The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1902-08-28

anchor them fast That is as far as
can go with any surety. 1t is useless to
| try to row or pole across that current
| The third boat l want you to get into
! You will take in with you light anchor
| fastened to line. The boat will be held
by strong rope which we shall pay out
| from this side. My Judgment is that the
current will swing it over close to yonder
point. You must watch your chances, and
| when you get as near as you can throw
your anchor, and catch on that white oak
stump If you do, you can pull ashore,
and we will be all right. Your greatest
danger will be in upsetting the boat.
You'll have to be very careful, especially
| after you've caught the stump. If you
upset, God help YOU
Fetch out your boat said Shorty,
pulling off his overcoat. 1--WE got a mole
on my neck. / was never born to be
drowned
81 and Shorty got into the boat amid
the deep interest and attention of the
officers and soldiers on the bank. All eyes
were on them except those of the boys
who were keeping down the rebel pick
cts, and they redoubled their care that
the rebels might not get a shot into the
| boat 81 and Shorty sat down directly on
| the bottom. so as to diminish the danger
| of overturnins.
The boat was drawn out into the boil
! ing current. as the line was carefully paid
out under Shad Graham's eye, and tossed
wildly in the whirlpool. Shorty took the
| anchor in his hand. and watched intently
for his opportunity. The current carried
| the boat, as Shad had predicted, near the
| opposite shore, and Shorty flung the an
Choir with as good aim as he could, but
missed, and a groan of disappointment
| rose from the watchers on the banks.
Hardly expected you'd do it the first
time, boys" called out Shad Graham.
We'll pull the boat back, and give you
a fresh start"
The second time Shorty's nerves and
muscles were keenly alert; he flung the
anchor with a true aim, but he became so
excited in pulling in that the sudden
| change in the boats direction overset it,
amid yells of horror from the watchers,
as the boat and partners disappeared I'M
der the muddy surface. But the next min
ute glad cheer arose, as Shortys hat
less red head bObbed up and he was seen
to be pulling himself ashore by the rope
81 had also hold of the rope. which, luck
lily, and owing to Shads forethought. was
| fastened at its other end to the boat. They
gained the bank, and shook themselves
like Newfoundland dogs. amid the renewed
cheers of their comrades.
They ran to the stump upon which the
anchor had lodged, to make it secure, but
four or five bullets struck it simultaneous
ly from the rebel pickets, who had gath
cred little ways off, watching for just
that moment.
'Say, what's the matter with you sar-
dimes over thereT Shorty shouted back
across the river as he lodged back, TAX
ing the precautiOn ut the same time to
bring the rope around the stump. SO rs
to make secure hitch. why amt you
tending to your business? Squelch them
rebels over there that's shooting at u.s.
Abe, Harry, Monty, ALI and Sandy had
been anticipating something of this kind, |
and ran down the bank to projecting |
point opposite where the rebels had gath
cred. They at once pumped such |
storm of bullets from their Spencers at |
the rebels that it did not seem one could |
be left alive.
''They're squelched, Corporal" report
ed Abe, rs he stopped to refill his maya
zine.
The boat was pulled ashore. and then
the heavier rope after it, which ST and |
Shorty worked up With to the point which |
other end of the bridge. There it was
made secure by several turns around
solid pine.
By the aid of this Shad worked his
boats across, anchoring each one as well
as he could to the bottom of the stream.
1t was fearfuly hard, dangerous toll,
but everybody worked with the spirit
which animated Shad Graham. Finally
the last boat was gotten to the other side,
the baulks and chesses laid. and the an
chors fastened as well as they could be,
but the fiimsy roadway swayed discourag-
ingly in the rapid current.
1t did not check Col. McGillicuddy,
however 1t was all-important that his
brigade should get across at once to pro-
tect the bridge head from the troops that
Beauregard must certainly be rushing up
by this time. Col. McGillicuddy therefore
led his horse at once across the swaying
structure, and was followed by the Adju-