The National tribune., 1901-04-11

anu pour Il uosTe INTO IHoSe It.ilerS In the
road. You hook ont for that Captain, and
III attend ito the Colonel. That'n give
EN- something to study over while were
making other arrangements
Tom Brainard and Bill Grimshaw were
called out, leaving ALI and Gid to look
after the prisoners, and Uncle Ephraim
came also. AS they ran along Pete, Sandy,
Harry, Monty. eand Shorty snatched up
the carbineS which the rebels had dropped
Pick your men now, boys, and be sure
to fetch EN-" said 81, as they came to the
brow of the hill. I'll take the Colonel
and Shorty the Captain. Fire after me. y
The Captain was using the fiat of his
saber to settle a dispute as to who should
be horsc-hoders, and the Colonel was i'm,
proving the time by rating the Quarter
master as to the Deficiencies in his depart
ment.
Hate to shoot when they aint expect.
ing it, said Shorty, and then yelled:
Good morning, Johnnies! Hooray fol
Abe Lincolnv"
The Colonel looked up and reached fol
his saber-hilt Sis bullet went through
his body, and he fell from his horse. The
Captain went down with bullet through
his shoulder. The others fired their mus
kets, and then the rebel carbines. The
latter was as much to increase the idea
of their number as to hit anyone. Uncle
Ephraim saw a tall rebel fall before his
shot, and grinned over the satisfaction he
would have in describing it to Aunt Mi
nerva Ann.
"Shorty, you stay with the boys, and
work your way back" said ST, while
go to the cave and get things IN shape.
Come along with me, Uncle Ephraim.'
Shorty and the rest reloaded, and wait
ed for the next move of the rebels.
Against his will, Uncle Ephraim followed
81 back to the cave.
~. ~ pf
the iucumbrance Of the horses. They
filled the space under the cliff before the
mouth of the cave, and would be sadly in
the way in a fight. A huge rock, which
had fallen from the hill into the creek,
shut off the farther side of the cliff, but
81 noticed that there was space between
it and the straight wall of the bill, closed
by a young hemlock. 81 caught hold of
the hemlock, which was shallowIy rooted
in the soil on the rock. and pulled it out
of the way. Then he found space wide
enough for a horse to pass into a cove,
about the size Of tOwn-lot, walled around
by still higher rocks. He drove Abednego
up through the opening, and the horses
followed dOcilely.
| He found the Sergeant and the three
other rebels seated on rocks cOntentedly
had given them.
Start a fire, Uncle Ephraim," he COM
manded, "and make some coffee for those
poor men who have escaped. As soon as
you have got the fire well started go back
here and hunt all around for them, and do
what you can to make them comfortable
81, calling Jim Hobcaw and wills Dun
nell to his assistance, started 20 arranging
the loose stones for breastwork, behind
which the mouth of the cave could be
defended.
What, go back dar, in de da'k, 'mong
dem sperets ans ghostsesw exclaimed
Uncle Ephraim in terror. 'Nebber! Neb-
Der in dis libbin' lworri I'm jes' as nigh
dem now as I'm 'a-gwine, l done tell 20
fer a fack. Don't like t be dis close.
Heap radder be outside whar i kin see
de debbils in de bright sunshine, an
shoot right at dem like as if dey wuz
painters"
Its no use making him CO." thought
| ST. HE wouldn't find some of them, and
he'd be in such q tremble all the time that
he couldn't do anything for them if he
did find them" ) He looked at the rebel
Sergeant and his companions, and said:
"Alf, you can leave Gid to guard those
men. Light this piece of fat pine, and 60
back and take good look for those boys"
Uncle Ephraim had succeeded in getting
the water to boiling in quart cup, and
now put in some coffee. The fragrance
at once filled the. cave.
"Gracious, but that smells good,' said
the voice of Steve Bigler, as he emerged
once more from the darkness. 1T makes
me feel alive again. Are you going to
give me some?
ayes, Steve" answered 81. Eve were
making it for you. You shall have swis
of it, just as soon as it cools a little. Alf,
pour out little in this cup for Steve,
and take the cup with you, and give each
one you find some. Be careful about let
ting them drink too much at first. How
many are there of you, Steve|
Ten of us jumped the train when they
were taking us from Millen, in the night"
answered Bigler, speaking much more
freely and strongly under the grateful
stimulus Of the draft of coffee. Two
broke down on the way, and had to be
left behind in the swamp. L expect they
died. Seven of us were brought here by
a negro. He left some grub with us, and
promised to bring us some more, but he
hasn't been back since. I'm afraid he's
been caught or killed. Seems to me that
was a week ago, but L can't tell much
about the DAYS. I've been so hungry
couldn't thinl, straight. The country's
been so full Of rebel cavalry that we've
kept far back in the cave, to run no RISK
of being seen. Poor Jimmy Babbington's
been carrying water for us, but | maven
seen him for some time. I'm awfully afraid
he's fallen into the creek. L was looking
for him when ] ran against you"
81 sorrowfully recalled the bootleg
water bucket, and the dead body he had
found upon entering the cave. Firing be-
gan over by the road. He picked up his
gun, and looked fixedly at Serg't Glass
cock and his rebel companions.
Better shoot 'em ter-wunst an git rid
o. they uns,' suggested jim Hobcaw, pick
ing up his carbine to assist in the execu-
tion. wills Dunnell did the same. 'They-
'uns desarve hit, specially, pizen ole Reub
Glasscock."
"They uns'll make trouble if weuns
don't" added wills Dunnell
Pm just studying what TO do with
you," said 81, addressing himself to
Serg't Glasscock. Were going to have
a lively fight to hold this cave, and'--
Better surrender t me, ter-wunst, an
save the fout," saucly broke in Glass
cock. ''Yo'uns can't make nothin' by hit
Yo-u uns got { give in in the eend. We'uns
We got hull brigade out thar, an hitl
be dod-blasted foolishness fer t fout,
an -
you're not speaking to the subject"
interrupted 81. Il wasn't asking your adj
vice about fighting. I've settled that. It's
what to do with, you. l can't parole you.
The wisest thing would be to shoot you,
and ,v,t
20, for Gods sake, don't shoot u.s.
begged Glasseock,i suddenly changing his
attitude from boastfulness to supplcation
"We'uns air prisoners of war, and hit aint
right
Hear the old hypocrite talk" shouted