The National tribune., 1901-07-11


diameter, and which had outgrown th
bank, so that its roots formed gnarlet
revetment. The other boys found simi
lar shelters
Lying there, fully protected, 81 thrust !
little strip of woolen rag through the hole:
IN the head of his ramroad, and deilber
ately cleaned the inside of his gunbarrel
while the South Carolinians were scrapinl
the top of the bank with bullets in thei
endeavor to reach him.
Say, South Carolina" he called out
when he had finished and loaded his gun
you fellers are only tolerable shots. YoI
wouldn't get more'n the hide and taller
prize in an lnjianny shooting match
We're Injiannians, and we're after YOU
meat. Wen get it if you stay there five
minutes longer. We've been hunting fol
South Carolinians ever since the begin
ming of the war. to pay yoa up for start
ing it You're the first we've come across
and we're going to salivate you for keeps
'Lordy, that thar Yank talks nigh as
bad as tother one" exclaimed Niger
peas's voice. THAT thar hull crowd must
be rantankerous. Mebbe we'uns better
had shah outen hyah, afore hits too late.
'Shet up that yamp o your'n, Niggar,
peas, l done tell you," said the Sergeant
savagely. 'We'uns amt a-skeered o no
| Yankees that ever wore blue britches, an
stole niggers," he shouted back at 81.
! WI uiiS ii lttu every Ohc % w ulS u
| the catfish in that ditch, afore the sun
goes down. Hyah goes fer yer own
| skelp.'
! lie fired, and cut the bark on the tree
so close to Sis head that he felt the
chips strike him on the forehead.
| Pretty good shot, reb," 81 shouted
| back, but here's u better" He fired at
the only part of the rebel exposed-his
arm, while he was reloading-and tore
up his sleeve.
| Jeering and taunting now stopped. Each
side was too seriously intent upon killing
! to waste words. They were so close to-
gether, and all such good marksmen, that
the exposure of 50 much as n cap-rim or
a part OF the sleeve was sure to get a
| bullet through it. Both sides were as
| desperately savage as hungry panthers,
and as feline in their careful cHOuching.
The South Carolinians were clearly as
veteran on the firing line as the Indian
| ianS, and took their cover as skillfully.
! Neither side had so far been able to score
disabling hit.
After sharp interchange of shots for
| few minutes both stopped, apparently
! for brief breathing spell.
Say" called out the rebel Sergeant
from behind the stack, wizard yo'uns say
yo'unS wuz from?"
"Injianny,' replied 81, wiping his gun
out carefully.
'Injianny? Whar's that?'
That's a State out West, you ignorant
saphead."
Never heared tell on hit afore But
yo'uns amt at all like them Yankees
we'uns We bin foutin' in the Army o the
Potomac. They'uns d come right out, in
hull droves, fer we'uns to shoot at. Why
don't yo'uns do that-away?"
None o your condemned business" an
swered 81. I'VE amt fighting that way.
When we fight rattlesnakes we fight the
best way to kill 'em. Same with pizen
South Carolinians."
While the rebels attention was at
tracted by the conversation, Shorty put
into execution a plan he had been con-
sidering for some minutes. In the mid
die Of the field in front of him lay large
scow which had been used for carrying
the loads of rice-sheaves. 1t had ap-
parently foated in there when the field
was flooded, and been left when the water
was drained off. If he could gain it he
would have good cover, and at the same
time be able TO send III his bullets behind
the stacks, with an enflade fire.
He sprang up, and with leap of his
long legs cleared the wide ditch in front
and gained the cover of the scOw. Tom
Radbone jumped up to follow his example,
but hesitated at the width of the ditch,
and the possibilities of alEigators. \
rebel noticed him and hastily fired, cut
ting the ground under his heel, at which
Tom jumped with such alarm that he
cleared the ditch and joined Shorty. AS
soon as the two got their nerves Gained
down to shooting key, they put in some
bullets with such effect as to demOralize
the rebels, who became excited, and
started to run for their horses. This gave
81 an opportunity to shoot the Sergeant
through the shoulder, and Uncle Ephraim
g. l..
Wounded and all gained their horses
and dashed away, before the boys could
get across the ditch and reach the house.
They left a two-horse wagon they were
loading with paddy" or trough rice"
AS soon as the excitement of the fight
was over the boys all became as hungry
as bears, and there was n rabid search
for something to eat. They brought their
horses up to the house, but the yellow
rice straw seemed as uninviting as the
stacks left by the thrashers at home and
there was nothing else. Even the place
Of weeds and grass about Northern
house was taken by stalks of volunteer"
rice. When, however, they took the
brides off, they We're astonished to see the
horses eagerly attack the straw.
Looks a good deal like oats, and yet it
amt oats" said 81, investigating the con-
tents of the sacks. "Tain't wheat,
neither, nor rye, nor barley. Looks more
like oats, though, than anything else"
Farmer-like, he took up grain and
tried to rub off the husk, between his
thumb and forefnger. 1t would not rub
off, and taking out his knife, he pealed the
grain. Then the white, pearly seed re-
vealed itself clearly.
why, boys, this must be rice" he ex-
claimed. Who'd a though o that chalky
bird-shot growing this way? If I'd ever
thought about it at all before, I'd We sup
posed it growed like seeds in 4 cucumber.
But how in sin do they get the husk off
If they have to peal it off with knife
they'd starve to death while getting ready
for dinner. We can't boil it whole. A
bran-mash may do for sick horse, but
it d tear our gizzards out, and leave us
looking like frame building with the
weather boarding off"
Meanwhile the resourceful Sandy
Baker had been spying around the house,
with the other hungry boys. for some
thing to eat. He found nothing, for II
was a mere cabin for the shelter Of the
slaves during the rice season, and CON
tained nothing, even of the ordinary sup
plies and comforts of the negro quarters
But Sandy spied big block, followed out
in the center, like a mortar, and near it
a much used pestle. Around it was the
accumulation of years Of chaff, some rot
ted into black earth, the rest in different
stages, to the fresh layer of the past sea
son. He studied the Shaff, the possible
uses of such an instrument as the block
mortar, the worn end of the pestle, and
then saw the whole thing. He dipped