The National tribune., 1901-05-02

| hAlSI! WHO COMES kiHAR!" CALLED
OUT ZERE, SPRINGING INTO THE ROAD.
leading from the rear of the house. They
presently, as the moon began to rise,
came to the big road, and walked noise
| leSSly over its sand. Full of the secrecy
OF the errand, Hannibal would not walk
IN the road, but slipped along like some
/ 1.-the, feline young beast of prey, through
| the weeds by the side Not the crack of
a breaking twig betrayed his progress, and
the boys would not have known where he
| was had he not from time to time stood
up and turned his grinning face toward
| them, when the moonbeams would reflect
| his white teeth, and big, shining eyes.
| At each bend in the road he would halt
| them until he slipped forward and recon-
! noitered it, and motiOned them to come
on. Presently he called Pete over to him
by swapping his thumb and finger, and
whispered:
ahead.''
How d you know?'
II smell dem. White men,"
Sandy slipped back to warn 81.
Pete strained his eyes in vain to see
anything, until presently there was
brief, faint flash, as someone moved a
| gun-barrel, on which the moons beams
fell.
There certainly is,'' said he.
Lay low as snakes till l see who dey
am" said Hannibal, and disappeared in
/ the brush. In few minutes he returned
with the report:
''Ieke Backhouse an his whole gangs
layin' out dar fer somebody, likely fer
we'uns. Dey's sottin' round dar on logs
an chunks, wild DER backs agin trees. l
done crep so nigh L could've pulled de
coat tail, but L didn't wanter. Come, l
show yo' way t sneak in behine him.
To the left of the road ran broad,
lpVnl waCh If Saud Tbar IL-aJ aIo
this in single file until they came to an
other leading down from a gully cut
through the cedars ON the knoll where
Zeke was concealed. The wet sand did
not give the slightest sound of their foot
steps. They gained point whence they
could see the forms of the rebel deserters
against the moonlight, and were on the
point of rush when they heard the
sound of approaching hoofs. A rustlne
sound among the deserters showed thar
they heard it, too.
Keep quiet, boys" whispered Zeke.
'Thars only one. I'll step out and stop
him. Keep him kivvered, and don't let
him make rush an git away, if I should
miss him.
81 and Shorty took advantage of this
to get where they could have 4 sure aim.
Pete and Sandy followed Hannibal in
wriggling around to where they could cut
off retreat. Uncle Ephraim crawled up
noiselessly behind big log, and laid his
gun across.
Halt! Who comes thar?" called out
Zeke, springing into the road and levelinc
his carbine.
"A friend. As good a Confederate as
ever lived" answered wel-known voice
as the rider reined in his horse and recog-
nized the rebel butternut. I'm Elder
Hornblower, friends. Just escaped from
the hands of the Yankees, where L had
perils oft, and hardships many, as the
Apostle Paul says. I'm on my way to
the Sutton house, and expect to spend the
night and some days in the home of those
gOdly ladies. Please let me pass at once.
friends, for I've had some terrible days,
and badly need rest for both body and
spirit"
We'll. Elder, l don't think you've bin
hayin' anything like as tough a time as
we'uns've bin havin' fer four long years.
answered Zeke with sneer "We'uns've
had perils oft, hardships many, thorns in
the flesh, woundings O. the sperit and
sich, like as yourn' couldn't hold a candle |
to, while you've bin ridin' round the |
en- doing, an sleepin' on a feather-bed |
every night. We'uns've concluded the |
times come fer we'uns tive some o. the !
good things O. this world, too. So, yo'H |
much obleege we'uns by climbin' down |
often that boss, an handin' over the cash |
yO We Dlu COlIecIlu through the country.
We'uns need hit wuss'n the gospel does,
jes' now"
why, you villains. would you rob a
preacher of the Word?" gasped the Elder.
You're worse n the Yankees"-
Shall we let them rob him, Shortly"
whispered ST.
Its case of dog eat dog, but they're
the meanest sort Of hounds. Let us stop
them"
Surrender, therep' shouted 81. Don't
a man move or we'll kill him.
They all stood still as statues. except
the Elder, who gathered his reins for a
dash.
Stop, dar. Elder" exclaimed Uncle
Ephraim, springing into the road in front.
DE gemmen 'cluded you in deir remarks
That's all right, Yanks." said Zeke.
himself. and noting the blue
as 81 pushed the rest of the de-
serters forward into the bright moonlight
in the road. Were friends We've de,
5arted, an wuz maxim our way to yo'-
uns. Awful glad to see yo'uns. Plumb
sick an done out with the rebel army"
Yes, yes; we know all about that"
said 81. We'll discuss that later. Form |
.wos, close order, here"
Oars someone else in desc woods" .
Hannibal. 'I look up de road,
when we'uns run out, an / see q man