The National tribune., 1902-08-21

Those are far and away the best cattle
I've seen brought along so far"
| 81 and Shorty scanned him anxiously,
| without appearing to do so, and kept up
fire Of badinage. He was very much
worse off than when they had last seen
him. His cheeks were sunken, his cough
| excruciating. and his eyes blazing But
| his spirit scared as high as ever, and he
| stood out as unfiinchingly in the cold rain
| as il it were Summer zephyr.
Come, go into camp with us. Shad,"
pleaded 81. You see, we have some wild
turkeys. fine ones, and we've got the best
cook in the corps. Well give you a sup
per almost rs good as your mother used
| to cook. You need it badly. Come along"
Couldn't think of it, though I'm much
| obliged to you, boys. | must stay right
here all night. The army needs this road
to get forward Immediately to the cross
ing OF the Catawba at Rocky Mount. l
must have m; pontoons forward tonight
SO as to reach Rocky Mount by daylight.
Ii is all-important that we all get there
by morning, or Beaurcgard will make us
no end of trouble. An hours delay may
cost hundred lives in crossing the river
The crossing is very bad. indeed. but it
is the only practicable one for miles. Old
fat-witted Beauregard has no idea yet
that were pointing for it. He's looking
for us above and below. But he cannot
help hearing today the direction we are
taking, and is probably now rushing men
forward to oppose us. We must not lose
minute under any consideration This
is the most provoking piece of swamp that
| have struck in the whole campaign This
Is the third corduroy i have laid down upon
| it. The first sunk when the brigade ahead
marched over it this morning. l then laid
down another, and it sank when the bri-
gade's teams passed over I'm now lay
down in r.lnr 70,
teams over and let the rest of the CORPS
follow up in a hurry to support the cross
ing"
All this was told slowly and with diff
ficulty, interrupted by fits Of coughing.
Only words Of sorrow for Shad's condition
came to Sis and Shorty's lips, but they
| repressed these, as they knew they were
not only useless but unwelcome to the
determined man who set the success Of the
army as the supreme consideration, and
counted himself as but one of the pawns
to be used and sacrificed in the great
game.
well, that is half-soleing the road, for
fact remarked Shorty, in order to say
something. And you seem to have cleaned
out about all your corduroy material. You
have cut off everything within reach''
Yes; my men are carrying up rails
from away back in the country, some of
them for mile or more. It's awful work,
tagging back-lOad Of rails through the
mud and rain: but they are the nOblest
boys that ever lived, and won't spare
themselves a particle when they think
anything ought to be DONE They see the
need Of having this road made passable
for the army tonight, and have to rather
keep them from OverwOrking themselves.
It's too bad to break down such glorious
fellows, but the Cause is worth it None
of us would care to live if the war failed"
Shad sank down upon a chunk, in sheer
exhaustion as he finished, and gave way
to violent pnroxysm of coughing.
Harry" commanded 81. 'you, Monty,
Sandy and Pete go with the cattle to
camp, and present this turkey to Col Nc
Gillicuddy, with our compliments. Come
back at once, with Otterbein Kramer.
Wen stay here tonight, and strike out
for the Catawba River in the morning.
Report that to the Colonel
81, Shorty, Abe. ALI and Gid tethered
their horses, and in spite of Shad Gra-
hams protests. who insisted that if they
wanted to work they should help in the
cordurOying, built a large fire near him.
and constructed a shelter of cedar bOughs
and bark large enough to give some pro-
lection for all of them during the night
This was necessary to get Shad to accept
it at ALL for he urged that he should not
fare any better than his men. who were
working so heroically and uncomplaining-
ly out in the rain carrying up rails.
By the time they had finished this and
were engaged in cleaning the turkeys the
boys came back. with Otterbein Kramer.
His utensils and provisions were carried
on led mnle. and he at once began the
preparatiOns of the best supper he could.
Shad Graham ate the first food he had
tasted since morning. and 81 finally per-
suaded him to lie down and sleep by prom
ising that he and Shorty would superin-
tend the work and push it forward as rap
idly as possible.
CTo be continued)