The National tribune., 1901-04-04

skinning the Colonels for not holding on
to their men better. and the Colonsls a.
blaming IL on the Captains"
Attention. called the ringing voics of
the Colonel, and the tumult stiled. ''The
Orderly -Sergeauts will call the rolls"
Then ensued tlie well-kuown sounds, as
the Orderly Sergeant ratified off the names
on the rosters, and those present respond
ed; Every campany had 10 report some
absent without leave"
We haven't as many as we started
WITH said a man who appeared to be the
Adjutant. Il believe somes left since We
stopped here
That's So" said Captain. Sergeant.
where's Jim Hobeaw, and wills. Dunner?''
Dunno answered the Orderly. They
WIZ hyah a leetle while ago. Probably
sneakin' OF inter the bushes, as usual
They 'uns s always tryin' { git away.
We'uns'ye done brung EN- back 20 times.
Thar's their hOSses."
Damn them" roared the angry Colonel.
I'll shoot them when | can lay my hands
on them, as a warning TO Others. Captain.
send out Sergeant and squad to look
through the brush for them. Shoot them
down II they attempt to run, and shoot
any other man you may find out there
away from his command"
Looks as il we've got to git out of
here, unless We want to light the whole
brigade" said 81, looking anxiously for
some way of egresS from the cave. There
seemed none. A high wall OF solid rock
lay in their way.
Meanwhile Pete had seen two men, car
rying their carbines, slipping furtiyely
through the cedars toward him. lie called
in low tone to Sandy to come up beside
him, and with their guns they covered
the approaching man.
"Haltr' they commanded, when the
| men were within few yards. Throw
down those guns. Where are you go
ing?,
4 look of dead sickness had come into
the faces Of the men at the startling sum-
| mons. Then they frightened up as they
saw the blue clothes
| rs yOu'uns YankeesT' gasped one OF
them.
'Yes, we're Yankees" answered Pete.
Come on up here, and don't make no
| noise'
That's all right" said the other man,
scanning with satisfaction the unmistak-
able Union clothing and equipments of the
| boys from head to feet-caps, overcoats
| Pansaioons' shoes, beit-piates, cartridge.
boxes and haversacks. Il wuz afeared
fer minnit you'uns WIZ some of our fel-
iers, with Yankee clothes on. We'uns is
tryin t git away from they 'uns. We'uns
| I'll go with you'uns all right
Well, come right down here" echoed
| Pete, picking up their carbines and mo-
tionis:SS them TO follow Sandy.
] Why, this l., 4ae cave we'uns wuz max
| in fer" said one Of them. as they came
under the cliff. 81 found it years ago,
when I was huntin' sang. / intended Z
lay out in hit, but the conscripters done
ketched me afore l could git t, hit
| never tole nobody about hit but Wills, my
pardner hyah, an we'uns concluded Z
break fer hit whenever weuns come a.
nigh hit. Yo' see, Wills, jes' as | done
tole yo', this hyah's the biggist cave in all
Washington County, an"
hadn't noticed any cave. Why, there does
seem to be one back there"
Il should say thar wuE," said Jim Hob
cav. Lots o. big caves round hyah.
but this's an ole he-one. Daddy of 'em
all. Runs clean back thar t Atlanty or
Macon, or hell, or some other 'bominable
place. wuz afeared t 90 in very fur, fer
| fear o sperits. Why, thar's bones O. men
| in thar 90 feet high, an o. the critters
they useter ride, an all sorts o. things.
Nough skeer any man. Why, wouldn't
| go in thar alone fer bushel O. silver dol
lars"
81 was so used to the gross superstitions
| and exaggerations of the poor whites of
the South that he paid little attention to
this part of the mans story. He walked
! back a few steps, and as his eyes be-
| came used to the darkness, he saw that
there was cave Of immense extent, and
he saw some large bones Then he was
recalled by a message sent down from
Pete
''They're sending out Sergeant and
| four or five men to look for these men"
well, since we can't get away from
here, we'd better stay" sud 81. Shorty,
you'd better take four or FIVE Of the boys
and look out for them. If you see they're
likely to find this place, bring 'em in.
Thatll be safest. I'll take a look around
at this cave and see what chances it may
cffer"
There was far more truth than usual
in James Hobcaw's statement. 81 was in
one'of the largest of the great fossil caves
for which Washington County. Ca, is
noted. Icicle-like stalactites hung from
the high roof, and white pillars of stalag-
mites rose from the bottom. Great bones
of long-extinct animals lay here and there.
Entering a still darker portion, Sis foot
struck against something soft but solid
He lighted 4 match to see what It was
To his horror he discovered it to be the
dead body of an escaped prisoner.
Great God ST Klegg, where did you
come frOm?'
The voice which came from little far
ther in the darkness, was that of Steve
Bigler, one of Shad Graham's assistants
on the tunnel at Andersonville. and who
| had been wounded In the attempt to es-
cape.
Si was so startled that he dropped the
match, but Immediately lighted another.
(To be continued.)
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