The National tribune., 1901-03-07

pulu Hhe a NuEDtHlluc DAN. W e LOiQ the
conscripts that the only thing that'd in
duce us to spare their lives would be to
do the hardest and fastest work they ever
done in prying up them stumps and piling
EN- on the engine and cars. They took
sledges and erowbars off the tender, and.
Simon Peter, you'd ought to'ye seen 'em
make those fat pine stumps f1y. In half
an hour they had enough of that stuff
aboard to'ye burnt up Greenlands icy
mountains. Bill Grimshaw-that's nv
partner here-and me were fixing I'D a
job on Hogmouth Wangel who il the
only rebel engineer on the line. Bill knew
that he was follering him. about an hour
and half behind, and We thought we'd
give him little surprise party. We got
everything ready, with just enough water
IN the boiler, and just as soon as we
heard Hogmouth whistle as he left the
station below, fastened everything on tho
engine down tight, chucked the firebox
full OF fat pine, set all the cars afire, and
opened the throttle and started her back,
and ran up on the hill, where we could
overlook the line for miles, and waited to
see the fun. Wed calculated that the
engine, running her Gveliest, with the cars
all blazing. would butt into Hogmouth
Just as he came around that sharp curve,
where he couldn't see 100 yards ahead.
and then and there get up an impromptu,
hand-m hell that would interest Hog
mouth, If nothing more 1t worked all
previous somehow in our calculations. The
train rushed back, blazing like q prairie
hre, but 1t got around the curve before
Hogmouth did. and was within a half-mile
of him when he saw il, reversed his en-
gine, and begun running back for dear
life. Our train chased him for a mile or
two, and was gaining on him right along,
when all at once the crazy old boiler
couldn't stand it any longer and busted
like bomb-shell into thousand pieces,
tearing up the track, and making a noise
that might've bin heard clear back to
Macon That ended the performance for
that day. We shot at the cOnscripts to
make 'em run and scatter 'em. and made
our way back to camp, and Bill here en-
listed IN the company with me. Got any
tobaccoE Talking so much always makes
me want to take chaw"
If our plan had only worked out az
we thought" said Grimshaw, also helping
himself to a liberal chew, land our en-
gine had bucked them burning cars right
over HogmOuth and his train, I'd "a felt
easier IN my mind, as being somewhere
near even with them. As it didn't, / con-
clnded to enlist and see if l conldn't
somehow get another whack at EN-"
"A very pleasant and entertaining mar
rative, remarked Shorty. II think you
Co: o.
uhu yourselves Ut nome Win us. HellOI
Ii looks as if we were going into camp"
That's what we're going to do" said
the Captain. That's Ulcofauhatchea
Creek, just ahead, and we're going into
camp on the other side
Captain said 81, I'D like to 90 baci,
to the wagons, and see how our colored
friends are getting along"
Very good. Go ahead" answered the
Captain.
But though all the rest of the negroes
were there, Uncle Ephraim and Aunt Mi
nerva Ann were not, and no one knew
anything of them.
They were with us all right for an
hour or two" said the Quartermaster.
Then | had little trouble getting across
creek. | had everybody forward. work
ing on the Jump TO get across, and when I
finally made it. and looked around. those
two. with their wagon, and the white
mule the woman was riding. were no.
where, and nobody had seen. them go. I
had no time to look for them, for had to
Jump to keep my place in column. They've
probably got enough of the army thought
better of it, and gone back home.'
OATS hit, said Aunt Betsy. Dat
Neryy Ann alters wuz 4 powerful stuck
up, hy-away nigger, who didn't want Z
'sociate wild common fiel' hands"
Most likely, somebody's stole them,"
said 81, full of wrath, as he communi-
Gated the news to Shorty.
afost likely that thievine 1st Osh-
kosh," ragged Shorty. We'll go over there
they have we'll have 'em, or bust the regi-
ment wide open"
''And our mules gone" walled Pete.
We'll shoot anybody that tries to take
Abednego from us. Wen go out and look
for him at once. Come on, Sandy"
Stay here, boys. till after you've had
your supper" said 81. "Then well all go
over to the camp of the 1st Oshkosh
They were just behind us all day, and
probably they've got them"
They busted themselves making ready
for camping for the night, and the sound
gan to be brilliantly dotted with mess
fires. rich eOntralto voice rose above
the hubbub of axes, falling trees and
laughing, talking men.
'Whar is de 200th Injianny Volunteer
Infantry? Whar dc camp OBJ dc 200th
Injianny?'
There's Aunt Minerva Ann now,"
calculated Pete, dropping his load Of can
teens in which he was bringing water and
rushing forward. Aunt Minerva Ann,
where's cur mule?"
'Heah he is, honey, an sheah is, bress
yer soul" answered Aunt Minerva Ann,
beaming down on them over 4 clump Of
low cedars. which had hidden her ap-
proach. sWhar Serg't Klegg?"
Here / am, Aunty."
well, Serg't Klegg, me an Uncle
Ephraim done got lice supper cooked
an waitin' fer you an de boys ober in a
cabin near by. Come right along wild
dem, an git hit. We only lack some cof-
fee, but de waters a-bilin' fer dat. Bring
yer coffee along"
The boys gave whoop and started
after her They speedily came to cabin,
with Uncle Ephraim standing guard at
the door with his gun. Inside the great
fireplace was filed with a blazing fire, be-
fore which were standing sundry pots,
ovens and skillets, and in the center Of
the room was table covered with dishes,
knives and forks, cups and sau, ers, jars
of honey, and sorghum molasses, and even
a big dish of butter. The boys gave an
other whoop at the sight.
why, Aunty. where in the world did
you get all this?'
What d dat Cunnel man tell yo'
about AKIN no Questions?' said Aunt Mi
nerva Ann, beamiDg with triumph. "Sot
Down dar, while | make de coffee. Hit'n
be ready in a minute. Jes' as soons me
an Uncle Eph found out whar you all
wuz done gwine. we knowed de shortest
way t git dar, an we done tuck hit, wild
out sayin' muffin t nobody. We knowed
you'd be tired Swine away round dat way,
an so we showed on, an geddered up
some stuff t git supper fer yo' when yo'
got heah. o, yO' leetle, teenty Yank,"
continued she, suddenly breaking off and
catching Pete in her arms, Il done KEEP
yer mule fer yO,' an heah he is