The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1901-01-24

sary of Subsistence" said Shad to ST and
the others, looking over his orders after
breakfast. Il hope he's the right kind oi
man. He ought to just swell up with
| joy at such windfall, and make a big
report on it. If he's got the right stuff
in him he'll take us straight up to the
Commissary General and Sherman and
make a red-hot report"
Shad was all impotence to move, hui
ST waited stubbornly until the bright sun
was well up over the high eastern ridge
before he approached the regal 10 Wheel
er, and started him out to lead the line
of-march.
"We'n save time by letting them have
their FILL" he insisted to Shad. They'll
drive easier from having all trey can hold
and we want to get a long pull ont of
them today. It's the last good feed we
| can give them. There isn't probably much
around Atlanta"
"Well, we ought to cross the Chatta-
hoochee by noon, at the farthest," an
swered Shad, 'and be near Atlanta by
night. l haven't any idea where well
meet the Hon. Hinkley Dingbat, Captain
| and Commissary of Subsistence, but I'd
rather it'd be in the morning, after he
has had his breakfast, and is enjoying a
good cigar, and in the humor of appre-
ciating big thing when he sees it."
AS lUty EDut lOEWdTu through Tue
bright, crisp day they talked happily from
time to time of the successful ending of
a duty upon which they had entered re-
luctantly, and INDUCED in pleasant anti
cipations of what would be said and done
at headquarters when they arrived. The
full cattle logged along regularly, even
though they were pushed to faster pace
than usual, and there was no trouble even
in getting them across the pOntoon over
l.I. L
did not see anything about it differing
from an ordinary bridge, walked unhesi-
tatingly across, and was followed with no
more hesitation by the rest. 81 stationed
Shorty, Monty and Harry by the bridge
to count, and they all concurred in $50
passing. Evening came on as they reached
Peach Tree Greek, crossed the stream and
rounded up their cattle in front of the
moldering rife-pits that crowned the
crests. They had entered the outlying
camps and corrals of the army. 81 di-
vided his detachment into three details for
guard during the night, with Jake Dye
as officer of the guard, and deployed a
chain OF SentrieS around the drove. He
kept everybody ready to jump mt a min
ute's notice, for now there were more dam
gers OF a stampede, and besides he knew
too well the thievish propensities of the
hangers-on around great army.
w Hllt ne was llIiS went
search of Capt. Hinkley Dingbat. He re-
turned late in the evening to report that
while he had not seen him, he found that
he was at his headquarters. some four
or five miles down the road toward At
lanta. He had learned that ne was
young West Pointer, very tenacious of his
dignity and of regulations.
That's all right" said Shad, hopefully.
"After Col. Bonesteel, | think l can get
Int cto nf
not so bad after all. They have only
few ideas, and they're concentrated on
their own Importance and that of red
tape. Just cotton to them and you're all
right. You bring up the cattle in the
morning, 81. and I'll do the Regular Army
act to Mr.. Huckleberry Dinkelblinkelhink-
elheimer in one time and three motions.
I'd like awfully well to have old Billy Te
cumseh come riding around in his usual
nosing, prying way, and give me a lot O
sass about the cattle we'd lost, like the
others have, and allow me chance to
lay it in to him, right before you all in
great shape"
you can do it, Shad," said Shorty, fas-
cinated at the prospect.
They had their breakfast at daylight
the next morning, and rudely disturbed 10
Wheeler's mind by insisting that he riso
and lead off, without any preliminary
browsing. He rebelled at this. but 81 had
become pretty well-acquainted with him
by this time, and would not permit any
of his vagaries.
They all rode forward full OF hopeful
anticipations of Capt Dingbat's astonish-
ment and pleasure, and of receiving the
coveted favorable mention from headquar-
tiers.
Shad caught sight of that gentleman
standing in front of the only wall-tent
they had so far seen. He was young,
slender, wasp-waisted, stood very erect
with coat closely buttoned. gloves on
hands smoking a cigar, and looking over
the corrals scattered around with an air
of supreme and compliment proprietor
ship.
AS he was on foot, Shad dismounted as
he came up, threw the bride over his arm.
drew himself up rigidly at 10 PAGES dis
lance, saluted and inquired:
Capt. Dingbat | believer
Capt. Huxley Dingbat, yes, SIR" cor
rected the other, with official severity, and
looking sternly at Shad's heels which
were much too far apart for man stand
ing at attention. Shad had been riding a
good deal of late.
Capt. Hinkley Dingbat," said Shad,
bringing his heels together. I'm Acting