The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1901-08-01

| Shorty. 1--WE can row right down it to
the ship. | was afraid We might have
| trouble getting out of the ditch into the
sea. But where in the world is the
boat?"
1t was now dark again as they came
and strained their eyes looking for the
boat and its guards.
Great, jumping JehOsephat," eX-
claimed Shorty, They've taken it back.
There it is on the other side"
Sis heart grew sick as he looked across
the water. There was windbrake of
pine boughs, built parallel to the sea, and
intended for the double purpose of pro-
tecting the sentinel there from the sea
wind and of screening the guard fire from
the observation of the Union war YES
sells. The guard was stationed there 10
prevent any boat party coming up on that
side of the fort and to communicate with
the patrols along the beach.
There, with the light of the guard-fre
shining on it, lay large row-boat, with
the negroes who pulled it lying asleep
around the fire.
What in creation are We 81 be-
gan, dumbfoundedly, as he looked around
i'll the vain hope that there might be 4
scow or something left on this side.
I'm going to call that boat over here"
said Shorty. with desperate inspiration.
De tuItlul Will lOu SiNs Stlll Sol
clutching at the idea. You may make
it. But the least mistake II bring us a
vollcy. and spoil all
Hello, over thar" yelled Shorty, i'm
itating as well as he could the voice he
had heard. Send the boat over hyah."
Hello, Bill Elliott, is that your the
guard answered.
Sis and Shorty's hearts jumped.
There are Elliotts in the rebel army,
too, s'pose," said Shorty, after an in
stant's reflection. Yes; it's me- he
called back. Send that thar boat over
hyah. Kick them thar nissers an wake
'em up"
What brings yo' back so soon?' in
guircd the guard. as he punched the ne
groes with the butt of his gun to arouse
them. "Warn't speeding yO' for hours
yit. Two o the nigs We went up into
the fort for something"
Never felt so little like gossip in my
life" whispered Shorty. Had [ come
back" he shouted over to the rebel. Had
something t report t Maj. Anderson.
Hurry up that boat, thar. I'm 'bleeged
t see him ter-wunSt."
That's sop drawled the guard de-
liberately, as he prodded the two negroes
toward the boat with his gun-butt. They
We're sulky about being aroused from
their sleep, and two being made to do the
work of four in rowing the boat What
d yO' strike out thar. Bill? Hit must We
ratified yo'. Yer voice don't sound mach
erul."
NO, l hain't ratified, but I've bin
shuck up IL leetle, all the same. | guess
hits my ole quinsy comm back. Damp
airs settin' hard on me. But hurry up
them thar lazy niggars. They ack as if
they'd bags o shot tied t thar feet. Belt
EN- over the head. an wake 'em up. I'm
powerful anxious t see the Major
the guard, giving the negroes jabs with
his muSket. Stop pokin' thar, yo' meas
ly mud-turkles, an git the boat over.
think the Majors anxious TO see yo'uns.
believe | hear him comm now. See
any Yankees signs, Bill?'
Tell yo' when | git over thar. Hurts
me to talk so loud agin this hyah wind.
Hurry up, thar, yO' tarnation sut-bagS.
an git that thar boat over"
The whole garrison was alert and eX-
cited over the presence of the Union
forces i'll the ncighbOrhood and anxious
for news. Men kept drifting down to the
guardpoSt to learn the latest. until Il
large group had collected. Sis heart lift
ed as he noticed that none of them ear
ried guns. They were all heavy artillery
men, who only took up their muskets
when expressly ordered.
Never had 81 seen men handle oars
and Il boat SO clumsily and laZily as those
two negroes. They were clumsy at best,
and now doubly so, because of their sour
ness ut being made to do the work that
was. usually done by four. They lowered |
at one another and their missing part |
ners in the barbarous jargOn of the rice
field negroes, and seemed likely to let the !
boat be taken out to sea by the strong |
tidal current.
81 and Shorty could hardly restrain /
themselves from breaking out in loud |
abuse of them, but never was restraint |
more necessary. for the crowd on the OPP |
poSite shore was still increasing. These, |
however, were making up for it, by their |
yells at the awkward Oarsmen.
The moon hid her face OPPORTUNITY, as
The PROV of the boat struck the bank, and |
was Immediately seized by 81. Catch |
EN- and choke 'em speechless," wills |
pered ST to Shorty. 'I'll take the right
hand one. Monty and Harry, grab the
boat. Pete, run back and bring up Tom
and Abe: Everybody pile in and grab
he oars"
Cit outcn the boat" said ST to the
negroes. And do hit quick As they
lid so 81 caught the throat of the first
1ne with strong, sure grasp that shut