The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1902-06-26
It is Not All Smooth Sailing Down the saluda
River-Another Crossing Of the River is
Made Under Difficulties.

bitterly cold, and the sharp wind swayet
the tops of the trees, and fretted The
water into choppy waves.
Fortified, however, by Kramer's spien
did breakfast and excited by the novelty
of the situation. the boys paid little at
| tention to the weather.
There came n lull in the interest after
the boat had passed the batteries on botl
sides, and entering the broader water
began to he buffeted about by the winds
and eddies.
81 and Shorty remained on the upper
deck on the lookout, and TO try to direct
the boats course; Wash Lambert, to have
greater range in matchmaking every
thing, past. present and future, south OF
Mason & Dixon's Line: Tom and Abe, tC
help wherever it might be needed. OF
tcrbcin Kramer was inside the cabin. look,
ing over his stores. getting his pots and
kettles together. and beginning prepare.
tons for the next meal. Alf Russell
found warm corner near the fire, and
producing a water-stained copy of the
Medical Lancet from his breast, began
going over the eases it described, and
trying to understand its marvellous ter
minoogy Monty Scruggs. still disdain-
ing any intercourse with Harry, took a
comfortable seat. and began the study of
a thumb worn dream-hook he had found
on the boat. Sandy Baker improved the
first opportunity he had had TO take his
Spencer carbine to pieces. examine its
construction. give it n thorough cleaning.
and put it together again. Harry
intently watching him at this, and
when he saw him successfully 'as-
sembling his piece" put his own through
the same operation. SANDY doing the same
for Petes. Gid Mackall fond his hun
ger rising, and had something to satisfy
it. which he was cooking ut the fire,
much to the disapproyal Of Ofterbcin
Kramer, who considered it Il reflection
uDon himself Pete. who could never re-
SiSt an opportunity for fishing. had got
ten ont his hook-aBd-liDe. and with a piece
of poiI, for a bait was patiently waiting
for bite from Il hig catfish. or some 9th
or monster. which there was no possibility
of getting. in that muddy, swirl!ng water.
Pete was so sincere Il fisherman that
the chances of catching anything played
no part in his calculations. He would fish
Just as patiently in reservoir. All he
wanted WIS water enough to hide his
hook
Don't know about getting down to Co
lumby so plaguey fast. Shorty" remark
cd ST. after they had hoatcd a while very
cisurely on the bread surface. This
old tuh amt making mile IN hour now.
| believe. Seems to me that we've bin
inst about 50 far from that old blasted
cypress ever since we got into the river.
''It cert ainlv, does begin To have a IA
miliar look. Seems to me that I've known
it from childhood. I'd like n change of
scenery. and a, chance 10 study the trees
farther down. Is there 10 way to push
this old ark along?'
He took up the long pole. and felt
yainly with it for he hottom.
thc-lcad'' he called. in the peculiar sing
"PlaSt the rotten country" he exclaimed.
angrly. throwing the pole down. Water
enough everywhere t" drown JEFF Davis
ard his Whole crew. all Vunniu" to waste,
doing nothing better than bother them
who are carrying TO the heather the
pleasant tidines of great Peace and In
ion rs Otterhein Kramer might say
And incidentally running off Ill the
stock and burning the houses interpos-
ei Wash Lnmicrt. with a string of oaths.
II only wish that that water was rnn-
10 do with getting mp this Internal war
Abolitiouists and rebels alike"
Wash. I'm afraid your breakfast
amt setting we'll mildly suggested 81.
why don't you save mp some of that
until y0u have something to cUss for:
After all. we're getting along u heap
faster than we've done for several days
oh. don't mind him. ST. laughed
Shorty. hes got to get just about 50
much of that off every day, to keep It
from settling in his system. He cHssps
the same whether he's happy or misera-
Bile"
MY dads something of an Abolition
ist." answered ST. ''and I never like to
hear my friends include him in the same
category with the rebels
NO offease meant pardncr,' replied
Wash, cGnciliatingly. But I'm riled by
this Snailing along. From the looks of
things down there at the band, about four
miles away. | think we may be needed"
81 and SHORTY followed the direction of
his eyes. and saw q tree topple and fall
on the right hand side of the stream
Our boys are there. trying to get
across" remarked 81.
"AIebbe the winds bowed it down"
suggested Shorty.
No; it's falling against the wind"
said 81.
That's so: and there goes some more"
added Wash Lambert. Our boys are
over there for Il fact. and we ought to
get to them
\ rebel cannon sounded duly away off
TO the left front. and a shell threw up a
Column OF water and spray III the direc-
ton Of the falling trees
"Dumbcd tO0thless old smoothbore,"
snorted Wash Lambert. It'll wake up
some Of our rifles, and then'll wish it'd
been good
They heard yell of derision, faint
in the distance. from the choppers who
had been fired ut.
They won't waste any ammunition
answering yet" said 81. faint worth
while"
The boys in the cabin stopped their
various avocations, and craned their heads
out TO see what WAS up. Pete pulled in
his line, and took in the surrounding
country with a glance. Seeing that the
cannOn-fring was miles away, and Sis
face bore an expression of indecsion, he
readjusted his bait, and threw his hook
back into the water.
The trees began to fall more rapidly
They've probably got a big job of
staging and cordurOying to do over there"
remarked 81. But they hain't got man
like Shad Graham to rush it,
If we could only get this old tub
ahead we might be of some use," fretted
Shorty. ''She acts as if she were ground
ed. Amt sign of sweeps or oars about
anywhere to work her with
Just like everything else in this ripped.
raveled and shirt-tail-out country" apOs-
throphiZed Wash lambert. IF / ever
found anything all ship-shape in it, I'd
fall dead with establishment"
Did you ever see anything crawl along
like this rotten old raft? An ox-team.
pulling a stOne-sled, would be an express
train to her."
IL,