The National tribune., 1901-12-19
WHO GOES THERE7
Continued from first page.)

post? Merely the ground with which the
soles of his feet are in touchI IL ne
may move an inch, how far may he move?
Yet l was glad that the men had not
seen me move and come back, and l was
glad, too, that they had made the pro
posal that l should take the first watch,
for | had discovered danger that must be
remedied at once. 1t was almost time
now for one of these men to take my
place.
My fear increased. The motionless
men at my right, unconscious of any new
element of danger, added to my nervous
ness. | must do something.
l walked TO the men and spoke in a low
tone.
Who stands watch next?"
Me. But it's not time yet"
''Not quite" l said; but it will be
soon. | want you to go back to the line
and tell Serg't Willis that I'd like to see
him a minute
go YOURSELF" he said; "Tm not under
your Orders.'
IF you will do what l ask, 1 will take
your watch for you," said 1.
The tempting offer was accepted at
once; the man rose and said. what is it
you say I'm to tell him.
The other man also had risen.
Only that l want to see him."
Anything wrong!"
'No; tell him | want to see him for
a moment out here; that is ALL"
The man went; his companion remained
standing-he had become alarmed, per-
haps.
When Willis came 1 was under the
tree.
What's up, Jones?"
Il want to know what that dark line
means there in front"
It's Il gully" says he.
81 wish Won woulI po ont thprp and
look about you; ] think our post ought to
be where we can see into it,
All right" said he; IN go and look
at it,"
1 remained on post. 1t would not do,
L thought. to give any intimation to the
mon that / had been to the ravine; they
were standing near me.
In two minutes Willis returned.
Jones'" says he, "mOvc your post up
here. You men stay where you are"
We went out together, Willis and l,
to the edge of the ravine.
You're right, jones'" he says, in a
whisper; ''the post ought to be here
"Yes; it would be easy for those fel-
lows over yOnder to surprise us. This
ravine ought to be watched in the day
even"
The Sergeant showed no intention of
leaving me; he seemed to be thinking. Sud
denly he gave his thigh q resounding slap.
There says he, now I've done it
but maybe they won't know what that
noise means. Say, Jones, I've got an
idea"
Lets have it."
I'VE can get lots of fun out here"
81 don't understand. What are you
driving atY'
Well" says he, "you just leave it to
me. Don't you say word TO them fel-
lows. I'll fix it up, and let you in, too.
Just be mum now, old man."
"Tell me what you mean.''
But he had already started back.
1t ought to be showing signs of day
behind me. was thinking: yet the wealth
er was bad, and, although il had stopped
raining. knew that in all likelihood we
should have n thick fog, which would
prolong the duty Of the vidcts and make
another relief necessary.
When Willis appeared again three other
men were fOllOwing-goOd men of Go. d.
| could hear him say to my two fellows
Go on back 10 the line: your times not
up, but you are relieved"
When he reached me he put Thompson
in my place, and led the way back a short
distance and into the edge of the woods.
Now, men," says he; were going TO
make fort of that rayine. We want to
nil these Sand-bagS, and we want some
straw or something to screen them. Jones,
you must go 20 yards or so beyond the
gully till l whistle for you, or call you
The rest Of us will do the work while you
watch"
The Sergeant's little scheme for having
his fun was now clear enough. One Of
the party had brought a spade, and no.
ticed that others seemed TO have come
up in no light marching order. Willis
meant to occupy the Favine and remain
for the day, if possible, in this advanced
post, so near the rebels that his bullets
would not fall short. 1t was all clear
enough.
The party had begun work before [
went forward. Passing Thomson,
skirted the edge Of the woods. and went
some 80 or 40 yards to my right obIique
in the open, and then lay fiat, with my
eyes to the front. Soon ! heard mmffled
sounds behind me; the men We're filling
the sand-bags. My position crampcd me,
my neck became stiff. No sound reached
mo from the front; ! supposed that the
nearest rebel videt was not nearer than
2OO yards, unless at a point more ad-
yanced from his lines there was some nat
ural protection for him. But what pre-
vented nv heing SURPRISED from the woods
on my left? | lay fiat and stiffened my
neck; light was beginning to show
At length | heard Willis call me. and
didn't make him call twice The RI
vine, as the light became greater, showed
itself almost impregnable against an equal
force Of skirmishers. Just where an angle
III the western edge presented n flank of
wall toward the north, Willis and his
gang had cut away the earth into shelf
some three feet beneath the top. Ten
sand-bags filled with earth surmounted the
summit, with open spaces between, in or
der that n musket might be fired through
these handy portfolios, and the sand-bags
were covered with scdge from the open
held. congratulated our commander on
his engineering feat.
HE sun had risen, perhaps, but the
fog had not lifted; we could yet see neither
enemy nor friend. Willis put me on the
right, and reserved the center for his own
piece; the center happened to be about
two feet nearer the enemy. From left to
right the line was manned by Freeman,
Holt, Willis, Thompson, Berwick.
Men, attention." says Willis.
Take the caps off of your piecesr'
The order was Obeyed, the men looking
puzzled. Willis cOndescended to explain
that we must fire vOlley into n crowd
as Act First; that any man who should
yield to the temptation to fire without
orders, was to be sent back to the line
at once.
Slowly the fog began to break; the day
would be fair. Suddenly bullet whistled
overhead: then the report came from the
rebel side.
BE quiet, men," says Willis.
Everybody had rushed to his place.
Eat your breakfast" says Willis.
We had no coffee; otherwise we Jared
as usual.
'The rebels have no coffee. neither