
he endless stretch of sand, not apparent
y because it had gotten anywhere, but
because the orders were to halt and 90
nto camp at 3 o'clock. The trains were
parked, the mules unhitched and fed, the
nen got their dinners, and everybody was
IN the alert for the combat.
81 want you to act as my second, ST."
aid Shorty, as he prepared himself by a
areful wash. and had Alf Russell cut his
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