The National tribune., 1901-07-18
ole whitewash. An Oars Ieet,.

burst out the obdurate Aunt Minerva Ann.
He's like de rest OBJ yo'-hain't sense
enough { be rayly skeered. Me an de
Cunnel's got t be skeered fer de whole
rijimint. OATS alters de way hit is wild
a pore woman"
And her weeping became more yocifer-
Gus.
The army was now within 10 miles of
Savannah, and the resistance of the-rebeis
was hourly becoming more obstinate. The
Ogeechee River was sinking into such
maze of swamps, channels, canals, bitches
and creeks that the Fifteenth Corps was
having much trouble in finding the flank
of the rebel force.
A long, precious day, while the rations
were running still lower, was spent in
bitter pickering between the skirmishers,
wallowing in the mud, wading through
the dikes, forcing their way through the
miry brakes of cane and briars, and the
rebels, who were mainly better of In
knowing the country better and standing
on the defensive. But the indefatigabie
Yankees would come upon them i'll the
most unexpected ways, and through places
that they had reckoned as absolutely i'm
pasSable, their fanks would be turned in
way that they had deemed Impossible,
and in the race back for cover many or
them would be captured.
Meanwhile the marches Jagged most
aggravatingly, and everybody became still
more morose, anxious and fretful.
The 200th Ind. was in advance on one
of the roads, when the army came up in
front of works which covered ali the high
ground between q network of creeks and
swamps running down to the Savannah,
with similar maze of moTasses extend
ing to the Ogeechee. The 200th Ind. was
constantly edged off to the right, and the
Ogeechee, as the line was extended by
other regiments coming up, and so got
farther and farther into the swamps. AS
the regiment had gone in left in front,
Co. q, with 81 and his squad on the flank,
and got the very worst of the swamp.
They plunged straight ahead, guiding
themselves by the sound of the firing to
their left, and making their way the best
they could through the terrible growth,
which, besides cane and weeds, the in
evitable tall cypress, with its cone-like top
and immense knees" embraced world
of strange trees. There was no use look
ing for paths or good places all was
alike, and any way to get through had to
be taken. The thick growth made it
dusky twilight all around, except where
some unusually large cypress had driven
back the growth with its far-spreading
knees, and let in a little more light
through its thick but now bare branches.
Getting through was not the only diff
Guilty. One never knew where to step. A
when the foot landed on it, turn out to
be mass of ooze, which would let the
unlucky stopper in up to his waist. Then
the rest would scramble to get him out,
and save his gun and cartridge-box from
being wet.
At last, inexpressibly wet and muddy,
covered with Swamp-slime, they gathered
on the wide knees of great cypress, to
rest, get their bearings, and take a fresh
start.
They looked around, and everywhere saw
some wild animal gazing with astonish-
ment on these first invaders of their
haunts. Blue herons gave a shrek OF
alarm, and vanished like a flash of light.
A panther turned its yellow eyes on them.
screamed, and ran up a tree. Foxes
looked, barked and vanished in the thick
growth. Flocks of raft-ducks covered an
open spot of water in the distance.
Great JehOsephat," muttered Shorty,
listening to the firing away off to the left,
what u place this'd be to hunt in when
you amt hunting something else"
Lucky it's Winter" remarked 81, cor
there'd be more snakes around here than
any man with the jim-jams ever saw 1t
must literally squirm with em. Seems to
me, Shorty, if we point for that big mag
nolia over there, Wen keep in line with
the boys, and be most likely TO come out
on the fianks of them rebels that's doing
the shooting. Put your cartridge belts
around your necks, boys, and you'll be
most likely to keep your boxes dry. Better
put your gun-slings over your shoulders,
guns butts UP. SOS you can use both hands
at the next plunge. Take another good
long breath, and wen start. Keep as
close together as possible, SOS to help one
another"
Say, what q funny big hole" said
Pete, who, boy-like, was attending to
everything else than the business in hand.
Something's gone in there. l wonder
what it is. I'm going to see"
He picked up a bit of rotten limb, ran
it down into the hole, and felt it almost
instantly snapped off.
Hello, there's something down there,
for a fact. See how it broke this stick
off, he called out.
Sandy rushed over, and ran his gun
down the hole. Something grabbed it
and tried to pull it out of his hand. Come
here, Pete, quick, and help me-" he shout
ed Its trying to get my gun away"
Pete caught hold, but the gun was be-
ing pulled down, in spite of all the boys
could do, when 81 caught hold of the
stock. But it required both his hands,
and all his strength to pull the gun back,
and as he slowly did so the long, saw-like
jaws of young alligator came into view.
with the gun-barrel held between them as
in wise.
This was startler, but Sis nerve was
superior to it. He held onto the stock and
continued to pull. Abe Grimstead caught
on TO help him, and a reptile between
three and four feet long was brought to
the surface. He was vicious over the dis
turbance and full of fight A lightning
sweep of his tail struck the too-curious
Pete's ankles, and knocked the youngsters
feet from under him.
Uncle Ephraim, who had followed the
squad with far more reluctance than he
had ever done before, and kept every in
slant as near to 81 as possible, gave a yell
of horror, and, falling on his knees be-
gan to pray. Shorty jumped at the rep
tile, and struck it across the neck with his
gun-barrel. There was an exciting punch
ing with the gun muzzles and striking
with the barrels by the others for few
minutes, with the alligator's tail getting
in some vengeful work on their legs, but
they were too many for him, and he finally
gave up the gun-barrel and the ghost
Pete, you little brat" said Shorty, as
he wiped the sweat off his forehead, and
made ready to renew the advance, you
stop hunting around for holes We
hain't lost none.'
YES" added ST. painting a little with
the exertion, IF the alligators want to
crawl into their dens and sleep during this
ruction, let 'em. We hain't no business
disturbing EN-"
Fore God" gasped Uncle Ephraim,
surveying with terrified eyes the direction
in which they were going you don't see
no more OBJ dem holes ober dar does 20?
I - II.