The National tribune., 1901-03-14

fired lately, and the "Cunncl's- pouch was
full of buckshot.
"CunneT' Nessack essayed to ask
question, or make remark. but there
was something so awful in the still, set
look of Sis face that it froze his utter
| ance.
Each OF you men so to that stack
| there said 81 TO the prisoners. '.and get
an armful of straw and lay it in that
wagon He spoke very low and soft.
but there was something terrifying in the
deadly calmness OF the even tones. The
prisoners sprang to the work.
Now. pick up each one of those bodies.
carefully and gently he continued, land
| lay them on that straw. Shorty, take
| Harry, and gather up all the rope you
| can find. There's clothes-linc over
| there"
The women were on their knees on the
| porch praying loudly.
Uncle Ephraim," commanded 81.
| mount that wagon and drive as straight
| as you can for the road on which the col
umn is marching. See il You can't strike
| in about where the 200th Injianny is"
| This was the last word that 81 spoke
| for an hour. At Il motion of his hand the
! prisoners huddlcd behind the wagon, and
| the boys formed behind them, and Uncle
| Ephraim started off. They reached the
/ read without word being said by any
| one.
81 looked to the left and saw the head
| of the column coming over the bill mile
! back. Everything had gone on so swift
| ly that they had actually outmaTched the
army, in spite OF their divergence. That,
| however, had led them on a shorter line
~ knew that the troops coming were
! the 20Oth Ind. He and Shorty exchanged
| looks in recognition of this. and 81, speak
| ing for thi first time, halted Uncle Eph-
rain in low tone. The bodies Of the
2O0th Ind.'s dead were taken from the
wagon and tenderIy laid by the roadside.
on the thick. high, yellow grass.
| While this was being done Shorty took
| q piece of rope, and, measuring it with his
| arms, cut off the right length and fash
Ioned moose. Initiating him, Pete,
| Sandy, ALI and Gid did the same, while
Uncle Ephraim, Harry and Monty kept
| the prisoners covered with their muskets.
ii and Shorty walked along the opposite
side OF the road. examining the live oaks.
When they saw one that suited. they
| would nod their heads, when Sandy or
| Pete would climb up and ont onto the
projecting limb and fasten moose.
Col. McGillieuddy and the Adjutant
came riding up. and their CHEEKY saIuta-
ton to 81 was checked on their lips by the
sight OF the dead bodies They saw it all
| AT glance. and cOmprehended equally the
| import of SIS dread preparations
AS he saluted, ri gave II questioning
glance at the Colonel. who responded by Il
simple affirmative nod. Then, turning in
his saddle, the Colonel. by a wave of his
hand, directed the march of the regiment
little off the road. Without audible
command it halted in front of the trees,
faced into line and came to parade rest,
with every one looking on the dead bodies.
and on Sis preparations. Every one un-
derstood the whole thing at a glance Sol
diers get special talent for comprehend
ing things with look, and they gathered
more in second than would have made
volume
And there was something n thousand
times more impressive in the stern, deadly
silence which reigned than there would
have been In the stOrniest denunciation.
As the regiment faced about, Shorty
motioned the prisoners into the wagon.
Absolutely cowed, they shambled forward
and obeyed, Shorty catching two or three
and almost lifting them up Shorty
Sprang into the wagon, and, as Uncle
Ephraim drove along. he adjusted a moose
around each ones neck and showed him off
the wagon.
The stout branches bent up under the
load. the doomed mems limbs conyuIsed
wildly, and all was over
60. wheeled out of line and carefully
buried their dead where they lay, and
marked their graves with pieces of cracker
boxes, on which their names and date Of
death were hastily penciled.
Ito be continuedl