Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1901-05-31
NO. lS.

wei. ] guess ] can stand IL as long
as he can" commented Bob.
"Yes; you're not exposed 10 the
wintry blasts as | ann" complained
the other sergeant.
"Wintry blasts, Why. man, the
suns burning patches on me till
look like tiled foori"
We'll. you aren't lying in a small
lake OF well-water that is way below
zero. Part of me is frozen; when
turn over the other part freezes, and
crash towel is small slothlng. 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 II
you could FIRE one Of ours, the bang
would bring the guard up in hurry"
IL can't reach them from here.
Every time stick my hand out that
reprobate shoots at me. Wait min
ute! Is your rifle loaded?"
mo: 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 II back
and forth until he got 1t against one
Of the rifles. The gun came rafting
to the ground, AMI he pulled ii behind
the curb. This brought out more shots
from the man in the bushes.
"Is that my riiie?" asked Bob.
Mine. and the best one in the com
pany, too"
well. you'll get your shoulder
kicked on. You've got no clothes for
padding"
This rifle don't kick. No rifle does
IL you hold 1t right. and I'll make
pad of this towel. OF course you fel-
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 know2
But go ahead. Blaze away into the
hill, Noise is all we want"
Bang went the rife, and a crack
from the bushes answered it. Half
dozen times the sergeant shot. as
fast as he could load and Gre.
That will do. reckon" he said.
rubbing his shoulder They'll think
there is a 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 a 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 lcokei out
"We1l get your man for you. We
reeonnoitered, saw from where the
shots came. and sent squad up over
the hill They'll come down on his
rear But what | want to know is
what you two are doing outside of the
| lInes?r
Taking a bath. sir"
Taking a bath. eh? Well. | might
overlook you coming out for such a
commendable purpose, especially since
J oil adt hut
you've made me run up this hill in the
sun. and you ought to be court-mar.
tailed. Hellol 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" AMI the rest Of the guard
snickered audibiy. Sergeant Bob and
the other sergeant looked at each
other and said nothing.
What does he say, corporal!
Says he did it for fun, sir. and that
he did not shoot to hit"
"He did it for fun, Ell? Well, Just
bring along his rife ani keep it; box
his cars and send him home AS for
you two. get into your clothes and
come to camp at once. When you get
there report at guard Headquarters
that is, il you don't forget it, and the
lieutenant smiled as he departed.
Guess we'll forget 1t. won't We
Bob?" asked the other sergeant. And
they did.-Youth's Companion.