The National tribune., 1902-03-13

rebel Commissary began making a line,
too, to drive the Yankees back on tho
creek and capture them. He yelled to the
rebels on the other side to come across
and help him. They swung the fiat-boar
back. and rushed over, Just as Shorty,
having discovered, after a hasty examina-
tion of Pee, that the swan-shot had hard
ly been le to penetrate the blouse, vest
and shirt. and had scarcely done worse than
knock the breath out of the boy, remem-
bered that he had left his overcoat, with
MGria's letters, back there where the reb-
els were.
He made rush into the men who were
coming off the boat, caught them una
wares, Knocked one or two down with
his musket-barrel. and snatched up his
overcoat and ran back to the cover of the
bank without having hardly a shot fred
at him.
Rather violent exercise, that" he re-
marked. as he lay down on the freezing
cold
The CommiSsary was handling his men
with skill, though some of them were
clearly green at the business of fighting.
He deployed them in n long skirmish line,
that he wanted each one to take, and
threatened to shoot those who did not
promptly obey his orders
ii and Shorty each tried to bring him
down, but he was as wary as they, and
exposed himself only mOmentarily. in a
rush from one point to another.
As soon as he got his line into good work
ing order it began to look discOura ging
for the boys. The man with the shotgun
had changed his ammunition to buckshot.
had worked up close. and was sending
sweeping yolieys over to where Tom and
Abe lay, who did not seem to be able to
quiet MIN. The man with the squirrel
rifle had gotten up equally close, and
though he fired more slowly, he was put
ting in his little bullets very close to 81.
All the rest were putting in searching
shots that mouentarily became closer.
Take it cool, boys" shouted 81 to the
rest. Don't fire till you're sure Of hitting
something
I'VE can stand him off if he don't at
tempt to rush u.s." he added to Shorty.
Hell try to rush us pretty soOn," an
swered Shorty. He's got four men to
our one, and he knows his business. That's
what came over here for. Me and you
and Tom and Abe've got to be close to-
gether to meet his rush. There. he's get
ting ready for his rush now. He's gone
over to them fellers we've been fighting.
and they've stopped shooting together"
They heard the sound of a bugle far
behind them, and looking back over their
shoulders they saw the Colonel come spat-
tering along through the mud. with a conf
pany dOuble-quicking at his horses heels.
The rebel COpmissary saw him, too,
and with sOldierly instinct decided to make
his rush at once, and carry off his pris-
Oners before reinforcements could reach
them.
Load, but hold your fire." said 81 per-
emptorily to those Immediately about him.
We'll have the advantage when they
start to jump us. Don't shoot till they
come to that swale there. I'll tend to
the one-armed feller."
At the sight of the troops the cattle
drivers and others started to run, but were
stopped by a sharp command from the
Commissary. The regular rebel soldiers
stood firmly, and rose 10 their feet, as he
yelled imperatively:
up; up, everybody Forward, every
body! Smash the damned Yankees into
the mud. Kill every mothers son Of
themr'
81 and the rest arose at his word and
81 shot him in the. side, as he came for
ward in the lead. Shorty deliberately
waited for Sis shot, and then dropped
the next man, and one after another Tom
and Abe did the same thing leaving the
rest of the boys to attend to the cattle
drivers. 81 and the other three sprang
forward with uplifted gun-barrels to meet
the rush. and were striking in haDd-to-
hand fight, when the Colonel rushed into
the melee with his revolver, followed by
the first dozen of his men, who had man
aged to get across the log after him. The
rebels Immediately in front of 81 threw
down their guns in surrender. The others
began running
'.Take care of these prisoners" shouted
ST to a Sergeant. Come on, boys; let's
get those cattle"
CTo be continued)