The National tribune., 1901-09-12

moment the Transfers had come up with
the boys they had recognized them, and
determined to secure the Spoiis for them
selves. They had contrived Il plot. While
the Assistant Wagon Master was inter
esting 81 and Shorty with his chatter the
transfers were quietly dismOunting from
their wheel-mules, and slipping up along
side ready for a rush when the Wagon
Master should give the signal. AS the
boys all had their guns slung over their
shoulders, and their hands were full, the
teamsters anticipated little trouble, es-
pecially as they had two stout men for
every one of the squad.
Go for 'em. bOys,' shouted the Wagon
Master, squirting his horse forward to
grapple the apparently Iogy and certainly
encountered ST. Many people beside the
WagOn-AIaster had mistaken 81 for lOSy
and slow. but none of them was ever
more quickly undcceived. 81 had his own
meat fastened to his saddle, and was car
rying in his right hand the large ham
Shorty had given him. He waited until
the Wagon Master had reached just the
right distance, and then the hand and ham
caIne up like flash and knocked the
would-be smart Wagon-Master out of his
saddle as suddenly as if he had been shot.
ST was out of his own saddle the next
instant, to 90 to the help of the others.
Shorty was more deliberate, as he
thought there was time. He gave a kick
with his long leg at the teamster who
tried to pull him down, which sent that
worthy into the brush with the impress
sion that his side was permanently caved
in, and then carefully dismOunting put
his precious demijohn behind a tree, for
protection against accidents, Joined in the
melee.
Tom RadbOne, having only the sack of
meal to look out for, was freer than the
others, and the first to arrive ut Pete's
side. but Abe Grimstead came up the next
instant. Pete was holding on to his jug
of molasses for dear life, and kicking and
bowling, while the teamsters had Sandy
down and were stripping him of his
plumber.
Hampered as they were, with their
guns over their shoulders, and other i'm
pediments, 81, Shorty. Tom and Abe were
more than n match in fsticuffs for any
number of teamsters that could run up
against them, and they speedily had the
whole gang lying in the road, or the
bushes mt the side. When the soldiers
and where to hit, while the Transfers
blows were frequently at random.
Let this be lesson in honesty to
you" said Shorty. giving the last one a
sounding kick. Its sinful for transfers
to jump soldiers ut any time and try to
take the property they have gained by
honest toll. It's wOrse'n snful-it's bad
judgment, for you're pretty sure to get
licked. Soldiers don't go out and capture
grub just to give it up TO transfers, as
soon as they get back to camp. Let this
moral lesson sink into your young minds,
and keep you from the ways of iniquity
hereafter. Don't never try to rush sol
diers, no matter what advantage you
may think you have. Rushing and being
4. a. 4
can always play the game better'n any
teamster that ever straddled mule. If
you'll let this great truth soak into your
understanding it'll save you a great deal
of trouble in the future"
And by way of impressing it upon
them, Shorty conscentiously sought out
each one, and gave him a sounding kick
in the ribs.
Then the boys readjusted their loads.
remounted, and pursued their journey,
with Shorty carefully nursing his demi-
john in front of him.
The excitement of .he affair had made
81 forgot about the officers who had gone
ahead and the possible warnings given
the pickets.
The moon had come out brightly, and
as they approached n wide stretch of open
ricefields, beyond which they expected the
pickets would be stationed, they saw the
two officers coming from distance to the
right and left of the main road, whittier
they had gone in search of the elusive
squad. Their horses looked jaded, and
moved as if worn out, and the officers
Jumped down in their saddles from sheer
fatigue. The roads upon which they were
coming converged to the main road a half
mile ahead, and 81 instantly concluded
that there was the main picket.
II don't see anything to do but to rush
those pickets, Shorty" he conferred with
his partner. We've got to take chances
of being shot, which amt much. for
everything's been mighty quiet out on this
front, and the boys amt alert. They're
probably all asleep, except the one on
post, and he's thinking much more about
the mail that's to come in tomorrow than
about any rebels out here. We can slip
down under the shadows of that brush
there, until we get within couple hun
dred yards of the post. Then we can go
through on the gallop, and if we're caught
we'll pretend that we thought them off,