The National tribune., 1901-06-06

leave the reader to draw his own con-
clusions.
1t occurred to Wells and l one day
while down in Georgia that we would
like some honey. Wells knew where to
CO. He said that at a plantation not far
from camp there were a lot of beegums
on a plantation, just in the rear Of the
house, and, of course, filed with honey
stored in beautiful white cells on purpose
for us. The bees, he declared, were
Union bees. and anxious to be despOiled
of their sweets by Yankee soldiers. Pro-
viding ourselves with half dog tent, we
were soon on our way to the plantation,
and as we trudged along-it was toward
evening" yentured to inquire how
George intended to proceed. He said:
When we get to the house you go round
to the front and talk with the women,
while | go to the smoke-house, where the
gums are set one on the tent, tie the four
corners over the top, lift it on my shoul-
der, and, presto-the gum. honey, bees and
all are ours. Don't you see? Easy, amt
it?" Well, it was easy, as George said,
as far as it went. l demurred at the part
| was to take in the play-that of enter
tanning the ladies. However, | consented,
and went to the front door, as directed,
while my companion lodged among the
outbuildings. | Unexpectedly found an old
man sitting On the porch, smoking a cob
,
legged hounds lying near him. My open
ing the gate aroused the beasts, when
they came for me; but the old man lit in
among them, and with kicks and curses
drove the dogs off.
| was asked to come in, an invitation |
reluctantly accepted, with a preference to
remain on the porch A chair was brought
out, and /, feeling anything but comfort
able, sat down, fearing that the hounds
would scent Wells and go for him. My
fears were not groundless, for ] had been
seated but a few minutes when l heard a
loud crash from the rear of the house,
which | knew came from Wells. Instant
ly every one of those beasts darted around
| the house, baying as only lOng-eared
hounds can. The old man and | jumped
to our feet at the same time, and followed
| the dogs. AS we turned the corner of the
| house we heard an awful yell, which
raised the very hair on my head. On
reaching the smOkehOuse we found Wells
hanging by the seat of his pants, which
| had caught in a paling, the beegum lying
| Oh the ground under him, and a million
bees swarming about him. 1t seemed to
me at the time, judging from the great
hullabaloO that was going on, that there
| were at least hundred hounds, all bay
| ing at once, each trying TO get nip at
| George as he hung suspended from the
| fence. The old man yelled at the dogs,
| anu ran up anu DToke OH LHe pallIS
! holding Wells, letting him drop to the
ground. Jumping to his feet, Wells shot
one of the hounds, which sent the rest
| howling around the house, then George
| and ! took TO our heels.
What did we do with the honey? Left
| it behind; it was sour grapes to US.
NINE HUNGRY FoRAGERs.
1t was down in the Tar Heel State tha,
| the emptiness of our C0mmissary became
alarmingly apparent. / refer now TO the
Commissary Department, and not to the
fellow who ran it, as he was always full
But, as | was saying, owing to the de
pleted condition of the grub" train OF
everything but soap and molasses, these
were issued to us in double quantities, es
pecially soap. The molasses we could use
but what to do with the soap was a vexed
question. We tried making soup out of it
but soon gave that up, and as last re
sort fell back on foraging. This we knew
from past experience would not fail us
If the Commissary did.
Nine of us-nine, you know, is lucky
nGmber-started out one morning ahead
Of the marching column.
We left camp as infantry, but did mo-
go far before each man was mounted OF
as good a horse as he could pick I'D
Somehow, / became the happy possessol
of very poor and very blind horse, anC
without saddle, and only a rope tied t.
} the horses under jaw, for bride, | rod,
gaily beside my companions, all of whom
were much better mounted than myself
A drenching rain had fallen some day.
previous, wetting the load in my musket
and before starting out that morning
had discharged the piece, for the purpos,
of putting il fresh load; but when
pulled the trigger there was the usual ex