The National tribune., 1901-04-11
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kAdnd I'D
Os<,Shortty /
On the March to the Sea
Copyrighted 1892 by the publishers of THE NATIONAL
A Lively skirmish With the JEFF Davis Dra-
soons s-The Boys Shut Up in the Caye-The
Rebels Try to Roast Them Out.
Copyrighted 1892 by the publishers of THE NATIONAL
TRIBUNE

Rebels Try to Roast Them Out.
Great Scott calculated 81, as by tht
light of his second match he surveyed
Stephen Biglers emaciated form and tat
tered rags. Where did you come from
Steve, and how did you get here"
Give me something to eat, ST, and
something for the boys, and then | car
talk. We're all starving"
ST felt around in his havcrsack fol
a hardtack. There's one for you," he
said, handing it to him. How many are
there of you?"
God only knows now" mumblcd Big
ler, as he broke off piece of the cracker
with a stone and placed it in his mouth
Cant bite now," he added apoIogetically
You know how it is, ST. Teeth gone
with the scurvy. But let me take the
rest of this cracker back to my partner
| 1t may save his life. He's worse off than
| am. He can't walk at all"
81 could not wait for him to come back
for he heard a commotion at the mouth OF
the cavern, and hurried forward to see
what occasioned it.
That thar foxy yarmint, Sarjint Glass
cock, S done found our trail, an headin
straight fer the cave" remarked Jim Hob
cav, his face sicklied with fear, as 81
came up. Damn the NANCY hound Hes
done kotched we'uns afore. We'uns or
ter've killed him las night when he wu2
asleep, as l wanted yo' t, Wills. The
Corpril's done went out t stop him"
"He must do it without making any
noise, to alarm the rest" said 81. with, a
face full of concern. I'VE can't fight the
whole brigade"
Don't yo'uns give up an let 'em git
we'uns," pleaded Jim Hobcaw, terror
stricken. "They'un II shoot we'uns down
in our tracks if yo'uns do. We'uns'll die
right here afore weuns'll give up"
You had certainly better remarked
ST, coOlly. And so had all of us, from
| the looks of those poor prisoners back
| there. But keep quiet. Don't make any
noise. Mebbe We can get out of the scrape
without q fight"
/ As ST went forward he saw that
Shorty had left ALI and Gid, with Tom
Brainard, Bill Grimshaw, and Uncle Eph-
rain in reserve, and they crouched around
the entrance, clutching their guns, and
with every nerve taut. Cautiously look
ing beyond, he saw his partner, with
Harry, Monty, Sandy and Pete, lying in
wait for the advancing rebel Sergeant and
his squad, like so many panthers crouch
ing for q spring upon animals going down
to spring to drink. They were so alb
solutely motionless that it took 81 a min
ute to see where they all were.
Shorty was standing erect behind tail,
thick cedar, past which the Sergeant must
come. Monty, Sandy, and Pete were ly-
ing in the brush behind a fallen tree
trunk, TO get the three men who were
following directly after the Sergeant,
while Harry had crawled to the left, to
look out for man who was making ex-
plorations to the side.
They'll get 'em all right, except that
feller Harry's AFTER" flashed through Sis
mind. Hes q lively lot and liable to
make trouble. I'll go to Harry's help"
He crouched and crawled out toward
Harry, and was near him, when the Ser
geant, his eyes fixed on the signs of the
trail ahead, attempted to pass the cedar
behind which Shorty was concealed.
Shorty's long right arm came out like a
fash, encircled the Sergeant's neck, and
forced his head back SO that he could not
open his mouth. A professional garroter
could not have done it more artistically.
AS they saw the Sergeant's form writhc
in Shorty's hug, Sandy and Pete called
out in sharp whisper:
Halt, there, Drop those guns"
The three startled rebels looked to the
right, each to see musket-muzzle within
a short yard Of him. The carbines fell
to the ground.
"Do you surrender, you rebel whelp?"
demanded Shorty, relaxing his arm so as
to give the man a chance TO speak. "Or
SHdlt l. NIiuk 9ouI ItCh Iiht IL GulChcu
50 ''Noughi 'Nough! gasped the Ser
geant, as soon as he could get his tongue
back into his mouth. Say, Yank, that
warn't a far holt"
"Haint no time TO debate z. r. Rules
with you now. Getr' answered Shorty,
taking him by the back of the neck and
showing him along to where Tom Brain
ard and Bill Grinshaw could reach him.
Don't chirp above your breath, or off
haaa ~ thn 9TH nIn
boys. Shoot 'eIn, if they holler.'
But the man whom Harry was laying
fora slender youth, whose alertness had
from the first disturbed Si-was not to be
managed so easily. While 81 and Harry
were waiting for him to come out into
the little opening, few steps nearer, his
quick ears caught the rustic of Shorty's
struggle with the Sergeant, and he turned
his eyes in that direction. They saw the
danger. and in low, stern tones, COM
manded:
"HaIt, there. Throw down that gun!
Surrender"
There was, however, none of the slow
stupidity OF his companions about him.
With the quickncss of flash he Ieaped
backward TO put a hickory tree between
himself and their threatening muzzles.
Si and Harry sprang toward him like
panthers, but he was as quick as they,
and firing hasty shot. which passed near
Harry, from his carbine, he broke back
through the cedars, yelling at the top of
his voice:
Yankees, Yankeesi Yankeesw
Leaving Monty to take charge of their
prisoners, Sandy and Pete ran across to
intercept him. Once he tripped and fell,
and they were nearly on top of him, but
he sprang up again, and leaving his hat
and carbine behind, bolted on down the
hill, yelling:
Yankees. Yankees! Yankeesr'
Si and the boys halted on the brow of
the hill an instant to peer through the
bushes, and see what the effect of his
alarm would be.
"Thar's a hull passel O Yankees up
thar" he painted to the crowd which gath
cred around him.
Nonsense, you fool" said the Colonel,
irritably. There's no Yankees within 10
miles OF here. Like the rest of these su-
perstitious fools, you have been scared
out of your wits by harnts."
II tell yo', Cunncl, hits true. The
woods is full o. Yankees. They'uns we
done got Sarjint Glasscock an Qugley.
an Buckbee, an Clark. / done seed 'em
take 'em. Thars bout thousand of 'em
up thar"
"Puterbaugh's not easily ratified, Cum
nel," said the Captain, "and | thought I
saw some signs OF Yankees myself
I'VE have no time for foOlishness,' said
the Colonel, little convinced. We ought
to be starting now. But, Captain deploy
your company, and scour those woods
quickly. Listen for the recall, and come
back promptly when il sounds.
sWhiIa thay'rA dantnVipU that oh; ofch